Out of control pit bull terrier savaged woman's leg and attacked other dogs in Seacroft street as residents ran for cover

The dog's owner, Kelly McFaul, was given a suspended prison after a court heard how residents had to run for cover to avoid being attacked by the dangerously out of control animal on Asket Drive, Seacroft.

Leeds Crown Court heard McFaul had previously been given warnings over the way she looked after the pet

A judge ordered that the dog be destroyed as he sentenced the 37-year-old mum after she pleaded guilty to two offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

Joseph Bell, prosecuting, said the incident happened on January 30 this year at 6pm as a woman was out walking two husky dogs.

Mr Bell said the woman saw a small brown dog running towards her and was not wearing a collar.

The animal circled the woman and her two pets and began snarling and bearing its teeth.

The husky suffered a cut as the pit bull tore a mouthful of fur from its leg.

Mr Bell said the woman kicked the male pit bull to try to make it go away bit it then attacked her.

It sunk its teeth into the back of her leg and bit the victim for around one minute.

The dog then let go of the woman but continued to circle her.

A neighbour in the street managed to get the dog into a garden but it jumped over the fence and attacked another dog being walked by a man.

The prosecutor said the pit bull bit into the animal's back.

The dog owner managed to get his pet to the safety of a nearby garden.

Another resident on the street had to jump on top of his car to avoid being attacked.

A dog legislation officer was contacted and confirmed the dog was a pit bull terrier breed.

The officer said he had had "previous dealings" with the dog.

McFaul was interviewed by police and confirmed it was her dog.

She admitted the dog had escaped after someone had left the door open at her home.

McFaul accepted that the her property should have been secured to prevent the animal escaping and that it should have been muzzled in public.

The defendant claimed the woman must have provoked the animal to make it bite her.

McFaul, of Asket Drive, pleaded guilty to one count of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control, causing injury, and one count of having possession of a fighting dog.

The court heard the animal had been seized in 2015 and made the subject of a contingent destruction order under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

The order included McFaul keeping the animal on a muzzle when in public and ensuring that her property was secure so it could not escape.

Two months after the order was imposed McFaul was issued with a non-compliance notice.

McFaul was given a 22-month sentence, suspended for 18 months.

She was also ordered to complete 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Judge Malcolm Davis-White QC ordered that the dog be destroyed.

The judge said: "In this particular case I am not satisfied that this person is a fit and proper person to be in charge of the dog.

"The reason I say that is because of the history of the case."

Michael Walsh, mitigating, said: "In her police interview she suggested that her son had gone out to school and had left the door unlocked, enabling the dog to escape.

"How it happened is irrelevant.

"What is relevant is that it happened and she is the person entrusted with ensuring that it did not happen."