AN out-of-control dog must be muzzled in public or it will be destroyed after it attacked a woman twice.

Trevor Horton lost control of Stan, his Staffordshire Bull Terrier and Labrador Cross, who ran off and then bit or clawed at the victim leaving her with three puncture wounds, which later got infected.

Horton, 50, of Shop Road, Little Bromley, admitted being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control which caused an injury, when he appeared at Colchester Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Stephen Sparkes, prosecuting, said: "It was 3.30pm on July 9 when the victim and her husband were walking two dogs along Shop Road in Little Bromley.

"She heard a shout, possibly from the defendant shouting to warn them, and the woman picked up her small dog.

"She states she was bitten by the staffie to her right thigh."

The court heard the defendant had chased after Stan and picked him up but the dog wrestled free again and "went for the victim again" before being brought under control.

Mr Sparkes said: "The woman was taken to Colchester General Hospital and she had suffered three puncture wounds which led to an infection."

He told the court the dog had no history of violence during the past six years so the Crown Prosecution Service wanted a contingent destruction order rather than the dog being immediately put down.

The court heard Stan had been on a lead but had wriggled free from plant manager Horton.

It is not certain whether Stan had bit the victim or clawed at her to cause the puncture wounds and infection.

Chairman of the bench Malcolm Bell said: "There are two aspects to this, the action we need to take against you and the action against the dog.

"We are making a contingent destruction order against Stan.

"We are satisfied he does not constitute a danger to the public if you follow the conditions.

"He must always be on a lead and must always be muzzled.

"It is a safety measure."

Stan will be destroyed if Horton does not comply or if there is another incident.

Horton, who was previously of good character, was fined £275, ordered to pay £200 compensation for the physical and psychological injuries suffered by the victim and £115 in costs and charges."