Owner guility over Willenhall dog attack

A Japanese Akita dog attacked a woman in a communal area of flats in Willenhall, leaving her needing 14 stitches, a court was told.

Victim Elizabeth Smith was heading for the garden with her two Staffordshire bull terriers, magistrates heard.

The 22-year-old defendant, Nicole Smith, denied allowing the Japanese Akita, named Munch, to be dangerously out of control at the block of flats where she and the victim live in Bloxwich Road South. But she was found guilty after a trial yesterday at Walsall Magistrates Court.

Mr Van French, prosecuting, said the defendant's dog had attacked Elizabeth Smith in the communal area of the flats where she was with her own two dogs.

Mr French said one of Mrs Smith's dogs was 14 and blind, while the other was scared of other dogs.

"As she opened the door to let her dogs out, which she says where on leads, the Japanese Akita came from the area where they keep the rubbish bins and immediately came straight at Elizabeth Smith," he said.

Giving evidence, Mrs Smith said the Japanese Akita had not been on a lead and Smith was nowhere to be seen when it happened.

She told the court Smith's partner tried to get the dog off her when it attacked and Smith later offered help.

Mrs Smith said she received 14 stitches at hospital, and added: "I still get pain when I bend my arm."

Defending Smith, David Grice suggested Munch had been on a lead. He said Mrs Smith's younger dog, however, was not on a lead and had attacked Munch by biting it on the neck.

But magistrates said Smith's claim was not credible and found her guilty before adjourning the case. Smith will be sentenced at the court on June 6.

By Lisa O'Brien