A dog named Demon ripped a chunk from a 13-year-old’s leg as he played football with friends, a court heard.

Liam Monks was attacked by the dog at the Garrison playing fields, Gillingham.

Demon, a Staffordshire bull terrier, tore a chunk the size of a tennis ball from his leg.

Liam has since undergone operations and skin grafts to repair the damage and will need further grafts and surgery over the next five years as he continues to grow.

The animal’s owner, father-of-two Gary Freeman, 43, of Johnson Avenue, Gillingham, admitted allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place and cause injury when he appeared before Medway magistrates on Thursday.

Magistrates’ chairman David Heap told Freeman they felt their sentencing powers were not enough, and referred the case onto crown court.

Debbie Jones, prosecuting, told the court that Robert Napier School pupil Liam had been playing football with friends on December 29 when Demon ran up to him.

Freeman had shouted: “He won’t hurt you, it doesn’t bite.”

The dog then bit Liam, locking his jaw onto his leg for up to 20 seconds.

Freeman and a group of male friends tried to rugby tackle the dog and pull him off Liam. They sat on Demon to calm him down.

Miss Jones said: “He went out with an aggressive dog and let him off the lead in public when he had been drinking.”

Frightened Liam was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital and transferred to East Grinstead Hospital for specialist treatment.

His leg had three wounds and a chunk of flesh missing. He initially had stitches and two skin grafts. He also contracted MRSA.

The teenager was traumatised by the incident and was continuing to receive physiotherapy and counselling.

Miss Jones said: “This is going to be with this young man for a considerable amount of time.”

Freeman had bought Demon from Joseph Ripley for £100 three days before, and had been leaving the dog with his 15-year-old pregnant daughter. Demon had been possessive of the girl and aggressive to him.

Freeman had initially thought Demon had only bitten Liam’s trousers.

Afterwards he took the dog back to Mr Ripley because he thought it was “too aggressive” and had concerns about his own family’s safety.

Matthew Davis, defending, said Freeman had owned dogs all his life and never had any problems previously.

The dog had not attacked any members of his family nor shown aggression earlier on the day he attacked Liam.

Demon was taken by police and destroyed.

Freeman also admitted stealing two Urban Spirits tops, valued at £50, from Peacocks in Gillingham on January 20.

Sentencing for the shoplifting will also take place at crown court.

He had been in breach of a 12 months conditional discharge imposed on December 13 2010.

He was bailed on condition he does not enter Peacocks.