AN out-of-control dog mauled a man as he was walking his German shepherd dog, leaving him with a fractured ankle and dislocated finger.

Malcolm Temke also suffered multiple lacerations on both hands.

Last night, he said he was angry after hearing about what he called a lenient sentence, given to the owner of the other dog, Karl Robson.

A court heard yesterday that the lagger’s mate has not been able to go back to work at ICI and still needs physiotherapy, seven months after the attack.

Mr Temke’s ordeal happened as he was walking his dog shortly after midnight in Grangetown, near Middlesbrough, on July 10, last year.

Ali – a pit-bull terrier-type dog – escaped from a garden, bit Mr Temke’s dog, and then savaged Mr Temke, Teesside Crown Court was told.

The victim said he was bitten a dozen times, and said: “I honestly thought I was going to be mauled. I had no energy left and couldn’t even crawl away.”

Robson, of Bridgend Close, Grangetown, near Middlesbrough, admitted being in charge of a dog that caused injury while being dangerously out of control at an earlier court hearing.

Yesterday, the 20-year-old was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work for the community and pay Mr Temke £400 in compensation.

Judge Tony Briggs resisted a prosecution application for a destruction order for the dog, but told Robson to keep his pet muzzled and on a lead in public places.

Mr Temke said: “I think the sentence is scandalous, it is far too lenient. He has got off lightly – he’s even got his dog back. It is unbelievable.

“He has to pay £400 while I have had to survive on sick pay. My finger will never be the same again and steel pins have been put in my ankle. I’m living in pain.”

Robson’s barrister, Angharad Davies, told Judge Briggs Robson was sorry for what had happened, and had always been a responsible dog owner.

She said the part-time warehouseman took his pet to be micro-chipped and had it registered soon after he got it a year ago.

Robson disputed it was a prohibited breed and the judge said he was satisfied it was a pit-bull-type, but had never been aggressive before.

He said: “I am only too wellaware, as everyone in this nation is, that incidents involving dogs of this type result in the most horrendous tragedies.

“The unfortunate Mr Temke was subjected to a very nasty, frightening and highly unpleasant experience as a result of your dog getting out.

“He sustained the injuries trying to separate the animals.

It is really something of a miracle he has recovered as well as he has.”