A BABY was brutally mauled by a massive Cane Corso after a dog-walking teacher crossed the road to avoid a cat.
Lucy Bamber was walking her two dogs on leads, including her Hugo, in North on March 2 when the horror attack unfolded.
The “remorseful”; 26-year-old teacher told a court that Hugo “has never acted in this manner before”;.
She was walking Hugo, a two-year-old, and a nine-year-old Staffordshire Bull in Longton when she saw a cat and crossed the road to avoid it.
But they passed the driveway of a home where a baby was outside, and Hugo mauled the child.
The baby was left with several puncture wounds to the back and right arm, which are expected to leave permanent scars.
The court heard that Hugo “always”; wears a muzzle in public and is on a short lead.
He also wears a hi-vis jacket which says “I need space”; on it.
April Lamai, mitigating, told North Staffordshire Justice Centre that Bamber is “willing to do everything in her power to prevent this from ever happening again”;.
The Stoke Sentinel reported that Bamber pleaded guilty to being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control and being the owner of a dog which was dangerous and not kept under proper control.
Ms Lamai told the court: “She only noticed the child after Hugo bit the victim. She immediately pulled the dog away. She was shocked by Hugo’s behaviour.
“When Hugo is in public he always has a muzzle. He has a short lead.
“He wears a hi-vis jacket which says, “I need space”;, on it. He is undergoing extra obedience and recall training.
“She no longer walks Hugo on that road.”;
Bamber was fined £487 and ordered to pay £300 compensation to the mother of the child, £85 costs, and a £197 surcharge.
The magistrates said they were satisfied Hugo is not a danger to the public because of his previous behaviour and it being an isolated incident.
The magistrates told Bamber: “You are a fit and proper person to own this particular type of dog.
“You must keep Hugo under proper control.We impose the following conditions. When outside he must have a fixed lead and a muzzle.
“These will last for the whole of Hugo’s life. If you do not comply, Hugo may be destroyed.”;
