Published: Monday, 22nd June, 2009 11:56am

Dealer's dog is destroyed after court case

A CONVICTED drug dealer who admitted having an illegal American pit bull terrier has escaped a ban on keeping animals.

Animal welfare officers this week criticised the decision.

Neighbours of Colin Boyle in Peebles were alarmed about the dangerous combination of the 43-year-old"s drug record and having a pet which could inflict terrible injuries and even kill.

The offence only came to light when Boyle was jailed for drug dealing and a friend he had given the pit bull terrier to handed it into the police saying he could not cope.

It was immediately put into the custody of the Scottish SPCA and held in kennels for six months pending his court case.

Boyle pleaded guilty at Selkirk Sheriff Court to possessing an illegal dog last December and was ordered to pay £1,750 compensation to the Scottish SPCA for kennel costs.

The court also ordered that the pill bull terrier, banned in Britain since 1991, be humanely destroyed.

Scottish SPCA Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn said: 'We welcome the fact that the accused has admitted his guilt and has been ordered to compensate the society for the cost of providing shelter and care for the dog during the prosecution process.

'However, we are disappointed that a ban on keeping animals was not given in this case.

'This dog should never have been bred or purchased in the first place.'

It was the same type of dog that mauled to death five-year-old Ellie Lawrenson in a house in St Helen"s, Merseyside, on New Year"s Day, 2007.

It only came to light that Boyle, of Northgate, had bought the American pit bull terrier when he was jailed in December 2008 after being found guilty of supplying valium and other drugs offences.

The court heard how Boyle had given the dog to a friend to look after, who was unable to cope with the pit bull terrier and handed it in to the police.

They in turn alerted the Scottish SPCA who realised they were dealing with a dangerous animal.

Boyle pleaded guilty to possessing an American pit bull terrier which is contrary to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

But charges of keeping an animal for fighting and failing to provide for its health and welfare because of scratches and puncture wounds to its head and body were dropped by the Crown after plea bargaining.