Dog leapt over fence to attack young girl

A schoolgirl was left with bites and scratches after a dog jumped over the garden fence of a house in Smethwick and attacked her, a court heard.

Pryanka Ghuman, aged seven, had been playing in a friend's garden in Pool Road when the Alsatian-like Akita dog attacked her.

She was hospitalised after the attack and needed a week off school to recover. The dog's owner Salinder Singh, aged 58 of Pool Road, was ordered to pay £2,700 compensation at Warley Magistrates Court yesterday.

The dog, named Kano after the British rapper, was also ordered to be destroyed.

Maxine Jarrousse, prosecuting, told the court how the pet was normally chained at the top of the garden but on May 6, Singh had taken it off the chain so it could run around.

Kano put its paws on the fence for about two minutes before hoisting itself over and running at Pryanka, the court heard.

The youngster suffered puncture wounds on her bicep, requiring several stitches, as well as scratches on her chest, back and knee.

"It clawed at her and bit her several times," said Miss Jarrousse.

Singh admitted responsibility for the attack.

Venita Joshi, defending, argued it was an isolated incident.

"It must have been a very unpleasant incident and it's very fortunate the injuries weren't as serious as they could have been," she said.

"But this is a one-off situation. It's a family dog they have had for a year now and there have been no problems in the past."

Presiding magistrate Glenise Edwards said: "It has been made absolutely clear to us that this particular dog is spending long periods of time unattended and chained to a kennel," she said.