A WOMAN has been spared an immediate sentence of imprisonment – despite being in charge of an out of control dog that injured a man.

Taia Ryder was also sentenced over a separate incident which saw her smuggle drugs into prison, only to be caught with her hand down an inmate’s pants.

The 26-year-old appeared before Chester Crown Court on two indictments – one containing a charge of being in charge of dangerously out of control dog that caused injury, and the other of bringing a ‘list A’ prohibited article into prison.

The details of Ryder’s offending were outlined by Martyn Walsh, prosecuting the case, who told the court how the former incident occurred on the afternoon of May 14, 2021.

Cheshire Police attended Ackers Lane in Stockton Heath after receiving reports of an incident.

A 46-year-old man was reported to have suffered serious injuries to his upper body and leg, with it alleged at the time that he was stabbed eight times and bitten on the calf by a dog.

Ryder, along with another suspect, were later charged in connection with the incident.

The pair denied all charges and appeared before Chester Crown Court to stand trial.

A jury delivered verdicts in August which saw Ryder found not guilty and acquitted of charges of affray, wounding with intent and wounding without intent.

The court did however convict her of being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury.

The same jury found the other suspect not guilty and acquitted him of all charges he faced, namely affray, wounding with intent, wounding without intent and possession of a bladed article in a public place.

Taia Ryder was sentenced at Chester Crown Court

Taia Ryder was sentenced at Chester Crown Court

The drug matter occurred on May 26 when Ryder went to HM Prison Risley to visit an inmate, with all prisoners searched before entering the visiting area.

The defendant was then seen in close proximity to an inmate by a prison officer, before putting her hand down his waist.

A search revealed the presence of cannabis, which drug experts estimated had an in-prison value of £2,300 – with this being the lower value.

Before sentencing, judge Simon Berkson remarked that the only sentence he could pass was a custodial one due to the severity of the offences.

However, he was persuaded to suspend the sentence of imprisonment with a view to making her undertake unpaid work.

Ryder, of John Road in Lymm, was sentenced to 22 months in prison suspended for 18 months.

She was also ordered to complete 40 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 200 hours of unpaid work, as well as pay a victim surcharge of £156.

In addition, the court made a contingent destruction order for the dog involved in the Stockton Heath incident – a mixed-breed dog named Milo – on the grounds that on doing so, the dog ‘would not constitute a danger to public safety’.

Such orders prevent the dog’s destruction, provided that the conditions imposed are met, and these can include muzzling while in public.

The court also approved an order for the forfeiture and destruction of the cannabis seized during the prison visit.