A man has quit his job after a "vicious" dog attack left him needing surgery and suffering from flash backs.
Mark McDuff was cycling to work at around 6am on June 13 when an American Pitbull Terrier started chasing him.
The 11-year-old dog, called Mac, sunk its teeth into Mr McDuff's ankle, pulled him from his bike and refused to let go of him.
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The owner of the dog, Shaun Dwyer, was jailed for 28 months at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, January 21, and banned from owning any dogs for 10 years.
Graphic images shared with the ECHO today show the extent of Mr McDuff's injuries which have left him scarred for life.
Chris Hopkins, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court on Friday that Mr McDuff was cycling to work along Crossley Road in Thatto Heath, St Helens, when he was viciously attacked.
The dog began by chasing the victim and he knew he was not going to get away from him.
Summarising the victim's account, Mr Hopkins said it was at this point that the dog "gripped onto him, bit at his ankle and refused to let go."
WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES BELOW.
Mr McDuff tried to get off his bike to get away from the dog but when that failed he recalls jumping into some nearby gardens in an attempt to get away from him.
However, the dog followed the victim and continued to bite and attack him.
He described feeling helpless despite putting the dog into a headlock and doing everything he could to get it off him.
In a victim impact statement read out in court, Mr McDuff said the attack has had a significant impact on his mental health and he now suffers from nightmares and flashbacks.
He has been left so afraid by the attack he has "regrettably" given up his own dog and has to cross over the road to get away from any oncoming dogs.
He has also left his job as a chef due to the impact the attack has had on his mental health.
He suffered from serious injuries to his arms, legs, and both of his feet and had to undergo surgery as a result.
A passerby heard Mr McDuff shouting for help and after witnessing part of the attack she phoned the police.
Mr Hopkins said the victim then recalls a car arriving at the scene and Dwyer got out. He started shouting at the dog and it stopped attacking him.
The dog was put into the car and driven away by Dwyer's girlfriend, while he stayed with Mr McDuff until the emergency services arrived.
The court heard that Dwyer told the victim he was the owner of the dog but later denied ownership of it when questioned by police at the scene.
However, enquires into the registration plate of the car led police to Dwyer's address in St Helens where police found a cage with a broken lock and the gate in the back yard was also broken.
Dwyer pleaded guilty to two offences of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury and possessing a fighting dog during a previous court appearance.
On the day of the attack, Dwyer claimed a burglary had taken place at his home which caused the dog to break out of its cage in pursuit of the burglar.
Michael Davis, defending, said Dwyer and his girlfriend were asleep at the time and woke up to find the dog had gone. They went out looking for the dog in the car and found it around 10 minutes later.
The court was told Dwyer did not report the burglary to police because he didn't have time upon realising his dog was missing.
He decided not to mention this when interviewed by police about the incident because he had taken the decision not to answer any questions.
Dwyer told his defence barrister that he had the dog for 11 years and this is the first time it has attacked anyone.
The 26-year-old, of Roby Street, St Helens, was sentenced to 28 months in prison and was banned from keeping any dogs for 10 years.
An order was also made for his dog to be destroyed.
Crying as he was led out of the dock, Dwyer turned to his family and said: "Tell the kids I'm sorry. I didn't want this to happen. My life is going to go down now so much."
