Fine for Colwyn Bay dog owner who grabbed walker by the collar while fearing her pet was being snatched

Shirley Lovesey Preston, aged 67, of Cherry Tree Lane, Colwyn Bay, admitted common assault on Stuart Noakes at the seaside town in December.

District judge Gwyn Jones at Llandudno court fined her £400 and she must pay £400 compensation and £125 costs.

Judge Jones said the defendant had reacted “inappropriately” at a time when people were to keep a safe distance from each other due to the pandemic.

Prosecutor James Neary said Mr Noakes had been walking on the beach with a friend and two spaniels but then wanted to go on the promenade.

They noticed Lovesey Preston’s dog had followed them and their pets and had been worried that it might get run over by traffic on the promenade.

Mr Noakes had picked up the defendant’s bulldog at one stage.

But Mr Neary said Lovesey Preston had shouted from about 100 metres away, approached the two friends, accused them of being “irresponsible,” and became angry.

She grabbed Mr Noakes’s jacket and shook him and swore, her face being close to his, the prosecutor said.

“He was shocked by her behaviour. She was aggressive and threatening.

"This happened with members of the public about,” Mr Neary said.

Lovesey Preston had dialled 999 to complain to police about the innocent victim “taking” her dog but had accepted getting hold of him “by the scruff of the neck.”

She was of previous good character.

Defence solicitor Simon Sargent said his client had thought her dog was being snatched and had been “panic-stricken.”

Lovesey Preston had been walking two dogs on the beach but one had undergone surgery and was less mobile.

Her other dog caught up with the victim but he was walking at quite a fast pace.

“The distance between the defendant and her dog was increasing.” Mr Sargent said.

His client had become increasingly anxious and she saw the dog picked up.

He declared:”What happened on that day is totally out of character for her.”