AMY BRIERS FROM ST HELENS SENTENCED AFTER DOG ATTACKS ON CHILDREN IN ST HELENS

Amy Louise Briers, born around 1990 and residing on Hempstead Close in Sutton Heath, St Helens, has been convicted in connection with a series of dangerous incidents involving her dog, Callie, a crossbreed between a Shar Pei and a Staffy. The events unfolded in St Helens and resulted in severe injuries to multiple children, ultimately leading to the dog being euthanized with Briers' consent.

According to court proceedings at Liverpool Crown Court, Callie had a troubling history of aggression, having previously bitten two children before the incidents that brought her to justice. Despite this, Briers had entered into a voluntary agreement with Merseyside Police, which mandated that her dog be kept muzzled and on a lead when in public, especially around children and strangers. The agreement also required constant supervision of Callie to prevent further attacks. However, a tragic lapse in supervision occurred on July 11, 2023, when Briers' 11-year-old autistic son, Callum Ross, took the dog for a walk without realizing the danger.

During the walk, Callum approached a group of children playing in the street and asked if they wanted to pet Callie, claiming that the dog had only bitten one person before. While one girl, aged 11, was hesitant due to her fear of dogs and kept her distance, Callie unexpectedly ran up to her and bit her right forearm. The girl was visibly distressed, crying from the pain, and her father had to clean and dress her wounds upon her return home. Fortunately, she did not require further medical treatment.

The situation escalated significantly on the evening of September 21. As two boys, aged five and six, played outside, their mother called the younger boy inside for dinner around 7 pm. Suddenly, she heard a piercing scream and rushed outside to find her son with deep bites and puncture wounds on his arm. The boy later recounted that Callie had run from Briers' residence on Hempstead Road and had viciously bitten him, even dragging him around. He required surgery to repair injuries to his abdomen and left forearm, with the possibility of future cosmetic procedures.

Meanwhile, the mother of the second child described hearing hysterical screams and rushing outside to find her son in tears, blood streaming down his arm, and his friend being dragged around like a toy. Briers, who was at her neighbor’s house at the time, attempted to intervene by kicking her dog in an effort to stop the attack. The six-year-old sustained serious injuries to his right arm, necessitating surgery, and months later, he was still missing a significant chunk of tissue from his arm.

During police interviews, Briers claimed ignorance of the earlier incident involving her dog and insisted she did not allow her son to walk Callie alone. Regarding the second attack, she suggested her son might have forgotten to shut the door behind him, allowing Callie to escape. She also revealed that she had previously tried to rehome Callie by posting on Facebook and contacting the Dogs Trust, but these efforts had been unsuccessful.

Judge Ian Harris addressed the court during sentencing, emphasizing the seriousness of the case. He pointed out that Callie had a known history of biting children and that Briers had been aware of her dog’s aggressive tendencies. Despite this knowledge, she failed to take adequate measures to ensure public safety. The judge condemned her for her “woeful and criminal lack of responsibility,” noting that the injuries inflicted on the children were a direct result of her reckless behavior. He highlighted that the dog was clearly dangerous and violent, and Briers’s failure to keep her dog under control placed vulnerable children at risk.

In his sentencing, Judge Harris imposed a two-year custodial sentence, suspended for two years, along with 100 hours of unpaid work and a requirement to participate in a rehabilitation activity for up to 10 days. Additionally, Briers was banned from owning or keeping dogs for life. The judge acknowledged her remorse and the fact that she is a single mother with four children, expressing concern about the potential consequences of imprisonment, which could see her children placed in the care of the local authority. The case has garnered significant attention from local media outlets including the Manchester Evening News, St Helens Star, and Liverpool Echo.