A PACK of up to seven dogs savaged a man as he walked his Staffordshire Bull Terrier, a court heard today.

The victim was bitten in the head, arms and legs by the powerful American Bulldogs after falling to the ground during the attack.

Durham Crown Court heard this morning that the dogs were being walked by bulldog owner Stephen Potts, just weeks after one of his arms had been amputated following an attack by two of his dogs, and family friend Patricia Ayre.

The terrifying incident took place on a footpath at Low Pittington, near Durham as victim Lindsay Edwards was walking his son’s dog Zumo on October 21 last year.

The court heard that he became aware of several large American Bulldogs off their leads in a nearby field running towards him.

Although he picked up Zumo and tried to hold a gate closed with his foot, he was bitten on his left calf by one of the bulldogs, up to five of which then got through the gate and attacked him.

At one point he fell to the ground and was repeatedly bitten.

It was only after Potts and Ayre managed to round up the bulldogs that Mr Edwards was able to stagger away bleeding, believing Zumo had been killed.

Potts was subsequently arrested and conceded the dogs were briefly out of control, but said he shouted to Mr Edwards to get out of the field and keep the gate closed.

He admits “in panic” telling Ayre at one point: “Pat, we are going to have to lie about this” as the incident was recorded by Mr Edwards, who was on the phone to an environmental officer during the ordeal.

Potts was being assisted walking some of his dogs that day by Ayre because it was only 18 days after he had been released from hospital, having had an arm amputated after two of his bulldogs turned on him on September 21.

The 47-year-old, of Coronation Crescent, Low Pittington, and 67-year-old Ayre, of Rosedale Close, Sedgefield, each deny seven counts of being in charge of dogs which, while dangerously out of control, caused an injury.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, said on Potts’ own admission all his dogs were “dog aggressive” and all weighed between 30-60kgs, or five to eight stones.

But Mr Dryden said the defendants deny that any of the injuries to 63-year-old Mr Edwards were caused by the bulldogs and that it was his own dog which inflicted the wounds.

Mr Edwards is to give evidence this afternoon and the trial continues.