THE family of a vulnerable man mauled by a "deadly" Bullmastiff have told of their anger after the dog's owner was spared jail.

A judge said the attack on Uzer Khan, 25, was "a dreadful incident" but she did not send David Hampson to prison as he had the dog destroyed after the incident and had showed remorse.

But Uzer's brother Uwes, 17, said his family, of Bury Road, Haslingden, were disappointed Judge Beverley Lunt had not used her power to jail Hampson for up to six months.

Mr Khan said his brother, who has Down's Syndrome, was mentally and physically scarred by the attack.

Burnley Crown Court was told Uzer was walking down a back alley near Hampson's garden in Rifle Street, Haslingden, last June when two Bullmastiffs, not wearing collars or leads, attacked him.

Hampson, 29, fought to rescue Uzer from the jaws of one of the dogs named Midge, which was said to have caused wounds to Uzer's face, chest and arms.

Hampson had Midge destroyed four days later, though he still has Scoobie, the other dog involved.

Hampson admitted having a dog dangerously out of control in a public place.

He was given a 24 week jail term, suspended for 12 months.

The penalties could have included a £5,000 fine, six months imprisonment and the animal being destroyed.

After the case, sixth-former Uwes, a pupil at Haslingden High School, said: "This was a horrendous attack and this man should have gone to prison.

"Uzer still has scars and is still scared of dogs. Dogs need to be brought up properly."

After the case, Rossendale dog warden Dave East said the dogs should have been wearing collars and been secured.

Rossendale Police Inspector Dave Hodson said : "I hope the sentence sends out a message that animals like this need to be properly looked after."

Judge Beverley Lunt said Hampson now appreciated what a "deadly, deadly" type of dog he owned.

She said he was fortunate Uzer's injuries were not worse.

Sarah Statham, prosecuting, said Hampson would say the victim was banging on the back gate, causing the dogs to get agitated and that he had opened the back gate a small way.

David Temkin, defending, said his client was devastated by what happened.