Teen tells court of dog bite horror

Published on 24/10/2012 12:00

A TEENAGE girl has told a court of the moment a so-called “Devil dog” bit her on the face.

The 15-year-old – who cannot be named for legal reasons – said the Rottweiler lunged towards her in a friend’s flat as she “clapped” it.

It fastened its jaws on to her face, she said, sinking its teeth into the flesh around her eyes and into her nose. The schoolgirl, from West Lothian, said she screamed in terror during the vicious attack, which lasted for 30-40 seconds. She was giving evidence yesterday at Livingston Sheriff Court where Steven Nicol, 19, from Whitburn, West Lothian, pleaded not guilty to an offence under the Dangerous Dogs Act (1991) and the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010.

He denies being in charge of a male Rottweiler, called Buster, which attacked and bit the teenager on April 4. The Crown deserted a similar charge against the dog’s owner, Liam Kerr, 18, before the trial began. The trial was adjourned.