Man pleads not guilty to three offences related to XL bully attack

A 61-year-old man has denied being in charge of an XL bully which caused injuries to an 11-year-old girl and two men.

Farhat Ajaz is alleged to have been the owner or person in charge of a dangerously out of control dog, named Tyson, in the Bordesley Green area of Birmingham on September 9 last year.

Ajaz, of Bordesley Close, Birmingham, was granted conditional bail at the city’s Magistrates’ Court on Monday, and ordered to appear before a Crown Court judge next month.

District Judge David Wain was told that Ajaz, who pleaded not guilty to three counts of being in charge of a “dangerously out of control” dog which caused injury, did not attend court last week because he was unwell and had problems with his breathing.

The identity of the 11-year-old girl, who suffered shoulder and arm injuries and spent a night in hospital, is protected by a court order.

Two men also suffered injuries in the incident.

Adjourning the case against Ajaz after the Crown opted not to seek a remand in custody, District Judge David Wain told Ajaz: “I am imposing a condition of residence that you reside at the address you have given to the court.

“Secondly, you are not to be in possession or in control of any dog.”

Ajaz, who appeared in court beside the dock using a pair of crutches to support himself, was bailed until the next hearing, scheduled for March 25.

West Midlands Police have said the dog remains in secure kennels.