A woman has received a suspended prison sentence after a court heard her two bull terriers escaped from her home and attacked a woman who was walking her dogs with her family.

One of the defendant’s dogs bit a dog as well as the woman on her hand when she intervened.

The other bit another of the victim’s dogs as it was being held by her husband, Flintshire Magistrates Court was told.

Mother-of-four Sally Perrie, 39, of Lamb’s Lane in Buckley, admitted that bull terrier dogs Hamish and Ella were dangerously out of control at Linthorpe Road in the town at lunchtime on New Year’s Eve.

Perrie, who said they had inadvertently escaped from her home, received a 12 week prison sentence, suspended for a year.

A contingency destruction order was made in respect of Hamish unless he is kept muzzled in public and on a lead no longer than four feet long.

She was ordered to pay £482 compensation for the vet’s bill and £500 for loss of earnings.

Perrie was said to be heavily involved in fund raising for a bull terrier rescue service and was described as a responsible dog owner.

Prosecutor James Neary said before midday Christina Ainsbury and her husband were walking their three dogs along a footpath towards Church Road when they were approached by two dogs, described as two large bull terriers which were not on leads.

Before she could do anything one of the dogs clamped onto her 14-year-old dog Mollie which squealed.

As she tried to get the dog off her pet, it clamped on her right hand.

It also bit her on the left hand and she was left covered in blood.

Her husband was holding their two other dogs – but a second bull terrier approached them and clamped his jaws on one of the dog’s back.

The husband managed to release the dog and a man appeared and threw himself over the attacking dog.

Mr Neary said the female victim was left with puncture wounds to the hands which were cleaned in hospital and one was down to the bone.

She had been placed on pain killers and anti-biotics and had been unable to drive or work in her job as a fund raiser for RSPB.

Mrs Ainsbury was concerned that the dogs were so out of control that they could have killed a child, said Mr Neary.

She was struggling to sleep due to the pain from her injuries.

Barrister Kathrine Ellis, defending, said her client had been saying goodbye to her brother when the dogs inadvertently escaped.

Her brother went after them and she grabbed harnesses and went to the scene and apologised for what had occurred.

The dog Hamish was nervous with other dogs after he himself had been attacked previously by another dog and he was always muzzled when out.

Nothing like it had ever happened before and she had three dogs who were all much loved family pets who were good with the family.

She was aware of her responsibilities as a dog owner and had taken action to prevent anything similar every happening again. A baby gate had been installed and a chain put on the kitchen door to ensure they never escaped.

The Mold court heard Perrie had pleaded guilty immediately and shown remorse but did not accept the full description of the incident.

If the dogs had intended to inflict serious injury then the court would be dealing with a case where much more significant injuries could have been caused, she said.

Ms Ellis said Perrie had no previous convictions, it was an isolated incident and she was a woman of positive good character.

While she had been unable to work because of a heart condition, she had thrown herself into charity work and was a fundraiser for a bull terrier rescue service.

Hamish had been a family pet since it was a pup and Ella and her third dog had been adopted through the charity.

The couple had four children and if there had been any concern about any of their dogs, then they would not have them as pets, said Mrs Ellis.