UNITED KINGDOM -- A dog owner has been ordered to pay compensation to a farm worker who was left scarred for life after being attacked by his pet.
David Nicoll, 44, was mauled by the Lakeland Terrier which clamped its jaws on his hands as he walked his own dog in Perthshire in February this year.
At Perth Sheriff Court David Bett, 61, was found guilty of being the owner of a dangerously out of control dog.
He was warned the animal would be put down if there was any repetition.
The court heard that the Mr Nicoll was walking his own Jack Russell on the Kinfauns to Pitroddie road in Perthshire on 27 February.
Bett's dog, Murphy, ran out of his home and when he saw Mr Nicoll he attacked him.
'Covered in blood'
Mr Nicoll, who works in the farm neighbouring the Bett home, said: "I saw the dog and it saw me and raced at us. It grabbed the back of my hand.
"There was blood coming out of my hand. My jeans were covered in blood. The back of my hand was all ripped. You can still see the mark."
Another witness told how Mr Nicoll battled with the animal as it clung to his hand for almost 10 minutes.
Giving evidence on his own behalf Bett said: "Murphy is a friendly dog towards people and other dogs."
He added: "I take great pride in having friendly and well-behaved dogs."
Sheriff Gail Patrick said: "Anybody who was injured in the way Mr Nicoll was by that dog deserves a huge amount of sympathy. Whatever I impose cannot compensate Mr Nicoll for what happened to him."
She banned Bett, from Perth, from allowing Murphy outside without him being tied up or on a lead at all times. She also ordered him to pay Mr Nicoll £300 in compensation.
(BBC - Sept 26, 2011)
