AN eight-year-old boy was attacked by a dog that was a banned breed when he tried to pat it on the head.

The child, now nine, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was bitten on his right side causing nine punctures, by pit bull terrier, Duke. The attack on him happened only a few months after the child's father was bitten by the same dog.

The schoolboy was injured, at a house in Baillieston in Glasgow's east end.

At Glasgow Sheriff Court yesterday, Edward Heron, from Baillieston, pled guilty to having the dog that was dangerously out of control and bit the child on May 4, 2013 and his father on a date in February last year. He also admitted that on September 23, 2012 and May 4, 2013, he had the illegal dog in his possession.A motion for the dog to be destroyed was granted by sheriff John McCormack. Sentence was deferred on Heron until later and bail was continued.