A wine critic has accused a former actress of negligence after his pet dog was hit by an estate agent’s car in a case where costs could top £150,000.

Harry Eyres, a former wine columnist for The Spectator and theatre critic for The Times, has told a judge that his dog, Ebony, suffered serious spinal injuries after being run over by a car being driven by an employee of Dexters estate agents.

The incident occurred outside Kendra Torgan’s home in London in east London three years ago.

Eyres, 66, said he spent thousands of pounds on life-saving operations for the dog, described in court as a “beloved member of his family”.

Torgan has denied that the incident was her fault

He is suing the former actress for damages to cover the cost of treatment.

Eyres has blamed Torgan, who set up a dog-sitting business, for letting Ebony escape from her garden and into the road while in her care.

At a preliminary hearing at Central London county court, he has asked for damages of up to £30,000.

Lawyers for Eyres told the court that Ebony “wandered into the road” while under Torgan’s care at her home in east London and was struck by a car being driven by an estate agents.

The employee of Dexters took Ebony to an emergency vet and the dog was transferred to an animal hospital in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, for urgent treatment.

Eyres claimed that Torgan “negligently failed to supervise the dog” and “failed to call the dog back once it left her side”.

The dog suffered a fractured spine that required repeated reconstructive operations. Metalwork and screws were inserted to hold the broken bones together.

The court was also told that Eyres’s insurance company had confirmed that it would not pay for the treatment and that as the dog was left with Torgan she owed her a duty of care.

Eyres said Torgan told his legal team that Ebony could be “euthanised rather than seeking treatment”.

Torgan has told the court that she should not be sued personally and that Eyres should instead take legal action against her company, which was dissolved in 2023. The court was told that Torgan has blamed the dog for her injury.

Whichever side loses the dispute could face a costs bill of more than £150,000. The case will return for a full trial at a later date.