Dog attack horror: full story

The full story of how a Rottweiler mauled a one-year-old baby to death in West Yorkshire has emerged.

The boy was snatched from the arms of a seven-year-old girl who was carrying him at the Wakefield home on Friday afternoon.

At the time of the attack the boy's parents were out nearby and he was being looked after by his 16-year-old aunt, together with the seven-year-old girl and another girl, aged six.

The girl had gone to the kitchen door to stroke the animal, a family pet, which was kept in the yard outside. The dog grabbed the without boy and carried him into the yard.

The aunt, who had been upstairs, was unable to rescue her nephew, despite striking the dog, and called emergency services, who found the boy lying seriously injured in the yard.

The boy suffered serious injuries and was taken to Pinderfields General Infirmary but died later in the evening.

Armed police officers destroyed the dog, a two-and-a-half year-old female, at the scene.

"Our thoughts go out to the family at this tragic time," said Detective Superintendent Steve Payne.

"They are understandably devastated by what has happened and are being supported by specially trained officers."

The attack came almost a year after five-year-old Ellie Lawrenson was mauled to death by a family pit-bull terrier at her grandmother's house on January 1.

Her uncle Kiel Simpson was jailed for eight weeks for owning a banned breed of dog.

Rottweilers are not banned by the Dangerous Dogs Act, but the legislation covers any dog out of control in a public place.

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