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The American pitbull who savaged to death a six-month-old baby girl in a horror attack had been kept in a tiny crate, it emerged today.

The dog, called Bruiser, was 'cooped up' in a 'small' house with his owner, Claire Riley, 23, and her daughter, Molly-Mae Wotherspoon, a court heard.

He was shut up in a cage, rarely walked and given insufficient water after Claire's partner - who cared for him - was sent to prison in July 2014.

Three months later, the 'aggressive' 5lb canine managed to escape from his enclosure in the kitchen of the property in Daventry, Northamptonshire.

He then opened the door to the living room, where Molly-Mae was lying helpless on a changing mat, and grabbed the baby's head like 'prey'.

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The 'jealous' dog viciously mauled the infant, leaving her with a catalogue of injuries, including a fractured skull and bites to all four limbs.

At the time of the 'sustained' attack, Molly-Mae's alcoholic gran, Susan Aucott, was looking after her while her mum was on a night out with friends.

Aucott, 56, who was drinking wine 'to excess', did not react when she heard Bruiser force his way out of the crate, Northampton Crown Court heard.

She tried to intervene after realising her granddaughter was being brutally mauled, but was powerless against the huge canine, it was said.

Molly-Mae died of blood loss after suffering 'bite injuries to every limb' and 'multiple deep lacerations to the head and face' in the attack on October 3.

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Police and paramedics rushed to the property in Morning Star Road after Aucott - who suffered minor injuries in the incident - dialled 999.

Horrifically, the dog could be heard still attacking the baby during the call.

Molly-Mae was tragically pronounced dead at the scene at 11.08pm. Her tiny body was later taken to Northampton General Hospital.

Today, Riley, of Northampton, sobbed as she was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to owning a dangerously out of control dog.

Aucott, also of Northampton, was handed the same term after admitting to being in charge of a dangerously out of control dog.

The pair, who embraced after being sentenced, were banned from owning dogs for ten years.

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Sentencing them, Mrs Justice Carr said: "Claire Riley, you had bought Bruiser in about June 2012. Molly-Mae was born in March 2014.

"In June 2014 your partner was sent to prison for a substantial period of time.

"He was no longer there to walk or look after Bruiser. Susan Aucott, you say you never walked Bruiser and you never saw your daughter walk him.

"Claire Riley, you say that you did walk Bruiser, to what extent is not clear, but not so much that your mother ever noticed."

Bruiser was known to be jealous of Molly-Mae, the court heard. He lived in the house with another canine called Pups, who was also kept in a crate.

A Serious Case Review will be published by the Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children Board in the next few weeks.

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James House, prosecuting, earlier told the court that Bruiser should not have been left in the house with Aucott, who 'could not control him'.

He said: "He was an aggressive and dangerous dog and should not have been left in the house with a person who could not control him.

"The attack was sustained. Susan Aucott simply was unable to bring Bruiser under control or remove Molly-Mae from the situation."

He added: ""A canine expert has told us that the sound of Molly-Mae crying would have ignited a killer instinct in Bruiser which would have made him see the child as prey. "

One vet who had previously seen Bruiser described him as 'one of the most aggressive dogs she had ever seen', Mr House said.

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The animal - whose breed has been banned in the UK since the early 90s under the Dangerous Dogs Act - was pepper-sprayed and put down at the scene.

Mrs Justice Carr QC said: "This was a tragic and totally avoidable incident.

"Dog owners and those in charge of dogs carry heavy responsibilities, both for the welfare of the dogs and those around them.

"Bruiser was a large, strong and aggressive dog.

"He should never have been living cooped up in a small house with a new baby and the two of them should never have been left alone in the charge of someone such as Susan Aucott.

"Bruiser posed an obvious and overwhelming risk to Molly-Mae and Claire Riley, you have accepted you did not reasonably believe your mother to be a fit and proper person to be in charge of him."

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The judge added: "Susan Aucott, you never walked Bruiser and you never saw your daughter walk him.

"The cage for Buster was too flimsy and he escaped without apparent difficulty in order to attack Molly-Mae."

Steven Talbot Hadley, defending Riley, said: “Her poor decisions led to her baby's death and she finds that hard to come to terms with.

“She wishes she could turn the clock back and get rid of the dog. She is suffering with depression and thinks of ending her life.”

Micalia Williams, defending Aucott, said: “There can be no greater punishment than she has already suffered.

“Not only did she witness the death of her granddaughter but she's also had to watch the impact that's had on her family.”

Speaking after the hearing, James Allen, head of the Complex Casework Unit for the CPS East Midlands, described the child's death as 'entirely avoidable'.

He said: "Molly-Mae's death was a tragedy for all concerned. Sadly, the simple truth is that her death in October 2014 was entirely avoidable.

"Molly Mae's death would not have happened if two of the people closest to her had acted, as any reasonable person would have done, and never allowed such an aggressive and dangerous dog to be in the same small house as a young and vulnerable child."

Jen Helm, Northampshire Police Detective Superintendent for Safeguarding Children, also spoke out after today's sentencing.

She said: “We welcome the sentences handed down today which bring to a close a key chapter in what has been an extremely challenging investigation by Northamptonshire Police."

She added: “If anything good is to come out of this it surely has to be a greater awareness about the ownership of banned breeds and the danger generally of dogs – any dog – being left in close proximity to a very small child."

Riley and Aucott had earlier been pictured arriving at the court, with loved ones desperately trying to shield them from photographers.

In chaotic scenes, a man appeared to swing an object at a male photographer as he attempted to capture a picture of Aucott.

The defendants could be seen using blankets and umbrellas to hide their faces.

In October 2014, senior coroner for Northamptonshire, Anne Pember, said the family had paid the 'ultimate price' for owning the outlawed breed.

Meanwhile, neighbours told of how two pit bull-type dogs were constantly fighting at the property in the months before Molly-Mae's death.

The sentencing had been due to be held last month, but was adjourned after Riley and Aucott were involved in a scuffle outside court.

The fracas, involving photographers and family members, took place on August 26 as the defendants made their way into court.

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Riley was taken away from court by ambulance following the incident, during which a man could be heard shouting: "He's assaulted my daughter."

It is understood paramedics were called to reports of a woman collapsing outside the court.

In July, it emerged that Riley is expecting another child.

Today, the mum, wearing a light brown dress, wept in the dock as the judge told her she would give birth to her second child behind bars.

Both defendants must serve at least half their prison sentences.