A TEENAGER was given a six-month conditional discharge after pleading guilty to being in charge of a dog which was dangerously out of control in a public place.

The 16-year-old, of Newport, appeared at Cwmbran Youth Court, after previously admitting the offence.

The court heard that the incident happened on May 26, when two police officers saw the defendant with the pitbull dog in a street in Newport, during the early hours of the morning.

The police officers were then approached by a man who said the dog had “gone for him” and had ripped his coat.

The police officers stopped the defendant.

One of the police officers said he was concerned the dog was going to go for the other officer and told the defendant to grab hold of the dog.

The court heard that the man who had made the complaint about his coat was drunk and that the dog didn’t belong to the defendant.

The owner of the dog is due to sign a control order at the end of this month.