A woman has been left "deformed" and "scarred for life" after she was brutally attacked by her neighbour's dogs.
Clare Holden screamed in agony as the two XL bullies "threw themselves" at her as she desperately tried to protect her own dog. When she begged owner Suraya Highton-Lawal to call for an ambulance, the mum-of-two simply walked away.
On Friday, June 2, Liverpool Crown Court heard how Ms Holden had just parked near the back of her property on Falkner Square in the Georgian Quarter of Liverpool at around 9.15am on September 21. She put her dog on its lead, however as she was locking her car, Highton-Lawal let her two dogs out into the communal garden and parking area.
The animals - who were off their leads - immediately charged at Ms Holden's dog and she was forced to hold him up in the air to try and protect it, prosecutor Ken Grant told the court. They then starting attacking Ms Holden, with one dog, named Walter, biting into her arm and 'locking on'.
It eventually let go and Ms Holden was able to get to her vehicle, although the two dogs kept biting at her legs, Yorkshire Live reports. The complainant shouted for Highton-Lawal, of Low Wood Street in Kensington, to call an ambulance, but the 31-year-old ignored her and went back into her flat.
Police and ambulance services later arrived at the scene and Ms Holden was taken to Whiston Hospital, where she underwent "significant" plastic surgery and was kept in for five days. Officers seized Walter and he was later destroyed.
A statement read out to the court on Ms Holden's behalf described how she has been left "paranoid" and "self conscious" over the injury to her arm. She added that "seeing the dogs triggers something deep inside of her" while she "relives the scenario over and over again", adding: "I am scarred for life.
"My arm is deformed. I am reminded of this attack every single day."
Julian Nutter, defending, told the court: "There is what has been deemed to be a lack of remorse, but there is material which suggests the contrary. This lady has stopped keeping dogs.
"It was a random attack. It was not a 'go get 'em boy' attack. It is a one-off. There has been nothing since.
"She is a single mother and a good mother. This is serious and should be reflect by a custodial sentence, but it can be properly suspended."
Highton-Lawal admitted being in charge of a dangerously out of control dog causing injury and received a 16-month prison sentence suspended for two years.
Judge David Hale described Ms Holden's injuries as "completely horrendous". During Highton-Lawal's sentencing, he added: "Looking at the photographs, Walter looks like a powerful dog. Walter went for Ms Holden's dog as she was getting out of her car without causing you any hassle at all.
"Walter has caused her the most awful injury. The skin has come off from the arm for quite a considerable area - inches, very unpleasant.
"She was in hospital being treated for five days, and thereafter having to undergo skin grafts. She is terribly conscious of it - seeing it every day, feeling it every day and having to walk past the scene every day.
"Walter has no history of behaving like this. He was obviously a boisterous dog, and you knew that.
"The fact that you have got two children, aged 10 and six, with no one to look after them if you are put in prison leads me inevitably to have to suspend the sentence."
Highton-Lawal was also banned from keeping dogs for seven years and required to complete 140 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 10 days.
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