A man must muzzle his dog in public after it attacked two people and another dog while dangerously out of control at a cricket club.

Daniel Cockburn, of Preston New Road, Blackburn admitted to being in charge of a dangerously out of control dog that caused the injuries on June 12, 2022.

The attacks occurred at Immanuel Cricket Club in New Lane, Oswaldtwistle, when his Staffordshire Bull Terrier, named Tia, attacked a male and a female, as well as another dog, damaging its leg.

Cockburn, 38, pleaded guilty to two counts of being in charge of a dangerously out of control dog which caused injury, as well as a charge of criminal damage, relating to the attack on another dog.

Appearing at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court, Cockburn was handed a suspended sentence and told to pay compensation to the victims, while strict rules around the dog Tia were also put in place.

He was told that unless the rules around Tia are followed, the dog will be destroyed. These are that she must be muzzled, held securely on a lead or harness at all times, and the lead can only be held by someone aged 16 and over.

The reasons for this, it said in court documents, is that when police saw the dog at the time it was friendly, officers decided not to seize it as it had been off the leash and had escaped, with the leash held by Cockburn who was inexperienced, and that there had been no further incidents since.

Cockburn was also handed a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, due to the seriousness of the offences.

He must also undergo treatment for alcohol dependency for nine months and complete 25 days of rehabilitation activities.

He also must pay £100 in compensation to one victim, £260 in compensation for the criminal damage offence, and further compensation of £229.66, for a total amount of £589.66.