A SEVEN-year-old girl needed 35 stitches after being attacked by a dog in Bradford, a court heard.

Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court was told that the child had not suffered any permanent scarring when she was bitten by a Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross.

The incident happened on the doorstep of a house in Woodside.

Colleen Bray, 34, pleaded guilty to a charge of being the person in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury, when she appeared at the court yesterday. The court was told that she was not the owner of the animal, but was just looking after it.

Amjid Khan, for Bray, said: “The RSPCA has carried out investigations and the dog has been re-homed.”

Mr Khan said the victim was bitten by the dog after she knocked on Bray’s door on April 22 this year.

Bray was upstairs in the property on Eaglesfield Drive when someone else in the house answered the door.

Mr Khan said the dog ran out and bit the girl on the doorstep.

Bray called police and tended to the girl’s injuries, Mr Khan told the court. Mr Khan also said there was no evidence that the victim had suffered any psychological trauma.

District Judge Richard Clews adjourned the case until August 18 for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

He added that he wanted it determined where the dog was now, whether any application would be made by the animal’s owners, and to make sure there was no long-term impact on the victim. Bray was released on unconditional bail.