Dog bit Labour canvasser in Norwich street

Christine CunninghamA man whose dangerous dog was ordered to be destroyed after it bit a Labour Party canvasser and a court security officer was yesterday ordered to pay �250 compensation to one of the victims.Christine Cunningham

A man whose dangerous dog was ordered to be destroyed after it bit a Labour Party canvasser and a court security officer was yesterday ordered to pay �250 compensation to one of the victims.

Clive Hill, 41, was made to pay canvasser George Owers the money as compensation for the injuries he received. Norwich Crown Court heard that Mr Owers was bitten by Hill's dog Snowball when he called at his address in Norwich during last year's local elections.

The court heard the men were having a heated political discussion when Snowball had bitten Mr Owers who needed hospital treatment for his injury.

Hill was charged with having a dangerous dog but the dog went on to bite another person and when Hill attended a hearing at the Crown Court, Snowball also bit a security officer and was then ordered by a judge to be put down.

Yesterday Hill of St Martins Close, Norwich appeared for sentence and the court heard it was the second dog he has owned which had been ordered to be destroyed.

Nick Methold, prosecuting, said that in the previous incident Hill's dog had been tethered outside his property when it bit a neighbour.

As well as paying compensation Hill was given a five year ban on keeping dogs apart from helping look after his father's dog Milly, a Paterdale collie cross.

He was also given a 12 month conditional discharge.

Michael Clare for Hill said it was difficult to access the character of a dog as Hill had owned Snowball since he was a puppy. 'It is very difficult to tell what sort of character they are going to develop.'

He said Hill was distraught when Snowball had to be put down and he described it as the worst thing that could have happened to him.