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| Jade Anderson dogs death: Court hears of 'horrific' scene | Jade Anderson dogs death: Court hears of 'horrific' scene |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The moment a policeman found a girl who had been mauled to death by four dogs was the most distressing sight of his life, a court has heard. | The moment a policeman found a girl who had been mauled to death by four dogs was the most distressing sight of his life, a court has heard. |
| Jade Anderson, 14, died on 26 March at the house in Atherton, near Wigan. | Jade Anderson, 14, died on 26 March at the house in Atherton, near Wigan. |
| Magistrates heard PC Martin Burkinshaw would "never forget" encountering a bull mastiff-type dog covered in blood. | |
| Speaking after the sentencing of dog owner Beverley Concannon, Jade's family said they were "disgusted" she had walked free with a suspended sentence. | |
| 'Should be held responsible' | |
| At Wigan Magistrates Court, 45-year-old Concannon was given a 16-week suspended jail term after admitting causing suffering to the four animals. | |
| Jade had been at Concannon's house in Chaucer Grove visiting a teenage friend. | Jade had been at Concannon's house in Chaucer Grove visiting a teenage friend. |
| The judge said Concannon, who was out of the house when Jade was attacked, should have been aware of her dogs' aggression. | |
| In September, the Crown Prosecution Service ruled there was "insufficient evidence" to bring a charge of manslaughter by gross negligence against Concannon. | |
| It was also not possible to bring charges under the Dangerous Dogs Act because her animals were not banned breeds and were not out of control in a public place. | |
| Jade's mother and stepfather have campaigned for the government to tighten the laws around dangerous animal ownership. | |
| They want dog owners who fail to stop their pet attacking someone to be liable to prosecution. | |
| Speaking after Concannon's sentencing, Jade's stepfather Michael Anderson said: "I'm devastated and disgusted in the justice system. | |
| "Today was just about dangerous dogs. I think she should be held responsible for Jade. | |
| "We have got a life sentence. It has absolutely ripped us apart." | |
| During the sentencing hearing, Paul Taylor, prosecuting, read a statement from PC Burkinshaw about how the officer found Jade's body in the kitchen and all four dogs at the back door trying to get in. | |
| The statement said: "The sound of the dogs in the backyard was horrific. | The statement said: "The sound of the dogs in the backyard was horrific. |
| "I will never forget what I saw. There was a large white bull mastiff-type dog. | "I will never forget what I saw. There was a large white bull mastiff-type dog. |
| "Its head and mouth were covered in fresh blood and it was bounding in the back yard." | "Its head and mouth were covered in fresh blood and it was bounding in the back yard." |
| The hearing was told how one dog, Buddy, an American bulldog, was "stir crazy". | |
| It was kept in a cage as punishment and was not walked or trained, the court was told. | |
| The dogs were put down after the attack on Jade. | |
| District Judge Mark Hadfield told Concannon her treatment of the dogs had contributed to their state. | District Judge Mark Hadfield told Concannon her treatment of the dogs had contributed to their state. |
| He ordered her to pay costs and a victim surcharge totalling £165 and banned her from keeping dogs indefinitely. | He ordered her to pay costs and a victim surcharge totalling £165 and banned her from keeping dogs indefinitely. |