Man jailed over pitbull attacks

A man who encouraged a pitbull dog to attack two people has a history of violent offending and was severely affected by the brutal murders of his mother and step-father under the Wairoa Bridge in 2005.

Joey Ricardo McDonald, 23, of Gate Pa was yesterday jailed for 20 months after encouraging his partner's dog to attack her and another man, who was hospitalised for 10 days.

He also failed to adequately control the dog, resulting in it lunging at a policeman, who was forced to pepper spray the animal and jump a fence to avoid being bitten.

McDonald earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of being the owner of a dog which attacks a person and causes serious injury and one count of aggravated assault against police.

The first dog attack occurred early April 18, 2010, while McDonald was at a party in Wellesley Grove, Tauranga.

After fighting with another man he commanded the dog to attack, saying, "get him, get him".

When the dog did not immediately respond, McDonald kicked it and further encouraged it to attack by guiding it with his hands towards the victim, again yelling, "get him, get him".

The dog bit the man's legs several times and dragged him across the road. The victim required extensive medical treatment, including skin grafts.

On October 26, McDonald again used the dog to threaten a police officer while he was arresting one of McDonald's friends by allowing the dog to lunge at the officer.

Later the same night at his Watling St home during an argument with his partner, McDonald got the pitbull from the garage and commanded it to attack her by saying, "seig em up".

McDonald's partner suffered a large deep 3cm by 5cm gash to her leg but told police she did not want him charged. The dog has since been put down.

The Crown wanted a jail sentence of two to two-and-half years plus extra time for McDonald's previous violent offending before discounts for guilty pleas and mitigating factors.

But McDonald's lawyer Glenn Barnett argued for a lower starting point, saying the assault against police offence was a "technical assault".

He argued his client's multiple and complex problems, which were behind his behavioral problems and violent behaviour, lessened his culpability.

Mr Barnett said McDonald had suffered a head injury as a child which compromised his cognitive abilities and the psychologist's report confirmed that he had significant unresolved issues resulting from the violent death of his father in 2005.

The Bay of Plenty Times has confirmed that McDonald's mother and step-father were Omokoroa couple Toni-Anne Nathan and Mikaere O'Sullivan, who were brutally murdered under the Wairoa Bridge on October 31, 2005.

Their killer, Anthony Paul Doyle, was jailed for 19 years. The killings were over a drug debt.

In court, Mr Barnett also asked Judge Robert Wolff to take into account McDonald's poor vision resulting from misshapen corneas.

In court to support McDonald was his grandfather Henry McDonald who wept when he told Judge Wolff that he was overwhelmed and saddened upon learning about how badly his grandson had behaved.

"I am prepared to help my grandson and look after him when he is released from prison. He won't be able to drink alcohol or take drugs when he lives with me, or own a dog," he said.

Judge Wolff said he accepted McDonald's brain injury and psychological issues may have contributed to his offending, but rejected his eye condition was partly to blame.

Judge Wolff also banned McDonald from owning a dog other than a sheep dog if employed in the agricultural industry.