A PORTHMADOG farmer has been ordered to put his best sheepdog to sleep after it attacked a holidaymaker during the summer.

Selwyn Jones, 58, of 16 Bank Place, appeared bef­ore Dolgellau Magistrates and pleaded guilty to being­ the owner of a dangerous dog that was out of control and injured German holidaymaker Gisela Wilbers on 4 June in Croesor.

Tracey Willingham, prosecuting, told magistrates that Mrs Wilbers and her husband had booked a £4,000 holiday at Bwthyn Llwynos Cottage in Croesor, where the attack happened, and that the injuries she suffered had spoilt their holiday.

The court was shown photographs of a 2.5cm V-shaped leg injury that Mrs Wilbers suffered after being­ attacked by sheepdog, Bet.

Magistrates were told that the attack had now made the victim afraid of sheepdogs and the pain from the injury prevented her from enjoying her holiday and caused her sleeping problems.

The incident happened as the couple had been walking back to their holiday cottage.

Lynda Roberts, defending, told magistrates that Jones went to the cottage to apologise following the incident and described how his bitch, Bet, was his best sheepdog.

Mrs Roberts said: “Bet had never done anything like this before and was returning to my client’s Land Rover after attending sheep at a nearby pen.”

The defence solicitor asked the magistrates not to destroy the dog because there had been no previous incidents, but did state that Jones was not with the dog at the time of the incident.

Mrs Roberts said that there were three dogs in the vicinity and that her client was surprised that it had been Bet that had bitten Mrs Wilbers.

Court chairman, Keith Lycett, said that the magistrates accepted that the defendant was a fit and proper person to look after dogs, but said that, on this occasion, the dog was dangerous and out of control and that Bet should be destroyed as soon as practical.

Jones was fined £160 with £20 victim surcharge, prosecution costs of £85 and criminal court charges of £180.

Mr Lycett said: “Because of the injuries sustained we are awarding £750 compensation to Mrs Wilbers.”