A MAN accused of allowing a Staffordshire Bull Terrier to run out of control before it injured an 11-month-old baby will face summary trial in the summer.

Jamie Elliott, 28, denied a single charge of being the owner of a dog and allowing it to be dangerously out of control in a private place, thereby causing injury, at Swindon Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

The baby boy is alleged to have been attacked by the Staffie, called Reggie, at a property in Watling Close on January 31 this year.

Mr Elliott appeared at court wearing jeans and a grey cardigan, with a bundle of documents under his arm, as he confirmed his name, age and address to the bench.

After magistrates accepted jurisdiction of the case, Mr Elliott has had a date set for his trial, expected to last the best part of a day, in Chippenham.

Pauline Lambert, prosecuting, told the court: “The Crown would submit that this is a case that is suitable for this jurisdiction.

"The case has arisen because Mr Elliott lives with Georgina Gibbons and their 11-month-old baby.

“The dog is called Reggie.

“It comes to light because Miss Gibbons informs the police that an attack has occurred.

“The issue over the breed of the dog at the moment isn’t an issue because there is no evidence filed as to what the dog actually is.

“The defence have raised that it is a pure-breed Staffordshire Bull Terrier, but that is not substantively relevant to the offences at the moment.”

Linda Holmes, defending Mr Elliott, said: “The main witness in the prosecution case is his partner, and they live together with the dog.

“I anticipate there is going to be further discussion between the defence and the CPS, and currently there are issues with further pieces of information we will need to supply.

“The dog has been taken away by the police, and he doesn’t know where it is at this point.”

Mr Elliott made a point of addressing the bench from the dock to insist that the animal is a pure-breed Staffordshire Bull Terrier and does not have a trace of pitbull crossed with it.

He will appear at North West Wiltshire Magistrates' Court on July 27 for his trial.