Man pleads guilty to Smethwick bulldog attack which left woman, 85 dead
Lucille Downer, died after being attacked by two "dangerously out of control" dogs.
Last updated 18th Apr 2023
A dog owner from Smethwick has admitted being in charge of two American bulldogs which killed a pensioner after they escaped through a hole in a fence and into a neighbouring property.
Darren Pritchard pleaded guilty on Tuesday to an offence under the Dangerous Dogs Act, as well as for possessing cannabis with intent to supply and producing the drug at an address in the street where Lucille Downer, 85, was pronounced dead.
The 44-year-old, of Merrivale Road, Smethwick, made the admissions during an appearance at Wolverhampton Crown Court. He was warned that he is likely to be jailed when he is sentenced on May 15.
Pritchard was allowed more than two hours to speak to his barrister outside the courtroom before admitting a charge. He confirmed that he was the owner or in charge of two dogs which were "dangerously out of control" causing injury, resulting in the death of Mrs Downer.
It happened at her home in Boundary Avenue, Rowley Regis, on April 2nd, 2021. Retired cook, Mrs Downer was pronounced dead at the scene.
West Midlands Police confirmed that Mrs Downer suffered "multiple" injuries in the attack.
In a statement, her family said that they would "miss her dearly".
During a brief hearing before Judge Michael Chambers KC, Pritchard spoke only to confirm his name and his guilty pleas.
Granting Pritchard conditional bail, Judge Chambers told him: "You have had the courage to plead guilty to these matters and you will get appropriate credit (for pleading guilty) in due course.
"But they are clearly serious matters which cross the custodial threshold so you should be under no illusion as to the likely sentence."
The facts of the case were not opened by prosecutor Howard Searle during the hearing, which was told Pritchard had been "out of trouble since 2013" at the time of Mrs Downer's death.
An inquest held previously was told Mrs Downer was found in her back garden. In a forensic post-mortem examination the medical cause of her death was found to be neck injury caused by a dog bite.
Police have confirmed that the dogs were humanely destroyed after the incident.