A DOG-OWNER from Kemble has admitted that she lied to police last year when she told them her pet had been destroyed after it injured a nine-year-old child.

Kim Cannock, aged 55, of Windmill Road, Kemble, pleaded guilty to a charge of obstructing a police officer in the execution of his duty between October 15 and November 8 last year when she appeared before district judge Joti Bopa Rai at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court today (May 18).

The destruction of the bull terrier-type dog had been ordered by police after it bit a nine-year-old visitor to Mrs Cannock’s house on the cheek.

Representing Mrs Cannock, solicitor Clare Gooding told the judge: “We accept that Mrs Cannock told police the dog had been destroyed when that was not in fact the case.”

Mrs Cannock pleaded not guilty to a second charge of being the owner of a bull terrier-type dog that was dangerously out of control on September 11 last year when it bit the visiting child.

The trial of this charge, which is expected to last a whole day, will be at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court on August 17 this year, starting at 9.30am.

Sentencing for lying to the police about the destruction of the dog will be on the same day.

Mrs Cannock was released on unconditional bail until the date of the trial.