Updates for Essex on Friday, 14 October 2016
Dog kills four-month-old baby in Colchester
Toddler and woman also injured in the dog attack on Harwich Road
Braintree teen has her sentence cut despite drunken rampage on Underground
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Patrick Byrne
BBC News
National newspapers are also reporting the tragic death of a four-month-old boy and injuries to his 22-month-old brother in Harwich Road, Colchester:
Patrick Byrne
BBC News
Colchester MP Will Quince has expressed his sympathy over the tragic death of a four-month-old boy and injuries to the baby's 22-month-old brother and mother in a dog attack at their Harwich Road home.
Image source, Conservative Party"Thinking about the tragic death of a baby child, something that should not happen, has a huge impact," he said.
"We don't know the circumstances, but it could have involved a loved family pet.
"This shocks the whole neighbourhood and I know the people of Colchester will be mourning the sad loss of this baby boy."
Patrick Byrne
BBC News
The police chief responsible for the district of Colchester where a four-month-old baby has died in a dog attack has described it as a "tragic and heart-breaking" incident.
The dog, which has already been destroyed, also seriously injured the baby's 22-month-old brother gave their mother minor injuries.
Image source, Essex Police"I am sure the thoughts and prayers of everyone are directed to this family after the tragic and heart-breaking incident," Ch Insp Eliott Judge said.
"It happened in the area I command and I know the people there will be shocked.
"I cannot say any more, but this is a a tragic incident that we are investigating while supporting the family."
Patrick Byrne
BBC News
Our local papers are also reporting the tragic death of a four-month-old boy and injuries to his 22-month-old brother in Harwich Road, Colchester:
The East Anglian Daily Times, external said: "A baby boy sadly died from his injuries and his brother is being treated for serious injuries."
The Gazette, external said: "Baby and child mauled by a Staffie. Such awful news this morning. Our thoughts are with this poor family."
Police have confirmed that the woman injured in the Harwich Road fatal dog attack has finished being treated for minor injuries.
The woman, who is the mother of the four-month-old boy killed in the attack, remains at Colchester General Hospital with her older son, who is seriously injured.
Police officers were at the Harwich Road property overnight:
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Essex Police are confirming the dog responsible for killing a four-month-old boy has been put down with the consent of its owner.
The dead boy's 22-month-old brother was seriously injured in the attack at the family home in Colchester, while the boys' mother has minor injuries.
Neighbours have told the BBC that the family of the four-month-old boy who died in a dog attack in Colchester had only moved in recently.
Gareth George, a BBC reporter at the scene, said: "People I have spoken in the area say the family hasn't lived here that long."
Patrick Byrne
BBC News
The death of a four-month-old baby boy in Colchester in a family home is another example of how family pets can turn into savage dangerous dogs.
A 22-month-old boy has life-changing injuries and a woman has minor injuries in the same attack.
Another high profile case happened in Daventry, Northamptonshire, where the mother and grandmother were jailed after a six-month-old baby girl was mauled to death by the family dog.
Image source, Northamptonshire PoliceMolly-Mae Wotherspoon was attacked by an American pit bull named Bruiser at a house in Daventry in October 2014.
Mother Claire Riley (pictured left), 23, admitted owning a dangerously out of control dog and grandmother Susan Aucott (right), 55, admitted being in charge of one.
Both were sentenced at Northampton Crown Court to two years in jail.
Judge Mrs Justice Carr told the pair Molly-Mae was savagely attacked by the pit bull in "a tragic and totally avoidable incident".
The court heard Aucott, an alcoholic, was looking after her granddaughter at Riley's former home in Morning Star Road when the dog attacked the baby.
The pit bull broke free from his cage in the kitchen and opened the door to the lounge to reach baby Molly-Mae on the floor. It grabbed the six-month-old by her head.
Patrick Byrne
BBC News
After dog attacks increased in number, the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 was updated in May 2014 so that all breeds were included if they were behaving dangerously, rather than specific, named breeds.
It also now covers private places such as homes as well as public areas in which a dog became dangerously "out of control".
Image source, Family pictureFatal attacks this year year included three-year-old Dexter Neal who died after he was bitten by an American Bulldog in Parker Way, Halstead in August.
An air ambulance was called to the scene and the boy was airlifted to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.
A 29-year-old woman arrested for allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control has been released on bail until 19 October. The dog was seized by police and placed in kennels.
Image source, Family pictureSome attacks are very serious, but not fatal.
Abbie Varrow, from Great Notley, had to undergo surgery (pictured) after an Alsatian attacked her in 2012 as she played with a friend.
But the Crown Prosecution Service ruled that no further action is to be taken against the dog's owner, infuriating Abbie's family.
Essex Police are confirming the baby killed by a dog in Colchester was a four-month-old boy.
The other injured child was his brother who is 22-months-old.
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Patrick Byrne
BBC News
The Colchester fatal dog attack in which a baby boy has died has left the community around Harwich Road in shock.
Armed response units, senior police officers, forensics squads, paramedics and dog handlers were all at the scene from yesterday afternoon to investigate the inside of the house and treat the injured.
Activity lasted until well into the night as the two children seriously injured in the attack were treated at Colchester General Hospital and the local community pondered on the tragic events.
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Patrick Byrne
BBC News
A second child, who has been left with life-changing injuries after a dog attack which also killed a baby boy, in Colchester is being treated at the town's general hospital.
Two ambulances with a police escort took the injured children to hospital, neighbours in the Harwich Road area said.
Neighbour Dave Thompson said police backed into the drive to "recover the animal" which he described as a dark brown "Staffordshire bull breed".
"It was alive and not aggressive when they brought it out of the house and put it into the back of the van. It was quite big and I think it was a cross breed," he said.
"Everyone had been pushed back by police and a woman came out of the house first."
Ian Puckey
BBC Essex Political Producer
We've had the news in the last hour that nobody wanted to hear.
We were told yesterday that three people, including a baby and child, had been injured in an attack by a dog in Colchester.
This morning the terrible update has come through from police that the baby has died of those injuries.
I spoke to Will Quince, the local MP, a few moments ago. He has two children himself and has spoken of his shock. It affects the whole community and the community is in shock.
Kate Kinsella
BBC Look East weather
After a dry start with sunny spells, cloud will thicken through this afternoon, with outbreaks of rain spreading in from the south east towards the evening.
Watch my full regional forecast:
Feeling cool under the cloud cover and rain expected in the east.
Maximum temperature: 13C (55F). BBC Weather has more.
Patrick Byrne
BBC News
A baby boy has died and another child is seriously injured after a dog attack in Colchester, on Thursday afternoon.
The dog attacked three people, including the two young children, and was said locally to be a Staffordshire bull-type breed.
A woman was also taken to hospital with minor injuries after being bitten by the dog.
Officers were called to the junction of Tara Close and Harwich Road, Colchester, at 15:10 BST after reports someone had been bitten.
Ch Insp Elliot Judge said: "This is a tragic incident.
"Specially trained officers are providing support to the family at this difficult time."
Officers removed the dog from the property.
A baby boy has died and another child has been seriously injured after they were attacked by a dog in Colchester, Essex Police said.
More follows.