A DANGEROUS dog which attacked three different people has been given a reprieve by Crewe Magistrates.

The black mongrel, which bit a policeman, a woman and an 11-year-old boy, escaped being destroyed at a court hearing last Wednesday.

Owner Cathy Croombs, of Frank Webb Avenue, Crewe, was ordered to keep the dog under proper control and pay total compensation costs of £110 to the three victims.

Jackie Lamb, of the Crown Prosecution Service, told the court how Croombs' three children, aged from 14-16, watched from behind a bush as their dog attacked young Daniel Brown.

"The dog ran circles around his legs, barking and growling. His mother asked the boys if the dog would bite, to which they replied: 'Yes he's vicious,'" she said.

"They walked past the boys and Daniel saw the dog running towards him. It got hold of his right leg sinking his teeth into his shins.

"The dog let go and returned to the boys. Then it ran at him and grabbed his leg growling and snarling. It did it three or four times until he got more and more scared and ran to the community centre."

She went on to tell the court how a police officer investigating complaints about the dog was bitten as he walked through Croombs' front gate, and also described an attack on Dawn Palin.

"She was walking towards Badger Avenue when she saw a dog running to her. It grabbed her below the knee and she felt it sink its teeth into her leg," she said.

"She screamed and it ran away. Then it ran towards her again and sat in front of her snarling and barking."

Andrew Wallace, speaking on Croombs' behalf, said she was a single mother and had bought the bitch three years ago not only as a family pet but also for her own security.

"Mrs Croombs has ensured that at all stages this dog will not be allowed out other than on a lead," he said.

"She feels deeply sorry for the injuries that have been caused to all three and now she recognises that it may have a tendency to be violent towards others."

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