THE owner of a dangerous dog which repeatedly attacked people and animals was slapped with a Community Payback Order (CPO) at Alloa Sheriff Court.

Francis Quinn, 57, appeared for sentencing on Thursday, January 17 for a number of offences.

The charges included one count of possessing a prohibited Dogo Argentino breed of dog at various addresses between April 13 and June 15 of 2017.

Another charge stated the animal attacked and injured a golden retriever, its owner, and Quinn himself on April 13 of the same year in Clackmannan.

Shockingly, just one month after that on June 15, Quinn allowed the dangerous dog to run around without a muzzle or a lead in Alloa.

The final offence Quinn appeared for involved two large Kangal dogs in his possession mauling a dog in Clackmannan on November 14 of last year.

The 14-year-old Jack Russell's injuries were so bad the animal was required to be euthanised.

Quinn's dogs have since been taken out of his care, but his solicitor told the court he was keen to have them returned.

However, prosecutor Ann Orr made clear the Crown was pushing for a disqualification order to be imposed.

Sheriff David Mackie claimed legal and technical difficulties rendered him unable to rule whether Quinn could continue to keep dogs or decide the fate of the dogs in question, at that stage.

However, the sheriff expressed that he was keen to make some progress with the case in the meantime.

He said: " I have the benefit of a report from which it's clear you are a committed dog lover and owner.

"You do have a particular interest in large, powerful dogs - that's has got you into trouble."

The sheriff handed Quinn, of Kennet Village, a CPO with a period of 12 months' supervision.

Quinn will appear in court again on February 14 to hear the outcome of his dogs' fate, and whether he will be allowed to keep animals in future.