A bull terrier type dog joined in a neighbour dispute and attacked two men.

Blackburn magistrates heard that when police arrived one of the victims was lying on the floor covered in blood having suffered numerous puncture wounds to his leg. The second victim had left the scene.

David Haley, 24, of Belgrave Street, Nelson, pleaded guilty to being in charge of a dog which was dangerously out of control. He was given a 12-week suspended jail term with a 20-day rehab activity requirement and a six-month alcohol treatment requirement. He was ordered to pay £100 compensation to the police officer and £154 victim surcharge. The dog's fate will be decided at a future hearing.

Bilal Saeed, prosecuting, said police were called to what was initially described as a fight in Belgrave Street.

"They found a man on the floor who had sustained multiple puncture wounds to his leg," said Mr Saeed. "A second man had also been bitten but he wasn't at the scene."

He said Haley was in the house next door to his own. He said he had switched the gas on and would ignite it if the police came any closer.

"They described him as volatile and said he used shards of glass and a chisel to try and harm himself," said Mr Saeed. "They eventually found him hiding in the loft of the property and arrested him."

Aftab Bakhat, defending, said his client was a young man struggling with his mental health.

He said there was a man living on the same street who had been making threats towards Haley and his partner which had been reported to the police.

On the day of the incident it was his partner's birthday and they had been drinking.

"A man who earlier in the day had made some threats came back and started shouting the odds," said Mr Bakhat. "My client and his partner went out to speak to the man."

He said there was a noisy verbal exchange and at some point the dog jumped over the gate.

"The animal saw this other man push my client's partner and went for him," said Mr Bakhat.

"My client tried to pull the dog off and he was bitten on the hand. Others were punching and kicking the dog which in turn was violent towards them."

Mr Bakhat said the defendant went into the neighbour's house with the dog and after letting him in the neighbour left.

"He barricaded himself in and started making stupid comments," said Mr Bakhat.

"He was in fear of what they would do to his dog."