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A woman whose mastiff-type dog attacked another dog walker has avoided a prison sentence.

Tina Hope, 37, ended up in the dock facing the prospects of both imprisonment and the destruction of her dog after the nasty attack.

She shouted a warning at the walker to “pick your dog up” as he walked past her home.

The owner picked up his smaller dog, but Hope’s two-year-old Presa Canario dog grabbed on to his back and sunk its teeth into his arm, causing three or four deep wounds.

Prosecutor Emma Atkinson said: “He describes that the dog tried to drag him to the floor.

“He felt excruciating pain and could feel the dog’s teeth ripping through his skin through his coat.”

Hope came out and stopped the attack, saying “bad dog” and taking the pet inside her home on Londonderry Road, Primrose Hill, Stockton at about 10.50pm on February 20.

The victim’s injuries were stitched and he was in hospital for two days.

He felt helpless and had difficulties looking after himself and caring for his father, Teesside Crown Court heard today.

He said in a statement he felt he could no longer walk his dog at night and was “constantly on edge”.

His injuries are healing and no longer affecting his mobility.

The dog stayed with Hope, who also looked after a 10-year-old dog, with no reported incidents since.

Hope admitted having a dog dangerously out of control which caused injury - an offence carrying a maximum five-year jail term.

It breached a two-year suspended prison sentence from 2016 for a money laundering conspiracy.

She was one of four people who sent thousands of pounds to drugs kingpin Jonathon Moorby from the UK while he hid out in Thailand. He was given a 15-year prison sentence in his absence while on the run.

(Image: Evening Gazette)

Duncan McReddie, defending, said Hope was distressed by the attack and showed real remorse for her “momentary lack of attention”.

He said: “It cannot be emphasised too much how much Ms Hope regrets this incident.”

He said the dog belonged to her son, she was a “reluctant custodian” and usually let it out in the back garden, enclosed by a high fence.

“On this evening the front door was open and the dog made a bid, if you like,” added Mr McReddie.

“It went out of the front door unexpectedly. She immediately shouted to the complainant and she ran out to stop the attack.”

He said the RSPCA did not seek the dog’s destruction and Hope was working with an ex-military dog trainer, with their approval.

Judge Peter Armstrong told Hope: “For some reason you let it out of the front. Your dog jumped on his back.

“Then your dog latched on to his arm and bit him badly.

“You witnessed this and no doubt that was traumatic for you as well. You pulled the dog off him, got the dog inside and kept it inside.

“I don’t think this incident could reasonably have been foreseen by you.

“It was something that occurred on the spur of the moment, a momentary lapse of control or attention.

“The RSPCA have indicated that your level of care and control of your dogs is satisfactory.

“I’m quite satisfied that you’re still a fit and proper person to have control of the dog.

“I’m concerned to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”

He gave her a one-year community order with 15 days’ rehabilitation activity, and ordered her to pay £500 compensation to the victim.

He made a 10-year “contingent destruction order”.

The dog will not be destroyed as long as it is neutered in six months, muzzled and on a lead before going out of the front door and Hope completes the dog training.