A DOG which attacked two passers-by after escaping from a garden sank its teeth into a woman's back and wouldn't let go.

Burnley magistrates heard how it took two people to get the aggressive bull mastiff off neighbour Christine Wilson.

Four months later the animal struck again, biting dogwalker Alan Stackhouse as he held his own yelping cocker spaniel above his head to save it from being set upon.

The court was told the mastiff had since died of natural causes, but its owner, law student Omair Syed, 20, of Highfield Avenue, Burnley, was given an 18 months conditional discharge, after admitting two counts of owning a dog dangerously out of control in public and causing injury. He must pay £250 compensation.

Joanne Shahzada, prosecuting, said Mrs Wilson was walking with her husband in the early hours when the dog began running up and down in Syed's garden.

The defendant arrived in a car, swore at Mrs Wilson, called her names and as he 'lost it' the bull mastiff escaped from the garden, the court was told.

It jumped up at Mrs Wilson's back forcing her forward, bit her and grabbed her and wouldn't let go. She felt a sharp stinging pain. Mrs Wilson was taken to hospital, where she was found to have teeth marks in her back, skin hanging off and bruises.

Miss Shahzada said Mr Stackhouse was walking on Highfield Avenue when the bull mastiff got out and was trying to go for his cocker spaniel. He picked the animal up and felt intense pain as it bit him.

He also had to go to hospital after suffering puncture wounds to his forearm and a small laceration to his cheek.

Brian Irlam, defending, said the mastiff had been a family pet but had now died. It had not been destroyed.

He said the dog was perhaps being 'territorial' and trying to protect what he saw as a member of his family.