Eight-inch-high sausage dog cleared of attack on burly neighbour

Burly landscape gardener Shawn Anderson claimed he was "inconsolable" after miniature Dachshund Lucy allegedly nipped his ankle and bit his jeans.

But Newcastle Magistrates' Court heard he suffered no injuries, there were no teeth marks and no damage to his jeans after the yapping dog ran round his legs outside his flat in Gosforth, Newcastle, in October last year.

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He lived in the property below Lucy's owner, Melanie Hobson, 26, her husband Steve and their two children, Monique, two, and four-year-old Jacob.

Magistrates heard that Mrs Hobson was carrying shopping from her car after a trip out with her children when Lucy ran off, barking.

The court heard the dog approached Mr Anderson, ran round his legs and, according to him, bit him on the ankle.

One of the two young children ran up and grabbed the dog, the court heard. Mr Anderson then shouted at the owner: "If your dog bites me again, I will have you done."

The court heard Mrs Hobson replied: "What are you on about? She didn't touch you."

Mr Anderson, who was a bus driver at the time, walked into his flat and slammed the door, the court hear.

His mother-in-law rang the police to complain on his behalf 30 minutes later and an investigation was launched.

Asked how he felt after the dog attack, he told magistrates: "I was really, really angry. I was more or less inconsolable."

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Mrs Hobson was interviewed by police the following month and she told magistrates PC Adam Walton told her she had a "cute dog" and that he did not think the dog would be put down.

She wept in the witness box as she told how Lucy was like a member of her family.

Her defence solicitor, Judith Curry, alleged Mr Anderson was motivated to complain to police because of a series of disputes between the neighbours.

She told magistrates the complainant had no worries that the two children had taken control of the dog after the alleged attack.

After around 30 minutes deliberation, the magistrates formally cleared Mrs Hobson of having a dog dangerously out of control in a public place. If found guilty she could have been jailed for six months or been fined up to £5,000.

Outside court, she said: "I am so glad justice has been served.

"It is ridiculous this ever came to court and I think the magistrates have seen that for themselves."

Mrs Hobson said Lucy has been staying with a friend of the family after the council was told the dog had been living in their flat against the regulations.

Mrs Hobson said: "I'm going to see her now, I haven't seen her for several weeks now, she is like one of the kids and they have been missing her."

However, despite his wife being cleared, Mr Hobson still believed their neighbour had won because the dog no longer lives in the family home.

He said: "We just want to get away now and move house."