Man charged with having two dogs 'dangerously out of control' after woman, 85, killed in attack | The Sun
A MAN has been charged with having two dogs "dangerously out of control" after an elderly woman died in a horror attack.
Lucille Downer, 85, was "dragged round her garden" by two pitbull-type dogs on Good Friday in 2021 after they rushed in through a hole in the fence of her home.
The 85-year-old, who suffered from dementia and had spent most of lockdown isolated, had been looking forward to seeing her family to mark turning 86.
Darren Pritchard, 44, from Merrivale Road, Smethwick, will appear before Dudley magistrates tomorrow following the charges.
He has also been charged with possession with intent to supply and production of cannabis.
Armed police attended the scene, and a dog was seen being carried from a house.
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Cops confirmed the dogs had been "humanely destroyed" after ownership was voluntarily transferred to officers and a conclusion made they could never be rehomed.
In a statement Lucille's family previously 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."
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Locals said she lived alone after losing her husband, but her daughter who lives opposite was “always on hand to help out".
One neighbour said: “She was a lovely lady, she used to work as a cook before retiring and had lived there for fifty years or more.
"We hadn’t seen her much in the past year because of Covid restrictions but what’s happened has shocked everyone in the street. It was horrific.
“She’s has three children, two sons and a daughter but one of her daughters sadly died from an asthma attack about 10 years ago.
Another told The Sun: "The poor woman was dragged around the garden. Her injuries were on her neck.
"They mauled her neck. It's just horrendous. The dogs managed to escape through into her garden."
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