A Japanese akita dog bit a pensioner as she tried to stop it attacking her terrier, a court heard.

The 79-year-old woman was walking her Yorkshire terrier, Benji, on on a public walkway, known as The Black Path, in Leadgate, near Consett, County Durham, on December 22 last year.

Durham Crown Court heard that two akitas grabbed it and began shaking it in their mouths.

The woman intervened but, as she tried to separate the dogs, she was bitten on the hand by one called Chief, Katherine Dunn, prosecuting, told the court.

Ms Dunn said the woman was extremely distressed and noticed bite marks on her hand. She received a tetanus injection and Benji was treated at a vets' surgery for shock and bruising.

Days later, the akitas' owner Stephen Cook passed her and shouted 'Woof, woof, woof', said Ms Dunn.

Cook was arrested and accepted the dogs were not on their leads, but he refused to accept that they jumped up at the woman or her dog.

Ms Dunn said, having spoken to all parties in the case, the Crown was not seeking an immediate destruction order on the dogs.

Cook, 27, of First Street, Bradley Bungalows, in Leadgate, pleaded guilty to two charges of owning a dog that injured someone while dangerously out of control in a public place.

Mark Styles, mitigating, said Cook, whose father used to breed akitas, has since sold one of the pair.

He said there has been no recurrence and Cook understands he must now ensure Chief is kept under proper control.

Recorder Taryn Turner gave Cook a one-year conditional discharge and ordered him to pay £100 compensation to Benji's owner, the £32 vets' bill and £400 costs.

She also issued a contingent destruction order, which will come into force if there are any further incidents involving Chief. Cook must keep Chief on a lead at all times outside his home, as a condition of the order