Darren Pritchard: Bulldog owner charged 2 years after Lucille Downer, 85, was mauled to death
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND: A man has been charged nearly two years after an 85-year-old great-grandmother was mauled to death in her garden by two American bulldogs. Lucille Downer died after being attacked by Darren Pritchard's dogs in the back garden of her home in Boundary Avenue, Rowley Regis, near Birmingham, on April 2, 2021.
West Midlands Police stated the old woman sustained “multiple” injuries in the attack after the dogs escaped from a neighboring property through a hole in a fence. Reportedly, neighbors rushed to Downer's home to offer help but the woman was found dead at the scene. The ownership of the American bulldogs, which are not a banned breed in the UK, was voluntarily transferred to the police and both of them were euthanized following the attack. Pritchard was arrested at the time in connection with the horrific attack. He was held on suspicion of being the person in charge of a dog that went dangerously out of control. Pritchard was later released on bail, as per BBC.
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Pritchard facing charges for owning two dangerously out-of-control dogs
On Monday, March 20, the police said that Darren Pritchard, 44, is now facing charges of being the owner or person in charge of two dogs dangerously out of control, causing serious injury which resulted in death. Pritchard of Merrivale Road, Smethwick, has also been charged with possession with intent to supply cannabis, and production of cannabis. He is scheduled to appear at Dudley Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.
'Miss her dearly'
Downer's family paid tribute to her, saying that they would "miss her dearly." They said: "Lucille was a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who spent her working years as a cook at Bromford House Care Home in West Bromwich. Lucille was born in Jamaica and emigrated to the UK in her early 20s. Since arriving in the UK, Rowley Regis has always been her home and her family will miss her dearly."
The Dangerous Dogs Act bans four breeds in the UK including the Pit Bull terrier, the Japanese Tosa, the Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro.