A MAN whose two dogs killed one cat and badly injured another has been convicted of failing to keep the dogs under proper control.

David Paul, of the Wellington pub, Stand Lane, Radcliffe, had denied any wrongdoing by the dogs, Jack and Chip.

However, Bury magistrates found him guilty in a prosecution brought by Bury Council.

The court was told that last June a witness saw Paul's dogs attacking a neighbour's cat in his garden. He hit the pair with a golf club to free the cat, but its injuries were so bad it died later. The cat's owner also recognised the dogs and had seen them roaming round her home.

A month later, a second witness saw the dogs attack another cat, "pulling it between them like a tug of war".

The witness intervened, hitting one of the dogs and forcing them to let go of the cat. Although badly injured, it survived the attack.

Witnesses identified the dogs as living at the pub, but Paul denied it was his dogs which had carried out the attacks.

He said he now only had Jack, as Chip had been put in a council dog compound. He claimed Jack was a soft and loving dog who, at 14 years old, was not capable of chasing cats up trees.

The court ordered Paul to keep the dog under proper control and to pay the council's costs of £646. Breaching the order will make Paul liable to a maximum £1,000 fine and having the dog taken away from him.

Bury Council's public protection spokesman, Cllr Pam Walker, said: "Roaming dogs foul the footpaths and parks, they contribute to road traffic accidents and in cases like this can act in a dangerous manner, distressing and frightening members of the public."