Dangerous dog owner put on trial

An owner who let her dog attack a neighbour has gone on trial.

Judge Beatrice Bolton owns the seven-month-old German Shepherd called Georgina, which is said to have charged at 20-year-old university student Frederick Becker as he sunbathed in an adjoining garden.

Mr Becker claims he was injured in the attack when the pet ran at him and sank its teeth into his leg.

Prior to the attack, Judge Bolton's neighbours, John and Anne Malia, said they had asked Judge Bolton to keep the animal under control and out of their shared garden.

"We never wanted the dog on our property," Mr Malia told the court. "We were scared of it."

The incident was captured by CCTV security cameras at the Malias' home but experts have ruled it is impossible to tell for certain from the footage whether the dog actually bit Mr Becker.

Judge Bolton was originally charged with failing to keep her dog under control. Following an earlier hearing this was reduced to a lesser offence of allowing the dog to enter a private place where there were grounds for 'reasonable apprehension' that it would injure someone, which she denies.

If convicted under Section 3 and 4 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, Judge Bolton faces a maximum penalty of six months in prison and/or a fine of up to £5,000.

Judge Bolton, who sits at Newcastle Crown Court, apologised to Mr Becker soon after the incident.

The case has been transferred to Carlisle because of Judge Bolton's high-profile status in North East legal circles.