AN AMERICAN Akita attacked two men, putting one of them in hospital for a week, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Gordon Mathers, 51, the owner of powerfully built Logan, will be sentenced next month after he pleaded guilty to two offences of having a dog that caused injury while dangerously out of control.

Mathers admitted the offences at the city magistrates court and was committed to the crown court for sentence.

The charges state that the white dog injured Dean Turner on May 21 and then attacked Trevor Longstaff on June 1.

Both offences are stated to have occurred at Mather’s address in Sutton Crescent, Tyersal, Bradford.

Eddison Flint, barrister for the prosecution, asked on Friday for the case to be adjourned so that the Crown could obtain medical evidence about the two victims.

It was stated that Mr Longstaff was in hospital for a week after he was mauled by Logan.

Mr Flint said a judge would have to decide if the dog was to be destroyed or made the subject of a Control Order.

He said victim personal statements would be sought from Mr Turner and Mr Longstaff to find out the precise nature of their injuries.

Those statements would also examine the impact those injuries have had on them, the court heard.

Mr Flint said the information should have been sought after Mathers pleaded guilty at the lower court but it had not been done.

John Bottomley, lawyer for Mathers, agreed that sentence should be postponed.

He said the time had not been wasted because Mathers had seen a probation officer before the case was called on so that a report could be written.

“He is anxious to know his fate but I don’t stand in the way of an adjournment,” Mr Bottomley told the court.

Judge Neil Davey QC relisted the case on November 22.

He told Mathers: “It is a matter of regret that your case cannot be disposed of today.”

But the court needed statements from the victims and information to decide what to do about Logan.

Mathers’ bail was renewed until the next hearing.

American Akitas are powerful, muscular dogs with large ‘bear’ like heads. They are bigger than their Japanese relatives and said to be loyal and intelligent but wary of strangers.