A man has admitted owning a pack of dangerously out of control dogs which mauled a girl of six.
Bernard Valentine, 35 from Carrington in Trafford, today (Thursday) pleaded guilty to five counts of owning a dog which caused injury whilst dangerously out of control in a public place.
Each charge relates to a different animal which attacked a six-year-old girl on Ackers Lane in Carrington on Sunday afternoon of March 26, leaving the girl with very serious injuries.
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Valentine is due to be sentenced in July for the offences and for two other offences of being the owner of a dangerously out of control dog in a public place, relating to an attack on another dog on December 20, 2022.
The defendant, of Ackers Lane in Carrington, pleaded guilty to five counts of owning a dog which was dangerously out of control in Ackers lane Carrington and which caused injury to the girl when he appeared at Minshull Street Crown Court on Thursday morning.
The court heard he had previously pleaded guilty to two other offences of owning a dangerously out of control dog, relating to an attack on another dog, and possession of cannabis.
The court heard the attack on the six-year-old girl was captured on a 'distressing' video.
Ian McMeekin, defending, said there was confusion as to whether the attack on the girl involved five or six dogs, but he confirmed however many animals were involved, his client accepted responsibility.
He said the final decision on the number 'seems pernickety' but would have consequences for the 'fate of the animals'. "At the moment we can only see there are five involved," he said.
Mr McMeekin confirmed the defence had seen the video 'several times' although his client had watched it just once.
The attack was 'traumatic for everyone', said Mr McMeekin.
Prosecutor Laura Barbour confirmed to the court that the parents of the injured girl would attend the sentencing hearing.
Judge Maurice Greene told the defendant: "I will order a pre-sentence report so the court can consider all matters with no promises as to sentence. All options will be open to the sentencing judge. You are remanded in custody."
Valentine will be sentenced on July 14.
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