Aaron Joseph, 30, (pictured) ignored a court order to impose controls on his bull terrier type dog Alex, who had mauled four people in a communal garden outside his flat in separate incidents

A father-of-three who showed an ‘arrogant disregard’ for the safety of his neighbours was yesterday jailed for 10 years after his dangerous dog mauled one of them to death.

Aaron Joseph, 30, ignored a court order to impose controls on his bull terrier type dog Alex, who had mauled four people in a communal garden outside his flat in separate incidents.

Lollipop man David Ellam, 52, who had reported the dog to the authorities, was brutally attacked by Alex on his doorstep after the dog escaped from a pen where he should have been muzzled and chained up.

He screamed ‘help me, please somebody help me’ as Alex shook his leg in her jaws ‘as if trying to sever it’, Leeds Crown Court was told.

Passing sentence, Judge Sally Cahill, QC, described the fatal attack in August 2016 at Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, as ‘nothing short of horrendous’ and said Mr Ellam ‘met his death in a most appalling manner.’

The vicious dog was seen to bite his leg, arm and drag the unconscious victim along the ground, with neighbours who rushed to the scene too scared to tackle the animal.

A policeman eventually used a fire extinguisher to force Alex away, but she then locked her jaws around Mr Ellam’s Yorkshire terrier Rollo, who survived the ordeal.

Joseph, a courier and semi-professional footballer, had a Dog Control Order imposed on him by magistrates four years earlier which meant Alex should have been neutered, micro-chipped, muzzled in public and insured.

The vicious dog (pictured) was seen to bite lollipop man David Ellam and drag him along the ground during the fatal attack in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

Yet he did nothing and the council dog warden only ordered him to abide by the court order five days before the fatal attack.

Police were also investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct because officers seized Alex due to concerns she was a banned pit bull terrier only to return her to Joseph seven days before Mr Ellam was killed.

In her evidence the victim’s devastated partner Claire Josling was asked about the actions of the authorities. She said Mr Ellam ‘didn’t feel they had done enough.’

Mr Ellam (pictured with his dog Rollo) screamed ‘help me, please somebody help me’ as Alex shook his leg in her jaws ‘as if trying to sever it’, Leeds Crown Court was told

In her victim impact statement read in court she said: ‘Dave was loved and adored by all those who knew him. He would do anything for anyone.’

Miss Josling said she has had ‘many sleepless nights’ since his death and remained ‘haunted by these memories.’

‘Dave had everything to live for, it’s simply unthinkable he would die in the circumstances he did.’

Joseph has nine previous convictions for offences including cannabis possession, supply of heroin and possession of an offensive weapon.

When arrested over the dog attack he was found to have £10 of cannabis on him.

Detective Chief inspector Mark Swift read a statement outside Leeds Crown Court with Dave Ellam's family and friends, and his girlfriend Claire Josling (centre)

Joseph was found guilty by a jury of being the owner of a dog who caused the death of Mr Ellam whilst being dangerously out of control.

The judge told Joseph she blamed the fatal attack on ‘your arrogance’ and he could have prevented the tragedy by muzzling his dog as ordered by magistrates.

‘The attack happened because of your arrogant and stubborn disregard for the welfare and safety of others in the community,’ she said.

The judge said Joseph would serve half his 10 year term in custody and also banned him from having custody of a dog for life.

Mr Ellam died after undergoing emergency surgery at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

The subsequent police investigation revealed a long history of incidents involving Alex, who was put down.