A MAN has been ordered to undertake 120 hours of community work after his dog "punctured" a woman's leg with its teeth.

Dean Read, of Welland Road in Wimborne, was walking his Staffordshire Bull Terriers Hope and Tyson when they attacked Julie Leon at BytheWay Field in September 2015.

She and her mum Sheila Price - then 82 - were walking Tia the Cockapoo when it crossed paths with the Staffies and they began nipping at Tia's legs, face and neck.

"Julie Leon was absolutely clear that the dogs were not playing," prosecutor David Jenkins told Poole Magistrates' Court on Tuesday (FEB 14). "Her main priority was to get to safety."

Ms Leon picked Tia up and, when her back was turned, one of the Staffies bit her leg. The court was told the puncture wound left her leg with a scar still visible during the trial last year.

She also noticed Tia had been bitten leaving her foot "covered in blood".

Ms Leon said Read, 28, then became abusive, claiming it was "her own f****** fault" for picking the dog up.

In her impact statement Ms Leon said: "I was shocked to see the damage to my leg and began shaking and crying. He was very abusive and aggressive. In all this was a horrible experience. I have not returned to the BytheWay Field nor am I likely to."

Dog trainer Colin Spender told the court it was "always possible" for "boisterous and lively" Tyson and Hope to be dangerous in the absence of other dogs and said he would not be able to handle both dogs at the same time.

However Mr Spender also told the court that when he assessed both Tyson and Hope he was able to feed them by hand and their behaviours could be corrected with the proper training.

Animal psychologist Roger Mugford agreed it would be difficult to cope with both dogs but said he had seen no indication they would necessarily attack humans.

"Any and every dog is liable to do that," he said. "All dogs are potentially dangerous."

Animal welfare officer Michelle Jones said both Ms Leon and her mother were left shaken after the attack.

She said: "Mr Read showed no remorse whatsoever. He seems to blame the actions of other people rather than take his own responsibility seriously."

Mitigating was Lucy Conroy who said Read had been battling mental health issues but had stopped drinking and smoking and had taken up a fitness regime.

"He is so bereft at the thought of the dogs being taken away as they are his companions," she said.

The court was told Read had 11 previous convictions for 24 offences including public disorder, criminal damage, using abusive behaviour and assaulting a PC.

Read was also sentenced to 10 days of rehabilitation activities, ordered to pay £300 in compensation and £85 in costs and ordered to forfeit Hope.

He will also only be able to keep Tyson provided he does not get another dog.

Judge Martin Steen told Read: "The view expressed by the experts, in their assessment, is even with all their experience they wouldn't be able to look after both dogs. Hope is going to have to make her future elsewhere."