This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-38516848
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Police dog Finn stabbing: Boy, 16, found guilty | Police dog Finn stabbing: Boy, 16, found guilty |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A teenage boy has been found guilty of stabbing a police dog and wounding his handler during a chase. | A teenage boy has been found guilty of stabbing a police dog and wounding his handler during a chase. |
PC Dave Wardell and his German shepherd Finn were attacked in Stevenage in October while responding to an earlier report of a robbery. | PC Dave Wardell and his German shepherd Finn were attacked in Stevenage in October while responding to an earlier report of a robbery. |
The 16-year-old from London, who cannot be named because of his age, was found guilty of actual bodily harm against PC Wardell and criminal damage in relation to PD Finn. | The 16-year-old from London, who cannot be named because of his age, was found guilty of actual bodily harm against PC Wardell and criminal damage in relation to PD Finn. |
He will be sentenced next month. | |
PC Wardell and Finn were attacked in the early hours of 5 October in Denton Road in the Hertfordshire town. | PC Wardell and Finn were attacked in the early hours of 5 October in Denton Road in the Hertfordshire town. |
'I begged the vet to save my boy' | 'I begged the vet to save my boy' |
More on this and other news from Hertfordshire | More on this and other news from Hertfordshire |
The seven-year-old dog, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire dog unit, was stabbed with a 30cm (12in) hunting knife in the head and chest and underwent four hours of emergency surgery to save his life. | |
Magistrates at Stevenage Youth Court heard the blade narrowly missed the police dog's heart. | |
The officer's hand was stabbed and he was treated in hospital and released. | The officer's hand was stabbed and he was treated in hospital and released. |
A teenager from Lewisham, south-east London, was arrested and charged the following day. | A teenager from Lewisham, south-east London, was arrested and charged the following day. |
At an earlier hearing he admitted possession of a knife and an imitation firearm but denied attacking Finn and PC Wardell. | |
Appearing at his one-day trial with his mother, the boy told magistrates he was acting in self-defence, fearing for his safety and being "bitten up" by the dog. | |
PC Wardell broke down in court as he described the attack, and "the largest knife" he had ever seen. | |
"I was in fear of my life, and in fear of Finn dying in front of me," he said. | |
"Finn is one of the highest trained dogs in the police force, I wished neither Finn nor myself were in that garden, but we were." | |
District Judge Jo Matson told the defendant she found his evidence "not credible or truthful". | |
"Stabbing a dog you know to be a police dog and lunging a knife at a police officer were not necessary or proportionate," she said. | |
The teenager is expected to be sentenced at court in Bromley, south London, on 6 June. | |
PC Wardell and Finn have now recovered from their injuries, and returned to work together just before Christmas. | PC Wardell and Finn have now recovered from their injuries, and returned to work together just before Christmas. |
PD Finn, now aged eight, retired from active duty at the end of March. | PD Finn, now aged eight, retired from active duty at the end of March. |
Previous version
1
Next version