Darren Zolotto, 48, of Chifley, sentenced after dangerous Great Dane, Zue, attacked former cop
A man out on his morning walk in Canberra’s southern suburbs thought he was going to die when a dangerous Great Dane owned by a schizophrenic former drug addict set upon him. WARNING: Graphic photos.
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A man out on his morning walk in Canberra’s southern suburbs thought he was going to die when a dangerous Great Dane owned by a schizophrenic former drug addict set upon him.
Darren Zolotto, 48, pleaded guilty in Canberra Magistrates Court on Thursday to failing to comply conditions of a dangerous dog and keeping a dangerous dog that attacks a person.
The dog, Zue, was destroyed a week after it attacked former police officer Malcolm Thorp on August 1 last year.
Mr Thorp, in a victim impact statement, said he “thought he was going to die” when he was on the ground with Zue on top of him, teeth sunk into his back.
Zue, Mr Thorp said “had the appearance of a crouching lion ready to attack” before it leapt towards his neck.
Mr Thorp raised his arm to protect himself and Zue bit deep into his bicep, resulting in a serious blood clot.
Mr Thorp was also left with permanent scars to on his back.
His injuries left him nearly $5000 out of pocket saw him miss the funeral of a former police colleague, which he said he still felt a deep sense of guilt over.
Zolotto’s lawyer, James Maher, said his client accepted he was responsible for Zue’s attack on Mr Thorp.
“Zue had issues, there’s no doubt about that, he’d been declared a dangerous dog,” Mr Maher said.
“If (Zolotto) could go back in time and change what happened he certainly would have done that.”
Mr Maher said Zolotto’s mental health issues meant he should not be used as a “vehicle” to send a message to other dangerous dog owners.
Magistrate James Lawton said to Zolotto: “This is a difficult matter. You have heard how much pain and suffering you have caused Mr Thorp.”
He said Great Danes were known for being “quite large” but not for being an aggressive breed.
He said there was little point fining Zolotto, a former motor mechanic and storeman who is now on a disability pensioner.
Mr Lawton sentenced Zolotto to an 18 month good behaviour bond and ordered he pay $4480 to Mr Thorp, although it could take years for the money to come through.
Outside court, Mr Thorp said: “How is it for the last two and a half years the ACT government allowed him to own a dangerous dog?”.