A NEWPORT woman was sentenced to 18 months in prison today, after setting her dog on staff at the city’s Royal Gwent Hospital and attacking them with her pet’s lead.

Chantelle Marie Bennett, 21, of Oliphant Circle, Malpas, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court for sentencing.

Bennett was found guilty earlier this year of unlawfully wounding hospital security guard William Walmsley by telling her dog to attack him, being the owner of a dog out of a control in a public place and assaulting a police officer by beating.

She had already pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm on Mr Walmsley by swinging a dog chain at him.

Prosecutor Sian Phillips said the incidents happened on March 28 2010, when Bennett was at the hospital with a friend.

She was in the main foyer with her Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Socks, while her friend received treatment.

After being asked to leave a number of times, security guards Gamel Abdullah and Mr Walmsley were called, to whom Bennett became aggressive and abusive.

When the pair tried to escort her out, she shouted "get them" to the dog, who jumped up and bit Mr Walmsley, who sustained wounds to his left and right hands and left leg, the court heard.

Bennett then swang the dog’s chain repeatedly, with one of the attempted blows catching Mr Walmsley on the head.

DC Ian Haines was at the hospital dealing with another case and after he tried to restrain Bennett, she lashed out at the officer before leaving the scene with the dog.

Defence barrister Hilary Roberts said Bennett has had a "troubled life", adding: "It happened in the heat of the moment and she regarded herself assault, reacting in totally the wrong way."

Recorder Duncan Bould said: "It was a sustained episode of aggression where you used a powerful dog and a chain as weapons and hurt two public servants."

Bennett had previously appeared before the courts five times since April 2009 for violence and public disorder.

She was sentenced to 18 months for unlawfully wounding Mr Walmsley, eight months for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, four months for being the owner of a dog out of control and three months for assault.

The terms run concurrently and Bennett will serve half of the sentence in custody, while her dog will be destroyed under the Dangerous Dogs Act.