A MOTHER-OF-TWO said she fears losing her home after her dog attacked a postman for the second time.

Hayley Sandiford pleaded guilty to being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control after her American bulldog Winston ran up to the postman, snatched a bundle of letters out of his hand and tried to bite him.

MORE TOP STORIES:

In February, the animal bit another postman leading to a suspension of deliveries to Sandiford and other residents of Worcester Road, Blackburn.

At the time, she was given a warning and agreed not to allow the dog to be in the front garden and to keep it on a lead and secured in the back garden.

But the 28-year-old has now appeared before Blackburn magistrates after being arrested for the latest attack.

Magistrates heard that in July a postman in Surrey Road, around the corner from Sandiford’s home, was confronted by the dog.

Winston ran towards him baring his teeth, the court heard. The dog then snatched a bundle of mail out of his hand and the postman had to hide behind a tree before managing to get through a garden gate.

Sandiford appeared and grabbed the dog and said to the postman: “You’re not going to report us are you, we are already in trouble.”

She was bailed for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Neighbours living near Sandiford said they had not had any mail delivered since the incident and were forced to pick up items from the sorting office.

Speaking after the hearing, Sandiford, who is unemployed, said she was now worried she and her children would be forced out of their housing association home because she refuses to get rid of two-year-old Winston.

She said: “I do not think it is fair me and my two kids could be made homeless because I love my dog.

“It is not fair because he is a healthy dog. Everybody who has ever had an animal knows they are your family.”

In the Twin Valley Homes tenancy agreement, there is a clause saying tenants must ‘take all reasonable steps to prevent any pet causing a nuisance, annoyance or danger to anyone living in, visiting or doing any lawful activity in the locality of the property’.

Tenants must also agree to ‘take all reasonable steps to supervise and keep any pet under control’.

Sandiford, who said Winston was a loving family pet and not dangerous, said: “He is a brilliant pet. I have got two kids and he is brilliant with them and other people’s kids too.

“People have made out they are frightened of him, but I think it is unfair.”

Guy Richardson, a former police officer who has 38 years’ experience working with dogs, said in an assessment for the court: “In my professional judgement, I found him to be an intelligent, playful, human-friendly dog with a well-balanced temperament.”

Sandiford said she had also taken the dog to the dangerous dogs surgery at Greenbank Police Station in August, but had been told he was safe to keep at home.

She said for these reasons, the post should now start to be delivered again to her neighbours.

The mum said: “It is really unfair. I do not mind my post being stopped because Winston is my dog.

“I take full responsibility and I have done everything I have been asked.”

Neighbour Andy McMurray, who lives in Surrey Road, said it was ‘out of order’ that he was still not receiving his mail.

The 46-year-old said: “We have not been getting our letters for 12 weeks and I refuse to go and collect them.

“Winston is a brilliant dog and so I want to know what the problem is.

“The whole thing has been blown out of all proportion.”

Trevor Smith, who also lives in Surrey Road, said: “This has been going on for long enough now. It is just ridiculous.

“Even with Hayley admitting that the dog was dangerously out of control, it cannot be that bad because she has not got rid of it.”

Martin Berry, secretary of the Communications Workers Union in East Lancashire, which represents postal workers, said: “Our view is simple. People should keep their dogs under control. Our members do not go to work to be attacked by dogs.”

A spokesman for Royal Mail added: “More than 3,000 postmen and women are attacked by dogs each year and we encourage the public to take responsibility for keeping their pets under control so that we can deliver the mail safely.”

No-one from Twin Valley Homes was available for comment .