Terence Norton (above) has been fined after his dogs mauled a Jack Russell to death
A Kennel Club judge has been fined after his Staffordshire Bull Terriers mauled a Jack Russell to death and injured its owner.
Jan Bailey was left heartbroken after her beloved pet Judy was savaged by the dogs as she walked along a footpath in Brierfield, Lancashire.
The dogs are owned by Terence ‘Tec’ Norton, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier judge.
Ms Bailey screamed for help as her tiny pet was attacked by the dogs before she was bitten repeatedly on both hands, Blackburn Magistrates’ Court heard.
Judy later had to be put down due to the acute pain from her injuries.
Norton, a Kennel Club approved Staffordshire Bull Terrier judge, admitted being the owner of a dog which was dangerously out of control and causing injury to Ms Bailey on December 11.
The 71-year-old was fined £200 and ordered to pay £500 compensation to Ms Bailey for her injuries. He must also pay a £30 victim surcharge and £85 costs.
The dogs, which were not on leads at the time, were spared immediate destruction.
Jan Bailey was left heartbroken after her beloved pet Judy (above) was savaged by the dogs as she walked along a footpath in Brierfield, Lancashire on December 11
One of the attacking dogs gripped Judy’s neck and the other went for her stomach in the horrific attack.
The court heard Norton and his wife drove Ms Bailey and Judy to a vet in Colne, where the dog had to be put to sleep. The defendant paid the vet’s bill.
In a victim impact statement, Ms Bailey said: ‘I have suffered nightmares and am still tearful when I think about or talk about the incident and the tragic loss in terrible circumstances of my beloved and elderly dog.’
The court heard Ms Bailey had to have an X- ray, tetanus injection and antibiotics.
One of her joints was nearly bitten through, her finger was bandaged for several weeks and she may have suffered nerve damage.
Norton, who was not represented by a solicitor, told the hearing his dogs Frankie and Honey, aged two and three, had never posed a threat to humans or other dogs.
He added: ‘I still can’t believe it actually happened.
‘We have had this breed of dog since the mid seventies. We must have had 20 or 30 dogs in that time and we have never had any third party problems with other dogs, or people for that matter.’
District Judge James Clarke imposed a contingent destruction order on the animals, meaning they will not be put down if Norton obeys all the conditions.
He had no previous convictions.
He must take out lifetime third party insurance for both dogs. The animals must also be kept on a fixed lead less than two metres in length, be muzzled in public and the defendant must not walk the two dogs together unless somebody else is with him.
Sentencing Norton, District Judge Clarke told him: ‘I am satisfied there was no prior warning the dogs would behave in an aggressive manner. I am satisfied they do not constitute a danger to public safety.’