THE owners of a condemned German Shepherd that bit a woman’s face begged a judge not to order the dog’s destruction.

Derek Price, who Swindon jurors found last month had been in charge of 'Colonel' when he attacked the woman, told the crown court: “The dog is not dangerous. He is just protective of his property and me and him [Mr Price’s son, the legal owner of the dog].”

The 61-year-old appealed to the judge to give the dog another chance, telling the court: “I’m begging you, your honour, give the dog another chance. There is people out there who stab people and they’re out in 15 months.

“That dog’s done two years and he deserves to come home and get a second chance.”

But Judge Jason Taylor QC ordered the dog was put down, saying he could not ignore a vet’s assessment that Colonel may pose a danger to the public.

He said that the dog had appeared “flat and emotionless” to the vet when he had visited the animal in police kennels this month.

The dog had become “institutionalised” during the 18 months he had spent in kennels, the judge added.

The judge dismissed the other option available to him of a contingent destruction order, which would have required Colonel’s owners to take specific steps to prevent him from posing a danger to others.

Judge Taylor noted that the dog’s owners had asked him to give him a second chance. But he said: “That one chance may result in somebody else – possibly even a child – being attacked and a contingent destruction order which would involve conditions for example muzzling outside or muzzling in the house when people visit is something first of all I don’t consider would fair on the dog and second of all I am concerned given the beliefs of the owners whether it would be done.”

Last month, jurors heard that Colonel, who had to be shut away when visitors came to the house, had attacked a woman as she entered Price’s home in Ferndale. Price claimed she had been attacked after raising her hood. The victim dismissed the allegation.

After defence barrister John Upton did not call any witnesses in his client’s defence, the jury took less than 30 minutes to find that Price was in charge of a dangerously out-of control dog.

Price, who had earlier been ruled unfit to stand trial, was given an absolute discharge.