Special child mauled to death by bulldog after mum and friend leave him in caravan with canine to go boozing
A mother and a dog owner have been thrown behind bars after an American bulldog cross mauled a nine-year-old to death at a caravan park.
In April 2019, young Frankie MacRitchie was brutalized by a massive hound called Winston in Looe, Cornwall, after his mother left him alone in a caravan with the beast to go drinking. The 45-kg dog, which had bitten another child previously, pounced on Frankie and viciously attacked the youngster, who sustained 54 injuries and massive blood loss.
31-year-old Tawney Williams, who returned to discover her son's massacred body and the dog covered in his blood, was sentenced to two years at Truro Crown Court after admitting child neglect. As soon as the sentence was passed, Frankie's father Billy MacRitchie stormed out of court, The Sun reported.
Meanwhile, 29-year-old Sarah Totterdell, the dog's owner, was sentenced to three years in prison after she admitted to being the person in charge of a dog that was dangerously out of control and caused injury resulting in death.
"You placed the dog and the nine-year-old child in the confined environment of a caravan and returned to the party in the caravan nearby," the judge said while sentencing Williams. "The scene you found I know will haunt you for the rest of your life and you have developed PTSD as a result of what you saw and experienced."
Williams and Totterdell were reportedly boozing in a separate caravan, the court heard, as they left the boy alone with the animal.
Responding authorities declared Frankie dead at the scene after sustaining fatal injuries to his head and neck. According to the report, the seven-year-old hound was euthanized on May 1 following the brutal attack.
Frankie was described by his family as a "special young boy" who had a heart condition and should never have been left alone with the pooch.
"As Frankie's family, nothing will ever be enough, no sentence will ever be long enough," his aunt Danielle MacRitchie said through tears. "Not today, not tomorrow, not ever will we as a family forgive them for leaving our boy in a caravan with a dog he hardly knew."
"Frankie was left alone to die in the most horrific way, beyond anyone's imagination," she added.
Around 30 supporters arrived at the court before sentencing to demand "Justice for Frankie" — holding up signs featuring logos of his favorite action figures Spiderman and Batman.
Meanwhile, devastated father Billy, who reportedly wasn't on the holiday, shared an emotional tribute to his son in a Facebook post penned by his sister Danielle.
"I spoke to my brother today and he asked me to write a few words," she posted on Billy's Facebook page.
"My baby Frankie Gray MacRitchie, my whole world has shattered into a million pieces," the embattled father said. "Daddy is so lost without you little man I really don't know how I'm ever gonna live without you. This should never have happened I wish I could hold you and kiss you forever. You are my whole life and now your (sic) gone. Sleep tight my darling boy, my best friend, and my everything."