SOLICITORS for a dog breeder have been given two weeks to provide evidence that his American bulldogs are not dangerous – as the police bill for keeping them continues to mount.

Stephen Potts, who had an arm amputated after himself being attacked by two of his dogs, will be sentenced in a fortnight after admitting charges arising from an attack by his dogs on a 63-year-old man.

Potts, 48, of Low Pittington, near Durham, admitted six counts of being in charge of dogs dangerously out of control, after his trial had started at Durham Crown Court.

Durham Police face a bill for kennelling costs that could rise to thousands of pounds for the care of 14 dogs, seized following the attack on Lindsay Edwards, in October last year.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, told court how a report by a dog expert had been prepared but his qualifications may not be sufficient.

And were an expert to be commissioned by the prosecution, the defence could simply reject the findings.

Rachel Landin, representing Potts, urged a report be jointly funded with the prosecution and time be allowed for a dog behavioural expert to be found.

But, told this could take several weeks Judge Christopher Prince, Recorder of Durham, said it was costing the police money.

He placed the onus on the defence to find an expert to look at the dogs and provide an opinion on whether they would be dangerous within two weeks.

The judge will sentence Potts on Friday August 7, when he will also decide the fate of the dogs.