Pet owner fined after dog bites paper girl
The owner of a dog which bit a paper girl as she was out on her round has been fined £80.
Claude Bernees, 66, of Orchard Walk, Newtown, was out walking his collie on the town's Maesyrhandir estate when it bit a 16-year-old girl.
Bernees admitted a charge of being responsible for a dog dangerously out of control when he appeared at Welshpool Magistrates Court yesterday.
The court heard that Bernees was out walking the collie, which has since been rehomed, on November 23, when it lunged at the paper girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, biting her behind the knee.
In addition to the fine, magistrates ordered Bernees to pay £200 costs and £80 compensation.
Miss Frances Willmott, prosecuting, said: "The 16-year-old girl was out delivering newspapers on her round in Maesyrhandir when she saw a man walking two dogs, both on leads, walking towards her. She moved out of the way of the collie dog as it approached her, but it still moved and bit her on the back of the leg, causing a bite mark injury."
Miss Ceri Edwards, for Bernees, said her client was "mortified" at the experience.
She said: "He has pleaded guilty and he is mortified to be having his first appearance in a court. He had barely been able to sleep for the last two days.
"The dog, which had absolutely no history of aggression in the past, bit, leaving a minor injury before my client pulled it back. He has now taken the dog to be re-homed."
Miss Edwards added her client sent his best wishes and sincere apologies to the victim.
