A COURT will decide the fate of a working sheepdog on Thursday, January 29 after he tore into a pensioner's leg.

'Waggy' the sheepdog, who is owned by 55-year-old Talgarth farmer Katherine Patricia Price could face being put down after he bit 'a deep chunk of flesh' from 62-year-old holidaymaker Hazel Ann Lunnon's calf as she walked along a public footpath running through Pendre farm, Talgarth.

The retired holidaymaker was treated at Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny for eight days following the attack and later required a skin graft during a second stay in hospital.

'Waggy's' owner pleaded guilty before Brecon magistrates court on January 22, to being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control and will reappear for sentence in Llandrindod Wells where magistrates must decide whether eight-year-old 'Waggy' will face destruction.

Prosecutor Julie Sullivan told last week's hearing Mrs Lunnon and her husband Stephen, from Nottinghamshire, had been caravanning in the Brecon Beacons last September when 'Waggy' struck.

Ms Sullivan also read a personal statement from the victim who explained how the September 9 attack had impacted on her and her husband and also her mother in law who has had to remain in a care home as she is unable to assist in her care.

Gareth Walters, defending, did not dispute the seriousness of the injury caused to Mrs Lunnon but said: "Rather than a destruction order you could make an order that 'Waggy' is excluded from Pendre Farm. Since the attack he has been placed on a farm where Price's son works and which the public has no access"

"He is a living, breathing piece of farm machinery, not a dog you would take out for a walk on a lead or with a muzzle," said Mr Walters.

Magistrates released Price on unconditional bail and told her to return for sentence at Llandrindod on January 29, at 10am, when the bench must also decided whether to make a destruction order against 'Waggy'.

Price was told to expect to receive a medium level community order.

For the full story get your copy of this week's Brecon & Radnor Express - on sale now.