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| Boy, 3, dies after being bitten by dog in Halstead | Boy, 3, dies after being bitten by dog in Halstead |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A three-year-old boy has died after he was attacked by a dog in Essex. | A three-year-old boy has died after he was attacked by a dog in Essex. |
| Dexter Neal was bitten by an American Bulldog in Parker Way, Halstead, at 17:40 BST on Thursday. | Dexter Neal was bitten by an American Bulldog in Parker Way, Halstead, at 17:40 BST on Thursday. |
| An air ambulance was called to the scene and the boy was airlifted to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge. | An air ambulance was called to the scene and the boy was airlifted to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge. |
| A 29-year-old woman arrested for allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control has been released on bail until 19 October. The dog was seized by police and placed in kennels. | A 29-year-old woman arrested for allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control has been released on bail until 19 October. The dog was seized by police and placed in kennels. |
| Live updates: Boy dies following dog bite | Live updates: Boy dies following dog bite |
| Can you ever trust a dog around children? | Can you ever trust a dog around children? |
| Dexter lived in Ronald Road, Halstead, police said. | Dexter lived in Ronald Road, Halstead, police said. |
| Neighbour Phyllis Younger said: "I heard this screaming. I did not really associate it with anything terrible - it was like children having a bit of fun. But then I thought it might not be quite right. | Neighbour Phyllis Younger said: "I heard this screaming. I did not really associate it with anything terrible - it was like children having a bit of fun. But then I thought it might not be quite right. |
| "Then it was quiet. I looked out of the window and saw a police car and paramedics and neighbours looking along the road." | "Then it was quiet. I looked out of the window and saw a police car and paramedics and neighbours looking along the road." |
| Mrs Younger went outside and asked what had happened. | Mrs Younger went outside and asked what had happened. |
| "They told me the dog had attacked the little boy and he was in a bad way." | "They told me the dog had attacked the little boy and he was in a bad way." |
| She said the family involved had not lived in the street for very long and "kept themselves to themselves". | She said the family involved had not lived in the street for very long and "kept themselves to themselves". |
| Shirley Diver, mayor of Halstead, said the incident was heartbreaking. | Shirley Diver, mayor of Halstead, said the incident was heartbreaking. |
| She said: "It's dreadful news, it really is. I've had dogs all my life and I don't think you can ever trust a dog 100% with any child. | She said: "It's dreadful news, it really is. I've had dogs all my life and I don't think you can ever trust a dog 100% with any child. |
| "It's so sad. I feel so sadly for the family who are involved. Words can't express how it affects anybody. The whole town is in shock." | "It's so sad. I feel so sadly for the family who are involved. Words can't express how it affects anybody. The whole town is in shock." |
| Scott Nowell, 19, who dialled 999, described "terrible scenes" and said neighbours had gathered around Dexter's "distraught" mother as people tried to save her son. | Scott Nowell, 19, who dialled 999, described "terrible scenes" and said neighbours had gathered around Dexter's "distraught" mother as people tried to save her son. |
| Braintree MP James Cleverly was briefed about the incident by police. | Braintree MP James Cleverly was briefed about the incident by police. |
| He said: "I have got children of my own, and this is both shocking and heartbreaking. For any parent, this is the most terrible news. | He said: "I have got children of my own, and this is both shocking and heartbreaking. For any parent, this is the most terrible news. |
| "I'm very conscious that the original Dangerous Dogs Act was brought in in response to incidents just like this and I think most people agree it was not a particularly well-drafted piece of legislation. There's a number of gaps. | "I'm very conscious that the original Dangerous Dogs Act was brought in in response to incidents just like this and I think most people agree it was not a particularly well-drafted piece of legislation. There's a number of gaps. |
| "So I think the last thing we should do now is any kind of knee-jerk reaction, but we do need to look at the rules around dog ownership and also about how dogs are looked after and particularly when there are children involved." | "So I think the last thing we should do now is any kind of knee-jerk reaction, but we do need to look at the rules around dog ownership and also about how dogs are looked after and particularly when there are children involved." |
| Dexter Neal's death comes just days after a 52-year-old man was attacked and killed by a dog which had been returned to its owner despite concerns that it was dangerous. | Dexter Neal's death comes just days after a 52-year-old man was attacked and killed by a dog which had been returned to its owner despite concerns that it was dangerous. |
| David Ellam was out walking with his Yorkshire terrier close to his home in Huddersfield on Monday when he was attacked by another dog. He later died in hospital. | David Ellam was out walking with his Yorkshire terrier close to his home in Huddersfield on Monday when he was attacked by another dog. He later died in hospital. |
| West Yorkshire Police said the animal had been seized by police following a visit by a dog warden in June, but had been returned to its owner on 8 August after it was determined that it was not a banned breed. | West Yorkshire Police said the animal had been seized by police following a visit by a dog warden in June, but had been returned to its owner on 8 August after it was determined that it was not a banned breed. |
| Pet owners convicted of dangerous dogs offences will face harsher punishments under new sentencing guidelines in England and Wales. | Pet owners convicted of dangerous dogs offences will face harsher punishments under new sentencing guidelines in England and Wales. |
| The guidelines, which came into force from July, reflect 2014 changes to the law that increased maximum sentences. | The guidelines, which came into force from July, reflect 2014 changes to the law that increased maximum sentences. |
| The Sentencing Council said sentences were "likely to be higher than in the past" but must be "proportionate". | The Sentencing Council said sentences were "likely to be higher than in the past" but must be "proportionate". |
| Fatal attacks on children by dogs from recent years | Fatal attacks on children by dogs from recent years |
| Changes to sentencing guidelines in 2014 raised the maximum jail sentence for a fatal dog attack from two years to 14. | Changes to sentencing guidelines in 2014 raised the maximum jail sentence for a fatal dog attack from two years to 14. |
| The amendments to the Dangerous Dogs Act also extended the law to include attacks which happen on private property and introduced a new offence of attacks on assistance dogs such as guide dogs. | The amendments to the Dangerous Dogs Act also extended the law to include attacks which happen on private property and introduced a new offence of attacks on assistance dogs such as guide dogs. |
| Banned breeds are pit bull terriers, the Japanese tosa, dogo Argentino and fila Braziliero. | Banned breeds are pit bull terriers, the Japanese tosa, dogo Argentino and fila Braziliero. |