A dog that attacked a pregnant woman and caused her to fear for the life of her unborn child has been spared destruction by a judge.

Rebekah Sutton was seven months pregnant when was savaged by a Japanese Akita owned by Francis White, of Waterfall Road, Collier's Wood last year, inflicting severe injuries.

On Friday at Kingston Crown Court White, 50, was given a three month curfew and told she can keep her dog Alfie, though it must be muzzled while in public.

The court heard White was walking Alfie on Waterfall Road, when it attacked the 25-year-old Miss Sutton, having already attacked her 12-year-old Staffordshire Terrier, Hustle.

Miss Sutton's partner, Peter McNaughton, said: "I was in the front room decorating when my neighbour called out to say my partner needed my help.

"My missus was standing there covered in blood.

"Our dog had his face ripped off and he had to have it stapled back together."

Miss Sutton suffered multiple bites to her arm and was kept in hospital for three days over fears for her unborn baby's health after it stopped kicking.

Mr McNaughton said: "We were concerned something had happened to the baby through the stress.

"They couldn’t operate on her arm because she was pregnant so she had to be awake while they did the best they could to her arm.

"She had about four or five deep wounds that were wide open."

The couple had to give up Hustle who was so traumatised by the attack he could no longer go outside. Mr McNaughton said: "In the end it wasn’t fair to him to be in the same area so he had to be re homed."

White has no previous convictions and was on medication for depression at the time.

Defending, Mark Dakin, said: "Until her partner's passing away three and a half years ago, she worked doing cleaning, as a school dinner lady and factory work.

"She fell into depression, from which she still suffers, after her partner passed away and not worked since."

White was sentenced to a community order of three months, with a curfew element of 10pm until 7am and was ordered to pay £120 compensation to Miss Sutton.

The couple feel the sentence was not severe enough.

Mr McNaughton said: "She is scarred for life on her arm.

"It’s a kick in the teeth because we have gone through the stress of the court case and we think she has gotten away with it."

 

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