A WOMAN feared for her life during an attack by her neighbour's dog which left her in hospital.

Nicola Newbound was walking her dog, a Jackadoodle called Lola, in Ashes Lane in Symonds Yat when she was attacked by Millie, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier/Lurcher cross which had escaped from her neighbour's garden.

Millie's owner, Barry Harlow, 52, of Symonds Yat, pleaded guilty at Hereford Magistrates Court to being the owner of a dog which was dangerously out of control and had caused injury.

Magistrates decided against the immediate destruction of Millie but made a contingent destruction order which means Harlow must keep Millie under control at all times, put her on a lead in a public place and on a lead in a garden unless in a secure fenced area.

Owen Beale, prosecuting, said on December 9 last year Ms Newbound, a theatre nurse, took Lola for a walk and had her on a lead.

He said: "She went towards the river down the lane when something made her look behind her. She saw the dog from next door running at speed towards them.

"Millie was growling and showing her teeth."

Millie knocked Ms Newbound over and dragged her along the floor. The dog then bit her arm and hand, and also attacked Lola and picked her up in her mouth.

In a statement read to court, Ms Newbound said: "I was completely scared for my life as I don't know what would have happened if my neighbour had not intervened."

She said she had no idea how long the attack went on for but she was screaming for help. Another neighbour rushed down the lane and stopped the attack.

Ms Newbound said she could see the tendons on her wrist. She had to have surgery on her hand and wrist and was in hospital for two nights. Lola had to have treatment at the vets and was also in for two nights.

Harlow said in interview that Millie was a rescue dog and they had owned her for six years without any incidents and she hadn't shown any aggression previously to the neighbour or neighbour's dog.

Ashanti-Jade Walton, defending, said: "He had let Millie into the garden as he had done so every day for the last six years."

He did not know anything about the attack until he saw his dog being brought up the lane. 

She said Harlow was extremely shocked and sorry for what had happened. He called police and explained what had happened and officers came to collect the dog on December 13 - she had been in kennels since.

He and his wife took Ms Newbound to hospital and also employed an animal behaviourist who assessed their garden and they have now made it more secure.

Magistrates made the contingent destruction order - if Harlow breaks any of these the dog could then be destroyed. He was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work over 12 months and ordered to pay compensation of £1,482.17 to cover Millie's kennels bill and £1,181.19 to Ms Newbound. He also had to pay £85 victim surcharge and £185 prosecution costs.