Police commissioner candidate bitten on election day

Attacker has furry face

Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner candidate Alison Hernandez suffered a dog bite on election day.

She tweeted a picture of her bandaged finger after a visit to the minor injuries unit at Newton Abbot Hospital.

Ms Hernandez was seeking re-election to the job she has done since winning the vote in May 2016.

She was delivering leaflets in Paignton when she was bitten on the hand.

Ms Hernandez was given antibiotics and later praised the care she received at the hospital when she arrived at the Assembly Room in Torquay on Thursday night where votes were verified.

“I’ve been campaigning since 2008 and this is the first time this has happened,” she said.

She said in her tweet: “Highlight of Election Day is my first ever dog bite! In over 10 years of delivering leaflets I’ve never had one. Only minor and @NHSquicker a great app to check waiting times at A&E and MIU. Strongly recommend it and Newton Abbot MIU were fantastic! @TorbaySDevonNHS”.

The votes in Torbay for the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall election were being verified on Thursday night, ahead of the count taking place on Monday.

Ms Hernandez is being challenged again by Labour’s Gareth Derrick, a Plymouth councillor who came a close second in 2016.

The Liberal Democrat candidate is Brian Blake, a former police officer. 

The Green Party contender is Stuart Jackson, who worked as a training officer with Devon and Cornwall Police.

Alison Hernandez wants a second term as police and crime commissioner