Man, 43, ordered to pay £2,500 following dog-bite incident in Sherfield on Loddon

A man has been ordered to pay £2,500 in compensation after his dog bit a three-year-old boy in a pub garden in Sherfield on Loddon near Basingstoke.

Gareth Vaughan, 43, of Park Way, Droitwich, Worcestershire, was at the Longbridge Mill when his Rhodesian Ridgeback attacked the boy on Sunday 21 July 2024.

The boy suffered lacerations to his neck and upper torso and was taken to hospital, where he underwent surgery.

Officers launched an investigation and charged Vaughan with being the owner / person in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury.

He pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay the boy’s family £2,500 in compensation following a sentencing hearing at Basingstoke Magistrates Court on Wednesday 11 February.

Vaughan must also carry out 100 hours of unpaid work. His dog was seized and has since been destroyed.

A/Police Sergeant Rachel Marshall, from Basingstoke Rural NPT, said: “This case serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of when dogs are not kept under proper control.

“We want to be clear – dog owners are wholly responsible for their pets, and they need to make sure they are always in full control of their dogs.

“A little boy suffered serious injuries and both he and his family still have to live with the trauma of that day. I would like to thank the family for their help during our investigation, and I hope this outcome allows them to try and move forward.”