Pensioner dies after 'pit bull' attack

A pensioner has died after being attacked by a pit-bull type dog that had escaped from his neighbour's garden, police said today.

Widower Leslie Trotman was bitten on the right leg and knocked to the ground in the back garden of his home in Rowan Road, Brentford.

The 83-year-old former Booth's Gin distillery maintenance engineer was given emergency treatment for bites and bruising at West Middlesex Hospital in Isleworth following the attack on January 23. Police were called and their investigation became a manslaughter inquiry after Mr Trotman was found dead in his terrace house by son Stevan on January 29.

A post-mortem examination revealed that the pensioner had suffered internal bleeding from a ruptured spleen. A police spokesman said: "Officers believe Mr Trotman's injuries were sustained during the attack by the dog."

A man in his thirties was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter yesterday and later released on bail. Three dogs have been seized from an address in Rowan Road.

Derek Hinton, a former school caretaker who lived next door to Mr Trotman for more than a decade, said: "He was a lovely man and a damn good neighbour to me. His wife Doris died about four years ago which left him really cut up but he soldiered on in his own quiet way."

Another former neighbour said: "It's terribly sad. His neighbours' dogs used to really worry him. They used to get out of the garden and we'd often see them running loose, barking and leaving a mess everywhere.

"They'd come into his garden and he'd be afraid to go up to his own front door. They were big dogs and he always said he was scared one of them would do real damage one day." Stevan was too upset to comment.

Anyone with information should call police on 020 8721 4054.