A young mum who claimed her “devil dog” was her “bodyguard” after it savaged another pooch during a four-week reign of terror in Ardrossan dodged court over the animal’s attacks last week – amid claims she has a life-threatening illness.

Nicole Wallace’s pit bull terrier, named Floyd, attacked three dogs and bit a dog owner. While police were hunting her over the first attack, on a Shih tzu named Cooper, she posted a picture of her toddler son next to the dog in its basket – and claimed it was their “bodyguard”.

Floyd savaged Cooper as he was being walked by teenager Niamh Lang, 16, in Island View on October 25 last year, leaving him needing emergency medical treatment.

Floyd grabbed Cooper, repeatedly bit him on the head and body, clamping it’s jaws on to him and thrashing it around for around a minute, until a stranger stepped in to break up the attack, allowing Niamh to run to a nearby house to take refuge.

Wallace then appeared on the scene and took Floyd away, saying he had escaped from her back garden.

Cooper was left with extensive injuries and even had to have a tube placed through his neck for five days by vets.

Describing the attack, a witness, who asked not to be named, said: “Floyd baying for blood.

“The only thing he was interested in was inflicting more damage on the wee white dog.

“If the girl hadn’t got her dog inside to safety I have no doubt it would have killed her dog - it took some stopping.

“It was literally like something out of a horror film - it was like the dog was possessed.

“It seemed to be completely oblivious to anything other than attacking the small dog.

“Even when being repeatedly kicked by a man who was well over 6ft tall, all it was interested in was attacking the white dog.

“It was like it was in a trance, totally ignoring its owner when she appeared, only interested in tasting more blood.”

After that attack, Wallace then posted the picture of her son next to Floyd in his basket and posted it on her Facebook page, claiming it was their “bodyguard” and making light of the attack.

But it went on to attack another two dogs, biting a Labrador named Louie between Island View and Montfode Drive on November 3 after jumping on the animal’s back, and biting another Shih tzu, trying to bite a Yorkshire terrier and biting its owner on the body on November 25. Wallace pleaded guilty to four charges at a hearing at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court in February, admitting having a pit bull terrier-type dog, which is banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act, and being the owner of a dog that was dangerously out of control on October 25 when it attacked Cooper.

She also admitted being responsible for Floyd on November 3 when it attacked and bit a Labrador, and being responsible for him when he was dangerously out of control during the incident involving the other Shih tzu and Yorkshire terrier.

Wallace was due to be sentenced last month but failed to appear and a warrant was issued for her arrest and last week she failed to appear at court for sentencing again.

Defence solicitor Brian Holliman said: “My office received a telephone call at 8.30am this morning from Miss Wallace’s mother, advising she had been admitted to hospital with suspected sepsis.”

The NHS website describes sepsis as “a rare but serious complication of an infection” which “can lead to multiple organ failure and death.”

After pointing out Wallace had missed two sentencing hearings and three appointments with social workers for background reports to be prepared, Sheriff Alistair Watson issued a warrant for her arrest.

Wallace will be dealt with after being arrested on the warrant and a judge will decide later whether or not her dog should be destroyed.