A HOMELESS man is to be reunited with his pet dog after a judge ruled it was not a dangerous animal even though it had chased after a man who claimed it had attacked him.

Malcolm Pipkin had ordered his 60kg Bull Mastiff to run after a man who he alleged had pushed over his wife in Oxford city centre in the early hours of the morning, Oxford Crown Court heard on Monday.

The prosecution said the powerful dog, called Jack, caught the man, who ended up on the ground and was then punched and kicked by 39-year-old Pipkin.

Kevin Webster, prosecuting, told the court Pipkin had instructed his dog to catch victim Ben McMenemy and then bit him.

He wanted said he would be asking for theforfeiture of the dog and an order preventing Pipkin from keeping a dog for a period of time.

Lucy Tapper, defending, said the dog had not caused any injuries and said the incident occurred after an argument between a group of men, including Mr McMenemy, and Pipkin and his wife in McDonald’s, in Cornmarket Street, Oxford, at about 3am on March 11 last year.

Ms Tapper said Mr McMenemy pushed Pipkin’s wife over so Pipkin sent his dog after him as he ran off.

When Pipkin caught up with Mr McMenemy he attacked him causing a fractured cheekbone and loose tooth.

She added: “He says he over-reacted. He sent Jack to round up the complainant. He said he knew Jack wouldn’t attack Mr McMenemy. He accepts full responsibility for his injuries.”

Ms Tapper presented the court with statements from a dog behaviour expert and Pc, who both said Jack was a well-trained and well-behaved dog, as was the couple’s other dog, called CC.

As Pipkin cried in the dock, she said: “It’s no exaggeration to say these dogs are their children. They are everything to them. They spend all their hours together.

“They provide them with protection and unconditional love.”

Judge Ian Pringle allowed Jack to be returned to Pipkin, who is living at Lucy Faithfull House, Speedwell Street, and told the defendant he would defer sentencing until October 23.

He said: “Over the next six months, if you don’t get into any trouble I will take a course of action which will allow you to keep your liberty and to keep your dogs.”