A WEST Cumbrian pensioner whose pet 'cockapoo' attacked a two-year-old boy outside a Cockermouth supermarket has been banned from owning dogs.

A Carlisle Crown Court judge also imposed a suspended one year jail term on 81-year-old David Sheppard after hearing that he "flagrantly" ignored a court order which stipulated that his cocker spaniel-poodle cross should wear a muzzle in public.

Magistrates imposed that order after the dog - called Matt - attacked an eight-year-old girl in almost identical circumstances.

Sheppard, of St Helens Street, Cockermouth, admitted owning a dog that was dangerously out of control in a public place. He had the dog put down shortly after the latest attack.

Prosecutor Brendan Burke said the pensioner had tied his dog up outside Lidl in Station Road, Cockermouth on December 13 last year. Sheppard had forgotten its muzzle, he said.

A short time later, without any provocation, the unmuzzled Matt bit a two year old boy on the hand. Describing the moments after the incident, Mr Burke said the toddler's father heard him cry out in pain and turned to see his son's hand "streaming with blood."

The barrister said: "The dog had just jumped up and bitten the child without him having done anything at all."

The child - who suffered a scar - had been left wary of all dogs.

Mr Burke added: "The defendant made full admissions in interview and by the time of that interview [last year] had already had his dog put down."

Judith McCullough, defending, said of Sheppard: "He is extremely sorry for the injury and the distress his dog Matt caused."

A public-spirited man, who gave his time generously to others, Sheppard was ashamed and sorry to be before the court and had resolved not to ever own a dog again, said Miss McCullough.

She added: "He lives alone with one cat."

Suspending the jail term for a 18 months, Recorder Ricard Archer banned Sheppard from owning dogs for life.

The judge said it was sad to see a man of 81 before the crown court for the first time for this ofence.

The Recorder accepted that the defendant's remorse was genuine but added: "In flagrant breach of that court order [imposed in 2016], you placed Matt in a situation where he was able to bite another child, causing minor scarring to that young child."

Had he complied with the 2016 court order, said the judge, Sheppard would still be able to enjoy the love and affection of his dog.

Recorder Archer noted that Sheppard had himself taken steps to "eliminate" the potential risk by having his dog put down.