Dad jailed for four years after out-of-control Chow Chow cross mauled 12-day-old baby Elon to death
THE father of a newborn baby boy who was mauled to death by the family’s “dangerously out of control” dog has been jailed for four years today.
Tragic Elon Ellis-Jones was just 12 days old when he was savaged by chow chow cross Teddy at the family home in Doncaster, South Yorkshire.
The tot suffered 40 puncture wounds during the horror attack, which happened when his mum Abigail Ellis, 28, nipped to the toilet.
Ms Ellis and her fiancé Steven Joynes, 36, were charged with owning a dog which caused death when dangerously out of control after the horror on September 13 2020.
Joynes initially denied the charge, but later pleaded guilty, taking full responsibility. He appeared at Sheffield Crown Court today for sentence.
Ms Ellis pleaded not guilty. A planned trial in July has been abandoned after prosecutors indicated that they will ask for a not guilty verdict to be entered in her case.
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Today, a judge heard Joynes moved in with “vulnerable” mum-of-three Ms Ellis following the death of her previous partner, who she had nursed through illness.
He brought Teddy with him after his ex bought the animal as a gift for their daughter in January 2019.
But the court heard it was soon obvious that the mum and daughter “could not cope with the dog”.
Richard Thyme QC, prosecuting, said that in the weeks leading up to Elon’s death, neighbour Nathan Hodgkinson had raised the height of his fence to six feet to stop Teddy coming into his home.
Another child in the home suffered an injury to his right thigh five months before Elon’s death.
It was initially claimed during a visit to the GP that he’d been bitten by a stray dog. However, further questioning revealed Teddy was responsible.
On the day of Elon’s death, Ms Ellis briefly put her son down to go to the toilet as Joynes played with another child outside.
NEWBORN BABY MAULED TO DEATH
Teddy then escaped from his pen in the garden.
Ms Ellis returned to find her baby boy fatally injured.
Mr Thyme told the court: “Abigail Ellis made a distressed 999 call describing that her baby was pale and bleeding. Neighbours also heard the commotion and ran to assist.
“A neighbour saw that the baby was breathing and quietly crying.
“He had big lumps the size of golf balls under his skin that were red in colour.
“Ms Ellis was distraught and Mr Joynes was in a panic saying “I don’t know what to do”.
The neighbour tried to help, applying pressure to the injuries.
Horrifically, she could feel air escaping from Elon’s lungs as he struggled for breath. She also spotted blood coming from his nappy.
‘I TOLD HIM TO GET RID OF THE DOG’
Mr Thyme said the neighbour had sought to assist the baby, but it became clear he had severe injuries.
Other witnesses heard Ms Ellis’ mother screaming: “I told him to get rid of that dog.”
When paramedics arrived, one – Chloe Hepworth – recorded dozens of puncture wounds on the baby’s body, as well as two cuts to his torso and abdomen.
He was rushed to hospital, but despite the efforts of doctors, died at 4.12pm that day.
Edward Moss, mitigating for Joynes, called the incident “a tragedy by the very definition of the word”.
“This is a man who has suffered the greatest loss of all at his own hands,” he said.
The couple are still together, but have lost custody of their other children, he said.
“They support each other. They are still together. Their plan is they will get their children back and put this matter behind them,” Mr Moss said.
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“It’s something that he will never forgive himself for.”
Teddy has been destroyed.
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