Boy wins £578 for dog attack terror

An 11-year-old boy who was left with scarring on his leg after being bitten by a dog has been awarded £578 compensation by a court.

Nathan Grant's mother Kerry Ramsey has had to get rid of her own two pet Staffordshire bull terriers since the attack in which he was bitten by a bull terrier cross in the garden of his grandparents' home.

He was sitting on the front garden wall of the house in Park Road, Norton Canes, when the attack happened on the afternoon of August 25 last year.

Cannock magistrates also made an order for the owner of the dog – the grandparents' next door neighbour's sister-in-law – to control the animal properly.

Lisa Tedeschi, of Hagley Park Gardens, Rugeley, pleaded guilty to having a dangerous dog out of control in a public place.

The court ordered the dog to be kept muzzled and on a lead except when indoors.

Tedeschi was also ordered to pay £69 costs.

Miss Ramsey, of Collingwood Drive, Pheasey, Great Barr, said Nathan had been staying with grandparents John and Cheryl Grant when he was attacked.

He suffered three holes in his leg. The bites have now healed up but the youngster, a pupil at Pheasey Park Farm Primary School, still has minor scarring.

"Nathan won't walk anywhere now. He is still terrified of dogs.

"I had to let my two Staffies go to good homes because of his fear. He is too frightened for us to have a dog any more," said his mother who also has a daughter Lauren, aged four, and another son Dylan, two. Following the attack Nathan, who was then 10, was taken to Cannock Chase Hospital where he was treated for the bites to his leg.

His wound was stitched and bandaged but he did not need to stay overnight.