A mother and grandmother have been jailed over the death of a six month-old baby who was mauled by an American pit bull terrier.
Molly Mae Wotherspoon was picked up by her head by Bruiser in a "sustained attack" at the infant's home in Daventry on 3 October 2014.
The baby suffered a series of injuries including a fractured skull and bites to all four limbs, and died of blood loss.
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Northampton Crown Court was told that Molly Mae was being looked after by 56-year-old Susan Aucott while the baby's mother, Claire Riley, 23, went for a night out with friends.
The dog subsequently escaped from its cage in the kitchen and opened the door to the living room, where the baby was on the changing mat.
Prosecuting, James House said: "He was an aggressive and dangerous dog and should not have been left in the house with a person who could not control him.
"The attack was sustained. Susan Aucott simply was unable to bring Bruiser under control or remove Molly Mae from the situation."
The lawyer told the court that a vet who had previously seen the pet described him as "one of the most aggressive dogs she had ever seen".
Aucott, who admitted being in charge of a dangerously out of control dog, was sentenced to two years in prison.Riley, also of Northampton, was sentenced to two years in prison after admitting owning a dangerously out of control dog.
Mrs Justice Carr QC said: "This was a tragic and totally avoidable incident.
"Molly Mae's death would not have happened if two of the people closest to her had acted, as any reasonable person would have done, and never allowed such an aggressive and dangerous dog to be in the same small house as a young and vulnerable child."
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