Latest news with #JoanneBedford
The Sun
17-07-2025
- The Sun
Mum tells court of moment she found son, 3, with ‘blood and marks' after boy was mauled to death in horror dog attack
THE mum of a boy who was killed in a brutal dog attack has told a court of the moment she found her son covered in blood and marks. Daniel Twigg, 3, suffered horrific injuries in the "furious and prolonged" attack at Carr Farm in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, on May 15, 2022. His parents Mark Twigg, 43, and Joanne Bedford, 37, are currently on trial at Manchester Crown Court, accused of Daniel's manslaughter. The prosecution allege the couple's negligence meant Daniel was "alone and unsupervised" when he entered a yard containing two large, "dangerous", and "powerful" 50kg guard dogs. Recalling the "petrifying" moment she saw Daniel's body for the first time after the attack, she told the court how she had left her son in the kitchen with his older sister while she went to find a pair of shorts for him upstairs. After first stopping in the bathroom for an unspecified amount of time, she was then about to enter Daniel's bedroom to grab his shorts when she heard his sister let out a blood-curdling scream. She told the court that her daughter was crying out: "Mum, mum, Daniel's in the [dog] pen. He is face down and he's got blood everywhere." As the memory came back to her, Bedford reportedly burst into tears, testifying she then rushed to the dog pen to get the canines out of the way. She said: "I sat down on the floor with Daniel and asked his sister to get my phone so I could call for an ambulance. "Daniel was face down on the floor, he had gotten puncture marks all over his neck and he was bleeding. I was petrified and scared for my little boy." The two dogs involved - a Cane Corso called Sid and a Boerboel type dog named Tiny - belonged to farm owner Matthew Brown. However, it is alleged that the couple were looking after them at the time of the attack and should have known the risk they posed to Daniel. Baby is mauled to death by family dog after mom turned back to pick up laundry before desperately trying to stop attack It is also claimed that the couple had ignored warnings from the RSPCA that the animals were a danger. Bedford was seven-months pregnant at the time of the attack and struggled to run down the stairs after hearing her daughter's screams. She said that Tiny was standing near the shed while Sid was towering over Daniel and moving towards him. After telling him to get off the boy, she then found Daniel face down covered in blood and marks. She recalled feeling "scared for my little boy" while trying to keep the dogs at bay. CCTV from a neighbour's property showed Daniel inside the pen at 12.50pm, the jury heard, and he was seen moving around inside for a few moments before disappearing from view. At the same time, a dog in an adjacent pen became 'excited, bouncing up and down in animated fashion'. A 999 call was made by Daniel's mother almost 20 minutes later after he'd been inside the dog pen, the jury heard previously, and while it's not known for certain whether both dogs were involved in the attack Sid was the 'likely' culprit. 'DANIEL'S DEATH WAS AN UTTERLY FORESEEABLE CONSEQUENCE' John Elvidge KC, prosecuting, said: "No-one suggests that these catastrophic events were intended or desired by his parents but this attack and Daniel's death were utterly foreseeable consequences of negligently allowing Daniel to enter Sid and Tiny's pen alone and unsupervised." Daniel's parents had a 'long association' with the farm, owned by a Matthew Brown, with Twigg working as an odd job man and Bedford keeping horses there. The couple, who have two other children, leased the farmhouse from Brown in March 2022 after he had been remanded to prison when his girlfriend Deniqua Westwood made a complaint to police. Westwood, who operated a puppy breeding business, moved out and but it was agreed the guard dogs would remain and the couple would look after them. Twigg was paid £450 to attend to the day-to-day security, running of the farm, and the dogs' care. The couple, who also had another eight or nine dogs to look after, including three of their own, stayed on at the farm despite having a home in Blackley, Manchester, when Brown was released on bail, the jury heard. The pair continued to have responsibility for the dogs over weekends when he was away, with Daniel attacked on one such weekend, argued the prosecution. The trial continues.
