A DOG owner goaded his pit bull terrier to attack a policewoman during a raid on a house in Bolton, a court heard.

Police trying to arrest a driver and the passenger of a car they had stopped, ended up being threatened by a snarling American pit bull.

The men fled the car and locked themselves into a house in Halliwell and refused to come out. Eventually police reinforcements smashed the door in and arrested Rafike Riaz.

The dog belonged to Riaz who was the passenger in a car driven by Terence Finney which had earlier been followed by the police.

When they stopped the car and spoke to the driver Riaz allegedly became agitated, pulled up his shirt and said he had to change his colostomy bag immediately and needed Finney to help him.

Riaz pulled Finney into the house and allegedly goaded his American pit bull terrier to attack a policewoman who was trying to get the men out. Riaz, aged 30, of Canada Street, Halliwell, appeared at Bolton Crown Court, to stand trial on a charge of affray. He denies the offence.

Prosecutor Charles Brown said the incident happened on July 21 last year when two police officers followed and then stopped the car driven by Finney.

As Finney was being spoken to by one officer Riaz allegedly became increasingly agitated and interrupted the officer talking to Finney.

He went to the front door of his house and then returned and dragged Finney back towards the house with the officers attempting to stop them.

As they were all struggling in the doorway of the house Riaz's dog became excited and Riaz allegedly urged the dog to attack the female police officer.

Eventually Riaz locked the door and the female officer ran to the rear of the house where she saw Riaz who again encouraged the dog to attack the officer but it was stopped by the back wall.

A stand-off ensued and four officers later broke down the front door with a sledgehammer and after a struggle arrested Riaz.

The dog was at the top of the stairs but Riaz eventually confined it to a back bedroom. Riaz was arrested and taken to Astley Bridge police station.

Proceeding