The vicious dog that savaged a postman in Meltham is believed to be the same one that left another postman needing plastic surgery three years ago, the Examiner can reveal.

The latest victim, named locally as Jack and said to be in his 20s, was delivering mail in Golcar Brow Road, Meltham, on Friday when he was attacked by a dog which had jumped over a fence in Copley Avenue.

The attack lasted several agonising minutes until a neighbour, Robert Dickinson, of Copley Avenue, came to the postman’s aid.

Mr Dickinson hit the animal with a shovel forcing the dog to release its grip on the postman’s arm.

The victim was rushed to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary where he underwent emergency surgery to his injured arm.

WATCH: Reporter Chloe Glover describes what happened

Video Loading

Now, the Examiner can reveal, the same dog attacked postman Jason Lee in July, 2013 in an attack which saw chunks of flesh and muscle torn from his arm.

Following that incident the Royal Mail suspended deliveries to 120 addresses in the Meltham area.

Writing on Kirklees Rural Neighbourhood Policing Team’s Facebook page, Sgt Lee Baragwanath said: “On Friday afternoon local and armed officers were called to an incident in Meltham where a postal worker was bitten by a dog which had got loose from a rear garden.

Jason Lee, who was injured in a dog attack in Meltham in 2013
Jason Lee, who was injured in a dog attack in Meltham in 2013

“The postal worker sustained serious injuries to his arm. This must have been a terrifying ordeal for the postal worker.

“I can assure him, and his colleagues, that a crime has been recorded under the Dangerous Dogs Act, and that we will fully investigate the incident in a timely manner.

“The person in control of the dog is co-operating with police, and several witness accounts have been obtained.

“The dog has been seized and is no longer a risk to the public.

“Thankfully incidents of this nature are rare, and the vast majority of dog owners are responsible.

“Where this is not the case, the police can – and will – take appropriate action, which may include a criminal prosecution of the owner and or the person in control of the dog at the time.”

Mr Lee, 42, of Huddersfield, was left with a four-inch wound to his right arm and needed stitches in his buttocks. He was off work for nine months.

The area of Golcar Bank Road, Meltham, where a dog attacked a postman

People on Facebook asked why no action had been taken against the dog three years ago.

Sgt Baragwanath said the law at the time meant no prosecution was possible.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “At that time the legislation did not cover private premises, so no prosecution could be brought.

“The dog involved in that incident was seized to establish if it was a breed prohibited by the Dangerous Dogs Act.

“It was examined, and found not to be, and therefore had to be returned.”

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said: “We are working with the police. The postman concerned is still in hospital recovering from his injuries and we wish him a speedy recovery.”

No-one has been arrested.