Mum lost control of pram after bite from Dalmatian, court told

A DALMATIAN dog bit a mum, causing her to lose control of her pram and send it rolling towards a road, a court has heard.

A passer-by managed to grab the buggy as it headed for traffic, and whisked the infant to safety.

Swansea Magistrates’ Court heard the mum was pushing her child in a buggy along Cecil Road, Gorseinon, at lunchtime on June 1. Also on the street was Graham Alan Jones and his Dalmation, Lincoln, who was on a lead.

Abdul Hussain, prosecuting, said when the victim stopped to cross the road near the medical centre Lincoln jumped at her, and bit her on the upper thigh through her jeans.

The mum collapsed to the floor, losing control of the pram – a passerby grabbed he buggy as it rolled towards the road. The court heard the mother was taken into the nearby surgery, where she passed out. She was later taken to hospital where she needed six stitches in the wound.

Jones, 72, of High Street, Gorseinon, had previously pleaded guilty to being a person in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury when he appeared for sentencing.

A South Wales Police dog expert described Lincoln as “a very powerful dog” who had shown “aggressive behaviour” when taken into police kennels.

Ian Hopkins, for Jones, said his client had owned the Dalmatian for five years, and had walked him twice a day, every day, without any problems.

District judge Neale Thomas fined Jones £200 and ordered him to pay £300 compensation to the victim. The district judge also ordered that the dog be put down.