Court orders dogs that mauled a Winchelsea woman be put down, owners fined

The owners of the two Staffordshire terriers that viciously attacked a woman in Winchelsea have been banned from owning dogs for ten years, while the court has ordered the dogs be put down.

Phophinder Shergill pictured with one of the dogs believed to be behind the attack. Photo: Facebook

A magistrate has ordered the destruction of two dogs that brutally attacked a woman in Winchelsea, leaving her in an induced coma and with horrific ongoing injuries.

At the Geelong Magistrates Court on Tuesday, father and son Phophinder and Dion Shergill were ordered to pay thousands of dollars in fines and compensation and were banned from owning dogs for 10 years.

The pair had been found guilty of being the owners of dogs that were at large and caused serious injury.

Their two large Staffordshire terriers – Buck and Amari – attacked Susan Shaw, who was running along Trebeck Crt before dawn on May 9 last year.

Dion Shergill. Picture: Facebook

Magistrate Ann McGarvie said Ms Shaw’s victim impact statement was “harrowing” and that the woman’s injuries were “some of the worst” she had seen.

The court heard the woman sustained “serious, permanent and life-altering” injuries, including having part of her right ear, scalp, and large chunks of her left back leg bitten off, a broken finger and injuries to her elbows and ankles.

She underwent nine surgeries, including skin grafts and artery transplants and now takes daily pain medication.

The victim and her family, who sat in the second row, were visibly upset while Ms McGarvie outlined the extent of Ms Shaw’s injuries.

Ms McGarvie ordered the dogs to be euthanised, remarking that it was the only way she could be sure “this horrendous attack can never happen again”.

“As a dog lover myself, it is a regrettable part of this job that I have to make decisions that a dog be euthanised, but the primary consideration that I need to take account of is the risk to the community.”

Phophinder Shergill was ordered to pay $7692.40 for owning a dog that attacked a person – the maximum penalty at the time of the incident – while his son Dion was fined $5500.

Ms McGarvie said Phophinder’s culpability was higher than his son’s, because a year earlier, the victim had told him his dog had launched an unprovoked attack on her border collie.

Susan Shaw, 55, with her daughter as she recovers from a near fatal dog attack in May last year. Photo: Supplied

The pair were also fined $300 each for owning a dog at large and $200 each for pleading guilty to failing to register their dogs.

In addition to the fines, the father and son were also ordered to pay pound costs of $20,306.08 and $20,864.85, respectively, and partial costs sought by the Surf Coast Shire for legal proceedings.

The sentencing hearing had to be temporarily stood down at the outset of the proceedings, after the Shergills failed to appear.

The prosecution told the court not to have the matters finalised on the day “would be a great prejudice”.

Ms McGarvie agreed, saying it was “concerning”.

Dion Shergill then appeared late via video link.

He was asked by Ms McGarvie whether his father would be joining the link, to which he replied “no”.

Ms McGarvie said she would commence sentencing without Phophinder.

Originally published as Court orders dogs that mauled a Winchelsea woman be put down, owners fined