YouTube star fined after 'dangerously out of control' dog savages neighbour

20 December 2019, 10:23

By EJ Ward

@EJWardNews

YouTube star Deji's dog will be put down after it attacked a grandmother when she came to his house to pick up a parcel.

Police have released CCTV footage of the moment Oladeji Olatunji's dog attacked a neighbour, which led to serious injuries.

The star and his mum have been given a restraining order and told to pay out thousands of pounds after their dog viciously attacked an elderly woman.

Deji Olatunji, and his mum Olayinka, both appeared in Cambridge Crown Court after German Shepherd Tank savaged neighbour Jennifer Selby-Springthorpe.

In a video on his YouTube channel, the 23-year-old said he will appeal against a court decision to destroy his dog after it seriously injured a woman.

Deji, who has nearly 10 million subscribers, apologised in a nine-minute video.

"He is one of my best friends. I don't want his life taken away," he said.

Olatunji appealed for his subscribers to "spread the message" and support his "playful, awesome dog".

"I am very apologetic about the incident but at this point in time I just want Tank back. He is literally the best dog."

The victim, her daughter and one-year-old grandson went to Olatunji’s home in July last year to collect a parcel but on their way out Tank escaped and chased after them barking.

The dog bit her several times and efforts by Olatunji and his mother Olayinka Olatunji, 53, who also lived at the property, to bring the dog back under control failed.

The victim's son was also bitten by the dog when he arrived home during the attack.

The dog was finally dragged inside by Oladeji Olatunji’s father.

The victim suffered several bites, extensive bruising and scratches to her legs and chest and was twice admitted to hospital after they became swollen and infected.

Olayinka Olatunji pleaded guilty to two counts of allowing a dog to be out of control in a public place but her son initially denied the charge, saying the dog was not his, and claimed it had been wrongly taken by police.

However, at a hearing in September this year, Deji Olatunji also pleaded guilty to being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control and both were sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court yesterday (17 December).

Deji Olatunji was fined £2,500 and ordered to pay £5,845 in kennel costs along with prosecution costs and a victim surcharge. Olayinka Olatunji was given a 12-month community order with 80 hours of unpaid work, ordered to pay £8,000 in compensation to the victim and £2,082 in kennel costs. Both were issued with restraining orders in relation to the victims.

Judge Farrell commented that CCTV showed the dog was “completely out of control.”

The investigating officer, PC Jemma Russell said: “This was, understandably, a frightening experience for the victim and her family. All dogs, big or small, can be dangerous if they are not properly trained and under control. It is the owner’s responsibility to ensure their dog remains under control at all times, including when at home.

“It’s clear from the CCTV footage that the family didn’t have control of Tank, who was behaving aggressively and roaming the street without a collar. It is an offence to own a dangerous dog, or to have a dog that becomes dangerously out of control.

“I hope this shows we take incidents of dangerous and uncontrolled dogs very seriously and will do all we can to protect the public.”