Daily Mail
16-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Mother of boy, three, mauled to death in dog attack 'found son face down with blood and marks all over his neck', court hears
The mother of a three-year-old boy who died in a savage dog attack at a farm after he allegedly wandered into a pen unsupervised has told how she heard 'screaming' when a relative found him covered in blood. Daniel Twigg suffered horrific injuries in the 'furious and prolonged' attack at Carr Farm, Rochdale, on May 15, 2022. His parents Mark Twigg, 43, and Joanne Bedford, 37, are on trial at Manchester Crown Court accused of Daniel's manslaughter. The prosecution allege their negligence meant the toddler was 'alone and unsupervised' when he entered a yard where two large, 'dangerous' and 'powerful' 50kg guard dogs were kept. Although the dogs - a Cane Corsa called Sid and Tiny, a Boerboel type dog - belonged to farm owner Matthew Brown, it's alleged the couple were looking after them at the time and should have know the risks to Daniel. They had also ignored warnings from the RSPCA that the animals were a danger, it's claimed. On the day of the attack, Twigg had left for work in the morning while Bedford had remained at their rented farmhouse. Bedford told the jury that she'd gone upstairs after Daniel had taken a bath to fetch him a pair of shorts. Daniel's parents Mark Twigg, 43, (left) and Joanne Bedford, 37, (right) are on trial at Manchester Crown Court accused of their son's manslaughter She'd asked a relative to 'keep an eye' on him downstairs, she said. Bedford, who was then seven-months pregnant, said she'd also needed to go the toilet while upstairs because she was constipated and before she could get the shorts she heard the relative 'screaming'. The relative then told her: 'Daniel is in the dog pen. He's face down and there's blood everywhere.' Bedford said she went downstairs 'as fast as she could' but it was difficult due to her pregnancy. She said she went into the pen and told the dogs to 'get away' from Daniel. Tiny was stood near the shed, she said, while Sid was was stood over the injured toddler and kept moving towards him. 'I told Sid to get off him and leave him alone and get away from him,' she told the jury. Bedford said she found Daniel face down, with 'blood and marks all over his neck' and she recalled feeling 'scared for my little boy' while trying to keep the dogs away from them both. 'I kept telling them to get in the shed but they wouldn't listen to me,' she told the jury, and she'd also asked the relative to put the dogs in the shed. Bedford then dialled 999 and moved Daniel to a bench where she performed CPR on him until paramedics arrived. Bedford said she told her neighbour Craig McDonald, who'd arrived at the scene with a knife, to 'kill' the dogs because she'd 'didn't want them to hurt anyone else'. The jury were previously told that it's not known if both dogs were involved in the attack, but Sid was 'likely' responsible. He was shot dead at the scene and a post mortem examination showed that he had not eaten for 12/24 hours while Tiny had been described as 'dangerous' and a 'ticking time bomb' by a neighbour. Daniel was taken to hospital but later pronounced dead. The prosecution allege that he was left alone in the pen for around 20 minutes and his parents were aware he was capable of entering it unsupervised. The jury have heard how Bedford had given conflicting accounts of how long Daniel had been out of her sight and that gates to the dog pen - located to the side of the farmhouse - were secured only with a Karabiner clip, rather than a padlock, which could be pressed open. Phone records show Bedford briefly accessed Facebook while Daniel was being attacked but she said she couldn't recall doing so. When asked by her barrister Ian Henderson KC why she hadn't mentioned visiting the toilet during police interviews or in defence documents, she said she was 'petrified of failing my child' and 'scared' the police would use it against her. Earlier, she'd told the jury she'd assured visiting RSPCA officers that Daniel wasn't 'left alone' with the dogs and would 'always be supervised'. And they had never spoken to her about the gates or locks to the pen, she said. The jury were told of a text message she sent to Twigg in the weeks prior to the attack when she said she was 'living in fear', which she said referred to 'a build up of events'. But she admitted wanting to move back to the family home in Blackley, Manchester, and telling a neighbour she was 'terrorised' living at the farm because dogs escaped all the time. Under cross-examination from John Elvidge, KC, she denied telling a paediatrician and a detective that Daniel had previously gone into the pen alone and been 'told off'. Bedford said Daniel had only been told not to play with the Karabiner clip and to 'come away from it'. Mr Elvidge also pressed her on why she'd not mentioned visiting the toilet in her accounts to police. Bedford said she'd just wanted to be with Daniel and 'wasn't focusing', had felt 'fear' towards police and had suffered PTSD. Twigg and Bedford, of Radcliffe, Bury, both deny charges of gross negligence manslaughter and being in charge of a dog that caused injury while dangerously out of control. The trial continues.
