A DANGEROUS dog which mauled a postman will be destroyed.

Vilius Norvaisa, 33, wept as magistrates told him a destruction order had been placed on his grey Staffordshire bull terrier after the attack outside his house, in Mill Lane, Grays.

Postman Godfrey McCarthy was completing his rounds when the dog jumped out of a parked car and bit into his leg, leaving him in extreme pain.

He tried to kick the dog away, but it clung on until owner Norvaisa was able to pull it off with a lead.

As Mr McCarthy tried to reach the safety of his delivery van, the dog ran after him and bit him for a second time.

The postman spent six days in Basildon Hospital receiving treatment for his horrific injuries, including two operations on the deep leg wound.

He was later transferred to St Thomas’ Hospital, London, for a skin graft.

During an appearance at Basildon Magistrates’ Court, Norvaisa admitted one count of allowing his dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place causing injury.

Samantha Doyle, prosecuting, said: “Mr McCarthy is frightened to go back to that street again. He has never been scared of dogs, but now avoids them by crossing to the other side of the road before he has to pass them. He’s not sleeping well as the pain is worse at night, so he’s permanently tired all day and drifting in and out of sleep. It’s not a nice existence.”

Mr McCarthy is not expected to return to work until October at the earliest and it is not yet know if he will ever walk properly again.

Mark Pearson, mitigating for Norvaisa, said: “He tried to help the postman straight away by offering to take him to hospital, but he was understandably upset and swore at Mr Norvaisa because he was so stressed at the time. He accepts it’s his responsibility as it’s his dog.

“Although it barks loudly, he had never known any difficulties with the dog and it’s never bitten anyone else before. He was genuinely surprised by what happened that day.”

Magistrates deemed the dog a danger to the public and ordered it to be destroyed.

Norvaisa was also sentenced to 100 hours unpaid work and must pay Mr McCarthy £500 compensation.