MIRROR
A mum and son whose Rottweilers mauled a care worker to death in a “frenzied” attack have today been spared jail.
Brian Walshe, 42, and his 69-year-old mother Rachel were walking Rocky and Frankie when the dogs attacked animal lover Marie Stevens, who was on her way to have an evening meal at her sister’s house.
Frankie, Rachel’s hound, was the first to bite Mrs Stevens, 40, causing the dog’s lead to be dropped. Mrs Stevens, who was a care worker, was then mauled by both dogs and “ragged” in what was described as a “frenzied” attack. Records showed Frankie had been taken to the vets, after showing signs of aggression, two days before the fatal attack in a park in Netherton, Merseyside.
Both Brian and Rachel were charged with owning a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death but, today at Liverpool Crown Court, the defendants were given suspended sentences. Both were given 10 months prison sentences, suspended for 18 months and a 20-day rehabilitation order and ordered to pay £3,500 to pay for the upkeep of the dogs in police kennels, since the attack. Brian Walshe was also ordered to pay £500 prosecution costs and his mother, a retired NHS nurse, £150.
