A DOG which attacked a pensioner in Accrington as he walked home has been destroyed.

Owner Mark Parry was issued with a dog destruction order after his dog Rocky, a nine-year-old mastiff, attacked Harold Feeley, 68.

Parry appealed and was due to have his case heard at Burnley Crown Court last Thursday, but dropped it at the 11th hour after advice from his solicitor.

He said Rocky was a rescue dog that had been abused in the past, but believed he had been rehabilitated.

On the night of the attack last April, Mr Feeley, who lived in Priestley Nook at the time, was walking home from the pub at about 10pm when he passed Parry and the dog who were in a phone box, in Royds Street.

Mr Feeley said: “It dived on me completely out of the blue.

“It bit me on the arm and ripped through my jacket and pullover and went right down to the muscle.

“He asked me if it had got me, and when I said yes he ran off with the dog.

“Every time I see a dog now my heart stops.

“It’s not just the scar. It has left me terrified.

It’s on my mind all the time.

“It could have easily attacked a child.

“I think that dog should have been destroyed straight away.

“I feel sorry for the dog.”

Mr Feeley was taken to A&E by his brother where his arm was bandaged.

However, Parry, who had owned the dog for eight years, believes Rocky felt threatened when Mr Feeley approached them.

Parry, 31, of Belfield Road, Accrington, said: “I said sorry to the guy and asked if he was alright and he said it had just ripped his jacket.

“It was completely out of character for Rocky.”

Parry was convicted of having a dangerous dog in a public place that caused injury to a member of the public.

He was banned from keeping dogs for 10 years, and ordered to pay Mr Feeley £250 in compensation.

Parry was also ordered to pay court costs for the appeal proceedings.

Steve Woods, animal welfare officer for Hyndburn Stray Dogs in Need, said: “When re-homing a dog, you could be putting a potentially lethal weapon in someone’s home.

“No responsible kennel will re-home a dog if its behaviour is suspect.

"In some cases, people are tempted to re-home an animal, rather than have it put to sleep. If you introduce a dog into your home, you have to be sure it isn’t going to turn.”