ONE dog has proved to be man's best friend after his owner was cleared of breaking a court order - by blaming his pet.

Reece Krauza, of Leatham Close, Birchwood, was cleared of deliberately tampering with his electronic tag, the result of a curfew order, when Warrington Magistrates' Court ruled that his dog had been responsible.

During the trial on Tuesday, the 30-year-old said: "I just wasn't lying. I wasn't prepared to breach the order and then the dog jumped up.

"He caught the tag but didn't mean to do it. He was just excited."

The electronic device had been attached to Mr Krauza's ankle when he was sentenced for carrying an offensive weapon in April.

But the tag was damaged on May 6, leading to a monitoring officer for Group 4 Securicol to visit the defendant's home and fix the breakage 24 hours later.

In evidence it was not disputed that Mr Krauza had called the security firm moments after the incident to report it.

Yet prosecution solicitor Karl Berry alleged that Mr Krauza had tampered with the device himself, not the dog.

Speaking on behalf of Mr Krauza, solicitor Gary Schooler said: "In essence, I wonder what we are doing here?

"It seems the security company will proceed with a prosecution no matter what. Reece provided a perfectly valid explanation. The device was on his ankle and the animal pulled it away at one corner."

Acquitting the Birchwood man, Sylvia Wright, chairman of the magistrates, said: "You said it was the animal and we now believe you gave us a true account."

beckykelly@guardiangrp.co.uk