The owner of a dog nicknamed 'Badman Bruce' made twisted brags about the animal online only months before it mauled a police officer's stomach in a vicious attack. 

Shayla Dalligan, owner of the Belgian Malinois, boasted about her dog being an 'absolute UNIT' in the caption of a video posted to her firm's Instagram page.

In the video, the animal can be seen jumping at the camera, barking and aggressively baring its teeth.

Just months later, Bruce would ferociously bite a plain clothes detective in the stomach in Deptford, London - putting the officer in hospital and leaving them with physical scars. 

On Friday, Rodney King - who was in charge of the dog at the time - was given an eight-month suspended sentence at Croydon Magistrates' Court for the incident. 

King, 66, accepted he was in charge of the dog when it attacked the officer on May 27 of last year, and apologised immediately to the detective. 

Dalligan was not charged with a crime. However, she asked the court to spare her dog from being destroyed, claiming that his behaviour had improved. 

Speaking to the court, the detective described the physical wound from Bruce as 'very painful,' saying the teeth marks from the bite were clearly visible. 

She said he felt 'helpless' during the attack, adding that King did 'nothing' to stop Bruce despite her colleague asking him to take control of the animal. 

The detective - who has not been named - said she walked away after the attack, but felt Bruce 'chase' her down the street. 

In remarks reported by The Sun, she said: 'It felt like I was in slow motion, I knew the danger was there but could do nothing. I have had recurring nightmares of this scenario.

'I have been kept up at night thinking about it and have had flashbacks of the attack.'

Following the attack, the detective needed hospital treatment including vaccinations and antibiotics. 

She still has scars on her stomach from where she was bitten, and told the court she now has panic attacks when coming into contact with Belgian Malinois dogs.

Dalligan asked the court that Bruce be spared from a destruction order, claiming his behaviour since the time of the attack - which occurred when he was six months old - had improved. 

Dalligan, who owns 'dog training and obedience' business Delta Force K9s, said Bruce had 'basic training' with her, but has since been on a month-long course with other trainers. 

She said he has since been trained using an e-collar, and that the trainers have 'turned him around.'

In the months prior to the attack, Dalligan - a self-professed 'experienced dog handler with reactive dogs' - shared footage of Bruce on her Delta Force K9s Instagram page barking aggressively and launching at the camera. 

The post, which was shared in September 2024, was captioned: 'Badman Bruce… five Months Old & An Absolute UNIT.'

On Friday, Judge Kumar ruled that Bruce be put down. 

Rodney King was handed an eight-month suspended sentence and was ordered to pay £720 to the detective in compensation through monthly installments. 

Sentencing King, Judge Kumar accepted he had difficulties earlier on in life and acknowledged he had little financial means. 

King works as a handyman and earns on average £30 per day. 

Judge Kumar said King - who gave his address as DD Scrap Metals Ltd, a scrapyard owned by the Dalligans - also owed much to the 'largesse' of the Dalligan family.