BBC News
02-07-2025
- BBC News
Daniel Twigg: Riot shields used against dogs after boy, 3, killed
Police had to use riot shields to protect paramedics from two dogs as they desperately tried to save a three-year-old boy who was mauled to death, a court has Twigg was attacked after letting himself into a fenced yard where the two dogs - described as being large mastiffs - were kept on Carr Farm, Rochdale, on 15 May 2022. He died from injuries including bites to the neck. His parents Joanne Bedford and Mark Twigg have denied gross negligence manslaughter and offences under the Dangerous Dogs Bethany Justice, who was one of the first emergency service workers at the scene, told their trial Ms Bedford was "hysterical" when they arrived. "She was screaming 'my baby, by baby'," PC Justice told the hearing at Manchester Crown Court. In footage from the officer's bodyworn camera, when asked about what happened, Ms Bedford was heard saying: "We were all out in the garden. Daniel went in the yard and when we heard the dogs we went in there straight away."John Elvidge KC, for the prosecution, earlier told the jury Daniel was left unsupervised with the dogs for at least 15 minutes, and that Ms Bedford "failed to give the police any account for leaving Daniel unsupervised for so long".Jurors were told when ambulance crews arrived at the house they were confronted by several caged dogs barking and jumping as well as a Staffordshire bull terrier on the loose. PC Justice said police officers made a "protective wall with riot shields" around paramedics as they treated Daniel. 'Aggressive' dogs Daniel's family had moved to the farm in March 2022 to look after the property and several dogs who belonged to the farm's owner, Matthew Brown, the court has were 12 dogs on the property in total who the court heard were "aggressive" and living in squalid a statement read to the court, senior paramedic Joseph O'Leary said when he arrived he could hear "screaming and crying". He said: "Daniel was laying on his back on a stone bench."He was not breathing and had multiple wounds to his neck, which were difficult to pack with dressing or put pressure on." The court heard paramedics were able to twice restart Daniel's heart on the journey to hospital but he was in cardiac arrest by the time they arrived. Doctors made the decision to end resuscitation efforts about 20 minutes later. The trial continues. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Yahoo
Boy, 3, 'left alone' before fatal dog attack on farm
A three-year-old boy who died in a dog attack on a farm was left unsupervised with "dangerous" and "aggressive" animals for at least 15 minutes, a court has been told. Daniel Twigg was attacked after letting himself into a fenced yard where the two dogs - described as being large mastiffs - were kept on Carr Farm, Rochdale, on 15 May 2022. He suffered injuries including bites to the neck and died at the scene. His parents Joanne Bedford and Mark Twigg have denied gross negligence manslaughter and offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act. Their trial at Manchester Crown Court was told the incident was "not a short rapid attack". Daniel's family had moved to the farm in March 2022 to look after the property and several dogs who belonged to the farm's owner, Matthew Brown, the court heard. The two dogs that attacked Daniel - named Sid and Tiny - weighed around 110 lbs (50 kg) and were used for breeding and as guard dogs. The court was told that immediately after the incident, Ms Bedford told a police officer that other members of the family were in the garden when Daniel disappeared before they heard the dogs attacking him. She told the officer: "We went in straightaway but he'd already gone. They killed him out right." But John Elvidge KC, for the prosecution, said Daniel was left unsupervised with the dogs for at least 15 minutes, and that Ms Bedford "failed to give the police any account for leaving Daniel unsupervised for so long". He said Daniel's parents knew he had previously gone into the pen by himself and was well-aware he liked and was very attracted to the dogs. Ms Bedford later told police that Daniel was only out of her sight for a "couple of minutes". Mr Elvidge told the court the defendants "blatantly disregarded" warnings from a RSPCA inspector who had recently visited the farm. He said the inspector was so concerned about the number of dangerous dogs and the potential danger to Daniel that he reported his concerns to police. The trial heard Mr Twigg was not at the farm at the time of the attack. His defence barrister Andrew Thomas KC said Mr Twigg was working 15 miles away and "had left Daniel in the care of his mum". The court was read extracts from WhatsApp messages between Ms Bedford and a neighbour, Leanne Thornton. In one, Ms Thornton described Tiny as a "ticking time bomb". Ms Bedford broke down in the dock as CCTV footage of the aftermath of the attack was shown to the jury. The footage showed a neighbour, carrying a knife, running to the pen where Daniel lay fatally injured. He returned to his home minutes later, visibly shaken. The trial continues. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Man and woman charged over boy's dog attack death
