A dog owner has avoided jail after a crazed XL Bully attacked an 11-year-old girl and two people on a street in Birmingham.
The teenager and his sister were out shopping in Bordesley Green when the animal – named Tyson – went on a rampage and attacked them on September 9 last year.
The girl, whose identity is protected by a court order, was taken to hospital after suffering injuries to her shoulder and arm.
The horror was captured on video footage that shocked the country, prompting Home Affairs Minister Suella Braverman to call for a ban on the breed.
Farhat Ajaz, 62, previously admitted controlling a dangerous dog at Birmingham Crown Court in March this year.
Today he appeared in the same court where he was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years.
Sentencing, Judge Heidi Kubik said: ‘You went out and about in the street with the dog.
Farhat Ajaz has avoided jail after crazed XL Bully attacked an 11-year-old girl and two people on a street in Birmingham. Today he was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years. Here he is pictured leaving Birmingham Crown Court today
Sentencing, Judge Heidi Kubik said: ‘Ajaz, who had previously been sentenced to 25 years of life imprisonment, would have been immediately sent to prison but for the ‘catalogue’ of seriously deteriorating health conditions’
The horror was captured on video footage that shocked the country, prompting Home Affairs Minister Suella Braverman to call for a ban on the breed.
Alarming footage then shows the two men – Numaan Ahmed and Yousef Ahmadzai – rushing to intervene before being bitten themselves.
‘The dog was not muzzled in time. It set about attacking three separate people including an 11-year-old girl.
“It was a horrific attack and he must have been terrified. He was left with scars on his arms and shoulders, as well as the psychological impact on him.
‘Those who intervened also suffered injuries.’
He said Ajaz, who had previously served 25 years to life, would have been sent to jail immediately but for his ‘catalogue’ of deteriorating health conditions.
In a video of the horrific attack, the dog can be seen going on a rampage after being ‘freed from the flimsy collar’.
Alarming footage then shows the two men – Numaan Ahmed and Yousef Ahmadzai – rushing to intervene before being bitten themselves.
In a statement, the girl said: ‘I was terrified when the dog bit me. I don’t know where he’s going to bite me next. I’m afraid it’s going to kill me.
‘The dog is very strong. I was scared and shouted for help. The dog bit me on the arm and shoulder.
‘There was a lot of blood. The wound reminds me every day of what happened.
‘I was scared of dogs before and this has made it worse. I am now terrified when I see dogs in public and dread walking into the local shop.’
Mr Cowley told the court how Yousef Ahmadzai tried to attack the dog with a snow shovel and was bitten on the leg.
Mr Cowley said the dog was ‘hanging from his arm’ and Mr Ahmed feared it was going to kill him.
Prosecutor Rob Cowley said: ‘The dog’s strength was clearly shown on the CCTV. Many people dared to intervene and the dog let go of his arm but even then the dog managed to grab his shoulder.
Prosecutor Rob Cowley said: ‘This offense took place on September 9, 2023. Although September was a particularly hot day.
‘People came out wearing T-shirts. The defendant was sitting at a bus stop in Bordesley Green Road with a dog called Tyson at his feet.
‘The dog was on a lead but the collar appeared to be flimsy.
‘(The woman) saw the dog and did not muzzle it. His impression was that the dog was on a lead.
‘He was clearly nervous and moved into the building to avoid the dog.
‘When he passed the dog, he started to run and at that time the dog ran after him biting his lower arm, spinning him, taking him to the floor and dragging him.
‘The dog’s strength was clearly shown on the CCTV. Many people dared to intervene and the dog let go of his arm but even then the dog managed to grab his shoulder.’
Mr Cowley said one of the people who tried to help was Numaan Ahmed who said he knew the accused looked ‘physically weak’.
Image: Yousef Ahmadzai who tried to distract the dog and was bitten on the leg. The dog was placed in a secure kennel after being seized by West Midlands Police and taken to a local vet suffering from heat exhaustion.
He had run to the front of a gas station being chased by XL Bully who ‘closed on him.’
He added: ‘He got to the forecourt and the dog latched onto his shoulder and did so with such force that it took him to the floor.
‘When the dog was ragging him, he explained that it was very painful. He knows he has to get up and he can do it.’
Mr Cowley said the dog was ‘hanging from his arm’ and Mr Ahmed feared the dog was going to kill him.
He told the court how Yousef Ahmadzai tried to attack the dog with a snow shovel and was bitten on the leg.
Ekwal Tiwana, defending, said Ajaz was given a life sentence when he was 15 and released in 2004 while trying to reintegrate into society.
He said the defendant had ‘stupidly’ bought the animal for his son who could not take care of the dog and so he took care of Tyson for two to three months.
He added that his client was suffering from diseases including obstructive pulmonary disease and lung disease.
He said Ajaz had been trying to stop the dog and he suffered a heart attack when he was taken to the hospital.
He added: ‘We understand that the defendant should not be in control of the dog due to health issues.’
Ajaz pleaded guilty to three counts of being responsible for a ‘dangerously out of control’ dog that caused injury to a young girl who was bitten by the animal.
The dog was placed in a secure kennel after being seized by West Midlands Police and taken to a local vet with heat exhaustion.
His sentence consisted of 18 months for the dog attack and six months for harassment of a previous partner.
The court heard that in 2022 Ajaz had also visited his ex-partner’s home several times and threatened to kill her after she asked to see their son.
