Dogsey

A MAN who deliberately set his dog on a seven-year-old child was today starting a 12-month jail sentence.

A court heard how the little girl was knocked backwards by the mongrel banging her head when she landed and was then bitten at least once on the face leaving her scarred.

Darren Dickinson, who was drunk, had opened the front door of his home while the girl and her 13-year-old sister were waiting there and told his dog, “get them Frank” and it lunged at the younger child, said Henry Riding, prosecuting.

Judge Alan Conrad, QC told 38-year-old Dickinson that the dog caused wounds beneath the girl’s right eye and on her left cheek and more superficial facial injuries.

“It is plain you immediately regretted what you had done and tried to pull the dog away. This vulnerable child was left traumatised, in fear of dogs and off school for two weeks. Only immediate custody can be justified.”