A BANNED pit bull terrier-type dog mauled a smaller dog at Poole bus station before knocking a man into a wall, a court heard.

Shane Brock, 20, and Fiona Fowler, 41, are both charged with being in possession of a dog listed in the Dangerous Dogs Act, and with one further count each of being respectively ‘in charge of’ and ‘the owner of’ a dog which was dangerously out of control on June 5 this year.

The trial at Bournemouth Magistrates Court heard that the alleged ‘pit bull terrier’ Lucy was owned by Fowler, but had been taken out that day by Brock.

Prosecutor Heather Jackson said Richard Edwards was walking his Bichon Frisé Bella down an alleyway near the station when it was set upon by Fowler’s dog.

Giving evidence to the court, Mr Edwards said: “At the time I saw a brown flash, it was so fast.

“That was when I heard Bella screaming, it was almost like a baby crying. I turned around and saw her in the dog’s mouth.”

He said Brock had punched Lucy repeatedly in the head in an attempt to bring the animal under control, but it only released his dog when he himself kicked it once in the throat.

Shortly afterwards, Miss Jackson said Fowler’s dog became aggressive towards Mr Edwards and bumped into his leg, knocking him into a wall.

Cross-examining Mr Edwards, John Dyer, for Brock, said: “You said ‘I believed she was going to bite my leg’, that is simply not true, she was never going to bite you.”

Mr Dyer said Bella had provoked Lucy into a fight by growling aggressively. He said Mr Edwards had kicked the bigger dog “several times” and had later claimed it was aggressive towards him as he knew “it would be worse for the other dog if there were people involved”.

The court also heard from Dorset Police dog legislation officer and trainer PC Colin Spender, who said he had concluded Lucy was a “pit bull terrier type dog” and included in the Dangerous Dogs Act – but this was disputed by the defence.

Brock and Fowler deny the charges. The trial was part-heard and will continue on January 22 next year.