THE owner of a pit bull terrier has been found guilty of setting his pet on a man three times during an argument.

Thomas Derosa, of Kynaston Road, Didcot, was convicted of three counts of causing actual bodily harm and one of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control in a public place.

During a three-day trial at Oxford Crown Court, the 24-year-old denied telling his dog Kush to “get” Matthew Brewerton on June 6 last year.

Yesterday it took a jury two hours and 20 minutes to find Derosa unanimously guilty of all four counts against him.

Prosecutor Jennifer Dannhauser said he turned up drunk outside Mr Brewerton’s house in Sinodun Road, Didcot, and shouted his name.

She said when the victim went outside the defendant accused him of insulting him behind his back.

Derosa then pointed at Mr Brewerton and said “get him Kush”.

The builder said the dog bit his fingers and right leg before he frightened it off using a shovel.

Miss Dannhauser said the dog then returned and Derosa set him on his victim again, biting his left leg and left forearm.

Summing up, she said the defendant had tried to “wriggle out of the truth” but his dog had clearly “obeyed his orders”.

Derosa was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on Thursday, May 29.