A man who shouted racial abuse at a stranger before repeatedly kicking his dog and letting it attack a police officer has been jailed.
Michael Izard, 52, shouted racist and inappropriate language towards a man stood on the platform at Shadwell station on Sunday, March 8.
He then ordered his pit-bull type dog to attack the man before trying to punch him, a court heard.
A member of station staff asked Izard, of Cassilis Road on the Isle of Dogs, to put his dog on a lead but was then verbally abused.
Izard then proceeded to argue with a woman and kick his dog multiple times before police arrived, Snaresbrook Crown Court was told.
British Transport Police attended and tried to restrain Izard, but his dog became aggressive and bit two officers, dragging one of them to the floor.
The court heard a woman who had been travelling with Izard managed to restrain the dog by putting a harness on it.
Izard was eventually traced to his home address where he was later arrested.
Detective Sergeant Dan Holmes said Izard’s language and actions were “appalling” and the terrifying incident was witnessed by families and children.
He added: “The officers who were there to deal with the situation were unfortunately injured not to mention shaken up by the whole incident.
“We take animal cruelty extremely seriously, and will not tolerate any type of violence or abuse on the railway network.
“BTP will take every action to ensure that people who abuse the transport system are dealt with.
“I hope the sanctions imposed by the judge on Izard will give him time to think about his actions in prison.”
Izard was jailed for a total of 30 months for six offences on September 10.
He was sentenced to 21 months for affray, 18 months each for two counts of racially aggravated section 4 under the public order act, nine months for a dog dangerously out of control in a public place and four months for commons assault, all to run concurrently.
He was also sentenced to a further nine months for a second charge of a dog dangerously out of control in a public place, to run consecutively.
In addition, Izard was banned from keeping a dog for 10 years.
