A dog owner left the scene and then lied to police after her Cockapoo attacked and seriously injured a young child.
Mother-of-two Tracie Inkpen didn't leave her details with the girl's father after her dog, Reggie, bit his daughter's arm.
When police went to her home after a tip-off, she then denied it was her pet which had caused the injury.
However, when officers showed her video footage someone had managed to capture at the scene, Inkpen, 50, then admitted Reggie had been the dog that caused the injury to three-year-old Bunnie Skinley.
The youngster had to undergo surgery after the incident, which happened in Mierscourt Road in Rainham, opposite the primary school, at about 3.30pm on Tuesday, June 17.
Her dad, Rowen Skinley, previously told KentOnline how he was walking with his three children when Bunnie was suddenly attacked.
He said he ended up having to hold the skin on her arm together with his hands as nearby witnesses rushed over to help.
Reggie was later seized by officers, and Inkpen was arrested and charged with being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control, causing injury.
She admitted the offence when she appeared in court in August, when a pre-sentencing report was ordered, and she returned to Medway Magistrates' Court on October 9.
Christina Rowberry, prosecuting, told the court the toddler was attacked without warning as she walked along a narrow path with her siblings and her father. She said the cockerpoo, who had anxiety and social issues, attacked without warning.
Miss Rowberry added: "The father of Bunnie was walking with her and his other children and a small dog lunged at his daughter and this caused a serious wound. He was able to give a description of the female owner and what she was wearing, she was holding the dog by a lead.
"As they walked past on the narrow pavement, the dog grabbed her right forearm and dragged her to the ground aggressively and bit her on the arm, there was blood all over the pavement.
"The defendant then pulled the dog off with the lead, but this scraped her arm and made the injury worse. She had seven or eight teeth puncture wounds.
"Her dad shouted, and she [Inkpen] made no attempt to help and then made off without giving her details."
Police launched an investigation and issued a media appeal with a picture of the dog and Inkpen's daughter, which had been captured at the scene of the attack by someone.
After a tip-off, officers went to Inkpen's home in Broadview Avenue, Rainham, in June. When the PC entered the property, he noticed there were metal barriers on the doors inside.
The prosecutor added: "He was told the barriers were on because the dog can be a bit nippy, and she was asked if it was her dog that had attacked the child, and she denied it.
"She was then shown the picture and her daughter had been ID'd in it, and she then finally admitted it was her and that she should have come forward."
Reggie was seized and taken to police kennels, as Inkpen was arrested.
During interview, she admitted she'd previously had to take Reggie to the vet to get him assessed over his behaviour.
She told police she thought she had the dog under control on a short lead and that she panicked at the scene because everything happened so quickly.
Miss Rowberry added: "She said she got her daughter to take the dog away and went back and there was blood coming out of the girl's arm."
Inkpen also claimed to officers that she then offered to drive injured Bunnie to the hospital, but Bunnie's father didn't mention this in the statement he gave police.
The prosecutor added: "She [Inkpen] then walked up the road and thought that would be the end of it; she never left her details."
The court heard that Inkpen got Reggie during the pandemic. He would regularly bark and sometimes jump up at people. She said the attack had come out of the blue but did admit he could be a bit nippy.
Natalie Lucas, defending, said her client was a mother herself and felt remorse after the incident. She added that Inkpen had pleaded gulity at the earliest opportunity.
She then addressed the court about Inkpen leaving the scene: "She panicked, this was a freak accident, it was not to avoid responsibility or cause distress to the victim or her father.
"She thought she had control [of the dog] and pulled it off; she thought she was helping. It was highly stressful and she made the decision to leave to so as not to inflame the situation further."
Ms Lucas said her client, who works as a cancer carer at Maidstone Hospital, was a responsible dog owner and she fully accepted Reggie had caused serious injury to Bunnie.
Ms Lucas added: "She never saw the social media appeal as she's not on social media, and yes, she did deny it, but she's of previous good character. It was a panic response and when she saw the video footage, she admitted being there and being the owner of Reggie. She deeply regrets the incident.
"Reggie is a family pet and he is much loved."
The court heard that while being in kennels, an assessment had found Reggie did show some aggression at the beginning, but now showed none. He was happier and easier to handle, and had now been muzzle trained and was deemed not to be dangerous but rather nervous.
Magistrates decided to place Inkpin on a high-level community order, which will involve her carrying out 160 hours of unpaid work.
They also made a contingent destruction order on Reggie, which means he will be allowed to return to his home, but the order will see him muzzled at all times on a short lead, and he must be walked by someone over the age of 18 at all times.
Inkpen was also ordered to pay £1,500 compensation to Bunnie and £1,988 kennel costs as well as a victim surcharge of £114 and £85 court costs. She will pay what she owes the court at a rate of £200 a month.