CONVICTED (2019) | career criminal William George Sheen, born 1996, of no fixed abode, but originally from the Merryweather Estate in Ringwood BH24 1UL and with links to Bournemouth and Salisbury – hit a police dog with a large tin of baked beans.
Sheen admitted arson, assaulting an emergency worker and causing unnecessary suffering to a service dog.
The court was told he had been causing a disturbance at the pub on Old Christchurch Road when staff called the police.
Officers from Dorset Police said they found him in a dry storage area of the kitchen shouting “Let me out” before waving a metal object at them and refusing to leave.
A fire was seen coming from the store and Sheen was heard to say “Go away – this place is going to go up”.
The fire service was called to extinguish the flames and a police dog, called Gus, was also sent to the scene.
In a statement, Dorset Police said: “Sheen began to throw items at the officers, including bags of flour and commercial-sized tins of baked beans.
“One of the tins struck PD Gus on the head, stunning him and causing him to back away.”
Police then used a Taser to subdue Sheen and he was arrested.
Ch Insp Heather Dixey confirmed Gus and the police officers involved did not sustain any lasting injuries and are back on active duty.
She added: “This case yet again demonstrates the danger that can be faced by officers and police dogs while dealing with hostile and volatile incidents.”
Sentencing | jailed for six months.
Update | February 2023
Sheen was jailed for 28 months after being convicted of a series of burglaries in the New Forest area. His address was given in court as Clarks Close, Ringwood.