Roger Dean Akins pleads guilty to owning ‘menacing’ Byron dog

A black and sable German Shepherd called Sebastian is no more after separate attacks on two women. Read how his owner was punished.

Roger Akins leaves court after being charged over Byron Shire dog attack

The owner of a “menacing” dog that attacked two women in separate acts of violence in Northern NSW has been fined $5000.

Roger Dean Akins, 63, was charged with being the owner of a menacing dog that rushes, attacks, bites, or harasses any person or animal after an incident on March 16.

The Ocean Shores man pleaded guilty in Mullumbimby Local Court in September — which triggered a breach of an order previously made over his dog’s previous behaviour.

This week he was sentenced.

Court documents detail how Byron Shire Council labelled a black and sable German Shepherd named Sebastian a menacing dog on December 21, 2018.

Sebastian savagely bit a female dog walker who fell on a Mullumbimby street while trying to protect her dog from the German Shepherd.

Akins was first sentenced to a two-year conditional release order without conviction for owning a menacing dog that attacked a person.

Roger Akins at court over a Byron Shire dog attack. Picture: Savannah Pocock

While he was still subject to that conditional release order, Akins was charged yet again after Sebastian bit a woman who attended Akins’ Ocean Shores home for a planned meeting on March 16 this year.

Court documents detail how the dog ran over from the front yard and started barking at her as the woman opened her passenger car door.

“The dog began snarling and jumped up and began pulling and scratching at her clothes,” it reads.

“It then bit her on the left upper thigh (as) the victim screamed and opened the car door wider to try and push the dog away.”

The dog then retreated and went and sat under a tree about 5m away on the property.

“The victim was shaking uncontrollably and hyperventilating,” court documents state.

“She sat in her car for a few minutes trying to slow her breathing and calm herself down.

“She described the pain in her wound as being intense.”

The victim drove to Ocean Shores Medical Centre, saying she sat on her right side to avoid the pain at the site of the bite.

Court documents state a doctor and nurse treated and dressed the wound and inserted a needle to draw out blood from the resultant haematoma.

The woman received a tetanus shot and an antibiotics prescription.

“The victim was visibly upset when presenting to medical staff and she was given a short-term prescription for Valium,” court documents state.

The victim’s injuries were a painful haematoma, extensive painful bruising, a 10-15cm firm lump at the puncture site, and anxiety.

When a Byron Shire Council staff member went to discuss the attack, Akins said he had not seen the dog get out but conceded there was no appropriate signage at the property about the animal being dangerous.

The maximum penalty for having a menacing dog is $55,000 or four years in jail.

Akins had the dog euthanased of his own accord in April after the latest attack.