A DOG owner whose bull mastiff mauled a Yorkshire terrier to death and left the severed finger of its owner hanging by a thread has been let off with a slap on the wrists.

Kevin Quintyn, 34, of Moray Road, Finsbury Park, has been ordered to pay just �150 in compensation after pleading guilty to having a dog dangerously out of control in a public place following the terrifying attack in nearby Fonthill Road in June.

His dog – which has not been destroyed - will now be returned to him providing it is muzzled and neutered, a judge at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court ruled last week.

Quintyn was also ordered to pay �50 court costs and take his dog to training classes.

Tailor Munever Ibrahim – who was left lying in a pool of blood outside her shop after trying in vain to save her six-year-old pet Chippie – says “there is no justice” following the ruling.

Ms Ibrahim, 57, who needed emergency surgery to save her right index finger, said: “He’s just got a slap on the wrists and been ordered to pay �150 compensation. Wow. I just felt like saying ‘shove it’.

“The last four months have been really hard what with not being able to work and losing my little Chips. Luckily my finger is healing up quite nicely now.”

The out-of-control bull mastiff, which is not classified as a banned breed under the Dangerous Dogs Act, was not on a lead at the time of the attack.

Ms Ibrahim says Quintyn just “stood and watched” and claims the same dog had attacked Chippie twice before.

She said: “The prosecution asked if I wanted the dog to be destroyed. I said ‘I really believe it was the owners fault’. I’m a dog lover and I would have felt bad if it was put down, but I would have preferred for someone else to have it.

“It’s not the dog’s fault - it’s how it is treated. If a dog is aggressive in any way whatsoever - and if they’re not neutered they do get aggressive - just make sure it won’t hurt anybody.

“I feel like there’s no justice. There isn’t any law that says a dog can’t attack and kill another dog. Something needs to happen so the law is changed.”

A police and council debate at Islington Town Hall next Thursday will ask residents’ views on whether all dogs in the borough should be microchipped following a sharp rise in dog attacks and the use of dogs as status symbols and weapons.