Mother of six-month-old admits owning the dog that killed her daughter at their Daventry home

The mother of a six-month-old girl who died after being attacked by a pet dog has pleaded guilty in court to owning the animal.

Claire Riley, now of Merrydale Square in Northampton, changed her plea at Northampton Crown Court this morning.

Claire Riley at Northampton Crown Court for a previous hearing. Photos by SWNS.placeholder image
Claire Riley at Northampton Crown Court for a previous hearing. Photos by SWNS.

She admitted owning the dog – called Bruiser – which while out of control on October 3 2014 at their address in Morning Star Road, Daventry, attacked tiny Molly-Mae Wotherspoon. Molly-Mae died later from her injuries.

Riley had previously denied the charge.

Susan Aucott arriving at court for a previous hearing. Photo by SWNS.placeholder image
Susan Aucott arriving at court for a previous hearing. Photo by SWNS.

Molly’s grandmother Susan Aucott, of Alfred Street, Northampton has previously admitted to being in charge of a dangerously out of control dog resulting in death.

The two are likely to be sentenced together at a later date, yet to be set.

Police were called to the three-bedroom house on the Timken estate on the evening of Friday October 3.

Officers and paramedics who attended the incident tried to resuscitate Molly-Mae, but she was confirmed dead at Northampton General Hospital.

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