A MAN has been banned from keeping dogs for life following an incident in which a lump of flesh was torn from a woman’s arm.

Paul McKenzie Norwood pleaded guilty to being in charge of a dangerously out of control dog when he appeared before Burnley magistrates.

The court heard victim Aziz Begum had been attacked by the bull mastiff cross breed, named Max, in Thursby Road, Nelson, on August 2.

At the time of the attack the dog was said to have been being looked after by a second man, John Alexander Porzucek, when it got over a fence and attacked the grandmother, the court heard.

Porzucek, 68, of Thursby Road, Nelson, pleaded guilty to being in charge of a dangerously out of control dog in December.

Magistrates sentenced him to a six-month conditional discharge, ordered him to pay £250 compensation, a £20 victim surcharge and £85 prosecution costs.

Now Norwood, 30, of Phillips Street, Nelson, has pleaded guilty to the same offence.

Magistrates banned him from keeping a dog for life after ruling he was not a fit and proper person due to a history of drugs misuse and his current lifestyle.

He was also jailed for six weeks, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay a £115 victim surcharge. No costs or compensation orders were made.

Magistrates also ruled that unless Max is kept under proper control by being securely fitted with a muzzle sufficient to prevent him from biting anyone and kept on a lead in public places, he will be destroyed.

Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph at the time of the attack Mrs Begum’s husband Khadim Hussain, 58, said his wife was walking home after visiting her daughter, who lives around the corner from Thursby Road.

He said: “My daughter came and told me what happened and when I got to her she was lying on the floor. She was in a bad state of shock and a lot of pain. It was pretty bad.

“It was her left arm. You could see the bone and flesh and her right leg was bleeding quite heavily.” He added: “I’m just glad it did not take any kids.”