A MAN whose dogs were shot dead by police after they ran amok in a park has been sentenced to 11 months in prison.

But because Daniel Hennessy has been in custody since the incident on April 2 and already served more than half the sentence, he has been released.

Hennessy has also been banned from keeping dogs for seven years.

RECAP: Man sentenced for having dog dangerously out of control 

At his sentencing hearing yesterday Bolton Crown Court heard that, on the Sunday at 10am, families were in Queens Park, Bolton, including 70 children who had been taking part in a junior Park Run.

Vanessa Thomson, prosecuting, told how Hennessy was also there with five dogs, none of whom were on leads.

Video: Scott Henderson

Members of the public initially thought they were banned Pit Bulls but, in fact, they were a legal Canadian breed.

Also in the park that morning was Janet Smith, who was exercising her pet Shih Tzu, Dexter.

“She let on to the defendant and he politely responded that his dogs would not hurt her dog,” said Miss Thomson.

But Hennessy’s five dogs began circling her and ignored his attempts to call them before they attacked Dexter.

Video Billa Ahmed

“One of them started to fight with the Shih Tzu Dexter and the others joined in,” said Miss Thomson.

Ms Smith ran to the nearby café for help.

“The dogs were essentially running wild. The defendant was being told by members of the public to put the dogs on a lead,” said Miss Thomson.

Hennessy, aged 39, disregarded requests to put his pets on leads and became aggressive.

David Hitchen, who had been helping at the Park Run event, responded to Ms Smith’s appeals for help.

He managed to separate the fighting animals, but then two of them turned on him, biting both thighs and shins.

“The defendant continued to walk around in what might be described as an aggressive manner. The dogs continued to run around the area,” said Miss Thomson.

Mr Hitchen picked up a chair from outside the café to protect himself, police were called by worried onlookers and Hennessy left the park with his dogs.

When Hennessy got to Deane Road police firearms officers, who had been called, shot two of the pets dead.

Another dog ran off and has not been found, police seized two more dogs and Hennessy was arrested.

The court heard that Hennessy had a previous conviction in1999 for owning a German Shepherd dangerously out of control and, at the time of the incident in the park, was subject to a suspended prison sentence for violence.

He had been due to stand trial over the park attack, but changed his plea to guilty on the day it was to start.

Hennessy, of Curzon Avenue, Halliwell, wept in the dock at Bolton Crown Court as Pamela Rose, defending, said: “What happened on April 2 has had a chilling effect on Mr Hennessy.”

She added that he had been confrontational rather than aggressive in the park.

Miss Rose claimed that members of the public had "misinterpreted" what was happening and police actions in shooting the dogs had been “disproportionate.”

“Losing these dogs was a very high price,” she added.

The court was told that Hennessy had been hoping to set up a boarding kennels business.

Sentencing Hennessy to 11 months in prison and banning him from keeping dogs for seven years, Judge Richard Gioserano was critical of his behaviour.

“Anyone who chooses to have, not just one or, for that matter two, such dogs, but five, has a duty to ensure they are never to be out of control,” he said.

He described Mt Hitchen as being “brave” for intervening among dogs which he described as acting like a pack.

He told Hennessy: “It is clear from the footage I have seen that you became aggressive and confrontational.

“The potential for hurt is something you did not see or did see and did not care about.”

He added that Hennessy had made little effort to control the dogs.

“You were focused instead on confrontation and abuse,” he said.

He stressed that police decision to shoot the animals was appropriate.

“The responsibility for that, in my judgement, lies with you and not the police," the judge told Hennessy.

"In my view you created the dangerous situation.”