EXCLUSIVE

A STAFFORDSHIRE bull terrier called Lennox is to be destroyed after it "tore apart" and killed a tiny chihuahua in front of its terrified owner.

And just two days later the vicious animal sank its teeth into the hands and arms of a woman out walking her cocker spaniel.

Craig McGlone, who was in charge of the dog at the time of the incidents last August, raised his arms as he walked out of Hyndburn Magistrates Court and shouted: "Dog killer. Free."

The 27-year-old, of Warwick Close, Church, had pleaded guilty to two charges of having a dog dangerously out of control in a public place.

He was sentenced to 200 hours community punishment and banned from owning or being in charge of a dog for 10 years.

But the owner of the chihuahua, Pat Britcliffe, of Harwood Road, Rishton, said she was not satisfied with the sentence and McGlone should have been jailed.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, told the court that the defendant was walking along Brook Street, Rishton, when the dog ran off towards nine-year-old Pepe.

She said: "The Staffordshire bull terrier grabbed the dog at the back of the neck. It started shaking it violently from side to side. The defendant came running towards the dogs and he shouted and kicked the bull terrier with his right foot.

"The defendant and the dog ran off. The owner was very upset and in shock."

The chihuahua, which was a rescue dog, died as a result of the attack.

Mrs Britcliffe, 70, later told the Observer: "It all happened so fast. I didn't have time to pick him up. He was bleeding profusely, I was screaming. It was absolutely horrendous.

"McGlone didn't even have the decency to say he was sorry. The dog ripped Pepe's stomach out and he didn't weigh any more than a loaf of bread. I think about him every day."

In the second incident McGlone took the bloodthirsty animal out again without a lead or a muzzle despite what had happened just two days earlier.

A dog owner was walking along Queens Road West near St Christopher's High School with her cocker spaniel Alfie at 11.10am when she spotted the Staffordshire bull terrier running towards her.

The vicious animal scaled a wall believed to be five feet tall and the dog walker scooped her pet into her arms but Lennox continued to jump up and sank its teeth into the woman's hands and arms.

Miss Allan said that there was a scuffle until the dog released its grip and McGlone asked if he should call for an ambulance. The woman refused and the defendant ran off.

Gareth Price, defending, said his client had been looking after the dog for his uncle and wasn't aware that it had aggressive tendencies.

He added: "After the first incident he really should have been more careful. It was negligent not to have taken action but he does seem to have done what he could at the scene.

"It will be a difficult job for me to persuade the Bench that the dog is not dangerous in these circumstances. My client does own a cat so I ask that he only be disqualified from owning dogs rather than all animals."

Chairman of the Bench Dr Michael Bolton said that the offences were serious and the defendant was "grossly negligent" for not putting a lead and a muzzle on the animal.

McGlone was ordered to pay £500 compensation to Mrs Britcliffe, £250 to the other victim and £95 towards court costs.

He added: "No amount of money can compensate Mrs Britcliffe for the psychological distress and loss she suffered when your dog killed hers."