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A girl aged five had her face ripped open by a devil dog after she and her mum went to buy some second-hand bunk beds.

Molly Beresford needed 36 stitches after a Staffordshire terrier-cross ­savaged her as they were left alone for just a few minutes.

The youngster will be scarred for life – yet a court has allowed owner Juliet Marsh, 47, to keep the danger dog.

Molly’s mum Charmaine Beresford, 31, told how responding to a Facebook group “for sale” ad turned to horror.

(Image: Steve Bainbridge/Sunday People)

She said: “We knocked on the door and went upstairs to look at the beds. We said ‘yes’ and then had to start taking them down. They were in a ­little box room so there wasn’t much space.

“The seller said she would take Molly downstairs so she wouldn’t get in the way and we were fine with that.

“But we were none-the-wiser she had a dog at that stage. They went down to get a drink and a few minutes later she came back up, leaving Molly downstairs. Within two minutes we heard a scream.

“We raced downstairs and found Molly with her face ripped open. It was ­completely chewed, I just went numb. There’s a difference between a nip and a serious bite.

(Image: Steve Bainbridge/Sunday People)

“It pierced right through her cheek.

“I was in shock, I said ‘we need to call an ambulance’, I had to say it four times, but she seemed reluctant.

“She was saying ‘my poor Milo’, then ‘he doesn’t know what

he’s done’.”

After a call to 999, police ­arrived at the house in Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, and advised driving Molly to ­hospital as it would be quicker than waiting for an ambulance.

Charmaine went on: “At the hospital they gave us the option of a local ­anaesthetic and putting her under for an operation, it was awful. In the end she had the anaesthetic and needed 36 ­stitches. It took 45 minutes to stitch her up. We didn’t get home until 3am.

“Molly will always have a scar. The surgeon told us we had to prosecute because it was a serious dog bite.”

(Image: Steve Bainbridge/Sunday People)

Marsh appeared at Cheltenham ­magistrates court last month charged with being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control. She was found guilty and ordered to keep the dog under control or it would be destroyed.

She must also keep the dog muzzled on walks and cannot leave it alone with a child under 17. Marsh was also given a ­community order to do 60 hours’ unpaid work.

Charmaine said: “I want to warn people this is a ­dangerous dog.

"We didn’t know there was a dog in the house. My daughter had her face chewed, but this woman seemed to care more about her pet than the fact my daughter is scarred for life.

(Image: Steve Bainbridge/Sunday People)

“We didn’t want the dog to be ­destroyed, but she needs to keep it ­muzzled, especially around children. Parents need to be aware a dog can snap at any time.”

Marsh, meanwhile, vowed to abide by the court order. She said: “I am totally distraught and it has affected me deeply that a little girl was hurt in my home.

"I have taken it on board and am obeying everything the court has ordered.”

A source added: “She has not walked Milo without a muzzle.

“She understands the implications.”

Molly’s ordeal emerged as Mary Rollinson, 73, ­continues to ­recover after a pit bull dragged her into a pond in Yeadon, Leeds, bit off part of a finger and caused horrific wounds.