TWO women from Runcorn and Widnes have had their cases heard by the courts over their possession of XL bully dogs.

It comes after restrictions were imposed on the breed earlier this year, making it a legal requirement for all to be kept on a lead and muzzled when in public.

It is also illegal to breed, sell, advertise, gift, exchange, abandon or let XL bully dogs stray.

The decision to ban XL bully dogs was made by the Government following a concerning rise in attacks involving the breed, which led to some people losing their life.

Owners had to apply to register their current XL bully dogs before February 1, as owning an unregistered dog after this date is now a criminal offence, with owners who do not facing a criminal record and an unlimited fine.

Warrington Magistrates’ Court recently heard the separate cases of Danielle Healey and Leanne Moore.

Both were charged with possessing or having custody of a ‘fighting dog’, with the former facing two counts of the charge.

For Healey, of Lockett Road in Widnes, the charges related to two XL bully dogs named Shelby and Duke.

The 27-year-old pleaded guilty and was sentenced by magistrates to a conditional discharge for 12 months.

This means no punishment is imposed, but if she does commit another offence within the next year, she will be brought back to court to be sentenced for both the old and new offences.

Magistrates also imposed contingent destruction orders on Shelby and Duke, preventing the dogs’ destruction provided that the conditions imposed are met.

In addition, Healey was ordered to pay compensation of £380, costs to the Crown Prosecution Service of £85 and a statutory victim surcharge of £26, which will be deducted from her benefits.

Moore meanwhile, of Halton Brook Avenue in Widnes, faced a charge related to the possession of another XL bully dog, which was not named on court documents.

She too was handed a 12-month conditional discharge, with compensation of £288, court costs of £85 and a surcharge of £26 to be deducted from her benefits.

Again, a contingent destruction order was made for the XL bully dog, with the defendant also having pleaded guilty.