A 55-year-old man died from complications of a leg wound after allegedly being bitten by a dog during an argument over a right of way, an inquest has heard.

James Judge, 55, was bitten on the back of his right knee by an Alsatian-Australian Huntaway cross belonging to local landowner Lee Ellis, also 55, during an incident on a footpath in Wakefield on August 15.

Mr Judge was taken to hospital after being found bleeding by members of the public. He died shortly after 7pm that evening.

Ellis has since been charged with manslaughter and being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death.

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Lee Ellis, 55, has been charged with manslaughter and appeared in court last month

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Police attended the scene of the dog attack in Wakefield, West Yorkshire

Argument reportedly began over right of way

The circumstances surrounding the fatal incident emerged during Ellis’s first appearance at Bradford Magistrates’ Court last month.

His solicitor said the confrontation began with an argument over a “right of way.”

It is alleged that Mr Judge filmed Ellis on his mobile phone during the dispute and threatened to report him to police.

According to the allegations, Mr Judge became agitated and pushed Ellis in the face. At some point during the confrontation, the dog bit Mr Judge.

Ellis is then alleged to have attempted to move the animal away from the confrontation.

Both men are understood to have separately called 999 following the incident.

Ellis, having realised that Mr Judge had suffered a dog bite, is believed to have called for an ambulance and offered to assist him. However, an emergency operator reportedly told him to leave the scene.

Shortly afterwards, two members of the public discovered Mr Judge bleeding and raised the alarm.

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Ellis leaves Bradford Magistrates’ Court in West Yorkshire last month after being bailed

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The area near the old train line footpath off Blacker Lane in the Calder Grove area of Wakefield

Inquest hears provisional cause of death

An inquest into Mr Judge’s death was opened and adjourned today.

Acting Senior Coroner Oliver Longstaff told the hearing that Mr Judge had been taken to Leeds General Infirmary, where he later died.

His identity was formally confirmed by his mother.

A post-mortem examination gave a provisional cause of death as complications arising from a wound to the right leg caused by a dog bite.

The inquest heard that Mr Judge was unmarried and had been born in Horbury, Wakefield, where he was also living when he died.

Mr Longstaff said the inquest would be adjourned while criminal proceedings against Ellis continue.

Ellis is due to appear at Leeds Crown Court on September 16.

Landowner described as keen farrier

Ellis bought his agricultural property for £5,000 in 2002 and renovated the home with his former wife. The couple carried out much of the work themselves and also built stables on the property.

He is described as a keen farrier and has regularly posted videos showing himself caring for horses’ hooves. Neighbours said Ellis and his former wife were often seen riding horses in the surrounding area.

The couple have two children but separated earlier this year.

Signs warning of guard dogs can be seen around the outside of Ellis’s property.

Neighbours describe barking dogs

Residents living nearby said they had been aware of the dogs kept at the property.

One neighbour told the Daily Mail that his son was “scared to walk past the house” because the dogs would “always bark so loudly.”

Another neighbour said: “Whenever you walked past you would always hear the dogs barking loudly.”

A local dog walker said the area was normally peaceful and that the footpath where the incident occurred was frequently used by walkers.

“We don’t normally get any trouble here. It’s very quiet. The path where it happened is a well-trodden route, there’s a lot of dog walkers,” the dog walker said.

“I just feel so sorry for the man who died.”

Ellis denies the allegations against him. The criminal proceedings remain ongoing, and the inquest has been adjourned pending the outcome of the case.