Owner of bull terrier that ripped off girl's ear walks free from court

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Gary Hindley, 56, was also banned from owning any animals for 10 years after his pet Buddy, which did not have a lead or collar, mauled the girl as she played with her three-year-old brother at the Epping Forest beauty spot of Pole Hill last month.

The girl's parents said the dog circled their daughter like a "shark" before sinking his teeth into her and only let go when the child's father repeatedly punched it in the head. The youngster, who cannot be named, suffered head and neck injuries. She has since had plastic surgery.

Hindley initially gave the family a false address and fled the scene but later walked into a police station. He admitted having a dog dangerously out of control in a public place. Today he apologised to the girl's family before being given a 12-week jail sentence suspended for two years.

Thames magistrates heard the terrier had attacked another dog and its owner the night before. The 16-month old terrier will now be destroyed.

Hindley was ordered to pay £250 compensation to the girl, £100 for the child's mother and costs of £100. In a statement the mother said the dog's head "was buried into her and she was screaming 'Get off me, get off me'.

"I grabbed it to protect her but it came back around and sank its teeth into me. Its jaws were so powerful. I remember thinking 'I can't deal with this'. " Unemployed Hindley, who lives near the scene of the attack, will be tagged and have to complete 200 hours' unpaid community work. The girl's family were not in court.