A WOMAN whose dog attacked another dog and injured its owner has been fined £250 at Bolton Magistrates Court.

Lauren Horn, 27, a cardiology technician, of Holden Mill, Blackburn Road, pleaded guilty to being in charge of her dog Reuben, a 10-year-old English bull terrier, which was dangerously out of control in Longworth Lane and injured dog walker Craig Howarth on November 27, 2016.

Prosecuting, Jiro Asafa said at the time of the attack at 4.15pm, Mr Howarth had been walking his Alsatian-type dog along a path when he heard some rustling from nearby bushes and a border collie came running towards his dog, at which point he slapped the dog lead on the ground and the collie crouched into a stalking position.

Miss Asafa said: “He then hears Miss Horn calling the dog before hearing yet more rustling, and the dog which carried out the attack came from the bushes and bit Mr Howarth’s hand, leaving puncture marks, before attacking his dog by grabbing hold of it.

“Miss Horn asked Mr Howarth what was going on and he told her that he had been attacked and his dog had also been attacked. Mr Howarth said in his statement that Miss Horn didn’t seem very concerned.”

Miss Asafa added: “Mr Howarth took his dog to the vet for treatment and said the injury to his hand had meant he had been unable to work since the attack.”

Defending, Elizabeth Evans said that Miss Horn had been walking her dog and the collie owned by her mother along a privately owned field off the leash when they had got out on to a neighbouring field.

Miss Evans said: “It’s where Miss Horn keeps horses and because it was dark she was confused as to where the dogs were but they had got out of the field, so that is the nub of how it happened.

Looking at the photographs of the injuries to Mr Howarth, district judge Mark Hadfield said: “It’s a nasty-looking injury and the fact is he has not been able to go back to work.”

Miss Horn was fined £250 and ordered to pay compensation of £250 with £85 costs.

The destruction order of the dog will now be contingent on the dog being no further problem in the future and when it is outside it must be on a lead, muzzled and under the control of an adult.