A man whose dog fractured a young boy's hand with its teeth has been warned he could be facing a jail sentence.

The life of the Japanese Akita pet called Tank is also in the balance after Kevin Chapman admitted being the owner of a dog which caused injury while dangerously out of control.

The animal, which was described as boisterous and liable to be spooked, attacked eight-year-old Reggi Jarvis as he played with friends in Huntley Avenue in Northfleet on June 12 last year.

He was left with puncture wounds to the back and palm of his hand and needed surgery to insert a metal plate.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the animal had been tied up but not muzzled. Reggi told police the dog became loose and lunged for his right hand.

Tank is one of two dogs kept at 28-year-old Chapman’s home in Wallis Park, Northfleet. It had since been kept at an animal shelter.

A judge heard Chapman was aware of Tank’s temperament and would either put it in a cage or outside when visitors called at the house he shares with his mother.

He was said to be deeply distressed by the incident, particularly as his nephew was at school with Reggi.

Chapman sobbed in the dock as Judge David Griffith-Jones QC adjourned sentence for reports until the week beginning August 14.

He also requested more information about the dog before deciding whether or not he should be destroyed.

“This is an important matter and one doesn’t make orders for destruction of living animals lightly,” said the judge.

Prosecutor Benjamin Burge said Chapman would not be banned from keeping animals as there were no issues with his other dog.