Daily Mail
01-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Father of boy, 3, mauled to death by 50kg dog knew the lad could get into the pen where he was killed, manslaughter trial hears
The parents of a three-year-old who died in a savage dog attack at a farm knew he was capable of entering the pen where he was mauled, a jury has heard. Daniel Twigg suffered horrific injuries in the 'furious and prolonged' attack at Carr Farm, Rochdale, on May 15, 2022. His parents Mark Twigg, 43, and Joanne Bedford, 37, are on trial at Manchester Crown Court accused of Daniel's manslaughter. The prosecution allege their negligence meant the toddler was 'alone and unsupervised' when he entered a yard where two large, 'dangerous' and 'powerful' 50kg guard dogs were kept. Although the dogs - a Cane Corsa called Sid and Tiny a Boerboel type dog - belonged to farm owner Matthew Brown it's alleged the couple were looking after the them at the time and should have known the risks to Daniel. But they had ignored warnings from the RSPCA that the animals were a danger, it's claimed. The jury have heard that gates to the dog pen were secured only with a Karabiner clip, rather than a padlock, which could be pressed open John Elvidge KC, prosecuting, said Daniel was 'attracted' and 'confident' around dogs kept at the farm but - due to his age - was incapable of understanding the risk they presented. Daniel's parents Mark Twigg, 43, (left) and Joanne Bedford, 37, (right) pictured arriving for a previous court hearing, both deny charges of gross negligence manslaughter and being in charge of a dog that was dangerously out of control 'He had also demonstrated his curiosity and, the prosecution say, his ability to work the small Karabiner clip, which only had to be pressed open. 'His parents were on clear notice of the risk that if unsupervised he could enter the pen occupied by Sid and Tiny.' Mr Elvidge said there had also been previous incidents at the farm when Daniel's older brother was bitten by dogs. In the aftermath of the tragedy, the couple had provided various accounts of what happened, although Twigg had was not there at the time as he was working. After receiving the news that Daniel could not be resuscitated at hospital, he allegedly told a police officer: 'I don't even know what's happened…I know he's a little shit and he opens stuff himself.' And Bedford later told a detective and a hospital paediatrician that Daniel 'must have walked and unlocked the gate' by unclipping it and 'had previously done this and been told off for it'. In a police interviews months later, the jury heard, Bedford then claimed the couple didn't know Daniel was capable of opening the gate on his own and had 'never' done so. The jury also heard how Bedford had given conflicting accounts of how long Daniel had been out of her sight and whether she was aware he'd left the farmhouse, with the prosecution claiming he was left unsupervised in the pen 'for at least 20 minutes'. CCTV from a neighbours' property played in court showed the youngster moving around inside for a few moments before disappearing from view. At the same time, a dog in an adjacent pen becomes agitated which, the prosecution say, coincided with the attack on Daniel, who suffered catastrophic injuries, principally to his head and neck. The jury heard how Bedford, who dialled 999, had been 'hysterical' and crying after the attack and told police who arrived at the scene: 'Kill that dog'. She had attempted to give Daniel, who was found seriously injured by his older sister, chest compressions on a stone bench in the rear yard. Although it's not known whether both dogs were involved in the attack, the jury previously heard, Sid was 'likely' responsible. He was shot dead at the scene and a post mortem examination showed that he had not eaten for 12/24 hours. Tiny, meanwhile, had been described as 'dangerous' and 'ticking time bomb' by a neighbour. Mr Elvidge said Daniel's parents had breached the duty of care towards him, which they dispute, and had negligently allowed him to enter dog pen and that was a 'significant contribution' to his death. Addressing the jury, Andrew Thomas KC, defending Twigg, said they needed to sure there was a 'serious and obvious risk' to Daniel. He added that Sid and Tiny did not belong to his parents, that Daniel would have had to 'reach through' the gate to unclip it, and Twigg wasn't even home at the time of the attack. Twigg and Bedford, of Radcliffe, Bury, both deny charges of gross negligence manslaughter and being in charge of a dog that caused injury while dangerously out of control. The trial, due to last three weeks, continues.
