A DOG owner could be banned from keeping his two dogs after repeatedly failing to keep one of them under control.

York magistrates described Michael Cipriano, 42, of Hull Road, York, as "not a fit person to look after dogs" after his pet Doberman, Rocky, savaged Border terrier Stubbs in May this year - its second attack on the same dog.

Cipriano failed to appear at York Magistrates' Court yesterday, but was found guilty in his absence of failing to comply with a court order to properly control Rocky, which was imposed in April 1998 after Rocky attacked another dog.

Prosecuting, Elizabeth Levett described how Alice Ann Whip and Kenneth Arnup were walking past Cipriano's other home at Holtby, with two dogs on leads when Rocky struck on May 26. She said he jumped over the gate to the house, knocked Miss Whip off her feet and began to savage Stubbs.

Mr Arnup was forced to beat the attacking dog around the head with a stick in order to save his own pet.

Ms Levett, quoting a statement by Miss Whip, said: "I heard Stubbs yelping and the larger of the two dogs had got him by the neck.

"Mr Arnup started hitting it with his stick for ages, then his walking stick broke." It was the second time this year that Rocky had landed his owner in court.

The eight-year-old Doberman attacked Stubbs in a separate incident in March, to which Cipriano pleaded guilty to breaching the order and was fined £300 with £200 costs.

This time he faces being disqualified from keeping animals and is expected to hear his fate at a hearing on December 12.

The court heard how Cipriano worked during the week in Jersey and visited his Hull Road home in York at weekends. The dogs were kept at his home in Holtby with Mrs Cipriano.

Mr Arnup, speaking after the hearing, said that Stubbs had survived the latest attack, but had suffered puncture wounds.

He said: "I think dog ownership is a precious facility in the country, but you should have the right kind of dogs."

Updated: 10:22 Friday, November 22, 2002