A teenager was left with life-changing injuries after being savaged in a dog attack.
The 15-year-old underwent three-and-a-half hours of surgery after a Staffordshire bull terrier – called Rambo – pounced as he waited outside a shop in Gresham, Middlesbrough.
Martin McMann, 45, and Kieran Kelly, 19, appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court yesterday to be sentenced in connection with the attack in Leinster Road.
The pair admitted being in charge of a dog which injured someone while dangerously out of control.
The court heard how the boy noticed two dogs “pulling hard” on their leads being walked towards him shortly before the horrific mauling.
He felt anxious and scared when he saw the dogs, but didn’t remember anything until he stood up and could feel blood dripping down his legs, prosecutor Lynne Dalton said.
“The dog being walked by Kelly jumped at the victim and dragged him to the ground.
“He realised he had sustained an injury when he could see blood on his shorts. The dogs were taken round the corner and into a house.”
Martin McCann, 45, and Kieran Kelly, 19, leaving Teesside Magistrates' court
She added that owner McMann appeared “shocked” by what had happened as he pulled the dog, which had no history of aggression, off the teenager.
The badly-injured youngster was taken to Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital for emergency surgery.
He needed more than 100 stitches and was left with several scars to his groin, face and leg.
The effects of the attack, on September 24 last year, continues to cause physical and mental problems.
Ms Dalton said: “The victim says he has no idea what the future holds.
He feels traumatised and shocked by what happened and often has panic attacks. He has been left scarred for life.”
Defending John Clish said McMann had shown himself to be a “fairly responsible” dog owner for a number of years.
He said: “He has expressed truly genuine remorse and offers his sincere apologises for the injuries caused.”
District Judge Martin Walker sentenced both McMann and Kelly, both of Leinster Road, to eight weeks in prison, suspended for one year, and ordered them to pay compensation costs of £750 each.
Kelly who had one conviction for breach of a community order, was banned from keeping dogs for three years.
It was also ordered that the dog be destroyed.
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