The mother of a nine-year-old boy killed by a dog in Cornwall has apologised to his family, describing her actions as "senseless" and saying she was "truly sorry". Tawnee Willis was speaking at an inquest into the death of her son, Frankie Macritchie, who was attacked while staying at a caravan park.
Frankie suffered fatal injuries after being attacked by a 45kg American bulldog Staffordshire bull terrier cross at Tencreek Holiday Park near Looe in April 2019. The dog was owned by Willis's friend, Sadie Totterdell. Willis was jailed for two years in June 2020 after admitting neglect, while Totterdell received a three-year sentence and a 10-year ban from keeping dogs after admitting owning a dangerously out of control animal.
The inquest at Cornwall Coroner's Court heard that Willis had been drinking with friends while Frankie stayed in the caravan. She checked on her son several times during the night, and on the last occasion, the dog followed her. Willis asked Totterdell if it was safe, and was told: "Take Winnie - Winnie loves kids." Willis left the dog with Frankie at about 03:00 BST and discovered the attack about an hour later.
Senior coroner Andrew Cox said previous incidents involving the dog in 2016 and 2018 raised questions about whether steps could have been taken earlier. He noted that Totterdell must have known of these incidents, as she had been spoken to by police in 2016 and by the mother of a child bitten in 2018. Cox recorded a narrative conclusion that Frankie died from injuries inflicted in a dog attack, adding he would write a preventing future deaths report to Devon and Cornwall Police.
After giving evidence, Willis apologised directly to Frankie's wider family, saying: "I'm sorry my selfish actions have caused them so much heartache." Frankie's grandmother, Pauline Elford, also read a statement, saying: "We as a family can't be together, but we also lost you that night Tawnee."
