A crime and policing student has been ordered to pay £600 compensation after a dog he was walking nearly tore off a woman's hand.

Gabriel Neghina – who has previous convictions for theft, handling stolen goods and possessing cannabis – was in charge of a Cane Corso that attacked Carol Decarteret in Canterbury, leaving her in hospital for four days.

The 20-year-old Romanian, from Wincheap, appeared at Canterbury Magistrates' Court where he admitted being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control.

Prosecutor Julie Farbrace said that on January 31, Mrs Decarteret was walking along Sussex Avenue on the Spring Lane Estate when she became aware of a man with a dog on a lead.

He pulled the dog towards him and appeared to be having trouble controlling it, she said.

Miss Farbrace said: "She did not hear any growling, but as they passed the dog suddenly bit her left hand. The man was trying to pull the dog away as it was biting into her hand."

Once the dog released its grip, Mrs Decarteret pulled down her glove to reveal two deep open wounds on her hand.

Mrs Decarteret spent four days in hospital and was twice put under anaesthetic so a dozen stitches could be sewn into her hand.

In a statement to the police, she said she thought about the attack every day and was worried about other dogs.

Canterbury Christ Church University student Neghina was spoken to and told police the dog belonged to a friend and he had simply been walking it.

Victoria Urmossy, defending, said: "He holds his hands up to the fact that he was in control of the dog when this unpleasant incident happened.

"The person who owned the dog had gone on holiday and on the day in question he thought it looked like it needed a walk.

"The dog had always been friendly with him and is not aggressive.

"Mr Neghina is truly remorseful. He just thought he was doing someone a favour."

Miss Urmossy added that through his crime and policing course Neghina is hoping to find a public sector job.

Neghina was given a 12-month community order with 130 hours' unpaid work. As well as the £600 compensation to Mrs Decarteret, he must pay a £60 victim surcharge. He was also banned from keeping dogs.

Miss Farbrace said the Cane Corso, a large Italian breed of dog, had returned to Romania with its owner and it was unlikely any hearing would take place as to whether to destroy it.