A dog owner has been given an order to keep his Lakeland Terrier under control after it bit a woman.

Alexander Bruce De Backer appeared before Deputy High Bailiff Rachael Braidwood recently.

It is a civil matter rather than a criminal offence.

Prosecuting advocate Annie Bannister told the court that the complainant was at an address at Thornhill Close in Port Erin on June 14.

She had her Dachshund called Teddy with her.

The woman said tat she heard growling behind her and saw the Terrier, with no lead on, running towards them.

She said she scooped up Teddy, but the Terrier jumped up and bit her under the right arm.

The Terrier, named Dru, continued to jump and bark, snapping his jaws, until the woman’s partner got hold of him.

De Backer then collected Dru.

The woman suffered a bite to her upper right arm, a puncture wound to her elbow, and scratches on her arm.

She went to Accident and Emergency and was given a tetanus shot.

De Backer, aged 50, of Ballakneale Close, Port Erin, attended a civil interview, and said that Dru had escaped from his garage, as the door had not been shut properly.

He said that he had been distracted by a phone call, when the dog got out.

De Backer said that Dru was friendly to people, but could be aggressive to other dogs.

He said that he kept Dru with him every day, and usually took him for walks away from people and other dogs in the hills.

Duty advocate Ian Kermode said that his client would accept the control order, and that the incident of the dog escaping had been a freak accident.

Deputy High Bailiff Ms Braidwood also ordered £50 prosecution costs.