A dog walker was in charge of seven dogs when they repeatedly attacked two people and their pets, a court has heard. Terrance Peckham, 67, known professionally as ‘Terry the dog walker’, was walking a pack of dogs near Brighton Racecourse in Sussex during two attacks in 2021. Peckham was described as “notorious” among Brighton’s dog walkers, as he appeared before the court charged with having “dangerously out of control” dogs.
The walker appeared before Brighton Magistrates’ Court this week following two incidents in which people and their dogs were injured during attacks.
The court heard the first incident was in November 2021, when a man and his cockapoo were injured near the Sussex racecourse.
On a second occasion, again near the racecourse, he was walking seven dogs in when another man was attacked, causing injuries to his arms and legs.
The same man was attacked shortly afterwards again by dogs in Peckham’s care.
Both he and his dog were bitten in the second attack.
A spokesperson for Sussex Police said a witness had “described Terry the dog walker”, adding this suggested Peckham was “well known in the area”.
Police arrested Peckham, of Walpole Terrace in Brighton, with three counts of having dogs dangerously out of control and causing injury.
He pleaded guilty to all three counts and was given a three-year criminal behaviour order restricting the number of dogs he can walk to two at a time.
The order stipulated that the dogs must be muzzled and kept on a maximum of one-metre lead.
The court also handed him a six months suspended prison sentence that would activate if the order is breached.
Speaking following the ruling, Inspector Gemma Firth said Peckham was “notorious among dog walkers in Brighton for his flagrant disregard for their safety”.
Inspector Firth added: “His lack of control over his dogs endangered walkers and their animals, resulting in multiple injuries and risking much more serious consequences.
“This behaviour order should send a clear message that we will use all the powers available to protect the public and, should Peckham breach this order, he faces a jail sentence.
“I would like to commend the officer in charge of this investigation for their dedication and commitment to building a case of such strength that Peckham felt he had no choice but to plead guilty.”
