TWO Hornsey men have been sentenced to five years behind bars after setting their pitbull dogs on police officers in two savage attacks. Judge Simon Carr said he hoped the sentence would deter other young men who use dangerous dogs as a weapon or status s

TWO Hornsey men have been sentenced to five years behind bars after setting their pitbull dogs on police officers in two savage attacks.

Judge Simon Carr said he hoped the sentence would deter other young men who use dangerous dogs as a weapon or status symbol.

Mehmet Koc, 19, and Matthew Joannou, 20, both of Newland Road, were walking back from a Wood Green kebab shop, on September 1, 2009, when they set their pitbulls on an off duty police officer.

Tim Horgan, prosecuting, told Wood Green Crown Court that PC Scott Tiffin had just finished a long shift policing the Notting Hill Carnival and was returning to his car at 4.45am when he was attacked.

Another police officer was attacked when he came to his colleague's aid and spoke to the defendants near the New River Housing development.

Both police officers suffered serious injuries in the attacks and will have permanent scarring.

In sentencing the defendants, Judge Carr said PC Scott Tiffin suffered "absolutely horrific" injuries in the attack and believed that he might die.

He added: "This was one of those cases sadly receiving more attention at the moment where young men have some sort of bizarre and almost incredible belief in status symbols and get big, powerful, aggressive dogs which somehow make them feel bigger and more important."

He banned the defendants from keeping dogs for 10 years and ordered the pitbulls to be destroyed.

For the full story see the Ham&High Broadway on Thursday April 8.