Two Bullmastiff dogs are to be put down after they savaged a man looking after them in his home.

The puppies were condemned after their owner lost an appeal at Maidstone Crown Court against a destruction order made by magistrates in January.

The male dogs, called Sharpei and Boxer, were two of five Steve Morris had at his one-bedroom flat in Westerham in March last year.

He was bitten 11 times on his head, neck, arms and legs as he was dragged around by all of the powerful pets.

He managed to escape more harm by crawling under a bed, from where he called the police.

Armed officers went to the flat in Vicarage Hill and the five dogs - a bitch and four males, then aged 14 months - were taken away by the RSPCA.

Ms Mongan, 45, was told three of the pets could be returned to her but she lost her appeal again the destruction order for Sharpei and Boxer after a judge and two magistrates heard they had continued to show signs of aggression while being held in kennels.

The kennel owner described the dogs as being “extremely volatile”, despite being unaware they had caused the most damage to the victim.

They had been aggressive to kennel staff and “used their teeth” the most.

Refusing the appeal, Judge David Griffith-Jones QC said there were no realistic controls that could be put in place to protect the public.

Ms Mongan, of St Saviour's Road, Croydon, suggested the dogs could be kept separate and muzzled.

She had been staying at Mr Morris's flat after a fire destroyed her then-home in Catford, south east London.

Boxer and Sharpei and the other three - Popeye, Bright Eyes and Baby Girl - were from the same litter. Their father was killed in the fire.

Mr Morris said in a statement the dogs became boisterous when they tried to mount the female and they turned on him as he tried to break them up.

"Sharpei and Boxer were the instigators,” he said. “They were the ones that did the most damage. They kept coming back for more. They were both dragging me.

"I have never screamed so loud. I was on the floor. I was trying to protect my face with my arms.

“All of them were trying to attack me. They are dangerous dogs and Sharpei has bitten me before. They were all together acting as a pack."

Ms Mongan, who described the pups as her “babies”, was told the three other dogs must now be housed separately.

Family friend Joanne Hudson claimed Sharpei and Boxer were the most placid of the dogs and her three-year-old niece would often curl up with them.

Despite seeing photographs of Mr Morris' injuries she maintained she would still let the girl near the dogs.