A 'DEVASTATED' couple's dangerously out of control dog bit two people on the same day, putting both in a Worcester hospital after the animal suffered abuse at the hands of a previous owner.

The abandoned dog, called Crackers, had been brutally attacked by a previous owner who had beaten him about the head with a metal pole. The dog carried out the attacks in Malvern just 12 hours after being adopted by the couple where it was hoped he would go on to live out a better, happier life.

Although the dog will not be destroyed, he will now have to spend the rest of his life in a rescue centre to protect the public and must be muzzled and kept on a lead at all times if he goes outdoors.

John Hiles, 48, and Laura Prangley, 37, of Duke of Edinburgh Way, Malvern both admitted being in charge of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier that was dangerously out of control and caused injury when they appeared before magistrates in Worcester yesterday.

The rescue dog, previously known as Kaiser (but renamed by the couple), had been in their possession just 12 hours when he bit Geraldine Price on the hand in Duke of Edinburgh Way in Malvern on March 15 this year.

The dog, which the couple adopted from Birch Hill kennels in Worcester, bit John Southall later the same day at Malvern Retail Park, the couple claiming they had been at the shops to buy a muzzle after the first attack.

By chance the two victims met in A&E at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester where they were both receiving treatment. When they began a conversation they 'both realised they had both been bitten by the same dog'.

Peter Love, prosecuting, said the dog had been on a lead when it bit Miss Price as she backed into a gateway to let Prangley pass unhindered when ‘without warning the dog leapt from the ground towards me’, biting her on the hand and ‘latching on very hard’.

“The dog was completely off the ground, hanging onto me” said Miss Price in a statement read aloud by the prosecutor.

At the same time his claws were described as ‘ripping her clothing’ and her jeans were damaged.

“She says she was in great pain and the dog was very strong. The bite was extremely powerful” said Mr Love.

Prangley was pulling on the leash, shouting at the dog and kept saying ‘I’m sorry’ the court heard.

Miss Price was bleeding from the wound to her hand and was shaken by what happened.

The second incident happened at Morrison’s supermarket as Mr Southall reached down to stroke the dog. Both defendants were with Crackers. He was warned by Prangley that the dog was ‘a bit skittish’ before it bit him on the right hand.

CCTV footage of the attack was played in court and photos of the injuries shown to magistrates.

An ambulance was called for him by staff members and he was taken to A&E at Worcester. The injury required minor surgery and he believes he will be left with a large scar.

Miss Price has continued to suffer with pins and needles and could not type with the injured hand during furlough and is concerned she will have ongoing problems with her little finger. The wound had to be stitched and cleaned and she was given a tetanus shot.

The dog, which had been described as ‘nervous’ by the kennels which rehomed him, had given instructions that the animal was to be properly managed and should have a harness and sign to say he was a nervous dog.

“It seems that had not been done” said the prosecutor. The court heard that the dog had been abandoned and had been ‘beaten about the head, possibly by a heavy implement’ prior to going to kennels. In interview Prangley claimed the victim of the first attack had been ‘flicking keys which had scared the dog’. She said she had not been fully informed about the dog’s temperament.

Since the incidents the dog has been house by police in their kennels at a cost of over £4,000.

Police say he has not bitten anyone else since. However, they have recommended he lives out the rest of his life at the rescue charity rather than being rehomed.

Mark Sheward, defending, said the couple had never been told the dog should be kept on a muzzle.

He said of the kennels: “It would seem they are seeking to minimise their responsibility in allowing their dog out when they had concerns about it themselves.”

Mr Sheward added that Prangley could not have foreseen the dog would jump up and Crackers had shown no signs of aggression in the 12 hours since they adopted him. Prangley also asked the neighbours for towels to wrap the wound.

"She did not renege on her responsibilities - she was as shaken as the young lady was that this had happened," said the Worcester solicitor.

He also said that Hiles had warned Mr Southall 'don't come close, he's just bitten someone' but that he 'took no notice'.

The solicitor added: "They are devastated that this has happened. The dog should probably have never been housed with them - or anyone else - bearing in mind he had been treated as he had. He had been viciously assaulted by the previous owner, hit on the head by a pole or pipe. That is going to have some effect on the dog's temperament."

Magistrates ordered Prangley to pay £150 in compensation to Miss Price. Hiles was ordered to pay £150 to Mr Southall.

The pair were disqualified from keeping dogs for two years. A contingent destruction order was made. If Crackers goes out in public he must wear a muzzle and be on a leash not longer than two metres. If these conditions are followed he will not be destroyed.