A WOMAN who illegally kept a fighting dog at her home has been given a 12 month conditional discharge.

Judith Ogden, of Wilderspool Causeway, was finally sentenced for the offence today, Tuesday, at Halton Magistrates Court after failing to turn up to previous court dates.

This included a scheduled court appearance in January where a warrant was issued for her arrest.

At an earlier hearing in November, Ogden's lawyers pleaded guilty to the 53-year-old being in possession of the fighting dog on her behalf after she went home - instead of waiting for her case be called in front of the magistrates.

The court heard how the incident happened in the Ogden's garden, reportedly after the Pit Bull Terrier became 'agitated' after noticing another dog in a neighbouring garden on May 25.

The dog was then seen to attack Ogden by biting her - she later claimed to be unaware her dog was a Pit Bull Terrier and an illegal breed.

The current whereabouts of the dog are unknown. 

Ogden, who was also ordered to pay £15 victim surcharge and £85 court costs, is already known to the police after being evicted by officers from her former address on Forshaw Street, Orford, in 2009.

At the time, neighbours including families and pensioners said she had turned the street into something like a scene from TV series Shameless.