A parcel delivery man needed 14 stitches to wounds in his arm after being attacked by an Alsatian.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard the dog was already subject to a control order following a previous attack on a female postie.

Malcolm Brand, 61, of Glenluce Crescent, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to being in charge of a dog which was dangerously out of control resulting in injury to Michael Siekiera.

He was committed on bail to Preston Crown Court to be sentenced after the magistrates ruled their powers of punishment were insufficient.

The Crown Court will also decide an application for a destruction order against the German Shepherd, which is called Molly.

Lee Woodyatt, prosecuting, said Mr Siekiera was delivering parcels in Glenluce Crescent and saw a couple coming towards him with a dog.

He said he stepped back because the dog was barking and growling.

“The couple said the dog was okay but it suddenly lunged at the aggrieved and latched onto his arm for about 20 seconds,” said Mr Woodyatt.

“The defendant then pulled the dog off him.”

Mr Woodyatt said the female took the dog away and Brand tried to assist Mr Siekiera, pressing tissues onto his wounds.

The victim required 14 stitches to his wounds and was off work for a week.

Mr Woodyatt said the dog had previously bitten a postal worker in January.

Brand had not been prosecuted then but was made subject to a control order which required the dog to be on a lead and muzzled when in public.

“The dog was not muzzled at the time of this latest incident,” said Mr Woodyatt.

Brand, who was not represented, said he had owned Molly since she was a puppy and she was now five years old.

He said he had six children and all of them had friends over. He said the dog had never shown any aggression towards any of his children or their friends.

Brand said he was not blaming the delivery driver in any way but said he had stepped out from behind the van right on top of them.

“I stayed with him and applied first aid to the best of my ability,” said Mr Brand.

“I offered to take him to hospital but he said he would go when he got back to Liverpool.”