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These are the dog owners who have been taken to court after their pets injured others while out of their control.

Their dogs hurt innocent people or other animals and it is the owners who have had to pay the price by appearing in the dock.

The Dangerous Dogs Act applies to all dogs and their owners and makes it illegal for a dog to be "out of control" or to bite or attack someone.

Legislation on dangerous dogs demands that an out-of-control dog be destroyed unless the court is satisfied it doesn't present a danger to the public.

In the following cases, most of the dogs were allowed to keep their lives after pleas were heard to save them.

Here are some of the dangerous dog cases heard in North East courts over the last few months:

Owner said "stop being daft" after rottweiler attacked walker

Keith Docker had been walking his partner's two rottweilers at Newton-by-the-Sea, in Northumberland, when one of them attacked a fellow walker.

(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

The animal, called Winnie, bit the victim on his thigh but, when Docker was told what had happened, he kept walking and said "Don't be daft, don't be silly", a court heard.

Docker, of Dunstan Hill, Dunstan, near Alnwick, was later interviewed by officers and admitted his dog had bitten the victim in July last year.

The 65-year-old was fined £500 and ordered to pay £50 compensation after he admitted having a dog dangerously out of control and causing injury.

As well as fining Docker, District Judge Begley also ordered that Winnie be muzzled and kept on a lead in public.

Rottweiler attacked and killed Yorkshire terrier during walk

A dog owner was taken to court after his rottweiler attacked and killed a Yorkshire Terrier.

The Yorkshire Terrier, called Archie, was on a lead walking with its owner along Sycamore Street, in Ashington, when the incident took place in June.

The woman saw two Rottweilers coming towards them and one of them attacked Archie.

The animal suffered wounds on its side and back legs and later died of its injuries.

James Sexton, the owner of the rottweilers, was accused of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury.

The 40-year-old, of Sycamore Street, Ashington, pleaded guilty to the offence at South East Northumberland Magistrates' Court.

Magistrates were persuaded to spare the pet's life and Sexton was ordered to pay £600 in compensation to the woman as well as £85 in court costs.

An order was made requiring Saxon to keep his dogs muzzled and on a leash in public places, and ensuring his garden and home remained secure. Sexton was also asked to put up signage saying "beware dangerous dogs".

Escaped rottweiler attacked smaller dog and bit woman

A dog owner avoided an immediate jail term and a ban on owning pets after his escaped rottweiler attacked a smaller dog and bit a woman who tried to help.

Mark Henderson pleaded guilty to being the owner of a dog which was dangerously out of control after the incident in April last year.

A court heard the rottweiler, Bruce, had bitten someone in a previous incident and was the subject of a court order that it must wear a muzzle.

A visitor to Henderson's home in Blyth had left the back door open and the dog escaped, attacking a Shih Tzu dog and a woman who tried to bring him under control.

Henderson, of Brookside Avenue, Blyth, was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay £250 compensation to the woman who was bitten, Lorraine Kelly.

The court heard Henderson, 33, had already taken the "very difficult decision" of having his pet put to sleep.

Dog show judge's 'cuddly dog' bit delivery driver

A dog show champion whose "very large" out-of-control dog bit a delivery driver was fined.

Brandon the Bernese mountain dog was ordered to wear a lead and a muzzle outside the house, but he was allowed to live.

(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

Last March, a delivery driver for Boots visited Marian Scott's home with a package of prescriptions. But when her elderly cousin answered the door, her two dogs, Brandon and Brett, leapt at the visitor.

The driver was left with a "gaping hole" in his elbow, and a puncture wound in the hip, before dog championship judge Scott, 67, appeared and was able to call the dogs off.

Scott, of West View, Low Eighton, Gateshead, was fined £80 and ordered to pay £250 in compensation to the delivery driver.

She was allowed to continue to keep dogs after magistrates agreed she was a responsible owner.

Brandon was made subject to a Contingent Destruction Order, putting him under certain conditions to ensure he doesn't pose a danger.