WEST Highland terrier Charlie is in the doghouse after he escaped from his owner’s garden and bit a passer-by.

Yesterday owner Lynne Davies, 40, appeared in court and admitted allowing him to be dangerously out of control.

Brian Cross, defending, told Flintshire magistrates Charlie had been a family pet for six years and had never shown any aggression.

Davies, of Middle Road, Foel Gron, Bagillt,  was given a 12 month conditional discharge but was ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and £100 compensation to the victim, Lee Day.

Matthew Ellis, prosecuting, said Mr Day was walking in Bagillt on June 2 when he was approached by a terrier dog which bit his right leg. He was left with three puncture wounds which were cleaned and dressed and he was later able to identity the dog responsible.

Davies told police the dog had been a family pet for six years and had never bitten anyone before.

Mr Ellis told the Mold court neither Davies nor the dog had any previous convictions.

Mr Cross said his client’s children loved Charlie and she could not understand why her pet had reacted in such a way.

There were two gates to ensure Charlie was kept in the garden but that day children had left the gate open and he had escaped. The owner had since fitted a lock to one of the gates.

Magistrates ruled Charlie must be kept in the garden unless accompanied on a lead out in public.