A dog owner has today learned the fate of his pet who attacked a one-year-old baby in a pushchair.

Glenn Hall, of Buenos Ayres, Margate, was in court charged with being in charge of a dog that was dangerously out of control.

The 55-year-old was told during proceedings the dog would have to be destroyed regardless of the outcome of the hearing after it was found to be a pitbull-cross, a banned breed.

It comes after an incident that saw the dog, Lovelace, jump into a baby's pram in Margate High Street.

Hall was walking down the road with two dogs at 2.15pm on Monday, January 4, one on the lead and one off.

Prosecuting Vicki Gedge said: "It is accepted by all parties that if but for the dog on that occasion the child wouldn't have been injured.

"The victim was a one-year-old being pushed in her buggy by her mum down the high street.

"I'm distraught that the dog might have to be put down..." Glenn Hall

"The dog running down the high street jumps on and off the pushchair.

"The mother immediately checks her child and notices blood and skin broken on the right index finger."

Lovelace was pregnant at the time and gave birth to puppies days after the incident. She was on a lead in the moments before the attack.

But as Hall walked into a shop he simply dropped the lead and left the two dogs unattended outside.

After a few minutes Lovelace became startled and CCTV footage showed the dog careering down the high street.

A man tried to grab the dog but in doing so averted its path into the pram.

Defending David Nelson said: "I am not suggesting that this wasn't an unpleasant and upsetting time for the mother and baby.

"For a few minutes the dogs sat quietly but clearly something startled Lovelace.

"It was a momentary lapse in concentration and if he simply tied the dogs up we wouldn't be here.

"He has learned a very hard and bitter lesson and he knows that if he is to ever have another dog he should keep it on a lead and under control at all times.

"He entered a guilty plea at the earliest possible opportunity."

All parties involved in the case, including the victim's mother, said they did not want to see the dog put down.

Speaking after the hearing Hall said: "I was at court today for Lovelace's benefit.

"He has learned a very hard and bitter lesson..." - defence lawyer David Nelson

"That dog is innocent. The reason she ran away is probably because of the heartless treatment by her previous owner.

"I took her on for humanitarian reasons. She was pregnant and gave birth to seven puppies. She was a devoted mother.

"She had never bitten anyone and was a lovely dog.

"I'm distraught that the dog might have to be put down.

"She is a beautiful, lovely, kind-hearted dog."

Hall was ordered to pay £85 costs and £300 compensation. He was handed 150 hours of community service and banned from keeping dogs for the next 12 months.