AN eight-inch sausage dog was given a reprieve by magistrates after her owner was cleared of letting a dangerous dog run out of control.

Burly landscape gardener Shawn Anderson claimed he was inconsolable after miniature Dachshund Lucy allegedly nipped his ankle and bit his jeans.

But Newcastle Magistrates Court heard he suffered no injuries, there were no teeth marks and no damage to his jeans after the yapping dog ran round his legs outside his flat in Gosforth, Newcastle, in October last year.

He lived in the property below Lucys owner, Melanie Hobson, 26, her husband Steve and their two children, Monique, two, and four-year-old Jacob.

Magistrates heard that Mrs Hobson was carrying shopping from her car after a trip out with her children when Lucy ran off, barking.

The court heard the dog approached Mr Anderson, ran round his legs and, according to him, bit him on the ankle.

Mr Anderson then shouted at the owner: If your dog bites me again, I will have you done.

The court heard Mrs Hobson replied: What are you on about? She didnt touch you.

Mr Andersons mother-in-law rang the police to complain on his behalf 30 minutes later.

Asked how he felt after the dog attack, he told magistrates: I was really, really angry. I was more or less inconsolable.

Mrs Hobson was interviewed by police the following month and she told magistrates PC Adam Walton told her she had a cute dog and that he did not think the dog would be put down.

She wept in the witness box as she told how Lucy was like a member of her family.

Her defence solicitor, Judith Curry, alleged Mr Anderson was motivated to complain to police because of a series of disputes between the neighbours.

After around 30 minutes deliberation, the magistrates formally cleared Mrs Hobson of having a dog dangerously out of control in a public place.