A man has been jailed after he used his pet pit bull dog as “a weapon” during a terrifying bust up in Dover.

The drama unfolded when Michael Hook’s partner Louise Dunphy snatched prescription drugs from a woman in a supermarket car park.

During a struggle between the women, Hook arrived and ordered his Staffordshire pit bull-type dog called Banjo to bite the victim.

Hook shouted: “Bite her, bite her!” Canterbury Crown Court was told.

Prosecutor Ian Dear told how the victim was with her small dog outside the supermarket when she was confronted by Dunphy who snatched away her medicines.

The dog then began biting the woman before it turned on Dunphy, biting her in the leg as well.

Hook and his limping lover then fled, leaving the victim on the ground.

Mr Dear told how Dunphy, who admitted assault and stealing the drugs, then climbed inside a car in the car park, asking the driver to take her to her home.

But when Hook attempted to get inside the motorist ordered him out and then alerted police after dropping Dunphy at the house.

Judge Simon James told him using the dog as a weapon was "unforgivable”.

He said: “You completely over-reacted and took it upon yourself to command your pitbull-type dog to bite the victim, which it did leaving a very deep wound needing hospital treatment and leave permanent scarring.

“The attack must have been truly terrifying and others were forced to witness it.”

Hook, 30, and Dunphy, 26, both of Conqueror House, Crabble Hill, Dover, admitted assault charges.

Hook was jailed for two and a half years.

As Hook – who admitted causing injury while having the dog dangerously out of control – was being led away to the cells, Dunphy asked the judge: “Can I kiss him goodbye?”

The judge refused the request and the couple shouted: “I love you” to each other.

Dunphy received an eight month jail sentence suspended for 18 months and was ordered to stay indoors for the next three months under an electronic curfew.

The judge heard the animal was later taken away by police but has since died.