Full Breakdown
Airdrie Car Park Attack: Dog Bites Man, Then Stabbed 29 Times
4/28/2026, 2:59:08 AM
Incident Overview
On 28 May 2024, a confrontation in a car park near Airdrie turned violent when two men brandished knives at 37-year-old horse-riding instructor April Brooks. As the men demanded money, Brooks dropped the lead of her two-year-old Irish Blue Staffordshire terrier, Chase. The dog lunged, biting Alexander Gault (42) before a man stabbed Chase 29 times. Gault suffered bites to both arms, lost part of a finger and required a skin graft. Brooks was later charged with owning a dangerously uncontrolled dog and was found not guilty.
Timeline of Key Events
- 28 May 2024 – Men brandish knives; Chase attacks Gault and is stabbed 29 times.
- Hours later – Gault taken to hospital; Chase taken to vet and later dies.
- Following weeks – Brooks charged with owning a dangerously uncontrolled dog; case heard at Airdrie Sheriff Court.
- Verdict – Jury returns not-guilty, releasing Brooks.
Data & Injuries
Chase received 29 stab wounds before dying. Gault sustained bites to both arms, lost part of a finger and required a skin graft; a police officer called the scene a bloodbath with Gault “motionless” amid extensive blood.
Official Findings & Court Outcome
The Airdrie Sheriff Court concluded Brooks was not criminally liable for Chase’s actions. Police testimony confirmed the injuries, but the jury accepted Brooks’ claim that she fled out of fear of being stabbed. The prosecution’s charge of a dangerously uncontrolled dog was dismissed.
Criticism & Opposition
Prosecutors initially portrayed Chase as a public safety threat, labeling the animal “dangerously out of control.” This contrasted with Brooks’ defence that the dog acted protectively. No further dissent appears in the sources.
On-the-Ground Testimony
Brooks testified that the men demanded money, brandished knives and that she fled because she feared being stabbed. She said the courtroom video of the stabbing was the most distressing footage she had ever seen. Gault later said he lost consciousness after the dog’s attack.
Verbatim Quotes
- “'My dog was stabbed 29 times for protecting me and I was forced to watch footage in court' April Brooks faced prosecution because two-year-old Chase, an Irish Blue Staffordshire terrier, bit and badly injured Alexander Gault before being knifed.” — April Brooks
- “Seeing for the first time the video of him being stabbed by that man was horrific, the most heart-breaking and traumatic thing I have seen in my life.” — April Brooks
- “The men had knives and I was terrified.” — April Brooks
- “I just ran because I thought I was going to be stabbed.” — April Brooks
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on Gault’s condition after the attack: Gault stated he “blacked out,” while a police officer described him as “motionless” and drifting in and out of consciousness at the scene.
Implications & Next Steps
The not-guilty verdict highlights the challenges of applying dangerous-dog legislation when owners claim self-defence, and it may shape public debate on how such cases are assessed.
