A newborn baby boy was savaged to death by a family dog after his mum fell comatose on the sofa and his dad went outside for a cigarette.

Reuben McNulty was just 14 days old when his parents' pet Staffordshire Bull Terrier bit his caput up to 23 times, resulting in his death three weeks later.

Parents Amy Litchfield and Dan McNulty had been previously warned by social workers not to go out Reuben unsupervised and solitary with their ii Staffies.

But Amy, 31, was in a deep sleep next to Reuben, who also slept in a teddy bear bed on the sofa, and Dan had gone outside for a cigarette when the tot was savaged past one of the dogs at the family home in Yaxley, Cambs.

An inquest today heard that neither Reuben nor the dogs were beingness directly supervised at the time of the set on just before 2am on Nov 18, 2018.

The baby sustained disquisitional brain and spinal injuries and died three weeks afterwards the attack (

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Tiny Reuben was mauled past one of the dogs (

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Neither of the child'southward parents attended the hearing today.

The coroner heard that Dan returned inside to detect Reuben and the white dog - called Dottie and anile around vi - covered in blood, while Amy was still asleep.

Dan immediately called 999, telling the operator: "I think the f****** dog's attacked him. My partner was asleep, I merely heard crying.

"He's only bleeding, you know? I was like what the f***?"

Social services had warned a family whose newborn babe died after a dog attack that the Staffordshire Bull Terrier should non be left lonely with the child (

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When paramedics arrived, Daniel and Amy refused to concord Reuben, the inquest heard.

The baby was airlifted to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge where he was constitute to have suffered astringent brain, spinal and skull injuries.

Reuben died at the aforementioned hospital on December 13 - three days subsequently life back up was removed.

Simon Newbury, a veterinary forensics proficient, said that the domestic dog may accept bitten Reuben up to 23 times in the head while shaking him around.

When paramedics arrived Reuben's mum and dad refused to concur the infant (

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Mr Newbury told the inquest at Peterborough Town Hall: "It's possible that Dottie saw Reuben as a pocket-sized casualty or a squeaky toy.

"It'southward possible that Dottie was stimulated into a predatory drive by crying or a movement [by Reuben].

"In that location appears to take been no supervision of the dogs. Amy was in a deep slumber, Daniel was downstairs smoking."

Dan and Amy were both arrested by police on suspicion of child neglect afterward the incident only prosecutors decided not to charge them in December 2020.

Prosecutors chose not to charge mum Amy Litchfield and dad Dan McNulty (

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A child protection program was issued past social services before Reuben'due south birth stating that he should never be left alone with Dottie and the other dog, a nine-yr-onetime Staffy called Fizz.

Amy had owned the dogs since their birth and there were no past reports of violence or aggression from them.

Both dogs were seized by police and put down later the incident.

Coroner Simon Milburn concluded the inquest: "[The child protection plan] gives clear indication and evidence that the parents were aware Reuben should not be left solitary with the dogs at any time, nor when the family unit were eating.

Mum Amy was in a deep sleep at the time of the attack (

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"Neither Reuben nor the dogs were existence direct supervised during the time of the assail."

Mr Milburn added: "In the early hours the explanation was that the mother was asleep in the living room - she had taken sleep tablets.

"Reuben was comatose in the same room and the dogs were asleep or lying quietly in their bed in the same room.

"Dan said he went out for a cigarette and Amy recalled in her [police] interview that Dan told her but unfortunately she roughshod dorsum asleep, and it was when Dan came back inside a short time after he found Reuben seriously injured and ane of the dogs, Dottie, covered in Reuben's blood."

Mr Milburn described the incident equally an "unintentional short period of inattention which sadly had horrific and tragic consequences".

He noted that the dogs had been separated from Reuben on previous visits past social services and midwives, including on November 12 - six days earlier the incident.

Speaking after the inquest today, Reuben's nan Ruth Hinchey spoke of her relief at finding a conclusion to the family's ordeal.

Ruth, Amy'due south mother, said: "Nosotros're simply glad it's finished and nosotros tin can properly motility on."

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