A co-chairman of York City FC has spoken of his relief after he was acquitted of two dangerous dog charges.
Matthew Uggla, 31, has paid £4,800 compensation to a man allegedly injured by his dogs, York Crown Court heard.
He has also agreed to observe a series of conditions aimed at keeping his dogs under control and avoiding risk to visitors to his property at Kexby, east of York, for 12 months.
“The parties (in this case) have come to their senses,” said Judge Simon Hickey as he bound Mr Uggla over for 12 months and formally acquitted him.
Mr Uggla denied two counts of having a dog that allegedly injured a man when dangerously out of control in May 2024.
One related to a German Shepherd dog and the other to a Saint Bernard dog.
When he agreed to the bind over order with conditions, the prosecution offered no evidence on both charges and he was formally acquitted.
“I think it got blown up out of all proportion,” Mr Uggla said as he left York Crown Court at the end of the case. He said he felt good and promised his dogs would be kept under control.
He said he has not spoken to the complainant in the case since the incident that led to the charges.
Mr Uggla was charged last autumn and had made two other court appearances before he was acquitted.
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Defence barrister Sean Smith had been prepared to ask Judge Simon Hickey to throw the case out on the grounds that it was an abuse of process.
But on the day he was to make his application, he revealed that prosecution and defence lawyers had been discussing the case and together proposed a way of resolving it without having a trial.
“Someone at last has seen sense," the judge said as he approved the proposal.
The conditions to the bind over order are: that Mr Uggla’s dogs wear a basket muzzle allowing them to eat, drink and pant, and are kept on a secure lead at all times; that he keep his dogs in secure conditions that they cannot escape from and does not allow them to stray; that he keep his property boundaries secure to prevent any visitors being at risk from the dogs; and that he keeps the peace.
If he breaks any of the conditions in the next 12 months he can be brought back to court and be made to pay up to £100.
