Dog bite cost me pounds 1m, golfer tells court

A GOLFER who claims a dog bite ruined his chances of turning professional today launched a bid for more than pounds 1million compensation from the owner in the High Court.

Andrew Raitt, 33, said he had to change his grip after an alsatian called Zomba almost bit off the tip of his small finger on his left hand, preventing him from earning a fortune from the game.

He told Judge Sir Ian Kennedy that the attack happened when he tried to pull the alsatian off his own dog in June 1995 and left him with no feeling in his little finger.

Raitt, from Walton on Thames, was Surrey amateur champion in 1993 and turned professional the following year. He is assistant professional at St George's Hill Golf Club inWeybridge.

He is claiming past losses of pounds 349,697 and future losses of pounds 798,000, making a total claim of pounds 1,147,697.

The dog's owner, Jeremy Lunn of St George's Hill, Weybridge accepts liability but is disputing the size of the claim. He suggested a car crash in 1996 in which Mr Raitt was injured may have had more effect on his career.

The hearing continues.

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