THE family of a young boy mauled by a police dog as he played in his gran’s garden said yesterday the attack was like something out of “a horror movie”.

Schoolboy Tom Cutbill, 10, was bitten three times, leaving him with a 7cm gash on his right leg.

The German shepherd cross, which was on a lead held by a police handler, attacked as Tom played with his scooter in gran Bev Bakewell’s back garden on Sunday afternoon.

The terrified lad required two skin graft operations and 20 stitches.

He spent four days in hospital before being discharged yesterday, needing crutches to walk.

Officers from West Midlands Police had been called to the area to investigate reports of a theft of copper wiring from nearby Langley Green train station.

During the pursuit, the handler and his dog burst into Bev’s garden where the straining animal went for Tom.

Despite the handler’s attempts to restrain it, the dog managed to clamp its jaws around the terrified lad’s legs.

Yesterday, Bev, 52, said: “The police didn’t even give any kind of warning they where coming in, no shouts or anything. They just barged in.

“Tom was lying on the grass near the gate and the dog just went for him. Suddenly we started hearing screaming.

“When I looked out the window there was a policeman with this great big dog which had hold of Tom’s leg.

“It’s like a horror movie. It’s terrible, no one can sleep and I don’t think Tom will play in my garden again.”

Yesterday the youngster, still on crutches, was recovering at his family home in Rowley Regis, near Birmingham.

Tom’s father, who did not want to be named, expressed shock and disgust at what had happened.

He said: “I will be speaking to the police to find out what they are intending to do to stop this ever happening again. Tom could have been killed.”

West Midlands Police apologised “unreservedly” to the family.

The force has informed the Independent Police Complaints Commission and is carrying out its own investigation.

Chief Inspector Ian Marsh said: “We have launched an investigation to fully understand exactly how an innocent young lad came to be bitten by a police dog in the safety of his own garden.”

After an independent assessment the dog involved is still carrying out regular duties with its handler.

News published on: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tom-cutbill-mauled-police-dog-2004401