A dog owner whose pet attacked a toddler at a Hampshire pub has been ordered by Southampton Magistrates’ Court to pay the child’s family £1000 in dog bite compensation.
Hazel Barkworth’s dog, an American cocker spaniel, attacked 21-month-old toddler Sonny Gray, who was with his mother and her partner at the Empress of Blandings pub last July.
At the time of the attack by ‘Merlin’, Sonny was stroking another one of Barkworth’s dogs. He was bitten on the face without warning or provocation.
Southampton Magistrates’ Court heard Barkworth, 71, plead guilty to having a dangerous dog which was dangerously out of control while in a public place.
In addition to the compensation order, Barkworth was fined £515 in costs, and ordered to keep Merlin, her temperamental cocker spaniel, muzzled while out in public. The dog avoided being destroyed.
