A dog owner has been prosecuted after his pet Rottweiler bit a six-year-old boy at Carlisle's Hammond's Pond.

Stephen Banton, 32, admitted being the owner of a dog - named Maximus - which bit the boy while it was dangerously out of control on March 14.

Carlisle's Rickergate Magistrates Court heard that the defendant, from Cant Crescent, Upperby, had been in the park with a relative at around 6.30pm as the boy played on a zip wire.

It was after the defendant handed the dog's lead to the young person he was with that Maximum became excited, and escaped, before jumping up at the child, and biting him on his lower back.

The boy had to be treated at the A&E Department of The Cumberland Infirmary and given a course of antibiotics. He had also suffered a psychological reaction, and was not afraid of large dogs, the court was told.

Sean Harkin, for the defendant, said: "Police are satisfied that the dog does not present a danger."

He said at the time it was effectively a pup, being just seven months old. "There was no previous history of aggression," added the lawyer.

Magistrates imposed 100 hours of unpaid work,and told the defendant he must pay the injured boy £200 in compensation.

They also imposed a contingent destruction order, saying that Maximus would not be destroyed provided he is muzzled and on a lead whenever he is in a public place, and properly controlled. The defendant must also pay £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.