Two men have been convicted after a teenager was seriously injured in a dog attack in Middlesbrough.

The incident happened at Leinster Road as the teenage boy waited outside a shop. The men were walking two dogs that the boy reported were “pulling hard” on their leads as they approached him. One of the dogs attacked and he was pulled to the ground.

The dog, named Rambo, was ruled to be “dangerously out of control”, and the two men in charge of it were each ordered to pay £750 compensation for the boy’s injuries.

The dog was a Staffordshire bull terrier, which is not categorised as a banned breed under the Dangerous Dogs Act. The owner alleged this was the first time the dog had behaved aggressively, but the court ordered that it should be destroyed.

The 15-year-old had surgery at Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital and needed more than 100 stitches. The dog bites were mainly to his legs, but he also suffered facial injuries and has been left with scars.

The teenager has also been significantly psychologically scarred by the incident and has suffered from panic attacks since.

One of the men told the court of his remorse following the attack. In addition to the compensation, they were each given eight-week suspended prison sentences.

Dog bites and dog attacks can have a serious psychological impact, particularly if the victim is a child. Macks Solicitors in Middlesbrough are experienced in dealing with a wide range of dog bite claims. If your child is attacked by an out of control dog, our personal injury lawyers may be able to help you claim compensation for the injuries sustained.

Our personal injury lawyers understand that a dog bite can be a traumatic event, and aim to secure compensation to cover not only the injuries sustained but also the costs of any necessary private medical treatment. You can contact our personal injury solicitors on 01642 252 828, or call in to one of our offices in Middlesbrough, Darlington, or Redcar.