Dog walker tells how his bulldogs caught 13-year-old ‘rapist’ as he carried out a ‘citizen’s arrest’

A dogwalker has credited his two dogs for helping to stop the alleged rape of a woman in a London park and detain a 13-year-old suspect at near the scene.

Sid Costello was walking his two American XL Bulldogs through Winn’s Common in Plumstead on Tuesday when his dogs pulled him towards a bush because they heard a noise.

It was at that point that a 35-year-old woman fled from the bushes and claimed she had been sexually assaulted by two men.

Mr Costello, who believes the dogs disturbed the incident, said he immediately put himself and his dogs between the woman and the suspects and made as if he would let his dogs go after them.

Dog walker Sid Costello (pictured) praised his American XL bulldogs for interrupting a sexual assault in Plumstead on Tuesday night and helping to detain a 13-year-old suspect nearby

The 35-year-old woman was allegedly raped by the suspects in bushes at Winn’s Common in Plumstead on Tuesday before Mr Costello managed to detain the teen. Pictured: the scene 

The 29-year-old, who works for the local council, said one suspect fled the scene while the other tried to jump over a car but slipped and after a short chase was detained nearby.

With the help of his two dogs, Pablo and Menace, the suspect was detained by Mr Costello under a citizens arrest until the police arrived. 

Speaking to the Evening Standard, Mr Costello said:  ‘I’m not a hero. They both are as far as I’m concerned.

‘I love them they are my babies, I say I have three boys at home: two dogs and my son.

‘They are always kissing each other. They came back home after and went to bed like nothing had ever happened.’

The suspect was arrested and taken to hospital where he was treated for a dog bite to the finger before being taken to custody.

Mr Costello added: ‘It was just a scratch – if my dog had actually bitten him, he would need to have his wrist reconstructed.

‘My neighbours were all egging me on to let the dogs loose on him but I knew they would be put down if they hurt him badly and I love them.’

The 29-year-old says his dogs, who have their own Instagram channel, are proof that there are no such thing as bad dogs, only bad owners. 

Pictured: Pablo and Menace helped Mr Costello detain a 13-year-old rape suspect in Plumstead

A spokesperson for the Met Police said: ‘Police were called shortly before 11pm on December 21 to Lakedale Road, SE18, to reports of a rape of a woman by two males.

‘Officers attended. It was reported that a 35-year-old woman was raped by two males in bushes near to Lakedale Road SE18.

‘A member of the public, who was walking his dog, disturbed the suspects and assisted in detaining one of them at the scene.

‘The detained male, aged 13, was arrested on suspicion of rape and initially taken to hospital to be treated for an injury to his finger caused by a dog bite, before being taken into custody.’

The boy, 13, was released on bail with a date to return in mid January. 

The Met Police said their enquiries are ongoing.