Latest news with #VictoriaHewitt
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Massive XL bully mauled girls - aged 4, 8 and 11 - as owner and mother of two of the children desperately tried to coax it away with ham
A woman whose 'monster' XL bully mauled three young girls after it reacted in a 'very aggressive' way to a knock at the front door was allowed to walk free from court yesterday. Victoria Hewitt wrestled with seven-and-a-half stone pet Karma as it savaged and 'dragged' the 'screaming' children at her home and desperately tried to coax it away from them with ham she grabbed from the fridge. A brave neighbour eventually wrestled the animal to the ground and Hewitt desperately yelled 'Shoot the dog' when police arrived. Officers sedated Karma, who was later destroyed. All three girls – Hewitt's daughters aged eight and four and their 11-year-old friend - needed hospital treatment for bite and puncture wounds. The eight-year-old sustained the most 'significant' injuries, including a deep wound down to the bone on her upper right arm. Hewitt, 42, is understood to have registered the pet under a new law brought in weeks earlier that required them to be registered - but also stated they must be kept securely. The semi-permanent makeup artist appeared in court yesterday where she was handed an eight-month jail term, suspended for 18 months, after admitting being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury. Judge Anthony Bate heard the dog had belonged to an ex-partner of Hewitt who left it with her. She took steps to manage the risk it posed, including installing a pen and stairgates. Karma was also muzzled when out on walks and kept in a different room when visitors called by. But Judge Bate said while the precautions were 'well intended', they were limited and 'inadequate', allowing the powerful pet to cause the terrible injuries. Many of the photos on Hewitt's Facebook page show Karma, including one where she is on a bed with a small child. An image posted on February 2 last year – weeks before the attack – shows Karma and two younger dogs with the caption 'My triple trouble pups'. The horrific incident took place at Hewitt's home in Costessey, Norfolk, on March 7 last year, Norwich Crown Court was told. Prosecutor Chris Youell said Karma had never reacted aggressively before but when someone knocked at the door she reacted in a 'very aggressive and violent way'. The pet 'went' for the eight-year-old first, with Hewitt leaping on it and trying to prize its jaws off the girl. She took the ham from the fridge in the hope it would distract the bitch but this didn't work and it continued 'dragging' and 'biting' the child. What is the law on XL Bullies? Since February 1 last year, it has been a criminal offence to own an XL bully dog in England and Wales without a certificate. To qualify for an exemption certificate, owners had to prove their XL bully was neutered by June 30. If the pup was less than a year old by January 31, they must have been neutered by the end of 2024, and evidence of this provided. As well as neutering their animals, XL bully owners seeking an exemption must also pay an application fee, hold active public liability insurance for their pets and ensure the dogs are microchipped. People with dangerously out of control dogs can be jailed for 14 years and banned from owning animals. Their their pets can also be put down. Karma then switched her attention to the other two girls, who had been cowering on the sofa 'screaming', and was 'trying to bite them'. Both were bitten as they ran to a door to escape before Hewitt managed to wrestle them free. The eight-year-old girl used the distraction to flee upstairs to her two-year-old brother, who was in his cot. Hewitt's neighbour arrived after hearing the screams and dragged the dog to the floor as it snapped at her. They 'held her on the floor' and 'screamed' at the others to get out. Police arrived within minutes and Hewitt pleaded with them to 'shoot the dog' before they sedated the pet and took her away. The court was told that all three children have received counselling and therapy to help them come to terms with the horrifying incident. Rob Pollington, defending, said his client, who now lives in Wymondham, was 'extremely remorseful for what has occurred'. No punishment meted out by the court could 'teach the level of pain and suffering that she herself has put herself through'. Judge Bate, who praised the skill of surgeons who treated the children, accepted Hewitt's remorse was 'profound and genuine'. He also ordered her to carry out a 20-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement, in which an offender takes part in activities designed to address the behaviour that contributed to the crime and attend supervision appointments with a probation officer. Detective Constable Natalie Purcell, of Norfolk Police, said: 'This was a distressing incident where a woman and three children were injured by an XL bully. Due to the immediate risk posed to emergency services and the public, the dog was destroyed at the scene. 'The dog was correctly registered and insured. However, we'd like to remind all dog owners it is against the law to keep an XL bully dog without a Certificate of Exemption. 'Registered dogs must also be housed securely, neutered and kept on a lead and muzzled in public.' The former Conservative government introduced new restrictions on ownership of XL bully dogs following attacks including this one captured on CCTV in Birmingham in September 2023 New laws restricting the breeding and sale of XL bullies were introduced on December 31, 2023, following a series of horrific incidents in which owners and innocent bystanders were maimed for life or killed by the powerful pets. In February last year, it became illegal to own a dog of this type unless registered before the deadline. They must be neutered, muzzled in public and kept in secure conditions. Owners with unregistered pets face prosecution and fines. Fatal victims of XL bullies include mother-of-two Angeline Mahal, 50, who was mauled to death by her two unregistered pets at her home in Hornchurch, east London, in May last year. Her family had begged her to 'give up the dogs'. There
The Sun
07-05-2025
- The Sun
Three girls, 4, 8 & 11, mauled by ‘monster' 7st XL Bully in horror attack at home – as mum, 42, is spared jail
A "MONSTER" seven-and-a-half stone XL Bully mauled three young girls, dragging one across the floor. Mum Victoria Hewitt was at home with her two children, aged eight and four, as well as an 11-year-old friend of the kids when family pet Karma suddenly flipped. A knock at the door resulted in the dog acting in a "very aggressive and violent way" and "went" for the eight-year-old, a court heard. During the incident in Costessey, Norfolk, Hewitt, 42, tried to distract the animal with some ham but it didn't work, prosecutor Chris Youell said. Instead, Karma began attacking the child as the other two screamed, before it targeted them too. The girls ran for the door and were all bitten before Hewitt managed to wrestle the dog away. The eight-year-old managed to flee upstairs with her toddler brother, aged two, who was in his cot during the attack on March 7 last year. A neighbour helped Hewitt restrain Karma and held her on the floor, telling everyone to get out. When cops arrived on the scene, the mum screamed at them to "shoot the dog". Mr Youell described how Karma was sedated by officers before being destroyed. The three girls suffered bite and puncture wounds which needed medical treatment. The eight-year-old had "significant" injuries, including a deep wound down to the bone on her arm, the court heard. The dog had previously belonged to an ex partner of Hewitt's who had left it with her. The court was told the mum had taken precautions, including installing a pen and stairgates. Hewitt appeared in court yesterday having admitted a charge of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury. Rob Pollington, defending, said his client was "extremely remorseful for what has occurred". Judge Anthony Bate said the precautions taken were "well intended" but ultimately "inadequate". He sentenced Hewitt to an eight month prison sentence suspended for 18 months.
