A Russian man appeared in court today accused allowing his dog to attack a jogger before quickly leaving the scene.

Andrey Egorov of Beaconfield Road, Epping, faced a charge of owning a dog which was allowed to be dangerously out of control in public place and cause injury, at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court.

The 46-year-old is accused of failing to prevent his dog from attacking a man when walking the pet without a lead on Shaftesbury Road, on March 26.

In court today Mr Egorov denied the charges against him and entered a plea of not guilty.

Mr Egorov’s lawyer said that the Russian believes that he was wrongly picked out of a police line-up and should the case go to trial, the defence would try to produce a witness who can give him an alibi.

During the incident, which Mr Egorov claims he had no involvement with, 28-year-old Joel Goodman received serious injuries to his scrotum.

The music teacher from Epping had to undergo emergency surgery to save his testicle following the attack.

After waiving his right to a trial before a jury Mr Egorov will now have to wait until August 28 to have the case heard at Harlow Magistrates’ Court.