Top dog show judge cleared of assault at South Wales Chihuahua Club show in Markham

A chihuahua club secretary has been cleared of assaulting a woman during a fracas between two pensioners at a dog show at Markham Leisure Centre.

Respected dog show judge Dr Geoffrey Curr was accused of assaulting 65-year-old Irene Jennings in a dispute over £20.

But at a Newport Magistrates hearing on August 20, District Judge Richard Williams said that witness statements claiming Dr Curr had pushed Mrs Jennings into a puppy pen and manhandled her out of the room were “inconsistent”.

The argument took place at a South Wales Chihuahua Club show, of which Dr Curr is the secretary, at the leisure centre on November 2 last year.

At a previous hearing, Dr Curr, a Kennel Club appointed judge, denied the accusations and refuted evidence given by a number of witnesses.

A “fuming” Dr Curr, who has been secretary of the club for 15 years, claimed Mrs Jennings stole £20 of raffle money in lieu of money owed to her for gifts bought for judges at a previous show.

Mrs Jennings, who was not competing at the Markham show, said Dr Curr pushed her into another woman, Angela Aylett, who was holding two puppies and had to be stopped from falling backwards into a pen.

The court heard how the pair’s relationship had soured following the death of the club’s founder in April last year.

Dr Curr said: “Before that I couldn’t have thought more highly of her. She was kind of like a dream committee member but in 2014 I began to notice she began criticising me personally and the committee in general.

“Irene was going behind our backs with criticism but she wouldn’t raise it at committee meetings.”

Mr Jennings told the court she asked Dr Curr for the money she was owed and he said “I don’t see why not”, before “taunting” her with a £20 note.

She said: “He took the £20 note out of the tin and waved it under my nose and said ‘no I don’t think I will, you can wait for a cheque’.

“I said ‘no I don’t think I will’ and took it from his hand.”

Victoria Thomas, prosecuting, said that Dr Curr then went over to her, grabbed her from behind and “pushed her, causing her to fall into two women”.

She said he then “frogmarched her out of the room” while shouting at her.

Justin Amos, defending, said Mrs Jennings’ statements and her evidence in court did not give a consistent account of events.

Dr Curr, of Agnes Road in Acton, Ealing, denied taunting Mrs Jennings with money and having any physical contact with her.

He said she stumbled over and was trying to stamp on his feet as she left the room.

Three witnesses said they did not see any contact between Dr Curr and Mrs Jennings.

Finding Dr Curr not guilty, Mr Williams said Mrs Jennings had an agenda.

He said: “It is clear that she intended to cause a scene at the dog show.

“Her evidence cannot be taken at face value and cannot be relied upon.”

Dr Curr did not wish to comment after the trial.

Mrs Jennings said she was disappointed with the outcome.