The owner of a dog which mauled a toddler has been handed a suspended jail term. Lee Lewis left Staffordshire Pitbull-type dog Marnie with the two year-old in a communal garden.
Bristol Crown Court heard there had been no previous concerns about the pet. But, for no clear reason, it turned on the child and bit her face.
Lewis, 50, of Ashley Road in St Pauls, pleaded guilty to be the owner of a dog which was dangerously out of control. Judge Julian Lambert handed him a six months jail term, suspended for two years.
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The judge told him today (Tuesday, September 6): "No matter how well behaved that dog might have been you had no business leaving a dog of this type anywhere near a little girl. It was wholly irresponsible.
"The risk involved there is in the name of the dog [breed], Staffordshire Bull Terrier. That dog should never have been out with a little child and you were responsible for it happening as its owner."
The judge imposed a six-month curfew requiring Lewis to be at home on an electronic tag from 9pm to 4.30am. A hearing assessing whether or not the pet should be destroyed was put off to a later date.
Emily Evans, prosecuting, said Marnie and the child had often played together without difficulty. She told the court that when the youngster went to get her trike, Marnie lunged at her and bit her in the face twice.
The girl's mum managed to pull the pet away and police were called, Miss Evans said. The girl suffered puncture wounds to her cheek and some 11 teeth marks to her face which, it is feared, could leave her indefinitely scarred.
The dog was seized from the scene. It remains housed in kennels.
Lewis told police he didn't witness the incident. But he took full responsibility and expressed some remorse, the court heard.
Matthew Comer, defending, said: "He is horrified that his dog Marnie has injured a child. His dog has never exhibited aggression to him, his family or to any children before.
"The incident did happen. Mr Lewis is at a loss to explain why it happened."
The judge told the court: "Dogs are unpredictable around little children."
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