Terror of school caretaker savaged by Staffordshire bull terrier

A SCHOOL caretaker has spoken of the terrifying moment his arm was savaged by a dog.

Steve Mullenger was attacked by a Staffordshire bull terrier cross as he worked at Tickton School.

He needed four stitches after the loose dog sunk its teeth into his wrist.

Police are now trying to trace the owner of the dog, which they believe could have been a stray or lost from its owner.

Mr Mullenger, 52, said: "It jumped at me with its teeth bared and a face of pure aggression.

"It was a really sharp pain when it bit me, like being slashed with a knife.

"If there had been children around when it was there, they wouldn't have stood a chance."

Mr Mullenger had arrived for work at 9am on Good Friday when he noticed the dog near the gates of the school in Main Street.

"I didn't think much of it at first, as there are often people walking their dogs around the school," he said.

"I carried on driving and parked near the school. When I got out of my car, I noticed it was near. The next thing I knew, it came straight at me and jumped up.

"It started pulling at my sleeve with its teeth and trying to pull me to the ground. I put my hand underneath its collar to try to get it off me, but it was so strong. It felt like something squeezing my wrist really tightly.

"I could feel the material on my top ripping and then it took another lunge and bit me, which is when it really hurt."

Mr Mullenger then managed to free the dog from his arm, when it jumped over a fence into Green Lane.

He was treated for his injuries at Beverley Westwood Hospital, where he was given stitches and a tetanus injection.

Mr Mullenger is still recovering after the wound became infected. He said: "The cut was really deep, I could see everything underneath.

"It was really scary. It will leave a scar but the biggest scar is I am now terrified of dogs.

"I have dreams about being attacked by them and I was shaking the first time I went back to the school gates after it happened. It really has had a psychological impact on me.

"My wrist is a lot weaker now, because of damage to the tissue, and I struggle to do things like lifting.

"What worries me is, the day before it happened, there were lots of small children on the field. If this dog had been there then, they wouldn't have been able to do anything about it."

The dog was black, about 18in tall and with a docked tail. It was also said to be muddy and unkempt.

The dog was wearing a black webbed collar with silver rings on it and a clasp fastening with the letter V, W or M on it.

Anyone with information about the dog or its owner is should call police on 101.