Jack the alsatian could have been destroyed after he bit three men and a woman in 14 days last month. He also 'went for' a baby, Wakefield magistrates heard, but was pulled away in time.

The law states the dog should be destroyed unless the court is satisfied it is not a danger to public safety, but the five-year-old rescue dog won a temporary reprieve on Tuesday.

His owner's solicitor asked for a report on Jack before a decision on his fate was made.

Owner Christopher Javens, 40, of Berners Street, Eastmoor, pleaded guilty to two offences of having a dog which was dangerously out of control. He asked for two further offences to be taken into consideration.

The court heard Jack bit Michael Thirkell in Kirkgate on May 3. At 3.15pm the same day it went for a baby in a pram on Kirkgate but Javens pulled it away. But Jack then went for Daniella Bagg and bit her.

On May 11 it bit Chris Milner at the Elephant and Castle pub on Westgate. And on May 17 it bit Luke Richards on Westgate.

Martyn Lord, mitigating, said the dog was on a lead on all four occasions and no-one was seriously injured.

Javens, who is on an anti-social behaviour order, has pledged to muzzle Jack in public. He successfully asked for a stay of execution so he could get kennel staff's opinion on the safety issue.

The case returns to court in two weeks.