No home for home detention

The owner of a dog that mauled a 12-year-old boy at a rugby game was sentenced in the Auckland District Court this week - only to have the sentence quashed hours later.

The address where Melvyn Toko had been sentenced to serve home detention was found to have been sold. The earlier decision was rescinded and Toko released on bail. Resentencing has been delayed until March 15, to give probation staff time to find another suitable address.

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Toko had been sentenced on several charges related to the dog attack, as well as burglary, car theft and driving while disqualified.

His Staffordshire bull terrier cross attacked a boy in November 2007 at a touch rugby game in Panmure. It should have been muzzled in public after previously biting a woman known to Toko. MORE>>