A SCROUNGER on benefits who pretended to be homeless to beg for money has been jailed for owning a dangerous dog that attacked two people including an elderly woman.

Stephen Johnstone, of Archer Avenue, Latchford, also breached an ASBO banning him from going near cash points in Warrington to scavenge for change by 'intimidating' a man on Bridge Street.

The ASBO was imposed last year after Johnstone regularly begged in Stockton Heath, also urinating in shop doorways and spitting on the street.

Halton Magistrates Court heard on Friday how Johnstone owned a large dog, described as a white bullmastiff, called Bruce.

Beverley Dobson, prosecuting, said the 'hulking animal' bit a pensioner several times on August 21, last year.

The victim had been walking her dog, bichon frise Louis, in Black Bear Park, Latchford, when the bullmastiff, not on a lead, charged over on Clarke Avenue.

"The owner was some distance behind, when the white dog lunged at Louis," said Ms Dobson.

"She shouted for the owner to get the dog on a lead.

"The dog bit the victim a number of times.

"She was screaming as she thought the dog was going to bite her dog's head off.

"The man (owner) was stumbling and the victim thought he was drunk."

Ms Dobson said the elderly woman suffered a large laceration and puncture wound to her hands in the attack.

She is now too scared to walk her dog alone.

The court heard the bullmastiff was responsible for a second attack when in control of Johnstone's partner and co-defendant, Nicola Louise Fargin.

On June 17, last year, Fargin, aged 35, of Archer Avenue, was with the dangerous animal, again not on a lead, at the Esso garage on Wilderspool Causeway.

It attacked the male owner of a jack russell,

The bullmastiff jumped at the man, causing an eye wound, and pinned down the jack russell, although Fargin did try and restrain it.

Fargin, who has previous convictions for drug offences, and theft, pleaded guilty to being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury.

She was given a 12 month community order and banned from keeping animals for five years.

Johnstone pleaded guilty to the same charge, and to breach of an anti-social behaviour order, and being drunk and disorderly.

The court heard Johnstone was on Bridge Street on November 8 last year when he begged for money.

He claimed not to remember being subjected to an ASBO for begging as his memory is bad due to alcoholism.

The defendant was jailed for 18 weeks and banned from keeping animals for five years.

Gary Heaven, defending Johnstone, said the bullmastiff was 'excitable' and boisterous', rather than aggressive', and had gone after dogs rather than humans.

Police evidence suggested the animal could be rehabilitated.