Southend beach dog attack on boy: Rowan Diedrick jailed
A man whose dog attacked a seven-year-old boy on an Essex beach has been jailed for 16 months.
The boy was paddling at Southend on 5 August when he was forced under the water by a Rottweiler and suffered 20 wounds to his torso and arms.
Rowan Diedrick, 29, of Enfield, north London, was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court after admitting having a dog dangerously out of control.
Diedrick was also banned from keeping a dog for 10 years.
The court ordered that animal should be destroyed.
Judge Owen Davies QC, sentencing, told Diedrick: "You displayed a callous disregard for the victim and any remorse you have shown is for your own fate."
Essex Police said Diedrick, of Avenue Road, had been walking two Rottweilers off the lead when one of them had run into the water and grabbed the boy.
The grandmother managed to pull the boy from the dog's jaws before Diedrick left with both dogs.
After undergoing three operations, the seven-year-old has since made a good recovery, police said.
Diedrick, a builder, was arrested after a member of the public identified him from a CCTV clip released by Essex Police.
Outside court, he apologised for his actions.
PC James Crabb said: "Rowan Diedrick allowed his dog to be dangerously out of control on a beach in the height of summer when there were lots of young children around.
"The young boy was lucky not to have been even more seriously injured thanks to the intervention of his grandmother and I would like to praise them both for their bravery."