A SOUTH Cumbria man's dog is to be destroyed after it attacked the same woman twice in two months.

Wayne Anthony Woodburn, of Yewbarrow, Grange, was jailed after pleading guilty to two charges of being in charge of a dog out of control.

On August 18, and again less than two months later on October 8, Woodburn's Staffordshire bull terrier Dakota attacked and injured Melissa Southward.

Mr Lee Dacre, prosecuting, said: "She was walking her dog when his dog ran out and locked onto hers.

"She tried to break it up but it bit her on her hand.

"The bite drew blood and left her needing three stitches.

"In October, she recognised it when it was running towards her and she picked up her own dog straight away to protect it."

On the second occasion, the dog bit Ms Southward on the left arm and she also received a bite on the lip during the incident.

Mr Chris Evans, defending, said: "In August the dog had got out of the garden because someone had left the gate open. She confirms he was shouting his annoyance at that.

"Before this incident he had no reason to be concerned about his dog.

"The dog had been on a lead in October but managed to get through it and unfortunately the second incident has taken place.

"When she picked up her own dog it bit her on the lip, but we accept that is as a result of his dog's actions."

Dakota was ordered to be destroyed by district judge Gerald Chalk at South Cumbria Magistrates' Court in Barrow today, but Woodburn, 45, was spared being disqualified from owning dogs in the future.

He was jailed for 35 days for the offence in August and 70 days for the October incident. Both sentences will run consecutively.

He was also ordered to pay £200 compensation.

Mr Chalk said: "I take the view that these offences are so serious I have to send you to prison.

"Anyone who keeps a dog must appreciate they are keeping something that is potentially a weapon that could cause damage to another person.

"You didn't learn your lesson and the dog did exactly the same thing."

Woodburn also pleaded guilty to one charge of attempted theft of tools from a van parked on his street on October 12.

Mr Dacre said: "The owner came across another man in his van who tried to claim he'd been paid £10 to clean it."

Woodburn was jailed for 14 days, to run concurrently with his 105 day sentence for the dog offences.