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Love Island star Jack Fincham avoids jail after appealing sentence for dog biting runner in Swanley

Love Island star Jack Fincham has avoided immediate jail time after appealing his sentence for being in control of a dangerous dog.

The 32-year-old, who won the ITV show in 2018 with Dani Dyer, was given a six week sentence after his black Cane Corse bit a runner.

Love Island star Jack Fincham was sentenced to six weeks in prison after his black Cane Corso bit a runner
Love Island star Jack Fincham was sentenced to six weeks in prison after his black Cane Corso bit a runner

However, after putting a thumbs up to a weeping woman as he was led to the cells at Southend Magistrates’ Court earlier today, he has now been let out after his defence team lodged a successful appeal.

Fincham, from Swanley, pleaded guilty to two counts of being in charge of a dangerously out of control dog, with one of the incidents causing injury.

Prosecutor Erin Peck said the dog, called Elvis, bit Robert Sudell in September 2022.

She said that Mr Sudell had accepted an apology and Fincham was going to be cautioned and engage with a responsible dog ownership course.

She said conditions were made including that his dog must be muzzled, but in June last year there was a second incident in Grays in Essex when his dog was out of control and he was later charged.

Jack, pictured with Cane Corso, Elvis, was released on bail after a successful appeal from his defence team. Picture: Instagram/Jack_charlesf
Jack, pictured with Cane Corso, Elvis, was released on bail after a successful appeal from his defence team. Picture: Instagram/Jack_charlesf

Presiding magistrate Anne Wade, sentencing, said that Fincham was subject to a suspended sentence order at the time of the incident in Swanley.

The order, for an unrelated driving matter, was of 12 weeks custody suspended for 18 months.

Ms Wade said this order would be activated in part, adding that “we find no reason not to do so”, and jailed Fincham for six weeks.

She said: “The dog was in a public place not abiding by the conditions to be muzzled and kept on a lead.”

Fincham was ordered to pay £3,680 in total, including a £2,000 contribution to kennelling costs, a fine of £961 and £200 compensation to Mr Sudell.

Richard Cooper, for Fincham, said the defendant “has no savings”.

Ms Wade said Fincham could pay in instalments, initially at £400 per month.

She made an order that the dog must be muzzled in public places, be kept on a lead and not be left alone with anyone under the age of 16.

Fincham was previously banned from the road after hitting a traffic island in his BMW while under the influence of cocaine.

The TV personality, who has more than 1.7 million followers on Instagram, was at the wheel of his blue BMW in Old Bexley Lane when a woman travelling behind his car called the police because of the poor manner of his driving.

Commenting on the sentencing, Sgt Alex Watkins of Essex Police, said: “Owners have to take responsibility for their dogs, and on these occasions this dog was dangerously out of control.

“On both occasions the owner was given a chance to rectify their behaviour with words of advice and a conditional caution - however failed to do so, resulting in this sentencing.

“I thank both victims for their courage during this investigation.”

Fincham was told he must report to Grays police station every Friday and will need to appear at Basildon Crown Court for his bail application hearing.

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