![\"Joel](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEI_248288300-9e66.jpg\")
\n\t\tJoel Bapaga had bought the dog on the morning of the attack (Picture: Birmingham Live\/BPM MEDIA)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tJoel Bapaga had bought the dog on the morning of the attack (Picture: Birmingham Live\/BPM MEDIA)<\/p>\n
A \u2018fighting dog<\/a>\u2019 ran from its drunk owner and viciously attacked a four-year-old boy. <\/p>\n Joel Bapaga \u2018stood by and did nothing\u2019 when the Cane Corso pounced on the youngster, Birmingham Crown Court<\/a> heard.<\/p>\n Shortly before the assault, the 49-year-old had been drunkenly stumbling down the road in Newtown, Birmingham<\/a> with his dog off the lead.<\/p>\n The animal spotted the child, who was playing with a ball in his front garden, sprinted over and bit him several times.<\/p>\n The child\u2019s father and other family members frantically tried to pull the dog off the boy while Bapaga failed to intervene. <\/p>\n They managed to get the youngster away from the animal but he was left with injuries to his head, hip, buttocks, and leg. <\/p>\n He was taken to hospital, where he received stiches and also underwent surgery. <\/p>\n Doctors said the boy was left traumatised by the attack, which happened on the afternoon of July 13, 2023. <\/p>\n \t\t Bapaga had paid \u00a380 for \u2018a fighting dog\u2019 that morning, the court heard. It was later destroyed. <\/p>\n Bapaga was arrested and later pleaded guilty to two charges of owning a dog that caused injury while dangerously out of control.<\/p>\n Speaking at his sentencing on Thursday, Judge Andrew Smith KC told him: \u2018You passed by with a large black dog. I am satisfied you were drunk and not in control.<\/p>\n \u2018It ran into the front garden and bit [the victim] on multiple occasions including the head.<\/p>\n \u2018While his father and family members looked to protect him from the attack, you stood by and did nothing.<\/p>\n \u2018He also sustained injuries to his hip, buttocks and thigh. He remained in hospital for a number of days.\u2019<\/p>\n The judge said the family were terrified the boy might die when they saw the attack unfold. <\/p>\n Papaga escaped jail following his early guilty plea and mental health assessments and was instead sentenced to a hospital order. <\/p>\n The court heard he had suffered a brain injury and PTSD after being attacked in 2021.<\/p>\n \t\t The judge said: \u2018In prison you would not have access to the special neurological rehabilitation you will be receiving.<\/p>\n \u2018I am satisfied a hospital order is the most suitable.<\/p>\n \u2018You will remain in hospital until specialist doctors in charge of your treatment decide you are safe for release.\u2019<\/p>\n Bapaga, described as \u2018not a fit and proper person\u2019 to have custody of a dog, was also banned from owning one for 14 years.<\/p>\n The dog, also scratched the boy\u2019s father when he tried to intervene and stop the attack.<\/p>\n Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n For more stories like this, <\/strong>check our news page<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEI_248288364-3bc3.jpg\")
\n\t\tA Cane Corso, similar to the one that attacked the boy (Stock picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Joel](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEI_248277564-1f79.jpg\")
\n\t\tBapaga outside Birmingham Crown Court (Picture: BPM Media)<\/p>\n
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