A dog owner wept as a court heard how her pet attacked and killed a Yorkshire terrier.

Cordelia Mercer, of Saunders Park View, Brighton, admitted failing to keep her dog Amber, described as a large brown dog, under proper control in a public place.

Len Batten, prosecuting for Brighton and Hove City Council, said Shirley Rolf, the terrier's owner, had taken her ten-year-old pet Benji for a walk in Saunders Park in August when it was attacked by Amber.

She felt afraid as Amber charged towards her and then picked up Benji in its mouth and started to shake him vigorously.

Mr Batten said: "Mrs Rolf managed to pull the larger dog off Benji. She scooped him up and found he was bleeding heavily. She was very distressed."

The terrier was taken to a vet for emergency treatment but was suffering from a punctured abdomen and broken ribs. Both lungs were punctured. He underwent surgery but died the next day.

The court heard Mercer became very upset when animal welfare officers told her Benji had died and she offered to pay the vet's bills. She had gone to a vet after the attack for advice.

Juliet Evans, defending, said Mercer, who had owned Amber for seven years from a puppy, was devastated by what happened.

Ms Evans said: "She was really shocked by the incident and expresses her profound apologies. She said Amber is not an aggressive dog and the incident was definitely not in character."

Mercer was ordered by Brighton magistrates to keep her dog under proper control and to keep the dog muzzled and on a lead whenever out of the house.

She was ordered to pay £250 costs.