Susan Archer, 51, of East Paddock House, White Pit Way, Swaby, admitted that on June 6 this year she was the owner of a dog which was dangerously out of control and injured Janet Leonard.

Skegness magistrates gave Archer a 12- month conditional discharge for the offence.

They said they would not be imposing a control order because of Archer's very good, long record of keeping dogs and because of the efforts she had made to keep her garden secure.

She had also assured the court that if the dog was out it would be on a lead and muzzled.

They ordered her to pay £1,000 compensation and £43 costs.

Prosecutor Marie Stace, told the court that at 10.45am on June 6, Janet Leonard was walking in White Pit Way, Swaby with her two dogs, a King Charles Spaniel, called Bella and a Basset Hound.

She was walking in a field at the rear of Mrs Archer's home and could see Mrs Archer appeared to be gardening.

Mrs Archer's German Shepherd, Max, and another dog were also in the back garden.

The dogs became agitated and started to bark. Max got over the three- foot high fence and grabbed Bella with her mouth and started to shake her.

The dog was crying in pain and Mrs Leonard tried to get Max off her and was bitten to the left thumb, said Miss Stace.

The Spaniel was killed in the attack and Mrs Leonard's bite was treated at the medical centre where she received a tetanus injection.

Miss Stace said the prosecution would be asking for a control order requiring the garden be kept secure, with an appropriately high fence so Max could not get out.

They would also ask that, when out, Max should be kept on a lead and muzzled at all times.

Mr Hugh Connolly, representing Mrs Archer, said his client lived at her property in Swaby with her husband.

They had three and a half acres of garden and were animal lovers. Max was the fifth Alsatian they had had and they had never had an incident where anyone had been injured or any damage had been caused.

The complainant had been walking with her dogs along a right of way and then turned, walking past Mrs Archer's fence.

Perhaps the Alsatian was guarding its property, said Mr Connolly. There was barking and then it scaled the fence. The King Chales Spaniel suffered fatal injuries as a result of the attack.