Officer scarred for life after man sets dogs on police outside home

An officer was left scarred for life after a man ordered his dogs to attack police outside his home.

William Gauley, 27, instructed the Bullmastiffs to pounce on officers in Glasgow’s Easterhouse on October 10, 2021.

The police were arresting his brother when Gauley appeared with a knife and meat cleaver.

Gauley stated: “What do you think of this?” before releasing dogs, Boston and Shadow.

One officer suffered three bites on the thigh while another was bitten once.

Shadow and Boston also attacked police dog Diesel during the melee.

Gauley pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to assaulting constables Ryan Plunkett, Martin O’Neill and David Craig.

He also admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, being in charge of a dogs that were dangerously out of control as well as the unlawful possession of a knife and meat cleaver in a public place.

The court heard officers were dealing with Gauley’s brother before he appeared at the front door of his property.

Prosecutor Carrie Stevens said: “He brandished a ‘Rambo-style knife’ and a meat cleaver.

“He brandished them above his head and shouted to police ‘what do you think of this?’ before releasing two dogs.

“He shouted ‘f****** get them’ directly indicating for the dogs to attack the officers.”

Gauley moved towards them with the weapons.

He then threw the meat cleaver which narrowly missed an officer.

A second taser strike was carried out and Gauley fell to the floor.

Ms Stevens added: “During the arrest of his brother, PC Plunkett received three bites from white and tan dog, Boston, in the inner thigh area resulting in several wounds.

“He was treated with eight or nine stitches and will leave permanent scarring.”

The officer also suffered a tooth puncture to his thigh and a bite mark was clear.

Ms Stevens added: “PC O’Neill was bitten to the rear right thigh by the other dog, Shadow.

“Both Shadow and Boston attacked police dog, Diesel, that was in attendance, biting it.”

Batons were used to free themselves and Diesel from the dogs, who then tried to bite PCs Martin Bannerman and Thomas Canning.

Shadow and Boston were transported to kennels, where they remain to this day.

Marisa Borland, defending, told the court that the dogs belong to Gauley’s brother who will appeal the Crown’s destruction order, if granted by sheriff Iain Fleming.

It was stated that the dogs continue to display aggressive behaviour in the kennels.

Sentence was deferred until next month pending background reports and Gauley’s remand in custody was continued in the meantime.