A DOG walker endured a terrifying ordeal after she was targeted by another woman’s out-of-control canines.

Louise Dexter, of Elliotts Corner, Hartley Wespall, appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court where she was sentenced for allowing her dogs to be out of control in public.

The 50-year-old was walking her Staffordshire Bull Terrier and two Rottweilers on a field near Longbridge Mill, in Sherfield-on-Loddon, on January 14, when they attacked Jane Spiers and her collie.

Keith Ballinger, prosecuting, told the court that Mrs Spiers picked up her collie and began screaming at the dogs to stop. She lost her balance and fell to the ground.

Mr Ballinger said: “The three dogs were still trying to get at her dog and she recalls one coming towards her. She was wearing gloves and put her hand in one of the dog’s mouths and started to feel pressure.”

The court heard that Dexter arrived at the scene and offered to tie up her dogs to help Mrs Spiers find her collie, which had run off, but she declined.

Mr Ballinger added: “She (Mrs Spiers) said the incident lasted five minutes. She had two stitches and glue for her injured hand, and her collie dog received stitches.”

Kate Barbour, defending, told the court that Dexter’s dogs had run off to chase pheasants, and a muzzle on the Rottweiler which bit Mrs Spiers had broken.

She added: “As she went after him, she tripped and fell and, for a short period of time, the three dogs were out of her control.”

She said Dexter had been “deeply affected” and “devastated” by the incident and now relies on her partner and father to walk the dogs.

Mrs Barbour said the attack happened because Mrs Spiers had “intervened” with the dog.

Dexter pleaded guilty to one aggravated charge of allowing a dog to be out of control in a public place and two non-aggravated counts of the same charge at court.

She was fined £500 with a £50 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

Passing sentence, presiding magistrate Frances Hoare told Dexter: “I think I will give you the good news first – we will not ask for the dogs to be destroyed. We don’t think that they are a threat to the public.”