THE owner of an XL Bully who launched a “campaign of abuse” against the cop that shot her dog dead after it got loose has avoided prison.
Sophie Zaherali’s dog Ghost was shot three times by a police marksman after it escaped from her house in Wisewood, Sheffield, on December 7 last year.
Cops armed with shotguns responded after receiving a 999 call about a dangerous dog on the loose after reports the hound had bitten a woman’s arm and acted aggressively towards another person walking their dog.
When they arrived at the scene, Ghost, who was three years old and weighed nine stone, charged towards an armed officer.
The police gunman, who had an “awareness of the nature of the breed”, shot Ghost three times, bringing the pooch’s rampage to an end.
It was later discovered that the hound had not injured anyone and 31-year-old owner Zaherali branded the police “murderers.”
She proceeded to launch a social media “campaign” aimed at identifying the officer responsible for gunning down the out of control mutt.
The cop that shot Ghost, referred to as A35, has been granted anonymity after the shooting but Zaherali shared images online in an attempt to identify them.
The firearms officer gave evidence during a trial at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court in October earlier this year.
During the trial Zaherali admitted a charge of malicious communications in relation to her social media conduct.
She was also found guilty of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control.
Yesterday, Zaherali was sentenced to a 24-month community order at the same court, avoiding a jail term.
District Judge Tim Spruce said he believed Zaherali’s social media conduct was “borne out of grief and a desire to get justice for Ghost.”
He also said he believed her to be a “responsible pet owner” and rejected calls from the prosecuting solicitor to ban her from keeping animals.
Judge Spruce said the case was “unusual,” stating that a “combination of circumstances” led to Ghost being shot and killed.
He told the court that Zaherali was attending to a child with vulnerabilities having a medical emergency when Ghost got loose.
Judge Spruce said she was “preoccupied” and a “faulty lock” to the door of the property allowed Ghost to get out and roam the streets.
He also acknowledged the court had no evidence to suggest Ghost was “behaving aggressively,” or that the police marksman dispatched to the scene witnessed him acting in such a way.
However, he noted that whilst evidence of aggressive behaviour was not present, there were still circumstances that would have allowed the officer to “conclude he was dangerous.”
They included the two reports made to police that an XL Bully had become loose, causing concern to members of the public.
In addition, Judge Spruce said the officer had an “awareness of the nature of the breed” and the level of harm the dog was “potentially capable of.”
Judge Spruce said: “The fact the dog ran towards the officer, there were circumstances to conclude he was dangerous.
“Having shot and killed Ghost, the officer was then subject to a campaign on social media, effectively asking for him to be exposed, identified and dismissed from his job.”
Judge Spruce said the malicious communication charge, which Zaherali pleaded guilty to on the day of her trial in October 2025, was the more serious charge.
He said: “The problem with social media is that matters can very quickly escalate because they are not confined to those individuals making those comments.
“Clearly, Sophie Zaherali had her reasons for making those comments, but others reading it can interpret them very differently indeed.”
Judge Spruce told the court that the officer had not been identified due to the “risk” to him and his family from those who may interpret the comments made by Zaherali negatively.
Judge Spruce said there had been no repetition of the “type of behaviour” in December 2024 and January 2025 which led to Zaherali being charged with a malicious communications offence.
Other mitigating factors highlighted by the judge included the fact the family had experienced the loss of a “beloved family pet.”
“I understand that Ghost was a stabilising factor to your personal circumstances,” he said.
Judge Spruce also said he believed the offences committed by Zaherali were “out of character.”
Referring to Zaherali’s pre-sentence report, Judge Spruce said it was clear she had taken the opportunity to reflect and would “wish to do things differently if the clock could be turned back.”
As part of Zaherali’s community order, Judge Spruce ordered her to complete a 40-session rehabilitation activity she was also ordered to pay £614 in costs.
It has been an offence to own an XL Bully dog in the UK since February 1, 2024, for owners who do not have an exemption certificate and fail to adhere to strict conditions around muzzles.
