after biting his son.

So Gibbons returned to the garden where the dogs lived and slashed them with a machete.

Gibbons was charged with cruelly wounding the two dogs and fined a total of $500 in Magistrates' Court.

Prosecuting, Sgt. Kenrick James said that Kenneth Kelly, owner of the two dogs, believed to be pit bull terriers, returned home on October 18 to find them suffering from cuts.

Two days later Police found that Gibbons, 26, of Crawl Point Lane, Hamilton Parish, had been involved in the incident and he was questioned.

Sgt. James said that Gibbons' youngest son had been trespassing in the garden of the house on Redkiln Road when he was attacked by the dogs.

"He returned home and told his father that he had left his pedal cycle in the garden. His father went back to the house and went into the garden where he was bitten by the bigger dog, Mate, on his right arm.

"He fended the dog off by putting the cycle between him and the dog and got out of the garden.

"He later returned with his machete. The first dog attacked him again and he cut it, the other dog then attacked him and he struck it with his machete.'' Gibbons, who works in a local hotel, produced hospital bills for wounds suffered by himself and his son.

But he came under fire from Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis, who said: "Your son was trespassing and he was attacked. If it had happened in a public road, or if the dogs had been over in your garden, it would be different.

"This court is very strict about dogs not being kept under proper control and attacking people.

"But people have a right, particularly in this day and age, to keep a guard dog, as long as it is under control.'' Mr. Francis suggested that Gibbons should have contacted the owner of the dog if he wanted the bicycle returned.

He said: "I understand you are upset about your son being attacked by these dogs.

"And I think he has learned a lesson and will not run into and out of neighbours' gardens.'' Gibbons admitted that his son had learned a lesson. His $500 fine included compensation to Kelly for the vet bills which amounted to $243.13.