Four children were savaged by a Jack Russell puppy at a family pub with a pet zoo.

Two of the children were left covered in blood after the tiny dog, called Harvey, sank its fangs into their faces.

One victim, Kyle Hooker, has been left scarred for life.

Yesterday at Hove Crown Court the dog’s owner and landlord of the pub, Stephen Elliott, was fined £1,500 over the atttacks.

The dog has been destroyed.

The court was told how Kyle, five, Callum Hayward, six, and two unnamed children, were bitten by Elliott’s dog in separate attacks. The dog struck at the Piltdown Man pub in Piltdown, near Uckfield.

Elliott was also ordered to pay £1,100 costs after he admitted having a dangerous dog after the attacks in June and August last year.

Kyle’s mother, Joanne Hooker, said her son had been scarred for life by the attack.

Mrs Hooker, from Uckfield, added: “I don’t think a fine is enough for what happened.

“My child has two scars now on his face and they are never going to go away.

“He had nightmares after the attack. He is still scared of dogs that he doesn’t know and will scream if a strange dog comes up to him.”

Elliott, 49, of Keld Drive, Uckfield, was due to stand trial at Hove Crown Court yesterday after denying two charges of having a dangerous dog.

He changed his plea to guilty before the start of the trial and two further charges were ordered to remain on file.

Tayo Adebayo, prosecuting, said Elliott was the landlord of the Piltdown, which had a petting zoo and was popular with families who have young children.

He said Mrs Hooker and Kyle, who was three at the time of the attack, were at a friend’s birthday party there on June 21 last year.

The landlord’s Jack Russell puppy Harvey was seen running around outside the pub unsupervised.

Mr Adebayo said: “Kyle’s mother heard him scream and shout, ‘Get off me. It’s biting my face.’ “She saw him on the floor trying to fight off the dog, which was on top of him.”

Customers managed to drag the dog away from the toddler and it was taken into the pub.

When Elliott was spoken to about his other dog, a German shepherd, still being allowed to roam free he said: “It is their home and they can do what they want.

“They have more right than you to be in this area.”

Mr Adebeyo said allegations were made that Harvey bit two more toddlers at the pub in July last year.

Elliott took the Jack Russell to be put down after it attacked Callum Hayward on August 6.

Callum was left with blood pouring from his face after he was bitten under his eye and inside his mouth.

The court heard that Elliott had put up signs in the pub warning that it was home to two dogs who were “still learning” and that no responsibility would be taken if children were bitten.

Andrew Selby, defending, said Elliott was a man of good character who regretted what had happened.

Mr Selby added: “His marriage has been damaged as a result. He has run down the children’s petting zoo and has rehomed most of the rabbits.”