A STAFFORDSHIRE bull terrier attacked two people, one of them a 13-year-old boy, on consecutive days as they walked past its home.

Blackburn magistrates heard the boy was knocked over as he ran off and was then bitten on the leg before managing to climb over a fence to escape.

District Judge James Clarke ordered the destruction of the dog, called Rocky, after ruling he could not be satisfied it would not be a danger to public safety in the future.

Sharon Meynell, 40, of Hillside Road, Haslingden, pleaded guilty to two charges of having a dog dangerously out of control resulting in injuries to John Coleman and the 13 year old boy.

She was made subject to a community order for 12 weeks with 150 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay £100 compensation to Mr Coleman, £600 compensation to the boy, £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge. She was also ordered to pay £1,000 towards the cost of kennelling the dog since the incidents in April.

Meynell has 21 days to appeal against the destruction order.

Enza Geldard, prosecuting, said Mr Coleman was walking along Hillside Road when his attention was drawn to a white and black dog which was on its own.

The dog came over to him and after sniffing at him bit his hand before running into a nearby house.

The following day the boy and a friend were walking down the same street on their way back from the shop. The boy saw his friend being chased by the dog.

His friend ran behind a parked car at which point the dog turned its attention on him.

"The dog ran at him and as he turned to run away the dog ran into his legs knocking him to the floor," said Mrs Geldard. "He was lying on the floor trying to fend the dog off and was bitten twice on the leg. He managed to get up and ran off, jumping over a fence to escape as he shouted for help."

The dog ran off when a woman came out of a house across the road and called it.

The boys parents arrived minutes later and when his mum spoke to Meynell on her doorstep she said; "You can call the police I am not bothered."

Gareth Price, defending, said his client was not aware of the first incident when the second occurred.

"She was given the opportunity to sign the dog over which would have avoided the court case and the kennel fees and all the other matters," said Mr Price.

"She took the decision the dog was too valuable to her and her family and she asks that today you make a contingent destruction order and not an immediate on."

The plea was supported by dog behaviour expert Melanie Rushmoor who concluded the dog was not dangerous and could be managed without being destroyed.

District Judge Clarke said the question he had to ask was whether the dog would be a danger to the public and he said he could not be satisfied that it would not.