Young mum whose face was savaged by Akita dog will sue owner for 'thousands'

A young mum whose face was scarred for life when she was savaged by an Akita dog plans to sue its owner for ‘thousands’ in compensation.

Laura Holmes was seven months pregnant when she had her lip ‘ripped off’ by nine-year-old American Akita ‘Koda’ in May.

The 21-year-old still has trouble eating and drinking after her bottom lip was partially bitten off, in an attack which left her needing 60 facial stitches.

Laura also suffered deep bites and scratches to her arms and legs.

The dog's owner, Tracie Taylor, was the first person in Britain to be charged after changes were made to the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act.

Before the changes came into force, owners were immune from prosecution if their pet attacked a person in a private residence.

* WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES FURTHER DOWN *

On Tuesday Taylor was handed a 16-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months, when she admitted 'having a dog dangerously out of control' at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court.

She was also banned from owning animals for life and ordered to pay Laura £1,000 in compensation. The court ordered the dog, which weighed 50kg (7.8 stone) to be destroyed.

The court heard Koda had previously mauled another person in 2009, but Taylor escaped prosecution because the attack did not happen in a public place.

Laura has since revealed she hired a personal injury solicitor in a bid to sue Taylor for compensation.

Injury lawyer Julie Walker, of Nelsons Solicitors, who is representing Laura, said: 'It is clear that, through no fault of her own, this woman was savagely attacked by a dog which we now know had carried out a brutal attack of this nature previously.

'Laura was pregnant when this attack happened and feared not only for her own life but also that of her unborn child.

'She has been incredibly brave but still faces a very protracted and lengthy rehabilitation ahead of her, with further reconstructive surgery planned in the new year.

'Appearance and image is hugely important, particularly to a 21-year-old girl.

'Even the mirrors in her maternity room were covered by nursing staff, who were conscious of her psychological state.

'She has only been out of her house alone on a couple of occasions since the attack happened earlier this year.'

The attack meant Laura, of Nottingham, had to have extensive emergency corrective surgery while 29 weeks pregnant.

Laura had to give birth to her son Nathaniel - now 15 weeks old - by caesarean section because medics were concerned the stress of a natural labour would rupture her wounds.

She said: 'Being told that you could die, as well as your child, was too terrible to contemplate. I am slowly but surely improving and trying to be the best mum I can be for Nathaniel.

'I don't think the compensation was enough, but what is? No amount of money can make up for this.

'I could not look in the mirror for about eight weeks. My confidence has now completely gone and I don't know if it will come back.'