A security officer whose Japanese Akita dog mauled a teenage girl injuring her face has been fined £250 after the court heard the animal suffers from epilepsy.

Gurpal Mahun, 28, was also told he can keep his pet Prince after the vicious attack on Simran Kaur at his home in Thornton Road, Ilford.

The eight year-old dog launched himself at Miss Kaur as she bent down to stroke him.

The court heard Miss Kaur did not realise the extent of her injuries until she saw the damage to her face and arm in the bathroom on April 10 this year.

She had 30 stitches to her left cheek after being taken to King George Hospital.

Snaresbrook Crown Court heard the dog suffers from epilepsy, which may have been a factor in the attack.

Rather than destroying the animal, the court imposed a contingency destruction order under which Mahun will have to complete at least three hours of dog training.

The animal must be kept on a short lead in public places and muzzled around children under 16.

Mahun, who previously admitted owning a dog dangerously out of control at Barkingside Magistrates Court before being sent to crown court for sentencing, was told he must prevent it being in the presence of anyone other than his direct family and inform visitors of its history.

“It is very sad. It is awful that this has happened to a young girl in these circumstances,” said Judge William Kennedy.

“It was a horrid, horrid injury and there is no one here who feels anything but sympathy for her.

“They are, at their heart, an animal and they do not respond the way we do.”

He was fined £250 and ordered to pay costs of £250 and a £25 victim surcharge.