A man has been slapped with a fine for illegally owning an XL Bully.

Charlie Rockett, 30, of Suffolk Green in Chandler’s Ford, admitted possessing a fighting dog.

Southampton Magistrates’ Court heard how police officers discovered the six-year-old female dog named Zeyna during a visit to Rockett’s property on September 25.

Since February 23, American XL bullies have to be muzzled and kept on a lead in public.

Owners who wished to keep their dogs had to apply online for an exemption by July 31.

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But the court made a contingent destruction order for Rockett’s dog, meaning she will not be destroyed.

This is due to her “good temperament” based on her reaction to police entering the defendant’s house, when she barked but did not attack.

She was deemed not to be a danger to the public.

Rockett was ordered to pay a £160 fine, prosecution costs of £85 and a surcharge of £64.