Ezaan Hussain, 22, was jailed for 20 years and 353 days last month
Ezaan Hussain, aged 22
A murderer whose dog attacked two ‘hysterical’ girls in their own garden after it leapt over an 8ft fence has been handed a lifetime dog ban.
Ezaan Hussain was sentenced to 20 years and 353 days in prison last month for the murder of Thapelo Jali from Stafford in July last year.
But the 22-year-old again appeared at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court via video link from HMP Leicester this week, where he admitted two charges of being the owner of a dog which caused injury while dangerously out of control on February 16, 2024.
The court heard how his Dutch Shepherd, named Zeus, jumped over an 8ft fence and attacked the girls in the neighbouring garden. They both needed hospital treatment and he he has been handed a lifetime dog ban.
Prosecutor Siobhan Collins said that Hussain lived with his family in two adjoining properties on Chaplin Road, Normacot, Stoke-on-Trent. A separate family, who had concerns about Zeus’s behaviour, owned a house next door.
Prosecutor Siobhan Collins said the defendant lived with his family at two adjoining properties in Chaplin Road, Normacot.
Another family bought a neighbouring house and the owner had concerns about the behaviour of Zeus, reports Stoke-on-Trent Live.
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Miss Collins said: “The dog would bark loudly when there was somebody outside and would storm into the fence if anybody was there.
“The dog jumped up at the fence with his paws visible on top and the dog trying to get over. The same applied if he saw somebody inside the neighbouring property. The occupants tried to get their neighbours to stay out of sight of the dog.
“The defendant’s father told the neighbour it was not safe for his children to be there as well as they could be attacked. It is clear the defendant’s family knew what Zeus was capable of. Following the renovations the neighbours moved in at the end of January 2024.
The dog believed to be Zeus
“Despite the 7ft to 8ft fence they were only able to go into the rear garden on one occasion. On February 16, 2024 the neighbour’s wife saw Zeus locked in a kennel and took their two daughters into the garden. They heard a bang. It was Zeus.
“Zeus jumped over the fence and landed in their garden. He went to the youngest child and bit her. She was screaming and terrified. He chased the other child. Both children were hysterical.
“A man came from the defendant’s home and took the dog. He said, ‘I told you not to let your dog in the garden’. Both children were taken to A&E.”
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One child suffered a cut to her eyebrow, a bite on her thigh, three puncture wounds and a graze on her back.
The other sustained puncture wounds to the left side of her back, caused through a thick coat.
In a victim impact statement, their father said: “I should not feel scared to go anywhere in my own house. I cannot believe they thought it acceptable to tell me I should not allow my own children in my own garden.
“My children are now too scared to go near the windows when they hear a dog barking. I should not be scared living in my own house in case myself or my family are attacked. We are all traumatised and talking about it fills me with anxiety.”
Zeus is no longer living at the property and his whereabouts are not known.
Justin Jarmola, mitigating, said: “He did not want these two girls to be hurt by that dog.”
Ezaan Hussain, aged 22, admitted two charges of being the owner of a dog which caused injury while dangerously out of control
Recorder Robert Smith sentenced Hussain to 14 months in prison to run concurrently to his life sentence and disqualified him from owning a dog for life.
Recorder Smith said: “You are now serving a life sentence for murder. On February 16, 2024 you were living at Chaplin Road, Normacot, with family members. You were the owner of Zeus, a male Dutch Shepherd dog.
“Zeus behaved aggressively to the new neighbours from the outset. Your father told the neighbour it would not be a good idea to buy the house because you had a dog and it would not be safe for him and the children to be in his own garden.
“You should have taken charge of the situation and ensured the animal would be safe to be around children. The neighbours only went to the garden on one occasion as they were so petrified.
“On February 16 they took the children into the garden. They heard a bang. It was Zeus running and jumping into the fence. He got over the fence into the garden. Zeus went to one child and bit her. She was terrified and screamed her head off.
“The second child tried to run away. She was chased by Zeus who bit her as her father tried to pick her up. Both children were injured.
“They were simply out in their own garden admiring the flowers in pleasant weather. There is evidence of your failure to deal with the dog.”
The judge made a destruction order for Zeus.
Recorder Smith said: “I cannot be satisfied that Zeus is currently in the care of a fit and proper person. You are still the owner. You are serving a life sentence. I order any person with the care of Zeus should hand Zeus over to the police for destruction. Failing to comply is a criminal offence.”
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