Dog killed to put police off scent

A Nelson man who bought a labrador and had it put down to save another dog that bit a policeman has been sentenced to community work.

Kevin Riley Plant, 25, appeared in the Nelson District Court yesterday after earlier admitting charges of allowing a dog attack, obtaining by deception and fabricating evidence.

Defence lawyer Tony Bamford said a police officer was attacked by a dog that Plant had borrowed to trial as a pig dog.

When police told Plant the dog had to be destroyed it had already been returned to its owner, who "rebuffed him in rather clear terms", Mr Bamford said.

Judge David McKegg said Plant had then obtained a labrador from a young man who could no longer look after it and had it put down.

Plant told authorities the labrador was the dog that had bitten the police officer, and said there was no need to get an order for its destruction, Judge McKegg said.
Mr Bamford said Plant had no similar offending in his past and was remorseful.

For obtaining by deception and fabricating evidence, Judge McKegg sentenced him to 250 hours' community work, to be served concurrently.

For allowing a dog attack he was fined $500.

- NZPA