Baby mauled by 'pocket bully' dog suffered fractured skull - as court hears woman owner 'will have to deal with this for rest of her life'

Pocket bullies are a cross between an American bully and a Patterdale terrier

A baby mauled by a 'pocket bully' dog suffered a fractured skull - as the court in South Wales heard the owner 'will have to deal with this for rest of her life'.

The dog - which was a cross between an American bully and a Patterdale terrier- also fractured the child's cheekbone in the attack in Caerphilly last year.

A woman - who cannot be named for legal reasons - pleaded guilty to being in charge of a dog that was dangerously out of control causing injury.

Newport Magistrates' Court heard how the baby was mauled by the dog - which had not previously been aggressive - after the woman failed to properly shut a baby gate.

Prosecutor Dave Thomas said that the baby was left with permanent scarring after the attack and needed surgery within hours of the incident to remove pieces of skull.

Newport Magistrates' Court (pictured) heard how the baby was mauled by the dog - which had not previously been aggressive - after the woman failed to properly shut a baby gate

The dog - which was a cross between an American bully and a Patterdale terrier- also fractured the child's cheekbone in the attack in Caerphilly last year. Pictured: File pic of an American Bully

'I think the child is making good progress now,' he added.

The court heard that the dog had not previously displayed aggressive behaviour and that the woman could not have reasonably foreseen the incident.

Ed Mitchard, defending, said the woman had been guilty of a 'momentary lapse' and 'will have to deal with this for the rest of her life.'

He said that the woman was a fit and proper person to be in charge of a dog.

'There is nothing to rehabilitate here,' he said.

District Judge Charlotte Murphy told the woman that 'it was clearly a tragic accident.'

Judge Murphy added: 'You had a lapse in concentration and it has had tragic consequences which you will have to live with for the rest of your life.

'The dog had never given cause for concern before, and it had never been aggressive or shown concerning behaviour.'

The judge imposed a £200 fine, £80 victim services surcharge and £35 in prosecution costs.

The pocket bully dog involved in the attack has also since been put down.

The attack happened in Caerphilly - where in recent years there have been two fatal dog attacks and police have seized 18 dogs over fears of illegal breeding.

Jack Lis (pictured) who was mauled to death by an XL Bully dog

Grandmother Shirley Patrick, 83 who died two weeks after being savaged by a dog

Great-great grandmother Shirley Patrick, 83, and schoolboy Jack Lis, 10, were killed by XL Bully breeds just streets away from each other and one year apart.

The baby, who has not been named, was injured just half a mile away.

Jack's mother Emma Whitfield, 34, campaigned for changes in the law on breeding and selling dogs.

A UK government ban came in response to an increase of injuries and death from dog attacks - with some linked to XL Bullies.

The government ban on American XL Bully dogs in England and Wales came into force on December 31, 2023.

Since February, it has been a criminal offence to own an XL bully without an exemption certificate.