Tyson’s owner Julie Dent, aged 48, of Pearson Street, Stourbridge, was fined £250 at Dudley Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Dent, who admitted being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control and causing injury, was also ordered to pay £150 compensation to Shabana Aforze, who needed three stitches for the injury caused by the eight-year-old family pet.

Mr Roger Bleazard, prosecuting, said that at about 9pm on October 5 Mrs Aforze was outside her home in Pearson Street when she saw the brown and black Rottweiler was unattended.

As she turned round to go inside the dog jumped up behind her and knocked her on to her knees.

“He bit into the left side of her buttocks and she screamed out in pain,” said Mr Bleazard.

A friend came to help Mrs Aforze, who was in shock, get to her feet.

In her statement Mrs Aforze said: “Julie came round and said it was not a bad bite, but my friend said it was deep.

"An ambulance was called and I was taken to Russells Hall Hospital.”

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Afraid

She said she was now seriously afraid of the dog and scared to go outside

Mr Bleazard said the dog was seized by police and was now in kennels where it had continued to be aggressive.

Mr Sarbjit Singh Lalli, defending, said that Dent, a mental heath support worker, was of good character and the conviction might impact on her future employment.

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He said she wanted to have her pet back and was more than willing to follow any ruling.

Deputy District Judge Liz Harte said; “This was an awful incident and I’m not surprised the neighbour is now frightened.”

She made a contingent destruction order on the eight-year-old dog.

She said it was in effect a ‘suspended sentence’ on Tyson.

“Provided you as the dog owner or anyone in charge complies with the requirements the sentence of destruction will not be carried out.

“At the first sign of something going wrong then the order will be carried out. The dog will be seized by the police and at that stage destroyed,” she warned Dent.

Whenever Tyson is outside, including in the garden, he must be on a lead and muzzled.

The dog must also be microchipped and Dent must take out third party insurance with a reputable pet insurer.

Dent has two months to comply.