London: A baby girl was mauled to death by a dog that neighbours had allegedly warned was dangerous.
Ava-Jayne Corless, who was just 11 months old, suffered horrific injuries when the American pitbull terrier attacked her while she slept.
Her mother, Chloe King, 20, and boyfriend, Lee Wright, 26, heard the commotion and rushed upstairs to rescue her from the jaws of the beast.
Paramedics were called and took Ava-Jayne to hospital where doctors were unable to save her life.
Miss King and Wright were last night being questioned on suspicion of manslaughter and child neglect. A police spokesman said the animal was banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991.
Senior officers have launched an investigation into the reports that neighbours had called Lancashire Constabulary to complain about dangerous animals at the property in Blackburn.
Faisal Shahzad, 35, fled after two dogs broke through his garden fence. “I had to run quickly into the house and barricade the door because they were tearing after me,” said the taxi driver.
“I’ve got three children and they were all in the house absolutely terrified. The two dogs were scary. I called the police and they said something would be done and my neighbour also called the RSPCA.”
Another neighbour, 80-year-old Brian Harrison, said: “That dog was a nightmare for neighbours and people were worried about approaching it.
“It’s an absolute tragedy that should never have happened”
