XL bully attack leaves boy without thumb as owner jailed

Caio was attacked in the North Penrallt area of Caernarfon in 2024 on his way to a birthday party

A man whose XL bully dog attacked an eight-year-boy leaving him without his thumb has been sentenced to 26 months in prison.

Ian Parry, of Penrallt Uchaf Stryd, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, previously pleaded guilty to owning an out-of-control XL bully and causing serious injury.

Parry, 45, was in possession of the 10-month-old animal when the attack happened at about 10:40 BST on Ffordd Penrallt Uchaf, Caernarfon, on 11 August last year.

Caio, who was left "covered in blood", was taken to Ysbyty Gwynedd and then Alder Hey Hospital, Liverpool.

Caio was on his way to a birthday party at the time of the attack and suffered several injuries to his face and body as well as losing his thumb.

Caernarfon Crown Court heard on Thursday that the dog was "completely focused" on Caio, despite the efforts of his grandmother and others on the street to protect him during the attack.

In an attempt to stop it, Parry stabbed the dog twice with a knife before the XL bully - which he had bought after seeing an advert on Facebook in November 2023 - let go of the boy.

Caio, eight, was attacked by Ian Parry's XL bully which was out of control

Although the dog survived the stabbing, it was later shot dead.

Judge Nicola Jones said the animal was not wearing a collar, which made it more difficult to stop the attack.

Caio's mother, Ffion Williams, told the court her son was a "happy" and "adventurous" child before the incident but the attack has had a terrible effect on him and left him "worried he was going to die".

She added Caio "suffered in so many ways" and was now afraid to pass the house where the dog had come from.

"I know any dog can turn, but not all dogs have the power of these XL bullies," she added.

In a statement read in court, Caio said his hand "still hurt", that he continued to have nightmares about the incident and that he had several scars on his body.

Ian Parry will spend half of his 26-month sentence in custody, and the other half on licence

Parry was described in the hearing as an "active man" who had tried to turn his back on crime, having not appeared in front of the court since 2016.

He will spend half of his 26-month sentence in custody, and the rest on licence and was also banned from keeping a dog indefinitely.

Speaking after the sentencing, Ms Williams said: "Nothing's ever going to be enough because of the damage to my son. He could have had 50 years and it wouldn't have been enough for me, but it's kind of a justice for Caio."

She added her son had "changed" and had become "more angry, sensitive" since the incident.

"He's not the same. He goes for therapy now once a week... but it'll always be in his head. He's got the marks to remind him."