Gary Hindley, the owner of a dog which ripped off a six-year-old girl’s ear in Chingford, has pleaded guilty to allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place after appearing at Thames Magistrates Court.
The 56-year-old, who has been bailed to appear before the court on February 13th for sentencing, was charged under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 after the frenzied attack in a park on Saturday.
It is said to have ended only when the girl’s father repeatedly punched the animal in the head.
The youngster, who has not been named, had bites to her neck, shoulder and ear and was taken to hospital where she was forced to undergo plastic surgery.
Det Sgt Stuart Cheek, of Metropolitan Police, said: ‘This was an appalling incident that left a young child with serious injuries which are likely to scar her for life.’
Hindley initially blamed her family for the attack and told them they should have kept their children ‘under control’, saying the girl and her younger brother had been ‘unnerving’ his pet, a black and white bull terrier.
He then stormed off, leaving a false name and address while the girl’s father was left to search the area for the ear in the hope surgeons could sew it back on.
Part of it was found by walkers yesterday as the girl was recovering in hospital.
The incident happened as the family of four walked together in Chingford.
Witness Terence Lundy, 70, said he was walking up a hill in the forest area with his grand-daughter when he saw the family come running down.
He added: ‘The dad said he punched the dog in the head and kept punching it until it let go – and the owner had said “Can’t you keep your kids under controlâ€.
‘The little girl was saying “Mummy, mummy, help me, help meâ€. She was just in shock.
‘The mum didn’t have the proper bandages to put round her head so I gave her some clean handkerchiefs I had.’
The girl, who had bites to her neck, shoulder and ear, was taken to hospital where she was in a stable condition.
Hindley walked into Chingford police station yesterday and was arrested. The animal was also seized.
Campaigners called for tighter controls on powerful dogs.
Labour MP Luciana Berger said: ‘The government needs to take urgent action. We cannot see another person attacked like this.’
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