Hooker, Kenton

Kenton Hooker was convicted in May 2012 at Bury St Edmunds Magistrate Court of allowing a dog to be “Dangerously Out of Control in a Public Place”, contrary to Section 3(1) and (4) of the Dangerous Dogs Act (1991).

He was sentenced to a 12 month conditional discharge, ordered to pay £250 compensation (later increased to £500 on appeal) and the court ordered that the dog be destroyed.

Mr Hooker appealed against his sentence later that year but the appeal was dismissed. He applied to the CCRC for a review of the destruction order in December 2013.

During review, the CCRC obtained fresh expert animal behaviourist evidence relevant to the issue of the “dangerousness” of the dog and the imposition of a contingent destruction order.

As a result of this new material, the CCRC concluded that there was a real possibility that on a rehearing of the case, involving submission of the animal behaviourist reports, and taking into account the dog’s good behaviour since the incident, Mr Hooker’s own conduct, and the lapse of time, the Court might reach a different sentencing outcome.

The CCRC referred the destruction order in August 2015.

The Crown Court quashed the destruction order in January 2016.