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A woman and her dog were injured after being "stalked" and set upon by two Staffordshire Bull Terriers that had escaped from their home the night before.

Alison Graham was walking her 11-month-old Labrador, Lenny, in Eston when they were approached by the Staffies near Lodge Farm Road.

The two dogs, which belonged to Karen Woodall, were initially playful.

But they soon got "out of control", shortly before Lenny was "pinned down" on September 15.

Ms Graham was also "grabbed by her hair" by one of the dogs as she attempted to get into her car.

Woodall, of Wilton Way, Grangetown, appeared at Teesside Magistrates' Court on Tuesday where she pleaded guilty to being the owner of a dangerous dog.

At the hearing, prosecutor, Natalie Robinson said Lenny was "off the lead" during the walk when two Staffordshire Bull Terrier-cross dogs - one white, the other black - approached.

The court heard that the white Staffy was called "Zack" and the black Staffy was called "Zeus".

"She was expecting them to be good natured", Ms Robinson said.

"The white dog was chasing Lenny around as the black dog was jumping at her (Ms Graham) and grabbing her coat."

But things soon took a dangerous turn, when Zack "pinned" Lenny to the ground.

"The black dog was biting her coat and not letting go", Ms Robinson said.

"The dogs were getting out of control."

Ms Graham then shouted for Lenny, who was getting "pinned by the neck", while Zeus continued to bite her coat, ripping chunks from it.

At that moment, she began to shout for help and ran back to her car.

In a panic, she dropped her car keys, but when she bent down to pick them up, Zeus grabbed her by her hair.

She managed to get into her car, but Zack jumped inside as Zeus was controlled by a passer-by.

Ms Graham sustained only minor scratches to her foot but the incident left her shaken.

In statement, she said she no longer wanted to walk Lenny and that the incident was "terrifying".

She said the dogs "stalked" her back to her car and she had to pay over £100 for a vet bill to treat her pet.

Zack and Zeus were then tracked down by police, and Woodall was found to be their owner due to their microchips.

The 45-year-old accepted she was the owner and that they had escaped from her home the night before when she was putting a pizza box in the bin and had spent the night looking for them.

She said the dogs were "daft as a brush" and insisted neither were aggressive and were good with children and the elderly.

She said she was shocked by what happened and wanted to apologise to Ms Graham.

Andrew McGloin, defending Woodall, described Zack as "boisterous" and that both dogs were "well controlled".

He said Woodall had expressed "deep regret and remorse".

He added that he did not think the dogs had "stalked" Ms Graham but did say that Woodall and her husband "acknowledge it must have been very distressing."

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The court was told that the extent of Lenny's injuries were not known but that Woodall was a "responsible owner" and intended to give Ms Graham "flowers" and "write her a letter".

"She could not be more remorseful or contrite", Mr McGloin added.

Woodall was fined £415 and ordered to pay £126 costs.

She must also pay £207 compensation.

Zeus will have to be muzzled and remain on a lead when out in public in future.