Kelcie Reed admitted being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control, resulting in death

Kelcie Reed was handed a suspended jail sentence (Image: Avon and Somerset Police )

A woman has avoided jail after an XL Bully dog killed her teenage cousin. Kelcie Reed, 24, pleaded guilty to being in charge of a dangerously out of control dog, causing injury resulting in death.

Bristol Crown Court heard how Morgan Dorsett, 19, was attacked by the large dog, named Prince. Ms Dorsett suffered fatal injuries and died inside a flat at Cobhorn Drive, Withywood, Bristol, on February 26 last year.

Reed, of Lawrence Weston, was arrested at the scene by officers responding to a call she made reporting that Ms Dorsett had been attacked by a dog and was not breathing. Ms Dorsett, from Shrewsbury, Shropshire, suffered fatal bites to her neck and head.

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The dog, which was owned by Reed’s boyfriend who held a government exemption certificate for it, was subsequently sedated by officers before being taken away for assessment by experts, where it was euthanised several days later, Avon and Somerset Police said.

The court heard the dog attacked Ms Dorsett when she suffered a seizure from the effects of taking cocaine. Oliver Willmott, prosecuting, said a neighbour heard screaming coming from the adjacent property.

Mr Willmott said there had been previous incidents with Prince where he had killed another dog and Reed had previously posted on Facebook asking for advice on training.

“It was apparent this this dog had the capacity to cause considerable harm,” he said.

Morgan Dorsett, 19, from Shropshire, died after she was attacked by the dog (Image: Avon and Somerset Police/PA Wire )

On Friday, Reed was handed at 18-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and banned from keeping a dog for 15 years.

Imposing the suspended sentence, with a nine-month mental health treatment requirement, Judge Anna Richardson said: “This is a case that was utterly tragic for Morgan Dorsett’s family and it has also had a huge impact upon you. I accept not a comparable impact, but a huge impact.

“The sentence that I pass, regardless of where I found this case was on the guidelines would, I suspect, appear entirely inadequate to Morgan’s family. That is because the harm that has been suffered is of the greatest possible magnitude for her loved ones.

“The effect of this order is that you have a prison sentence. If you do not attend appointments in the next 18 months, and if you do not complete the treatment requirement, then you serve that prison sentence.”

Sarah Regan, defending, said Reed had no prior knowledge of previous incidents with Prince and the attack on the other dog had never been reported to the police. “What did happen was sudden and unexpected, and could never have been anticipated by her,” she said.

Ms Dorsett had moved from her family home in Shropshire to Bristol to live with the defendant, her cousin, shortly before she died as she wanted to experience living in a big city.

Morgan Dorsett was killed by an XL Bully (Image: Avon and Somerset Police )

Speaking at today’s sentencing hearing, Marie Smith, Ms Dorsett’s mum, said her death had affected the family so deeply that it was “difficult to put into words”.

Ms Smith said: “She came to Bristol to experience something bigger than the small village she had grown up in. She felt that village life had held her back, and she wanted to see the world, meet new people, and find others like her.

“Bristol, with its vibrant, lively culture, would have suited her perfectly. She would have absolutely loved it. Tragically, she never got the chance to truly experience that life.

“Morgan’s death has cast a shadow over everything. It has changed my life and the lives of her siblings in ways that will never fully heal.”

Ms Dorsett’s younger sister, Caelia Dorsett, said she had lost her “best friend” and that Morgan’s death had had a long-term impact on her mental health.

Detective Sergeant Rich Glanville of Avon and Somerset Police said: “Morgan’s family have shown great courage despite experiencing such a terrible loss and we want to thank them for their patience and support through what’s been a really tough 18 months for them, while our investigation and court proceedings took place.

“It’s truly devastating that not only have they lost a loved one, but that Reed has not given them the answers about what happened that night – answers they deserve to have. This was a completely avoidable tragedy and was caused because Reed failed to have control over a dangerous breed of dog.”