MAGISTRATES have ordered destruction of a dog that escaped from its March home and bit a 12-year-old boy. The dog, called Snoopy, slipped out of the Cavalry Park property when Pauline Norton put out the rubbish. The animal, already subject to a control or

MAGISTRATES have ordered destruction of a dog that escaped from its March home and bit a 12-year-old boy.

The dog, called Snoopy, slipped out of the Cavalry Park property when Pauline Norton put out the rubbish.

The animal, already subject to a control order from a court because it had previously bitten someone, chased the schoolboy and bit him on the hip, Fenland magistrates heard on Wednesday.

Norton, 45, admitted being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control in a public place on May 29 last year.

Solicitor Anita Waterman told the court the case was not similar to that of a pit bull terrier alleged to have mauled five-year-old Ellie Lawrenson at the weekend.

"This was not a ferocious or prolonged attack," she said.

After the previous court case in October 2005, Norton had been ordered to get her front door mended, keep her back gate padlocked, have the dog neutered, and have it muzzled when in public. All those requirements had been kept, she said.

Prosecuting, John Masters said the boy had panicked when he saw the dog. He ran and jumped over a fence. Norton was fined £50, and ordered to pay £100 compensation and £60 costs.