Hatfield boxing champion Billy Joe Saunders has been fined over a dog that mauled a pensioner, but has voluntarily offered £500 compensation.

The 26-year-old, who holds the WBO world middleweight title, pleaded guilty to failing to display a guard dog warning sign at the Much Hadham stables that houses his German shepherd, Danny.

At Stevenage Magistrates’ Court today, he was fined £100, and ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

But Saunders, representing himself, offered £500 compensation to the 73-year-old pensioner who needed a skin graft after being attacked by his dog while shopping in Much Hadham in September.

His friend Aaron Chalkley, who also lives at the Holwell travellers site on the A414, was ordered to pay £1,500 to the victim after admitting the more serious charge of having a dangerous dog out of control.

For the full story, see next week’s Welwyn Hatfield Times, in shops from Wednesday.