Magistrates have ordered the destruction of a dog which tore flesh from a neighbour’s leg and caused another to break her shoulder.

Linzi Marie James, 42, of Whitehall Avenue, Pembroke, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates for sentencing on Tuesday, after previously pleading guilty to being in charge of a dog which caused injury while dangerously out of control.

The court heard that three dogs were seen running around outside James’ home on July 12.

A Jack Russell cross-breed bared its teeth to resident Hazel Roberts when she shooed him out of her garage.

Vaughan Pritchard-Jones, prosecuting, said: “The dog lunged towards her leg and tried to bite her.

“Fortunately it was just a graze and it did not get hold of her skin or flesh.”

But Mrs Roberts fell backwards and broke her shoulder as she tried to get away from the dog.

She had to receive weekly physio therapy following the incident and was still in ‘significant pain’.

The dogs then ran across the road towards resident Ann Adams who had heard her neighbour’s screams, and she felt sharp pain as the Jack Russell cross bit her.

He ripped a chunk of flesh out of her leg leaving her with a gruesome injury which needed a skin graft.

She will have to apply cream to the area daily for the rest of her life, and avoid exposing the scar to sunlight. The court heard that she was still in pain and discomfort, with limited mobility.

Mr Pritchard-Jones said: “This dog attacked two people in close succession on this day and the manner of the injuries caused shows that this dog is a danger to the public.”

He added that the Post Office had a record of the dog biting a postal worker, and there had been other reports of the dog running around in the street.

It was thought that pallets left against James’ fence had enabled the dogs to escape.

The court heard that James, who had had looked after the 10 year-old dog for five years, was extremely remorseful.

References were handed to the bench vouching for the dog’s good nature.

Mike Kelleher, defending, said: “The injuries are serious. The fault here is leaving pallets in such a position that the dogs could jump onto them and into the road. The injuries were unforeseen. Dogs must get out thousands and thousands of times all over the country and nothing happens.

“What happened here is an absolute tragedy.”

Mr Kelleher added that all recommendations made in a report on the dog’s behaviour had been carried out by James, including muzzling and improving fencing, and it was not clear what dog had bitten the postal worker.

“Since the incident the dog has behaved itself. Changes have been made.”

Magistrates sentenced James to a 12 month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work and ordered her to pay £1,500 compensation to Mrs Roberts and £2,500 to Mrs Adams, plus £170 in costs and charges.

A destruction order was made for the dog.