THE owner of an American bulldog which broke free and launched an attack on a dog walker near a children's play park has been told her pet will be destroyed if it is seen off the lead in a public area again.

Northallerton Magistrates Court heard Kelly Brierley, 31, was also facing legal action for compensation after the incident involving her white and tan dog at Millennium Green, in Thirsk.

The court was told Brierley and her partner, had been walking the two-year-old bulldog and a Jack Russell on August 17 when a clasp holding the dogs snapped.

Melanie Ibbotson, prosecuting, said Thirsk resident Caroline Simcox had unclipped her dog's lead to throw it a ball when she saw the bulldog running towards her, "looking aggressive".

She said: "Ms Simcox was trying to get between the dogs and then the dog bit her quickly, and as she moved her hand away a man came out of the bushes and was shouting at the dog."

Brierley left the park shortly afterwards and Ms Simcox received treatment at the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, for a bite to her hand measuring less than an inch.

Ms Ibbotson said Ms Simcox had been terrified by the attack, remained badly affected and added dogs that bit humans were normally made subject to destruction orders.

Felicity Coats, mitigating, said Brierley, of Tranmire Close, Thirsk, who admitted being in charge of a dog which was dangerously out of control which caused injury, had "a momentary lapse of attention".

She added the mother-of-six had since had the dog castrated and now took it for walks on a farm track.

Magistrate Scott Handley said the bulldog would also be destroyed if it was found to be in a public area without a muzzle and fined Brierley £120.