A HOMELESS man who set his dog upon a station worker was told by magistrates he had six months to save his own life.

Magistrates at Weymouth Magsitrates Court deferred the sentencing of Ian Leslie White, 39, of no fixed abode, to give him an opportunity to tackle an acute alcohol problem.

White had been convicted at an earlier hearing for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and admitted further charges of consuming intoxicants having been directed to stop by a police officer and failing to surrender to bail.

Elizabeth Valera, prosecuting, told the court that White had been convicted for the dog attack on Peter Kempson, who works in the kiosk at Weymouth train station.

Miss Valera told the court that at 5.50am on October 12 last year Mr Kempson approached White after he saw him wandering around the station with his dog off the lead.

Miss Valera read from Mr Kempson's statement where he claimed he followed White out on to the platform when he saw him going towards a staff area and threatened to call the police. Mr Kempson said: "He ordered the dog on to me with a mixture of hand gestures and voice commands.

"The dog jumped up and bit me in the stomach area."

A guard at the station saw the incident and called the police. Mr Kempson was taken to the minor injuries unit at Weymouth Hospital where he was given a tetanus injection and treated for puncture wounds to his abdomen.

White also admitted drinking in a prohibited area in Dorchester town centre on March 31, despite being reprimanded by a police constable earlier in the day for doing so.

Simon Lacey, mitigating, said: "He's had a long-standing alcohol problem going back 20 years.

"It's a problem that is getting significantly worse for him.

"He was recently admitted to hospital and told unless you get yourself sorted you are going to die before the end of the year."

Mr Lacey added that White had been seeking help from the Community Drugs and Alcohol Services (CADAS) and had been going to The Hub in Dorchester.

Magistrates Chairman Rosemary Brinton said: "In deferring sentence for six months we expect you to engage with CADAS and act on the advice given by them."

She added: "This is your opportunity not only to save your life but to save your future."

White will return to court for sentencing on January 7.