Dogs attack after escape from garden

Three dogs that were dangerously out of control escaped from a back garden and seriously injured a pensioner before attacking others, a court heard.

Michael Hipkins, aged 63, suffered deep cuts to his leg, some of which were more than four inches long, and had to have a skin graft following the attack by the three Staffordshire bull terriers that escaped from Jacqueline Nelson's Tipton home on April 25.

Nelson, 45, of Dick Shepherd Avenue, Tipton, pleaded guilty to three counts of owning a dog which was dangerously out of control in a public place and caused injury at Warley Magistrates Court yesterday.

Mrs Carol Yarl, prosecuting, told the court that Nelson's dogs – Tyson, Kira and Patch – escaped from her back garden.

She said: "At 8.45am a call was received by the police from a member of the public on this bank holiday Monday to say that a male had been attacked by three dogs."

Mrs Yarl told the court that Mr Hipkins, of Tipton, was walking his dog on Upper Church Lane when the dogs ran at him.

Mrs Yarl said the dogs then ran off and two other attacks happened.

She said: "A Steven Hancox phoned the police to say his dog had been attacked and that the dogs were attacking another dog."

His Staffordshire bull terrier suffered neck, face and leg injuries. The dogs then went on to attack Alan Hincks and his greyhound.

Peter Selby defending said: "No-one was more taken aback or shocked than Miss Nelson was at this attack. She was visibly upset and distressed at the variety and extent of the injuries caused by what were her pets."

The dogs have since been destroyed.

Magistrates adjourned the case until July 14.