A 'DANGEROUS' Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross on death row after attacking a member of the public, is now likely to be destroyed.

The 'strong' animal had been seen by a dog behavioural expert and sank his teeth into the police officer who was taking it to be assessed, Burnley Crown Court heard.

The dog, called Dyson, belongs to Lee Rainford, 26, who last December admitted being the owner of a dog which caused injury while dangerously out of control in a public place.

Three weeks ago, Rainford was banned by magistrates from owning or keeping animals for five years after pleading guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a Rottweiler puppy.

The pup had been left in agony for two weeks after an attempt to dock it's tail had left it infected and the defendant had not taken it to a vet.

Rainford is to appeal the length of the disqualification at the crown court and the hearing is set for February 9.

Judge Beverley Lunt will sentence for the dog out of control offence on February 13.

She has already told Rainford he will not go to jail, but Dyson's fate is in her hands. The judge has said she will order Rainford to pay the kennelling costs for the dog.

The crown court was yesterday told police had received previous reports about Dyson or other dogs in the defendant's control or possession.

The dog is said to have run out and 'bit the first person in front of it' when Rainford opened his door.

Dyson bit the police officer responsible for transporting it to the animal behaviour expert and the dog was taken back to the kennels and examined there.

Judge Lunt said at the moment, based on the expert's report, a destruction order on Dyson was likely.

She said: "The expert says the dog may not be intrinsically aggressive. It needs training and it needs a good owner. The defendant plainly is not a good owner and that means the dog has nowhere to go."

Judge Lunt told the defendant of Dyson: "I think he's dangerous. The chances of me not making a destruction order are very, very slight indeed."