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A dog owner said by a judge to have 'not had the guts' to turn up to court following a savage attack in which a toddler was horrifically mauled and scalped is finally behind bars.

Michael Thornton went on the run on the day he was expected to be sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court last month.

The 27-year-old had admitted being the owner of a dog which caused injury while dangerously out of control in a public place.

The court heard the animal, which was a banned pitbull-type, clamped its jaws on the head of the 18-month-old girl as she played in a park in Jenkins Dale, Chatham, with her sister on April 4 last year.

The dog, called Max, was being walked by a 15-year-old girl at the time. She had been paid to do so with cannabis by Thornton and his girlfriend Hayley Eldridge.

The 29-year-old mum of three, of Gorse Avenue, Chatham, admitted the same charge, as well as one of perjury, and was jailed for a total of 25 months when she appeared in court for sentencing on October 10.

Thornton, of Ryde Close, Chatham, was jailed in his absence for two years by Judge David Griffith-Jones QC, who also issued a warrant for his arrest.

'Appalling' history of not attending court

Police finally caught up with him in his hometown yesterday (November 6) morning and he was hauled before the same judge.

But having admitted an offence of failing to surrender, and being told he had an 'appalling' history of not attending court hearings, Thornton was ordered to serve 28 days consecutive to the two-year sentence - just one day more than the 27 he had spent at large.

The judge told him although he had again 'deliberately tried to delay justice', a lengthy sentence was not necessary.

"You didn't have the guts to turn up to your sentencing hearing on October 10. This was deliberate behaviour on your part, your attempt to delay the inevitable day of reckoning," said Judge Griffith-Jones.

"In light of your failure to attend it is important to mark that failure by an additional term of imprisonment. But I don't feel it necessary to impose a particularly lengthy term.

"I impose the shortest term I feel I properly can in all the circumstances, and these circumstances include your appalling record of numerous failings to surrender and failures to comply with other court orders. That is a substantial aggravating factor."

Thornton will serve half his total jail term less 26 days spent on tagged curfew.

(Image: Daily Mirror)

Todder's scalp could not be re-attached

The court heard on a previous occasion that the dog had been repeatedly struck in its face with a chain by the teenager shortly before it attacked the toddler.

Her injuries were so severe that she faces years of surgery. Her scalp could not be re-attached and her skull has been left exposed until she is old enough for a skin graft.

The dog, described as aggressive by people living in the area, had to be shot by police marksmen at the scene. Tests later revealed it to be a banned breed under the Dangerous Dog Act.

It had only been owned by Thornton and Eldridge for six days and they told police they thought it was a Staffordshire bull terrier cross.

The perjury offence related to Eldridge lying during a family court hearing that she was not facing a charge over the dangerous dog.

The teenager who walked the dog pleaded guilty at a hearing in the youth court in October last year. She was handed a 12-month supervision order and ordered to carry out 150 hours' unpaid work.

'My little girl does not deserve what has happened to her'

The court on that occasion heard a victim impact statement from the toddler's father in which he spoke of how the incident had 'changed my family's life forever'.

He said: "I'm angry, I'm very angry. My little girl does not deserve what has happened to her.

"I do not understand how and why this happened to my little girl. I do not understand how the owners have let this happen, how did they let this happen to my little girl?

"We have years of hospital visits when we should be taking our daughter to children's parties."