THE owner of a danger dog has admitted allowing it to roam the streets of a Bradford suburb where it mauled beloved family pets.

Glenn Lambert's cross between an Alsatian and an Akita, called Xena, was dangerously out of control in Allerton where he was caught on CCTV leaping over a garden wall and running along the street with a rabbit in his mouth.

The footage sparked a police search and residents said they feared for their children's safety.

Yesterday, Lambert, 56 pleaded guilty to having a dangerously out of control dog at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates' Court.

He also admitted two charges of causing criminal damage, after the dog savaged rabbits and guinea pigs and damaged their hutches and pens.

Prosecutor Vincent O'Malley told the court that the dog had gone missing from Lambert's home on Chapel Lane, Allerton, on February 6, with various sightings subsequently reported in the local area.

It was not until February 14 that police were told by Lambert that the animal had returned home.

During the eight-day period, the dog was captured on CCTV entering outdoor yards of properties on Wellington Street, taking animals away in its mouth.

The families involved then contacted police to report the killing of their pets.

Alison Naylor lost two rabbits and had a rabbit hutch damaged and Carol Ingham had her two guinea pigs destroyed, along with their pen.

Mrs Naylor contacted the Telegraph & Argus while the dog was still on the loose, saying that her two pet Lionhead show rabbits had been mauled to death.

The pets had only been given to her weeks earlier as a Christmas present.

In CCTV footage captured by a neighbour across the street, the dog could be seen leaping over the wall of Mrs Naylor's back yard and running along the street with a white rabbit in its mouth.

She said the incident had left her "absolutely devastated", and said residents feared for the safety of their children after reports the dog had been seen in the playgrounds of local primary schools.

Mr O'Malley told the court that the dog had escaped before, with problems relating to animals owned by Lambert reported to police on a number of previous occasions.

Lambert, a self-employed builder who the court heard was already serving a suspended prison sentence for an unrelated offence, represented himself during the hearing.

He told magistrates he had raised the height of a fence at his home to ensure the dog couldn't get out again.

"It is not an aggressive dog," he said.

"I do love the dog and look after it, unfortunately it just did what dogs naturally do."

Chairman of the bench Carl Davies told Lambert he would have to undergo a dog training course, and would have to keep the animal muzzled and on a lead anytime it was outside his property.

"We are not going to have the dog destroyed," he added.

Lambert was also given a five-month curfew from 7pm to 7am, and a 14-day residency order.

He was ordered to pay £120 compensation to Mrs Naylor, and £85 compensation to Mrs Ingham, alongside £85 costs and a £60 surcharge.

Speaking after the case, Mrs Naylor said she had decided not to replace the rabbits due to the risks of them being attacked again in the future.

"The compensation is an insult, but I'll have to let it go, what choice do I have?" she said.

"There are lots of young children on the street, so as long as the dog is kept under control and no kids get hurt, that's the main thing."