A woman whose German Shepherd Husky crossbreed ripped apart a horse welfare officer's cheek has been cleared of a 'dangerous dog' charge.

Jane Brown was left needing more than 100 stitches to the 9cm by 3cm wound caused when the animal, called Lupin, bit her.

At Maidstone Crown Court she described the incident, which occurred when she went to collect hay for the Kent Horse Rescue charity from Beechmont Farm in Sevenoaks on April 1, 2021, as "horrific".

Lupin was loose in a stableyard rented by his owner Charlotte Gee at the time and in the care of another woman, Rachel Stannard.

Stannard, 27, from Borough Green, later admitted an offence of being in charge of a dog which caused injury when dangerously out of control and awaits sentence.

But while Ms Gee did not dispute Lupin was hers, she denied the offence of being the owner of a dog which caused injury when dangerously out of control on the basis she had "reasonable belief" that Stannard was a "fit and proper person" to be in charge of him.

Jurors heard that although the 35-year-old was not present when the attack occurred, she had "strict rules" for his care which Stannard was aware of.

The equestrian told jurors Lupin, who she had had from a puppy at eight weeks old, was to be muzzled or put in his kennel if people he had not met before turned up at the yard.

A notice stating 'Do not enter. Loose dog' was also fixed to a gate, and jurors were told Stannard had indicated there was no hay for collection.

The jury of nine women and three men deliberated for almost eight-and-a-half hours before returning a not guilty verdict yesterday (August 22).

They heard Ms Brown was backing away from a gate, having been told by Stannard not to put her hand on it, when Lupin leapt up and bit her.

The prosecution alleged the "makeshift" warning sign had been "put up hurriedly" after the attack but Ms Gee, of Horns Road, Hawkhurst, maintained she had displayed it from when she had moved onto the site four days earlier.

She told the court her rules included people having to make appointments to come to her yard and, if Lupin was loose when anyone turned up, they would be told not to enter until he had been put in his kennel.

She described the seven-year-old as very well-trained and her “loyal friend”, and sobbed as she explained she had him euthanised before he was seized by police.

Ms Gee said she felt "sick" knowing Ms Brown had been bitten but added: "I'm not reckless in any way, shape or form with him.

"He was massive to me and it would not have happened had he been put away as per my instructions."

The court heard that Stannard had known Lupin for about five years, was someone Ms Gee trusted with his care, and who she knew to be capable of handling "big" dogs.

But although she accepted the rules had not been followed that day, she refuted the prosecution's suggestion that she had not told Stannard about Lupin's history.

The court heard the dog had twice previously caused injuries to people, including a bite to a woman's face in 2018, when she occupied premises in Hildenborough.

The incident was investigated by police but Ms Gee was not prosecuted.

At the end of the trial, Judge Philip Statman thanked the jury for the "enormous care and attention" they had given to "a difficult case".