A LITTLE boy has been awarded £2,000 compensation after being bitten by a Japanese Akita dog on a caravan park.

The nine months old female pup, Inca, was shaking the seven year old and had to be pulled off the lad in the 10pm incident at Towyn, Abergele, last July, a court was told on Thursday.

Magistrates at Llandudno did not order Inca to be destroyed but made a contingency order which means that she faces death if she reoffends. “If the dog does it again she will be put down,” warned chairman Emrys Williams. He described the injuries as "really horrendous" and said the boy would have been caused ongoing psychological harm.

The owner, senior nurse practitioner Pauline Pilling, 53, of Vista Road, Haydock, Merseyside, pleaded guilty to being in charge of the Akita when the dog was dangerously out of control, causing injury.

She was given a conditional discharge with £105 costs. Pilling must keep the dog muzzled and on a lead in public and Inca must not enter caravan parks.

Prosecuting, barrister Sean Batterton said Inca had been on a lead outside Pilling's caravan and the boy, playing on grass with friends, had been warned by her to keep away from the dog. But the dog had grabbed him, shaken the lad violently and had to be pulled away.

The young victim had lacerations to his wrist and thigh, went to hospital and needed stitches. In an impact statement his mother said he had scars afterwards and for some time suffered nightmares.

Rachel Oakdene, defending, said Mrs Pilling, a responsible owner, was distressed and remorseful. Inca was normally docile but children had obviously been attracted by a large fluffy dog which was on a lead at the time. "The possibility of what might happen to Inca has caused a great deal of distress. She is muzzled and kept on a lead and it would be disproportionate and harsh to have a destruction order. It's a sad case," said the barrister. Pilling was held in high esteem and there were impressive references.

The boy victim cannot be identified because of a court order.