A DOG that attacked a woman, biting off part of her thumb, must be kept on a lead, a court has ruled.

Sally Marshall, of Down View Road, Laverstock, admitted not keeping her dog, Fifi, under proper control at Salisbury Magistrates Court on Friday (April 7).

Prosecuting, Kate Prince, said Janet Blake was walking her two dogs, both on leads, on Down View Road at about 6.30am on February 7.

Ms Prince said Ms Blake saw Fifi, a Jack Russell cross, running towards her. She was not on a lead and her owner, Marshall, was not in sight.

Fifi bit one of Ms Blake's dogs, Brynn, and when Ms Blake tried to separate the dogs Fifi bit her on her right calf and her right hand, and "she lost a small section of her thumb during the incident".

Ms Prince said it was at this point that Marshall turned up, and she took Ms Blake to hospital.

The court heard that Ms Blake has now been referred to a plastic surgeon and that her dog Brynn needed treatment from a vet after the attack.

When interviewed, Marshall confirmed that Fifi was off the lead at the time and, although originally walking beside her, she had run off.

Marshall, who represented herself in court, said Brynn had attacked Fifi "on three occasions", before being told by magistrates to focus on "the particular issue" at hand.

She then added: "I didn't see the incident, by the time I got there it was all over."

"I keep her [Fifi] on a lead and I try to keep her away from that one particular dog as there's something between them."

Magistrates ordered Marshall to keep Fifi on a lead in a public place for twelve months, to ensure proper control "because of this very nasty incident".

Marshall must also pay £85 costs.