Woman jailed for her part in an incident were a dog killed another dog has sentence reduced

A woman who was jailed for seven months on Friday for her part in an incident where a 'pit bull type dog' killed another dog has had her sentence reduced after her appeal. 

Seren Lloyd (23) of Strand Road in Derry admitted three assaults and a disorderly behaviour on August 4, 2023.

The court heard that police were called after a dog had attacked a smaller dog in the Clon Elagh area and killed it.

The defendant was along with a male and she behaved aggressively towards the woman walking the dog. 

A taxi driver who tried to intervene was punched by the male and Lloyd pushed him.

The taxi driver was taken to hospital with cuts on his head. 

The girl whose dog was attacked phoned her father 'hysterically crying' and the man attended.

When he arrived the pit bull type dog still had the smaller dog by the neck and so the father tried to separate the animals the male defendant attacked him and the man defended himself. Lloyd then swung a chain like dog lead at the man's head and was verbally aggressive.

The pit bull type dog was later put down. 

A defence barrister said the male defendant was the main protagonist in the case. 

He said his client had drink taken on the day and had reacted when she saw someone punching at her dog. 

Judge Neil Rafferty KC at the County Court today said Lloyd's behavior 'was disgraceful' and he read from a victim impact report from the smaller dog's owner who said she had watched 'while my dog was torn apart in front of me.' 

He said Lloyd was on a 'merry go round of chaos and drugs'. 

But he reduced the sentence to one of four months in custody.