Tragic Molly-Mae Wotherspoon’s mum, Claire Riley, was today jailed alongside the tot’s grandmother for their roles in the baby girl’s death in October 2014 in Daventry.
They were both sentenced to two years behind bars and banned from owning a dog for ten years.
Pictures from inside the family home reveal the aggressive dog had run rampant throughout the home, tearing furniture to shreds.
Northampton Crown Court heard that Molly Mae was being looked after by Aucott while Riley went for a night out with friends.
The dog escaped from its cage in the kitchen and opened the door to the living room, where Molly Mae was on the changing mat.
Prosecuting, James House said: “He was an aggressive and dangerous dog and should not have been left in the house with a person who could not control him.
“The attack was sustained. Susan Aucott simply was unable to bring Bruiser under control or remove Molly Mae from the situation.”
Today a statement was read on behalf of Susan Aucott in which she called for Molly Mae’s death to “not be in vain”.
“There is no doubt in my mind that things could and should have been done differently and lessons have been learnt the hard way. But it is important for the memory of Molly-Mae that these lessons do not stop here. These lessons need to be learned far and wide. Every parent, every dog owner needs to take notice.
“Please do not let Molly-Mae’s death be in vain. Her death cannot be undone but let her beautiful face and her memory live on by serving as a reminder of the ultimate sacrifice that could be suffered if these lessons are not learned now.”
One vet who had previously seen Bruiser described him as “one of the most aggressive dogs she had ever seen”, Mr House added.
Sentencing had been adjourned last month after Riley was attacked outside court. She was rushed to hospital after being injured in a bust-up outside Northampton Crown Court.
She was due to be sentenced along with her mum Susan Aucott, 55, over the death of tragic Molly-Mae Wotherspoon in October 2014.
But the sentencing had to be adjourned after Riley and Aucott were caught up in a scuffle with photographers as they entered the court.
Members of their family appeared to try and shelter the pair under umbrellas and one man could be heard shouting “he’s assaulted my daughter”.
An ambulance was called a short time later and Riley was taken to hospital.
The American pit bull, which was put down at the scene, has been banned in the UK since the early 1990s under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
In October 2014, Senior Coroner for Northamptonshire, Anne Pember, said the family paid the "ultimate price" for owning the outlawed breed.
Speaking in court in August, Steven Hadley, defending Riley, said: "An ambulance has been called and she has been taken to hospital.
"This morning, as far as I'm aware, there was some sort of altercation with the press and Miss Riley was pushed against a wall.
Pff, whatever... she looked to be the aggressor in the photos.
"As a result, she felt unwell and I went outside and she was doubled up on the floor. She is at hospital and she is being treated. The nature of what she is being treated for is extremely personal."
Riley previously pleaded guilty to owning a pit bull dangerously out of control that caused the death of a child.
Aucott also admitted being the person in charge of a dog which caused injury resulting in the death of a child while dangerously out of control.
(Sun UK - Sept 15, 2016)
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