A PONTYPOOL man appeared in court after a dog attacked a teenager.

The bull mastiff-cross called Tyson lunged at the boy outside the Spar store in Trevethin after he went to stroke him, leaving him needing hospital for a wound on his left thigh.

Luke Kristopher Lewis, 24, of Stanley Road, Garndiffaith, appeared at Caerphilly Magistrates Court, where he admitted allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place.

The incident happened on November 14 last year, when prosecutor Steve Lane said the boy was playing football outside the Spar store.

He said Lewis walked past with the dog and the teenager went up to it and tried to stroke the animal.

But, Mr Lane said Tyson “lunged forward,”

leaving several teeth marks in the boy’s left thigh, while there was also bleeding and grazing to his skin.

Lewis said that the dog wasn’t his and he had been looking after him for a friend, while keeping him on a lead, when the incident happened.

District Judge Richard Williams said: “Your personal culpability is low, as you had no basis to fear it would act like it did and it was on a leash.”

He ordered Lewis to pay a £170 fine, £250 compensation to the boy, a £15 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

Because the victim was a child, District Judge Williams said that guidelines mean he must request the destruction of the dog.

He asked for the owner to be tracked down so he can give his representations to him before a final decision is made on June 28.