Cannock Chase dog owner's £900 bill for bite attack
A dog owner whose pet mastiff bit a woman while she was out exercising her own animals has been handed a court bill of more than £900.
But magistrates have said the eight-year-old dog can live after hearing that it had never injured anyone before and was normally well behaved.
They also took into account how distressed owner Liam McClean was following the attack by his dog Bruno in Cannock Chase.
The 32-year-old residential support worker was 'distraught' and had instantly gone to the victim's aid, a court was told.
Sharron McCann was taken to hospital with two puncture wounds to her forearm and treated with antibiotics and a tetanus jab.
Mr Chris Stapleton, defending, said: "It was extremely upsetting for him and extremely upsetting for the lady involved. His immediate concern was for her."
McCLean had gone to Brocton Coppice on New Year's Eve after the car park at nearby Marquis Drive was full. Bruno and another dog, Zeus, had been in a cage in the back of his car for 90 minutes as he drove home from visiting relatives, Cannock magistrates heard. When he released the dogs from the boot they bolted before he managed to attach a lead to their harnesses. Bruno bit through Ms McCann's coat sleeve.
McClean, of High Street, Norton Canes, admitted being the owner of a dog that was dangerously out of control in a public place at an earlier hearing. Sentencing was put off until Monday for reports.
Mr Stapleton said McClean had owned the dog since it was a puppy. He added: "He hadn't ever behaved in this manner before. My client blames himself for what happened and would be heartbroken if anything happened to the animal as a result but appreciates the dog did bite someone. It was a split-second incident and my client quickly had the dog back under control."
The prosecution confirmed that McLean had no convictions recorded against him. He was given a £300 fine, ordered to pay £500 compensation to the victim and told to pay £115 court fees. A contingent destruction order was placed on the dog which means it can be destroyed if it is found in public without a lead or muzzle and in a car without being secured to prevent it jumping out.
