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A dog owner whose pet became out of control and bit a man has been fined.

Daniel-Andrea Ioan, 60, of Buckles Lane in South Ockendon, Thurrock, pleaded guilty to owning a Doberman and German Shepherd mix dog which injured Raja Iqbal in the Maritime Heritage Centre car park in Bristol on September 24.

Bristol Magistrates' Court heard the 18 months old pet, called Rana, went out of control and bit Mr Iqbal on his right thigh.

They fined Ioan £280 with costs of £85, imposed a victim surcharge of £30 and compensation of £100.

And they ordered that the dog must be muzzled and kept on a lead in public, which includes in the owner’s car.

Nicole Miebai, prosecuting, told the court Rona ran around the car park and could not be kept under control for some 20 minutes.

Mr Iqbal was walking to work and was unnerved when the seemingly aggressive dog got near his leg before biting him on his right thigh and drawing blood, the court heard.

At the time Ioan told Mr Iqbal the dog was "just playing" with him.

(Image: Dave Betts)

Miss Miebai said a police dog handler tried to control the pet before firearms police, a helicopter and a Bristol City Council dog handler turned up and cornered and seized the dog.

Mr Iqbal was advised to attend hospital.

Police said Ioan did not seem to grasp the seriousness of what had occurred.

Caighli Taylor, defending, said her client accepted the dog was dangerously out of control and regretted what happened.

She said Ioan had spent the previous night working as a security man and he had put the dog in the car and not walked her due to rain.

When the dog jumped out of the car she was “excitable,” Miss Taylor said, adding that when Mr Iqbal “batted” the pet out of the way she bit his leg before backing off.

Miss Taylor said her client, a man of previous good character, had tried to control the dog at the time.

The court heard the dog, which Ioan has owned since a puppy, had not been involved in any previous incidents.