A DOG owner gnashed by a passer-by's canine was forced to have 27 stitches to heal his 'nasty' injury, a court has heard.

Victim Andrew Foley is still recovering from the attack in which eight-year-old dog Bearo pounced on him at the Wayland's Smithy site near Shrivenham last April.

The 'powerful' dog, who must now wear a muzzle when in public, lashed out when Mr Foley jumped into a fight to save his dog's life.

Bearo's owner Christopher Park denied his dog was dangerous but was slapped with an £800 financial penalty at Oxford Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

Sentencing the 44-year-old, District Judge Tim Pattinson said he did not think Park encouraged Bearo to become 'wild', claiming he would not order the dog to remain on a lead while out as the canine needed exercise.

He added: "This is one of those unfortunate cases of a fight between two dogs and someone getting caught in the crossfire."

The court was told Park believed Bearo and Mr Foley's dog began fighting due to 'territorial reasons', striking the victim after feeling 'under attack' when he plunged into the clash to rescue his pet.

Father-of-five Park, who muzzled Bearo and kept him on a leash after the incident, was 'concerned' for the victim, who still has numbness in his arm, and offered to rush him to hospital.

But the self-employed tutor and artist, who 'deeply regrets' the ordeal, has found it difficult to 'accept the findings of the court', a probation officer told the court.

District Judge Pattinson went on to say witnesses claimed Bearo hadn't shown any aggression before the ordeal.

Park, of Highworth Road, Watchfield, denied being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury and was convicted after trial in January.

He was ordered to pay a £200 fine, £500 compensation and £100 costs.