Friends Jailed After Killer Dog Attack
Jack Lis died after being attacked by Beast, an XL Bully Dog
Two friends from have been jailed for a total of seven-and-a-half years over the death of a ten-year-old boy mauled by a killer dog in Caerphilly.
Amy Salter, 29, and Brandon Hayden, 19, were in charge of the XL Bully dog that weighed a "muscular" 96.5lbs (6.9stone).
Footage played in court showed Beast lunging at other people - including children - in the days before the fatal attack.
Hayden had seen the dog advertised "for free" on Facebook with a warning that it was "not good with other dogs."
But tragedy struck when the raging animal killed ten-year-old schoolboy Jack Lis inside a property near his home.
A court heard Jack had been playing with a friend after school when they went to the house where Beast was roaming around downstairs.
Prosecutor Gareth James said the friend watched in horror as Beast pushed Jack to the floor with his "paws on Jack's shoulders."
Cardiff Crown Court heard neighbour Kirk Wiegold was alerted to the attack but could only open the door "a fraction" when he tried to help.
Emergency services rushed to the address in Caerphilly, South Wales, but Jack was tragically pronounced dead.
Jack's mother Emma Whitfield, who clutched a teddy in court, was stood outside the home as neighbours gathered on November 8 last year.
She was then dealt the devastating news by police after she provided them with a description of her son.
In a victim impact statement, she said: "I close my eyes and I see the animal and its teeth. I hear the barking.
"I used to be happy, bubbly, fun but now I am a nervous wreck.
"I'm angry because my child went out to play and didn't come home.
"I am trapped in what used to be our family home. Now it's broken and will never be the same."
She added: "I'm sad. I'm more than sad, I'm distraught."
His dad John Lis added: "Jack was a ten-year-old boy and had his whole life ahead of him but this was taken from him so unnecessarily and so tragically."
The court heard Hayden had responded to an ad on Facebook offering Beast to a new owner and asked Salter if the dog could stay with her.
Mr James said: “Brandon Hayden became the owner of Beast on November 3 last year. He had responded to an advert offering Beast for free to a good home.
"The seller said it was not good with other dogs. Mr Hayden agreed to take Beast with the initial understanding there were some issues with Beast’s behaviour towards other dogs.
“Having taken ownership of Beast he asked Amy Salter if Beast could stay with her at her address due to lack of space and Beast was not getting along with other dogs. He asked Amy Salter to look after Beast for a short period.
“Ms Salter assisted with feeding and watering Beast but Mr Hayden supplied food and was the only person who walked it. Brandon Hayden was given a key to attend each day and walk the dog."
The court heard the pair were looking after Beast for just days before it attacked and killed Jack.
CCTV footage shown in court showed the animal had also attacked shoppers and lunged at children outside the local shop in the days leading to his death.
In one clip, Hayden is seen holding Beast on a lead when he jumps up and bites passer-by Michael Ball.
The footage also shows the animal lunging at terrified children while Hayden fails to pull him back - with one boy dropping his scooter and running to hide behind a wall.
The court heard the dog also attacked shopper Sian Sullivan when he ripped her hoodie and left her with injuries to her chest.
The string of attacks took place between November 4 and 7 last year - just days before Jack's death.
Hayden was also seen on the footage "kicking and slapping" Beast after it jumped over a fence to maul a Jack Russell.
Mr James said: “Within 24 hours of Hayden becoming Beast’s owner he could see such incidents were likely.
“Despite seeing the incidents, Ms Salter agreed for Beast to stay at the address and provided shelter, food and watering Beast.
"There was only an old door to stop him from going upstairs was permitted freely to walk around with no apparatus or cage to restrain him."
The court heard Beast was shot by firearms officers at the scene as horrified neighbours gathered outside following the attack on Jack.
Hayden gave a prepared statement in interview to claim that "as far as he was concerned" the dog belonged to Salter.
The court heard he attended the scene after the attack and appeared to be "freaking out" before leaving when police arrived.
Mr James said: "He said he would never forget the images he saw and can't get them out of his mind."
Salter and Hayden admitted being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death.
Hayden also admitted a further three counts of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control and two counts of being the owner of a dog which caused injury while dangerously out of control in a public place.
Judge Michael Fitton QC said: "Jack's death was an utterly tragic, needless event. It should not have happened. It need not have happened."
Hayden was sentenced to four years and six months. Salter was jailed for three years.
The pair were also handed an indefinite order from keeping dogs.