A woman has been allowed to keep her XL Bully which attacked a man, despite the breed being banned.

Gemma Louise Ward appeared at Tameside Magistrates' Court on Monday (April 22) after pleading guilty to possession of a fighting dog and owning a dog dangerously out of control causing injury at a previous hearing.

On May 3 last year, Ward, of Seventh Avenue, Limeside, answered the door to a man who was attacked by the dog named Kyra.

The incident happened several months before Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced his intention to ban the XL Bully breed, with the legislation making it illegal to own, sell or breed the dog coming into force on December 31.

At the hearing at Tameside Magistrates', Ward, 40, was handed a community order, requiring her to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and to pay compensation of £1,500 to the victim.

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A contingent destruction order was also issued, meaning Kyra can be seized and destroyed if Ward does not make sure certain orders are met.

The orders include that the dog must be secured in a crate contained in a room where the door can be closed before the front door of the home address is opened to any person outside of Ward's family.

The dog must also be neutered as well as being muzzled and on a lead whenever it is out in public.