THREE Japanese Akita dogs could face a death sentence after their owner admitted they mauled three smaller dogs.

One woman who was walking a dog when it was attacked has since suffered nightmares, a court heard.

Derek Hitchen, aged 53, of Bolton Road, Westhoughton, pleaded guilty at Wigan magistrates to six charges of his dogs being dangerously out of control.

Karen Tonge, prosecuting, said that on June 5 last year, pensioner Jean Green was walking her cousin's collie cross, Ambie, in Central Park, Westhoughton, when the Akitas savaged it.

Mrs Tonge said they pinned the dog to the ground and started tearing at its stomach.

She said that Mrs Green screamed: 'Get them off my dog, they are killing it.'

Mrs Green was 'petrified' and scared of being attacked herself, said Mrs Tonge.

The dogs only left her dog alone when Mr Hitchen came and whistled to them.

The court heard that Mrs Green has since suffered nightmares because of the attack. Mrs Tonge said that on July 23, Mark Bradshaw's spaniel, Ben, was also attacked.

Mr Bradshaw, aged 62, had to kick the dogs off his dog after they attacked the spaniel's back, she said.

The dog was left with cuts to his back and neck and was very shaken by the attack.Earlier that day, Anne-Marie Kay's dog was also attacked in the park. One Akita also knocked her off her feet.

Her dog, a breed of greyhound, was found later in the day bleeding in a field. It had to undergo several hours of treatment at a vetinary hospital and was put on a drip.

Mrs Tonge said police had also received a number of complaints about the Akitas.

Mr Hitchen's dogs were seized by police under the Dangerous Dogs Act on Tuesday, July 27, and are being held at kennels in Tonge Fold.

He has owned the four-year-old dogs Hugo and Kyle and bitch Cleo since they were puppies and bottle-fed them after their mother died giving birth.

Stuart Page, defending, said Mr Hitchen was a responsible dog owner and that the dogs had escaped from his home on all three occasions.

As soon as Mr Hitchen realised the dogs had gone, he went looking for them, he said.

He has since stepped up security in his home to stop the dogs from escaping should they be returned to him.

Mr Page said the dogs were 'placid' around people and do not pose a danger to the public.

The case was adjourned for sentencing until Thursday, February 23.

Magistrates have the power to order the dogs to be put down, or to issue a control order banning the dogs from being let off their leads or allowed out without being muzzled.