Dog owner Jayden Smith pleads not guilty in case against Kempsey Council

A man who previously pleaded guilty to having an attack dog known as Sassa – and repeatedly allowing it to escape on the Mid-North Coast – has reversed his plea.

Smith appeared in Kempsey Local Court on Thursday.

A man who previously pleaded guilty to having an attack dog known as Sassa – and repeatedly allowing it to escape on the Mid-North Coast – has reversed his plea.

Jayden Smith represented himself at Kempsey Local Court on Thursday when he pleaded not guilty in the convoluted case.

A ranger representing Kempsey Shire Council, the prosecuting authority in the matter, was also in court before Magistrate Juliana Crofts.

Smith had previously pleaded guilty to several charges in relation to Sassa including three charges of being the owner of a dog that attacks a person.

He had also pleaded guilty to three charges of failing to prevent a dog from escaping.

Jayden Smith at Kempsey Local Court on April 10.

A Kempsey Shire Council ranger at court for the case of Jayden Smith.

Now a plea traversal application has been granted and he has entered pleas of not guilty to all charges.

The matter has been listed for a two-day hearing at Macksville Local Court on May 19.

Kempsey Shire Council has specific laws and regulations concerning dangerous dogs under the NSW Companion Animals Act 1998.

A dog may be declared dangerous if it has attacked or killed a person or animal, or has repeatedly threatened to attack or chased a person or animal without provocation.

Penalties in relation to breaches of laws and regulations under the act can be very harsh.

Smith told the court on Thursday he had already paid more than $6000 in fines for matters for which he had previously pleaded guilty.

But Ms Crofts said it was not her place to provide legal advice and ultimately set the hearing date for May 19 with the direction that if he did not attend in person the matter would be dealt with in his absence.

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