A WOMAN whose dog attacked a pensioner and killed her Yorkshire terrier has been banned from keeping dogs for two years.

Laura Horning, 33, of Satanita Road, Westcliff, was also given a two-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £245 compensation after the bullmastiff cross attacked 70-year-old Sandra Lester’s pet Tululah as she walked her to a field.

Prosecutor Andrew Newton told Chelmsford Crown Court: “It jumped up at her and bit her.

“She tried to pull away her dog, which had cost £500, but it attacked them both and her dog was killed before it continued to bite Mrs Lester.”

Mrs Lester received treatment at Broomfield Hospital, in Chelmsford, for cuts to her left ring finger and right thumb and was given a tetanus jab and antibiotics.

Horning admitted being in charge of a dog which was dangerously out of control.

Judge Alastair Darroch ordered the bullmastiff, named Cody, to be destroyed.

The court heard Cody had escaped from a flat in Chelmsford. The dog had been left with a friend of Horning to get settled before she was due to join Horning at a bus stop.

Mr Newton told the court: “During the incident, Horning shouted to Mrs Lester to ‘shut up’, afterwards walking up the road with the dog showing apparently no concern over what had taken place.”

When she was arrested, Horning said she was looking after the dog for her partner.

Her lawyer, Gavin Burrell, told the court: “She couldn’t foresee the dog would escape while she was walking up the road having left it with someone to look after it.

“She’s very sorry for any injuries to Mrs Lester and her dog.”