A postman told how he had to wear a cricketer's protective box for four months after a Springer spaniel sunk its teeth into his groin as he delivered the mail.

Simon Healey, 35, spoke to the Telegraph & Argus today after learning he has won a county Court judgement for "substantial damages" against the dog's owner.

Mr Healey, a bachelor, of Arnold Street, Liversedge, said he had been left mentally and physically scarred following the attack in Cleckheaton.

Communication Workers Union solicitor David Harrington, representing Mr Healey, said a settlement hearing at Leeds County Court would take place in about a month's time.

He said: "The trade union is very anxious to support dog bite claims because it's arguably one of the most important parts of its legal service to back members who get bitten by dogs because of the number of attacks."

Mr Healey, who has been a postman for 14 years, was delivering mail on his usual round in October 1998 when the dog bolted out of a front door and seized his crotch.

It shook its head for ten seconds before releasing it grips leaving Mr Healey in agony and with a mile-long walk back to his sorting office.

Mr Healey was off work for a month and had to wear a cricket box underneath his Royal mail uniform for a further four months after he returned as his wounds were so sensitive.

He said he feared he would not be able to have children although doctors had assured him he would be all right.

"I've had odd little nips at the back of my ankles before but those were nothing compared to what this was. It's the worst place possible that a bloke can get bitten," he said.

"Even when I went back to work I was in a lot of discomfort and I had to wear a cricket box from October to about February time. I've also been left with a massive scar.

"I feel a lot better in myself although I still feel very wary of dogs in general now. I'm just very pleased about the judgement. It's a load of my mind."

In December 1998 the dog's owner Beverley Watkins, of Mount Street, Cleckheaton, was ordered to keep her eight-year-old pet Toby under proper control by Dewsbury Magistrates.

She was told to pay £50 prosecution costs but there was no compensation for Mr Healey.

It was after this that the CWU pursued the case through the county court for Mr Healey.

John Tracey, assistant branch secretary of the Bradford & District CWU, said: "We do take every claim up but usually the thing which is frustrating is the inability of people to pay up no matter what judgement is passed down.

"If somebody is insured things do go through quite quickly so we are urging dog owners or anyone with a pet which could potentially cause an injury to get properly insured."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.