A court has ordered a dog owner to pay out nearly £900 after her spaniel bit a man while attacking his labradoodle on a Woodbridge footpath.

Amanda Tucker, of Drybridge Hill, Woodbridge, had denied being an owner of a dog who was dangerously out of control.

However, the 52-year-old was convicted after a trial at South East Suffolk Magistrates Court.

The incident occurred at around 3.25pm on June 13 last year on a footpath by the River Deben.

Prosecutor Carol Huston said Andrew Clipstone was walking his dog, a miniature labradoodle, who was not on a lead. Tucker was said to have been walking two dogs, her cocker spaniel named Boots who was on a lead and a cross-breed dog who was not.

The court heard as Tucker got closer to Mr Clipstone she let Boots of the lead.

Mrs Huston said Tucker warned him her dog was “always up for a fight”.

Magistrates were told the actual wording she later used to police was: “Boots is always ready for a bust up.”

Boots then approached the labradoodle who was laying down being submissive and attacked it.

Mr Clipstone was said to have tried to pull his dog away from Boots but the cocker spaniel bit him on the hand causing a puncture wound to his thumb and other marks on the back of his hand.

The court heard how Mr Clipstone tried to get Boots away while his dog was held down for a “number of seconds”.

Mrs Huston said the incident ended when Tucker came over and put a lead on Boots.

Magistrates heard that Mr Clipstone said he was going to call the police, but Tucker walked off in the opposite direction without making any effort to exchange details.

Tucker contacted police around an hour later.

Mrs Huston said: “The Crown would say she was clearly trying to get in her act of mitigation.”

Mr Clipstone was treated by a nurse at a doctor’s surgery but did not need to go to hospital.

Tucker told police she had owned Boots for a year and was trying to familiarise him with other dogs.

Tucker claimed the labradoodle was laying on the footpath and Mr Clipstone started shouting at her dog.

As she tried to get Boots on his lead she said Mr Clipstone claimed it was intimidating his dog and then got Boots on the ground.

Magistrates fined Tucker £200, and told her she must pay £20 to the victims’ fund. She was also ordered to pay Mr Clipstone £250 in compensation and £400 costs.

In addition Tucker was must keep Boots on a lead and under control at all times.