Liam with his mum Deborah Monks

by Julia Roberts

A dog owner whose Staffordshire bull terrier ripped a chunk from a 13-year-old's leg as he played football with friends has been jailed for four months.

Gary Freeman, 43, who was said to be intoxicated as he stood in the dock, was told by a judge the public had a right to be protected from people who allowed their animals to be out of control.

Freeman, of Johnson Avenue, Gillingham, was walking the dog, named Demon, off the lead when it attacked Liam Monks at the Garrison playing fields, Gillingham, on December 29.

Demon clamped its jaw around the terrified boy's leg, tearing muscle and leaving a wound described as half the size of a tennis ball.

"you realised it was fierce and not friendly but you didn't get rid of it or return it…” – judge martin joy

It took Freeman, who had been drinking, and three other men up to 15 seconds to pull the dog off, Maidstone Crown Court heard.

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

Freeman had bought the dog from a 15-year-old boy on Boxing Day but was planning to return it after it became possessive over Freeman's pregnant teenage daughter.

However, the court was told despite his fears of what the dog might do once a baby was in the house, the animal was not muzzled on the day it attacked Liam.

Jailing father-of-two Freeman Judge Martin Joy said: "It is quite clear that dog was out of control.

"You realised it was fierce and not friendly but you didn't get rid of it or return it."

Banning Freeman fom owning a dog for five years, the judge added in relation to his "unenviable" record of previous convictions: "I have looked at the number of chances you have been given by the courts to behave yourself and you have failed to live a life which has any care for other people.

"The public is entitled to look at the courts for protection from people like you owning dogs and allowing them to be out of control."

Freeman, who admitted allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place and cause injury, saluted and smiled at the judge as he was led down to the cells.

The case had been committed to the crown court by Medway magistrates as they felt their sentencing powers were not enough.

Freeman was also jailed for two months consecutive for stealing two tops worth £50 from Peacocks in Gillingham on January 20, and a further two months consecutive for breach of a 12 months conditional discharge imposed on December 13, again for shoplifting.

He asked for a further offence of shoplifting to be taken into consideration.

He was therefore jailed for a total of eight months but is expected to only serve half.

Demon has since been destroyed.