A DOG was cleared of biting a woman on a tricycle after a judge heard the pooch was too fat to attack anyone.

Granddad Francis Thorley, 84, was with pet Mishka when the rider was left needing stitches to her leg.

2 Portly pup Mishka has been deemed morbidly obese by vets Credit: Cavendish Press

Andrea Ostholt was in a park with her terrier cross Woody attached to the trike by a lead. She claimed she was bitten on the right calf when Mr Thorley’s 7½st Alaskan Malamute bounded over snarling.

But he told the judge sitting at Manchester magistrates’ court his treat-loving dog had been deemed “morbidly obese” by vets and was too fat to attack.

The retired company boss said: “She didn’t get aggressive until that dog was snapping at her. She can’t run, she gets out of breath.

“She is not a fast dog. Mishka didn’t bite that lady.”

2 Francis Thorley and his dog Mishka a 7½st Alaskan Malamute Credit: Cavendish Press

District Judge Mark Hadfield found him not guilty of having a dangerously out-of-control dog. He said: “I cannot correctly decide which dog did bite the victim. Both were snapping at each other like dogs do.

“I don’t accept Mishka was being aggressive.”

Mr Thorley, of Chorlton, said his pet was now on a diet.