A dog owner has dodged prison after his Staffordshire Bull Terrier ripped a delivery driver's finger off as she attempted to post a parcel slip.
Tyrone Brophy , 24, was unemployed when Hermes worker, Nicola Cringle , tried to deliver a parcel at his home.
As she put the slip through the letter box , the hound snapped its jaw around the tip of her finger and tore it off.
As her 12-year-old daughter watched on she smacked her head on the front door of the house due to the sheer force of the dog.
The five-minute ordeal ended after a neighbour heard her desperate screams for help and together they managed to pull her hand free.
To Nicola's horror, she realised the dog had bitten off half her finger and tendon, leaving her in agonising pain.
The dog, which Brophy claimed had 'escaped' through a garden fence following the attack - has never been found.
Nearly one year on from the terrifying attack, the from Bury says she has been left with life-long injuries and suffers from depression and anxiety as a result of her ordeal.
Nicola claims her daughter is now suffering from post-traumatic stress after witnessing the attack, on Shafestbury Road in Swinton, in October last year.
She brandished the Manchester Crown Court sentence a 'joke' as was slapped with a community order and 120 hours of unpaid work, after admitting being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control.
He was also ordered to pay £2,000 compensation to Miss Cringle at a rate of £100 a month.
"It is just a joke, it's not exactly a deterrent is it?" Nicola said, speaking to the Manchester Evening News .
"I have been diagnosed with arthritis in my hand and I am still awaiting further surgery."
She added: "My 12-year-old daughter is still having nightmares and is absolutely terrified of me going near dogs or going back to work."
Following the attack, Nicola was taken to hospital, but doctors could not reattach her finger as police were unable to get inside the house to retrieve the severed digit.
Greater Manchester Police said they did not have the powers under the to force entry without a court order.
Prosecutor Simone Flynn, told the court that Brophy's property did not have a sign warning of a dog, or a cage covering the letter box.
She told the court: "The defendant said the dog had never shown aggression before, and conceded that there was no warning or cage on the letter box."
"Miss Cringle said she had visited the property on a number of occasions and had not been aware that a dog lived there."
Brophy's defence lawyer, Michael Balmer, described the attack an 'unforeseeable offence.'
He told the court: "Genuine remorse has been evidenced by this defendant.
“Mr Brophy is a man of good character and he is in employment as an engineer and is studying to progress further in his career.
“He comes across as a genuine, hard working and likeable man who has found himself in a very difficult position.”
Sentencing Brophy, Judge David Hernandez said: "The consequences of this incident have been quite severe.
“The photographs I am currently looking at show a truly horrific injury.
“To have suffered an injury of this nature will lead to permanent pain and affect her employment prospects and her ability to care for her children.”
