The owner of 'XL Bully-type' dogs allowed six of the dangerous animals to attack a six-year-old girl leaving her with life-changing injuries, a court has heard.

Bernard Valentine ran an account on social media on which he promoted and sold these 'XL Bully-type' dogs from an address in Carrington, Trafford.

On December 20 last year, a man and his dalmatian were attacked by a pack of the dangerous dogs, but the police were unable to seize them as Valentine removed them from his home and he refused to cooperate with an investigation.

And on March 26 this year, a six-year-old girl was attacked by six of the dangerous dogs in the same spot after Valentine returned them to his home.

At Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court prosecutor Laura Barbour described the scene from the perspective of her mother.

Ms Barbour said: "She saw [her daughter] face down on the ground with the dogs on top of her. She began to pull the dogs off. 

"She said 'Everything was in slow motion and I hate myself because I couldn’t get the dog off. I couldn't hear her. Honestly I thought she was dead'." 

The girl was taken to hospital with life-changing injuries including around 22 wounds all over her body. She remained in hospital for several days.

Meanwhile, Valentine, who has 32 convictions spanning 22 years, refused to cooperate with the investigation again despite speaking to the police over the phone and telling them he was about to hand himself in.

He was arrested two days later at another address and he admitted eight counts of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control relating to the incidents on December 20 last year and March 26 this year.

He also admitted one count of the possession of cannabis.

In mitigation, Ian McMeekin assured Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court of Valentine's regret and remorse.

Mr McMeekin said: "I am directed by the defendant not to focus on what might be regarded as mitigation.

"The words might seem hollow but he wants to express his horror at the circumstances and the consequences."

Sentencing Valentine to four years, one month, in prison, Recorder Jason MacAdam said the care of the dogs was "inadequate".

Valentine, 36, was disqualified from owning animals and he was handed a restraining order from the family for a period of 10 years.

Recorder MacAdam said: "These offences are so serious only a sentence of immediate imprisonment can follow.

"The failures by you after the first offences led to the commission of the second offences."

He added: "The impact on the family cannot be underestimated. It has been horrendous.

"The sentiments of regret and remorse can dilute the sentence I must pass only marginally."

Recorder MacAdam made no decision on the fate of the dogs which is to be decided on a date to be confirmed.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.