A PENSIONER suffered horrific injuries when he was savagely mauled by a "crazed" dog in Huddersfield, a court heard.

Vincent MaKay had been visiting the town when he was set upon by Laura Liversidge's American pit bull terrier.

And yesterday, teenager Liversidge was convicted of being in control of a dangerous dog.

Bradford Crown Court heard how Mr MaKay was tossed around "like a rag doll" as the dog called Soldier repeatedly savaged him as its owner screamed for help.

It took four police officers to get the dog away from its blood-soaked victim but by that time Mr MaKay had suffered permanent injuries.

The 66-year-old was in hospital for three weeks and underwent a seven-hour operation before having more surgery to try and repair the extensive skin injuries.

In a victim impact statement Mr MaKay, who lives in Manchester, described how he would never again wear shorts or a short-sleeved shirt because he was worried that strangers might stare at him.

Prosecutor Ewan McLachlan told the court yesterday that Mr MaKay had been visit- ing Huddersfield and was looking for an old friend when he accidentally walked into the house where 18-year-old Liversidge was living in Eastlands, Almondbury.

It was then that the dog struck, grabbing him by his arm and "ragging him around".

Mr McLachlan said that the defendant began hitting the dog with a baseball bat in desperate bid to stop the attack, but it had little effect

She was hysterical and herself covered in blood as she called out to a passer-by to phone for an ambulance and the police.

Two officers were quickly on the scene but were unable to stop the attack. They hit the dog with their batons but were forced to retreat onto a set of stairs as the animal turned on them.

They said that Mr MaKay was still lying on the floor apparently lifeless.

The defendant was still desperately trying to stop her pet as it continued mauling its victim.

Eventually specialist officers arrived on the scene and were able to gain control of the dog.

But the court was told that the damage it had done to Mr MaKay will leave him permanently scarred.

He lost four teeth in the attack and had bite marks and cuts all over his body.

The dog was taken to Marina Kennels in Huddersfield but was later stolen.

Mr McLachlan stressed that this had nothing to do with the defendant but told the judge that it later turned up in Manchester when police were forced to shoot it dead after another incident.

Elyas Patel, for Liversidge, of Scholes Road, Birkby, told the court that his client for extremely sorry for what had happened.

He told the judge that she had put herself at great personal risk by continuing to try and stop what he described as the "crazed animal" when even the police had taken cover.

Mr Patel added that the dog was given to her by her partner and she now has a phobia of dogs.

Judge Linda Sutcliffe made Liversidge the subject of a nine-month detention and training order which she suspended for two years.

Passing sentence she said: "If anybody needed an illustration of dangerous certain types of dogs are and of the need for the current legislation which has been passed in relation to certain breeds of dogs they would only need to look no further than this case."

Judge Sutcliffe added that Liversidge had shown extraordinary bravery in trying to stop the mauling.

She said that Mr MaKay was a man of "extreme fortitude and courage" after hearing how he has made a conscious effort to come in to contact with dogs so that he is not terrified of them for the rest of his life.