A TEARFUL dog owner was left with a £1,000 bill after his bull terrier tunnelled under its garden fence to kill the dog next door.

Jason, a Staffordshire bull terrier cross, was in the garden of his home in Parvills, Waltham Abbey, when he caught sight of Tiff, a Jack Russell, two doors down.

Jason burrowed his way out of the garden before hauling Tiff from his own garden and mauling him to death.

Tiff’s owner tried to intervene but was chased back into his house where he called the police.

Jason’s owner, Charlie Smith, 45, pleaded guilty at Chelmsford Magistrates Court to being the owner of a dog which he allowed to enter a private place, in contravention of the Dangerous Dogs Act.

The court heard that Lewis, a driving instructor, had been tearful and remorseful after the incident on July 30, and had now obtained new fencing with 18in concrete slabs at the bottom.

But he denied that his dog had “tunnelled” under the fencing.

Angela Hughes, prosecuting, said: “Tiff had been chased up and down in its own garden by the dog which dragged it through after coming through the fence.

“Its owner went outside to see what happened, and Jason came after him through the fence in the garden.”

Natasha Nair, in mitigation, said: “It is an isolated incident and Mr Lewis has now taken action to secure the garden with new fencing and concrete slabs.

“He also wants to donate some monies to charity.”

Tiff's owner Paula Everett, 44, said her daughter Connie, 20, had been afraid to return home and had stayed with her grandparents for four days after witnessing the attack.

"My daughter had to watch the Staffie kill my dog from the bedroom window," she said.

"I came back from work and our dog was still alive and she was screaming. I have already discussed moving. I'm just devastated - we all are."

Smith was fined £320 and ordered to pay £100 in legal costs along with £500 to his neighbour.

The court also made a contingency destruction order requiring Jason to be destroyed if he is not kept behind secured indoors, muzzled in the back garden, always muzzled in public places and accompanied by a responsible adult.

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