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A man being attacked by a neighbour's dog tried to fend him off with a clothes basket, a court has heard.

The Staffordshire bull terrier managed to sink his teeth into the man's leg in the garden of a block of flats - leaving a nasty gash which needed stitches.

A court has issued a destruction order for the dog - and a judge has issued a warning to owners that they are under a duty to ensure their pets do not cause harm to other people.

Swansea Crown Court heard the incident took place in an outdoor communal area of a block of flats in the Sandfields area of Port Talbot on May 4 last year.

Danielle Lodwig, prosecuting, said on that morning one of the residents was hanging out his washing when David Eugene Maloney's dog - called Sid - began growing and snarling at him.

Nothing further happened on that occasion but later that day, as the man was collecting his washing from line, the dog again ran towards him, and began "barking, snarling and growling".

Miss Lodwig said the frightened man picked up a washing basket to try to fend off the Staffie, and began calling to Maloney asking him to get his pet under control.

The dog then bit him on right the ankle.

The following day the victim went to Neath Port Talbot Hospital's minor injuries clinic but because of the depth of wound doctors transferred him to Morriston Hospital where the bite was stitched under local anaesthetic.

In his subsequent interview 47-year-old Maloney said Sid had "slipped his lead" on the evening in question and, though he hadn't actually seen the biting taking place, he didn't think it was a prolonged incident.

The prosecutor said Sid had been taken away by South Wales Police following the attack, and the cost to the force of kennelling him up to the point of the court hearing was £3,660.

She applied to the court for a dog destruction order.

Maloney, of Harvey Crescent, Sandfields, Port Talbot, had previously pleaded guilty to being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control which caused injury when he appeared in the dock for sentencing.

The court heard he has two previous convictions for three offences - including two for drink-driving - but none relating to animals.

Probation officer Polly Smith told the court Maloney was struggling with alcohol misuse and mental health issues, and was seeking help from the Welsh Centre for Action on Dependency and Addiction in Port Talbot.

Hywel Davies, for Maloney, said his client was a man of "little means" living on benefits, and he said he would not oppose any orders sought by the prosection.

Judge Geraint Walters described the wound inflicted by the dog as "a very unpleasant injury", and he said it was clear Maloney was not in a state to properly look after the Staffie.

He said: "I am the first to recognise dogs provide much joy to those who choose to keep them - but those who do choose to keep them must realise they have a duty to ensure the safety of the public.

"Dogs should be cared for by people capable of proving proper control. People need to be responsible. There are too many people who seem to make excuses when it comes to caring for dogs. The obligation is on the owner."

Maloney was sentenced to three months in prison suspended for 12 months, was ordered to complete a rehabilitation course, and was banned from keeping dogs for 10 years.

The judge also issued a dog destruction order.

Judge Walters said given the defendant's means it would not be appropriate to order any compensation to the police for the cost of the kennelling, a sum he described as "hideous".