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Mum jailed after dog mauled her son, 9, to death while she was at a party

Tawnee Willis (left) and her son Frankie Macritchie (right). (SWNS)
Tawnee Willis and her son Frankie Macritchie. (SWNS)

A woman has been jailed after her nine-year-old son was mauled to death by a dog while she was at a party nearby.

Frankie Macritchie was killed by an American bulldog Staffordshire cross last April after being left alone with it by his mother Tawnee Willis, 31.

Willis had been invited to a party by the dog’s owner Sadie Totterdell, 29, while staying at the Tencreek Holiday Park in Looe, Cornwall.

A number of guests at the party, including Willis, were said to have taken drugs including cocaine.

The incident took place at the Tencreek Holiday Park in Looe in Cornwall. (SWNS)
The incident took place at the Tencreek Holiday Park in Looe in Cornwall. (SWNS)

Frankie was bitten 54 times by the dog, named Winston, and eventually bled to daeth from his injuries after being left alone with it.

A post-mortem examination revealed that Frankie suffered bites on his face, neck, and chest. A portion of his scalp tissue had been torn off and one of his ears was hanging on by a thread.

There was also a huge 15cm by 14cm wound on his head, and evidence that he had tried to defend himself.

Truro Crown Court heard that the dog had bitten children before and had a history of disobedience.

Totterdell pleaded guilty to being the owner in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in the death. She was jailed for three years.

Willis was jailed for two years after admitting neglecting a young person and causing unnecessary suffering.

Police taped off a large area around static caravans at the Tencreek Holiday Park. (SWNS)
Police taped off a large area around static caravans at the Tencreek Holiday Park. (SWNS)
Tawnee Willis arrives at Truro Crown Court in Cornwall. (SWNS)
Tawnee Willis arrives at Truro Crown Court in Cornwall. (SWNS)

Judge Robert Lindford told Willis: "You left Frankie with the dog, Winston. This was a strong and powerful dog. It was a dog that Frankie knew but was not a family dog.

"You knew Frankie was awake, you placed the dog and a nine year of child in the confined environment of a caravan.

"The scene you found in the morning I know will haunt you for the rest of your life, and that you have developed PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder] as a result of what you saw and experienced.

"It can only be classed as grossly negligent.”

Judge Linford added: "To leave a dog with a nine-year-old child was the height of folly. We will never know what happened in that caravan, if Frankie did something to upset the dog or if the dog got angry for other reasons.”