A 24-year-old woman who was in charge of an XL bully dog when it fatally attacked her teenage cousin has been given a suspended prison sentence rather than jail time. Kelcie Reed had pleaded guilty to being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control, causing injury resulting in death, after her dog Prince killed 19-year-old Morgan Dorsett at a flat in Withywood, Bristol, in February last year. The case has drawn attention amid wider scrutiny of XL bully attacks and how such incidents are sentenced despite dogs being legally owned under exemption certificates.

Bristol Crown Court heard that Morgan, from Shrewsbury, suffered puncture wounds, fractures and bruising after taking cocaine and suffering a seizure that triggered the attack; Reed was injured trying to protect her and called emergency services once the dog was restrained. Judge Anna Richardson handed Reed an 18-week sentence suspended for 18 months with a nine-month mental health treatment requirement, warning that failure to comply would mean serving the prison term. Prince, who held a certificate of exemption but had no restrictions inside the home, was sedated by police and later euthanised, while Morgan's family described devastating, lasting grief in victim impact statements to the court.