A SIXTY-eight-year-old west Cumbrian woman has been given a suspended jail sentence after her "over-excited" puppy injured two people at a motorway service station near Carlisle.

At the city's Rickergate Magistrates Court, Pauline Wilson pleaded guilty to two charges of being the owner of a dog which caused injury while "dangerously out of control."

Both allegations related to her pet French bulldog Jimmy, which she became the owner of after being given it as a present, the court heard.

Prosecutor Peter Kelly outlined how the defendant, of Whitestiles, Seaton, had been exercising the dog - which at the time was ten-months old - at the Todhills service station on the M6 on June 14 last year when she sat down on a public bench for a rest.

The dog's lead was tucked under the bench as the woman sat down, the court heard.

But the dog began reacting excitedly to people as they walked past the bench.

The first offence happened when a woman, who had previously had a "bad experience" with another dog, attempted to fend off Jimmy as he ran up to her, clearly wanting attention.

The puppy injured the woman, leaving her with scratches and bruising on her arm.

The second victim was another woman who was nearby.

She too was injured after Jimmy ran up to her.

The woman also suffered scratches, cuts and bruising.

Mr Kelly showed the court photos of the injuries sustained by both women.

When police later interviewed Wilson - a woman who has no previous convictions - she readily admitted that she was the owner of Jimmy.

She also accepted that she was in charge of him when he injured the women.

After hearing the details, Deputy District Judge Timothy Gascoyne sentenced the pensioner to a two-month's jail but he suspended the sentence for a year.

She was given credit for her guilty pleas.

The judge also ordered that Wilson must pay each of the women who were injured £150 compensation, as well as £85 prosecution costs and a victim surcharge.

There is likely to be a further court hearing to decide whether or not Jimmy will be destroyed.

Defendants in such cases are entitled to make their case for the court not imposing a destruction order. Courts often allow a dog to live, provided they are kept under proper control when in public.

Wilson told the court that Jimmy is now routinely muzzled when in public to ensure there is no repeat.