A KESSINGLAND man was this week landed with a �135 bill and ordered to keep his dog on a lead at all times in public after magistrates were told how it had injured a woman for a second time.

Andrew Whittaker, 47, of McLean Drive, was given the dog control order after Lowestoft Magistrates' Court heard about two incidents involving his dog Millie, a black and tan terrier.

The woman was out walking her own small dog in Wash Lane, Kessingland, on September 10 when Mollie – off her leash at the time – approached her, scratching her on the back of her leg.

The court was told the incident came just over a month after Millie had bitten the same woman.

After the August incident, Whittaker, a part-time chef at the Tramways pub in Pakefield, had signed a community resolution notice stating that he would keep his dog on a lead in public.

However, the court heard that when interviewed by police after the second incident, Whittaker admitted he had never intended to keep his dog on a lead and had only signed the notice to avoid being arrested.

Lesla Small, prosecuting, said the second incident happened because Millie was not on a leash.

This meant she was able to run across the road to where the woman was walking. 'The dog has then gone and caused a minor scratch to the back area of the victim and would not go away,' she said.

Whittaker admitted being the owner of a dog that was dangerously out of control in a public place, causing an injury.

James Hartley, mitigating, told the court that Whittaker believed he could keep his dog under control without having her on a lead and normally only used it as a form of punishment. In regard to the September incident, Mr Hartley added: 'He felt it (the dog) was being friendly. It was not dangerously out of control.'

However, Whittaker now accepted his attitude on dogs being on a lead was 'wrong' and he was 'apologetic'.

Mr Hartley asked magistrates if Millie could be kept off a lead to run on Kessingland beach or on Beccles Common.

However, they rejected this request and ordered the dog be kept on a lead at all times in public places.

Whittaker was also ordered to pay �50 compensation to the woman for her scratch injury and �85 costs.