A DOG owner who hit out at a man he thought had 'slapped' his pet has been jailed.

Liam Yates landed himself in court after he assaulted Peter Atkins in an incident in Kendal.

South Cumbria Magistrates' Court heard that on July 25 the 23-year-old defendant saw his Alsatian dog jump on the victim and believed Mr Atkins had pushed his dog away.

Yates admitted assaulting causing actual bodily harm when he appeared in the dock.

Prosecutor Lee Dacre said: "Peter Atkins was walking along Lound Road. The defendant was walking the towards him with a large Alsatian dog.

"The dog leapt up at him and he moved it off him.

"Yates said: 'I'm going to take my dog home and kill you'."

The defendant went back to his home that was nearby, dropped off his dog and took his shirt off before going after the man again.

He 'struck him from behind in the face, causing him to fall to the ground', Mr Dacre said.

Mr Atkins was left with a split lip after the assault and had to be taken to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary for surgery.

The court heard the attack left him 'scared and upset' and gave him a permanent scar above his upper lip.

Interviewed by police, Yates said he had reacted after Mr Atkins 'slapped' the dog away when it leapt on him.

Mr Dacre told the court Yates had 24 previous offences on his record.

Representing the defendant, Karen Templeton said: "He fully accepts responsibility.

"He perceived the victim had pushed the dog away.

"On reflection he very much regrets what happened.

"He says he's disgusted."

Yates, of Limestone Road, was jailed for 24 weeks for the assault, described as 'an unprovoked attack of a serious nature'.

Magistrates took into account his record of previous offending and the permanent damage caused to the victim.

The defendant was also told to pay £500 in compensation to the victim.