‘XL Bully' that mauled girl, 9, in the FACE is returned to owner as she walks free from jail
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AN XL Bully owner has walked free from court after her dog attacked a child last year.
Elizabeth Boot's dog, Rocky, attacked a 9-year-old at an address in Nottingham in January 4, 2024, a court heard.
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Elizabeth Boot, 33, has walked free from court after her dog attacked a child last year
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According to MailOnline, the victim's injuries were so severe that she had to take time off school and is now left with permanent scarring.
However, over a year later, Rocky has been returned to his owner.
When the young girl was taken to hospital, Boot begged her and her mother not to tell the police about the attack in fears that her dog would be put down, Nottingham Crown Court was told.
The 33-year-old from Sneinton then proceeded to give false details about the incident in a bid to protect the dog, while the victim was being treated at the Queens Medical Centre (QMC).
Despite the child receiving multiple injuries, including a deep gash under her eye, Boot continued to give a false name and false details.
A dog behaviour expert has since analysed Rocky and produced a report concluding it would be safe for him to return home.
Handing her a 16-month jail term, suspended for 18 months, Judge Mark Watson said: "This was a frightening and scary incident, it must have been made worse by your response to it.
"Rather than show concern for the girl, you were more concerned about Rocky and the impact on you and your family.
"It was selfish behaviour and behaviour you should be ashamed of."
However, the judge concluded that due to it being a quick bite rather than the dog taking hold of and mauling the child, Rocky did not pose a danger to the public.
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The case prosecutor, Devni Kitulagoda, said the girl was unsupervised with the dog when it suddenly jumped up and bit her just under her eye.
Boot was alerted to what was happening after hearing the child scream.
Kitulagoda continued to explain that Boot's partner then began shouting that Rocky was going to be put down and begged the mother and child not to say anything.
But Boot later pleaded guilty to being in possession of a dog that was dangerously out of control and injured a person.
Lucia Harrington, mitigating, said her client has children aged nine and 11 who both have ADHD and autism.
Harrington said explained that if Boot was to go into immediate custody, her children would have to be put into care.
As part of the suspended sentence order, the judge ordered the defendant to attend 15 rehabilitation session and also contribute £1000 towards the £12000 kennelling costs which had been incurred.
He also ordered a contingency destruction order.
This means Rocky will be destroyed if the owner is unable to keep it under control.
The conditions are as follows:
Pet gates to be fitted at the entrance of her home and her living room entrance.
If anyone under thee age of 16 visits her home, Rocky needs to be locked in a separate room.
The owner must attend sessions with a dog behaviour analyst.
Three young girls were also attacked by a 7st XL Bully in Norfolk earlier this year.
The horrifying incident saw Victoria Hewitt's pet, Karma, attack her two children and friend, aged 4, 8 and 11.
The attack saw the dog drag one of the children across the floor, biting her down to the bone.
A judge later sentenced Hewitt to an eight-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months.
These incidents come after a ban on XL Bullies was ruled by the High Court in December 2024.
Judges said that ministers has "sufficient evidence of an alarmingly high level of fatal attacks" by the dog breed when the crackdown was launched in 2023.
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A ban on XL Bullies was ruled by the High Court in December 2024
Credit: Getty
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