A man forbidden from owning dogs after his niece was fatally mauled by his pet has admitted breaching his ban – for the third time.

Urfan Ahmed, whose 18-month-old niece Zumer died after being mauled by his pet dog, Game, at her family home in Cotton Drive, Crawley, in April 2010, appeared before Horsham magistrates on Thursday.

He was convicted of three counts, including two of breaching an order which banned him from keeping dogs in July and August last year in West Sussex, and one of possessing a dog which was dangerously out of control.

This was in relation to an incident in Cottesmore School Drive, Pease Pottage, near Crawley, on August 14 last year.

His partner, Linda Hood, 47, of Clark Road, Crawley, was also convicted of this count.

Ahmed’s dog Game, an American bulldog – not a banned breed – mauled little Zumer.

Workmen pulled her from the beast’s jaws but she died.

Ahmed, of Burdock Close, was not charged in relation to this but police discovered that as well as Game – who was destroyed – he had other dogs which were illegal, including Shakira, a Dogo Argentinean, which is a banned breed.

In July 2010 he was banned from owning any dog for five years, but breached this in 2011 when he was found in possession of a Staffordshire bull terrier, a cane corso, a presa canario, a Neapolitan mastiff and a South African boerbel.

On this occasion he was fined £765.

On Thursday he was banned from owning a dog until 2023 and given a £1,585 fine.

Inspector Di Lewis said: “We are pleased with this result as it shows we will not tolerate people not being able to control their dogs and will not let anyone get away with breaching a banning order for owning dogs.

“The magistrate told Ahmed during the trial that if he comes before the courts again for keeping dogs, he will be sent to prison.”