Chingford dog attack: Man admits guilt over mauling

A man has admitted allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control after a six-year-old girl was mauled in a north-east London park.

Gary Hindley, 56, of Chingford, was held after part of the girl's ear was severed in the attack on Saturday.

Hindley pleaded guilty to a breach of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 at Thames Magistrates Court.

The victim's father said the dog attacked several times, circling them in what he likened to a "shark attack".

Hindley was arrested after handing himself in at Chingford police station.

He has been bailed to appear before the court on 13 February for sentencing.

The dog has been seized.

'Lot of blood'

The girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was attacked by the dog in front of her parents at Pole Hill in Woodberry Way, Chingford.

Her family were trying out a new telescope when the dog struck.

The girl's father hit the dog several times but the dog refused to let go.

He said the victim and her mother "ended up on the ground and the dog ripped the majority of [her] right ear off".

He continued: "[Her mother] lay across [her] to try and protect her and as a result has suffered multiple injuries to her arms.

"There was a lot of blood."

The father said his daughter is "a remarkable little girl who is very popular and full of life and loves to sing and dance".

'Biggest nightmare'

He added: "We are reading her stories and trying to keep her upbeat - she understands what has happened to her."

The father revealed she had always been scared of dogs, calling the attack "her biggest nightmare".

He went on: "I can't imagine her ever going to the park again.

"It's going to make it difficult for us to ever go over the forest, to ever go over the park, to ever be on a beach."

"I'm going to be stuck with that image in my head."

Det Sgt Stuart Cheek, of Metropolitan Police, said: "This was an appalling incident that left a young child with serious injuries which are likely to scar her for life."