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These horrific injuries were suffered by a boy who screamed to his mum "I’m going to die, I love you" as he was mauled by a dog.

The schoolboy's mum said she was physically sick when she saw her son's gaping wounds which left him needing 50 stitches and scarred for life.

The victim was attacked by a Staffordshire bull terrier in Walton on June 3.

His mum has now shared images of his brutal injuries to highlight his suffering as the dog's owner was spared jail over the attack, the Liverpool Echo reports.

On Tuesday, the dog's owner Leslie Bristow was handed a two-year community order and ordered to pay £1,000 in compensation after admitting being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control.

(Image: Liverpool Echo)

The two-year-old dog, named Opie, initially bit the boy on the face at Bristow’s home when the victim entered her garden.

This caused his mum to pick her son up - only for Opie to then leap up, knock the pair to the ground and unleash a vicious attack.

Reliving the ordeal the mum, who has suffered from anxiety issues following the incident, said: “I punched that dog as hard as I could, and it wasn’t letting go. I thought my son was gone, his face was purple after the attack.

"He probably would have died if I hadn’t got him off when I did - it was locked on and I could see my son’s bone.

(Image: Liverpool Echo)

“I couldn’t believe it. I screamed for help. He was shouting ‘I’m going to die, I love you’.

"When I saw what the dog had done I vomited, I couldn’t look because I couldn’t believe what it had done to my boy.”

The boy was left with a gaping wound to his leg that required surgery, as well as hip and facial injuries.

(Image: Liverpool Echo)

He was in hospital for three nights and required almost 50 stitches.

His mum praised the boy’s bravery and said she was proud of the way he had responded to the attack, but admitted it has had a devastating impact.

As well as being afraid of other dogs, he also refuses to wear shorts because he is embarrassed by the visible scars that are expected to stay with him for life.

On Tuesday Bristow was handed a two year community order and ordered to pay £1,000 in compensation by Judge Clement Goldstone QC after admitting being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control, causing injury.

She was also told to complete a 20 day rehabilitation course with the Probation Service.

(Image: Liverpool Echo)

The 49-year-old was told that, if necessary, she must sell her other dog - a 12-year-old Teacup Chihuahua - to pay the compensation after Judge Goldstone said: “It’s the least you can do to repay the wrong that is incalculable to the boy and his mother.”

Slamming the sentence handed to Bristow, the victim’s mum said she had been left feeling like the severity of her son’s injuries had not been fully taken into account.

“I was shocked and I was sickened... he’s got to pay for this for the rest of his life. I feel let down and as though my son is not important.”

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Liverpool Crown Court heard no complaints had ever been recorded against Opie, who has since been destroyed.

It was also said Bristow was found “crying hysterically” by police after the incident and had attempted to help rescue the boy - but the boy’s mum said she had been disappointed Bristow had not been more supportive following the attack.

Describing the dog as “unmanageable”, Judge Goldstone said pictures of the boy’s injuries would “haunt you for the rest of your life.”

He added: “Staffies are high maintenance dogs. It’s amazing the amount of times these courts hear that the way the dog behaved was totally out of character.

"Well nobody could say, sadly, that it was the first time that a dog of this kind had behaved in that way.”