A businessman was handed a 26-week suspended jail sentence and banned from keeping a dog for eight years following a court appearance on Monday.

Jason Dicken, aged 37, of Pendyffryn, Llandudno Junction, had last week been found guilty in his absence of having an eight-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier called Kruger which was out of control in July when it injured neighbour Ashley Rees-Davies.

The dog had died after being impounded by police so a destruction order did not need to be considered by District Judge Gwyn Jones at Llandudno Magistrates Court.

But he ordered Dicken to pay £510 compensation to Mr Rees-Davies with costs of £620 and a £132 surcharge.

James Neary, prosecuting, said Mr Rees-Davies had gone to hospital and was given antibiotics, losing a day’s pay.

In 2012 Dicken had been convicted of a similar offence involving the same dog.

Mr Neary said Kruger had bitten Mr Rees-Davies on the hand when he called at Dickens’ home.

A probation officer told the court that Dicken, a single father, had been running his own business for three years.

Alex Fitzgerald, defending, said the injury to Mr Rees-Davies did not break the skin.

"Mr Dicken has a healthy attitude and respect for work," added the solicitor.

Judge Jones said the suspended sentence will be for a year.

He told Dicken he would not be able to apply for a review of the ban on keeping a dog until four years had elapsed.