TWO Alsatians which attacked a rambler while running wild near a farm have been given a stay of execution.

Rambler Francis Galpin was left with bite marks to his lower left leg and left shoulder after being confronted by German Shepherd dogs Tyson and Lola near Dam Head Farm at Roughlee.

MORE TOP STORIES:

The Lancashire Telegraph reported previously how Mr Galpin was walking past the farm when one of the dogs jumped up and bit him on the shoulder.

Burnley Magistrates Court heard that the the other dog went for his leg, and only released its grip when called off by farmer Colin Nutter.

Nutter, 47, of Dam Head Farm, admitted to offences of having dogs which were dangerously out of control at a previous hearing.

Defence solicitor Richard Taylor was successful in persuading a district judge to adjourn the case so checks could be made on what provisions had been made to keep the Alsatians under control at the Roughlee site.

Magistrates agreed to spare Tyson and Lola, on condition the dogs are kept on a lead and muzzled while in public.

Nutter was also fined £1,200 and ordered to pay £325 in compensation to Mr Galpin. The defendant was also ordered to pay £150 in court costs, a victim surcharge of £120 and a criminal courts charge of £80.

The farmer attempted to offer Mr Galpin compensation, following the attacks on June 21, but he was more interested in seeking medical attention for his injuries and returned to his car.

Prosecutor Simon Leong told the previous hearing that the incident with the rambler was not the first time dogs had broken loose from Nutter’s farm and attacked passers-by.

Neighbours had expressed concerns over a series of months about dogs, especially Tyson, roaming free around the farm, amid claims that at least one other walker had been bitten during the summer.

Council bosses in Pendle had even gone as far as to issue Nutter with a ‘community protection notice’, requiring the farmer to take preventative steps to prevent the German Shepherds from posing a threat in the village.