Sentencing Dermot Bradley-Beacham, Judge David Wilson said he had been “comatose” in his back garden at the time of the attack after drinking an excessive amount of alcohol.

He described him as having been a “pathetic, alcoholic mess” and said he had been ill equipped to look after the Russian terrier called “Ralph” which had needed a strong owner to keep it in line.

He said the ten-year-old boy suffered multiple puncture wounds to his lower leg and a deep gash through muscle to the bone and underwent repeated visits to hospital for treatment following the attack.

Judge Wilson said Bradley-Beacham was lucky not to be leaving court in the back of a prison bus.

The boy was playing “Manhunt” during the summer holidays last year when “Ralph” escaped from Bradley-Beacham’s garden through an insecure fence and........

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