Lithuanian man sentenced after dog bites woman in Dartford (From News Shopper)

Martin Zanibekov, of Fleetwood Close, Canning Town, pleaded guilty to being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control in Dartford

4:36pm Thursday 9th February 2012 in News By Kelly Smale

A LITHUANIAN man has been sentenced after the dog he was walking bit a woman in Dartford.

Martin Zanibekov, of Fleetwood Close, Canning Town, pleaded guilty to being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control at Dartford Magistrates' Court today (February 9).

On March 5 last year at 5.40pm Zanibekov was walking his girlfriends three-year-old German Shepherd, Marco, as the pet was too strong for her to control.

Magistrates heard the victim, Amy Watmore, was intending to go to Tesco Express, in Henderson Drive, Dartford, with her mother.

Mary Jacobson, prosecuting, said: "The defendant was holding the German Shepherd on a chain lead.

"However the lead was slack and wasn't held tightly or strongly.

"Amy described the dog snarling in a very angry way as they got closer."

As the victim and her mother walked up a slope past Zanibekov and his girlfriend, Marco jumped up and bit Amy on her right thigh and then again on her left breast.

An ambulance was called and the student was taken to Darent Valley Hospital for treatment.

Adrian Rohard, defending, said the attack was a "one off incident" as Marco had not bitten anyone before.

Mr Rohard told magistrates that the dog has since been castrated, is muzzled when taken out in public and attends animal behaviour classes.

Zanibekov was given a 24 month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £1,000 compensation to the victim and £300 prosecution costs.

A contingent destruction order was also made for the dog.

Contingent destruction order

A contingent destruction order may specify measures to ensure the dog will be kept under proper control and, if breached, the dog will be destroyed.

Magistrates told Zanibekov that Marco must be:

- Kept in a secure place at home so there is no risk from him escaping from the house or garden. There must be a place where he can be kept securely away from visitors entering the house or garden.

- When in a public place held on a lead no more than one metre in length.

- When in a public place must wear a securely fitted muzzle.

- When in a public place he must be walked by a responsible adult strong enough to keep him in firm control and who is aware of this incident.

- Permanently excluded from the enclosed walkway where the incident occurred.

Magistrate Timothy Lewry said: "If these are broken or infringed in any way the only option is the destruction of the dog."