Man avoids jail after XL Bully savaged an girl and two men in the street

A man in Birmingham narrowly avoided jail time after his XL Bully dog, named Tyson, viciously attacked an 11-year-old girl and two men in the street. The horrifying incident, which occurred in Bordesley Green, was captured on video and caused shock nationwide, leading the then Home Secretary Suella Braverman to advocate for a ban on the breed.

The young girl, who cannot be named due to legal reasons, was out shopping with her older sister when the dog went on a rampage on September 9 the previous year. The girl sustained shoulder and arm injuries and had to be hospitalised as a result of the attack. Farhat Ajaz, 61, admitted to being in control of the dangerous dog in March and was sentenced to two years in jail, suspended for two years, at Birmingham Crown Court.

During sentencing, Judge Heidi Kubik described the attack as horrific, noting the physical injuries the victims sustained and the psychological impact on the girl. Ajaz, who had previously served 25 years of a life sentence, would have been sent to jail immediately if not for his deteriorating health conditions.

In a chilling video of the incident, the dog can be seen going after the girl and then the two men who attempted to intervene. The girl recounted feeling terrified and scarred by the experience, expressing heightened fear of dogs in public since the attack. The court heard that ajaz had a history of serious deteriorating health conditions, including obstructive pulmonary disease and lung disease.

Prosecutor Rob Cowley detailed the events of that fateful day, describing how the XL Bully, Tyson, broke free from its flimsy collar and attacked the victims. Despite Ajaz’s history of criminality and the seriousness of the incident, his health conditions played a significant role in the sentencing decision.

Ajaz pleaded guilty to three counts of being in charge of a dangerously out-of-control dog, resulting in injuries to the young girl and the men who intervened. The dog was seized by West Midlands Police and taken to a local vet after the attack. In addition to the 18-month sentence for the dog attack, Ajaz was also sentenced to six months for harrassment of his former partner.

Throughout the proceedings, Ajaz’s health concerns were highlighted, and it was acknowledged that he should not have been in control of such a dangerous animal given his medical conditions. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of responsible pet ownership and the potential consequences of failing to control aggressive animals in public spaces.