Conwy: Man jailed after pet dog bit three-year-old girl

A man has been jailed for a year after his large pet dog bit a three-year-old girl on the forehead, narrowly missing her eye, a court heard.

Anthony Desmond, 43, had been warned by police five days earlier about allowing the pet to run loose.

He admitted being the owner of a dangerously out of control Cane Corso on 26 May last year outside the Magpie and Stump pub, in Towyn, Denbighshire.

The young girl could have lost an eye, the court heard.

Simon Killeen, defending Desmond, said his client had been at the pub with his dog, named Frank, on a lead and had repeatedly warned the child not to go near the dog.

Mr Killeen said: "This isn't an irresponsible dog owner."

Thomas McLoughlin, prosecuting, said the girl had to be taken to hospital after the attack, which took place during a family fun day and had left her screaming and crying.

Desmond, of Kinmel Bay, Conwy, was arrested two days later.

"He told police 'you are not taking my dog' and attempted to close the front door," Mr McLoughlin said.

The dog was seized and remains in kennels at a cost of £3,795.

The judge, Recorder Wyn Lloyd Jones, told Desmond there were two wounds to the girl's forehead, including one which "narrowly missed" her left eye.

"She could have lost one of her eyes", he said.

The court heard that on 1 April the dog had been seen running loose, and on 21 May police had given Desmond a warning.

Recorder Lloyd Jones said to Desmond: "Dogs that are dangerously out of control are a serious problem in our society. They kill, they cause injury, sometimes serious.

"Those like you who are the owners and keepers of dogs bear a heavy responsibility towards the public if the dog is taken out in public - the dangers posed can't be overstated.

"This offence is so serious only an immediate prison sentence is appropriate. A suspended sentence wouldn't be sufficient punishment for what happened that day."

Mr Killeen indicated Desmond would appeal against the sentence, and a decision on destroying the animal was adjourned.