A MAN is to be sentenced after his dogs ran freely across an industrial estate and injured four people.

David Sumner, of Trafalgar Road in Egremont, Merseyside, appeared at Mold Magistrates Court on Thursday.

The 42-year-old admitted that on October 1 last year at Saltney, he was the owner of a Caucasian shepherd dog which was dangerously out of control and injured four people.

He admitted a further offence of being the owner of a dangerously out of control dog on the same occasion - a separate animal of the same type - but this dog did not injure any persons.

In addition, he admitted an offence of assault committed on that date in Saltney.

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Julia Galston, prosecuting, told the court that at around 10.30am on the day in question, police received numerous reports about two dogs - a male and female - running loose around Saltney Industrial Estate in River Lane which had bitten people.

It was established the female had been the one biting people.

The first victim was Thomas Graham, who was on a run at the industrial estate when he was approached by the dogs.

They cornered him and barked, before the female bit him to the arm as he tried to protect himself.

Ms Galston said the dogs then ran off and came across the second victim, John Main.

He had been walking to work when the dogs ran at him and caused him to fall against some railings, then to the floor - sustaining an arm injury.

The next victim was Melissa Malone, who had been dropping her child off at a martial arts session.

As she got out of her car, the dogs approached and one lunged at her, biting her hip.

She screamed for help and jumped back into her car.

Finally, the fourth victim Marek Midura was at a garage with his own small dog.

The defendant's dogs approached and attacked Mr Midura's dog and in the process of trying to protect it he sustained a number of bites to his arm.

The court heard two men then arrived - one of which was the defendant - to collect the animals.

As they were trying to drive away, Mr Midura stood in front of their van to get a picture of it and Sumner threw a clear liquid at him from a bottle.

Ms Malone said in her victim statement that the incident left her "shaking violently" whilst Mr Midura said he had to take time off work.

Ms Galston told the court the defendant has "a large number of previous convictions" on his record, including driving offences, drug offences, assaults and public order incidents.

In limited submissions to the magistrates Keith Webster, defending, told the court both dogs were immediately signed over to the police following the incident.

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The female remains under assessment by police, whilst the male has been rehomed.

"Mr Sumner has neither of these dogs," he said.

"He relinquished both and does not intend to have them back."

Mr Webster asked the magistrates to consider ordering a pre-sentence report, which they agreed to.

Sumner will be back in court for sentence on June 22.