Owners of American Bulldog named 'Beast' jailed after it mauled boy, 10, to death

A man and a woman have been jailed after admitting being in charge of a dog that mauled a 10-year-old boy to death.

Jack Lis was attacked by the American bully or XL bully dog called Beast while playing with a friend at a house after school in Pentwyn, Penyrheol, near Caerphilly, on November 8 2021.

Beast was shot and killed by armed police, who later confirmed that it was not a banned bread in the UK.

Brandon Hayden, 19, was jailed for four years and six months at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday.

Amy Salter, 29, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.

Both were banned from owning a dog indefinitely.

Jack was a pupil at Cwm Ifor Primary school in Caerphilly, and died at the scene in a house on the housing estate.

Hayden took ownership of Beast on 3 November and asked Salter if the dog could stay at her home for a period of time.

In the days following the dogs arrival, Beast displayed aggressive behaviour towards other people, jumping at them and, in some cases, biting them. It also lunged at nearby children.

On the day of the fatal attack, Beast was in the house and not restrained in any way when Jack called over after school to play with a friend.

Hayden also admitted to three counts of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control and two counts of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury.

Ryan Randall of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said: "Our thoughts remain with Jack, along with his family and friends, who have suffered a heart-wrenching loss.

"Despite warnings from the previous owner, and knowing its aggression, Hayden and Salter left the animal at the house without taking any proper measures to control it, their failure to do so had catastrophic consequences."

More to follow...