Bristol woman given suspended sentence after XL bully kills teenage cousin

Kelcie Reed, 24, received an 18-week suspended sentence after her XL bully dog Prince killed 19-year-old Morgan Dorsett at a Bristol flat in February 2025.

Suspended sentence for Bristol woman whose XL bully killed cousin

A Bristol woman has been handed a suspended prison sentence after her XL bully dog attacked and killed her 19-year-old cousin at a flat in south Bristol, BBC News reports.

Kelcie Reed, 24, previously admitted being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control, causing the death of Morgan Dorsett. At Bristol Crown Court, Judge Anna Richardson sentenced Reed to 18 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months. Reed will also be required to undergo mental health treatment.

The fatal attack took place in February 2025 at Reed's flat on Cobhorn Drive, Bishopsworth. Emergency services responded but were unable to save Morgan, who died from bites to her neck and face, a post-mortem examination concluded. The dog, named Prince, which belonged to Reed and her boyfriend, was sedated at the scene and later "humanely destroyed", according to police.

Cocaine found in victim's system

The court heard that the same post-mortem examination found cocaine in Morgan's system, which had caused her to "act erratically". Judge Richardson described how Morgan had sat up and screamed upon seeing Prince, prompting the dog to bark before launching its attack. The judge also noted that Reed had attempted to intervene and stop the assault, sustaining cuts and bruises herself, but was ultimately "unsuccessful".

Reed appeared emotional throughout the proceedings and wept in the dock as the sentence was delivered. Judge Richardson addressed her directly: "Rather than putting everyone through the additional trauma of a trial, you accepted responsibility. You are someone who has over the last 18 months done what they needed to do to try and move forward. You need to continue to do that."

Family describes life 'under a shadow'

In a victim impact statement read to the court, Morgan's mother, Marie Smith, said the family now "lives under a shadow", with every major milestone "tainted" by her daughter's absence. She described struggling to sign birthday cards, leaving an empty space where Morgan's signature would have been.

"Morgan's death has affected our family so deeply it's hard to put into words who she was and what we've lost," Smith said. "It's something I carry with me all the time. It's impossible not to feel like something's missing."

Morgan's younger sister, Caeila Dorsett, described her as a "super bubbly" and sociable person — a "built-in best friend" from the day she was born. The two had shared a room for 16 years, attended the same schools and maintained the same circle of friends.

"She was definitely the person to take the good out of every situation and make it the centre," Caeila told BBC Newsbeat. "She was the first person I'd tell about anything exciting."

Caeila said she had initially felt sympathy for Reed, having witnessed the fatal attack on a family member, but that in the 18 months since, she had come to feel her cousin had "not shown any remorse or compassion". In her own victim impact statement, she told the court: "We continue to live with so many unanswered questions which makes it difficult to find any sense of peace."

Family pushing for legislative change

The Dorsett family said they are working alongside the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to address what they describe as "loopholes" in current legislation governing banned dog breeds. Among the areas under scrutiny is whether dogs are living with someone other than the holder of an exemption certificate — a situation that can be difficult to track and enforce.

Detective Sergeant Rich Glanville of Avon and Somerset Police described the investigation as "complex and challenging" and said it was the "first of its kind" for the force. "It was a horrendous incident which cost someone their life, and the impact to the officers and ambulance crew that attended would be something they'll never forget," he said.

Glanville expressed hope that Morgan's death would serve as a reminder of the responsibilities that come with owning a banned breed. "The dog is on the list for a reason, but owners have to be responsible as well," he said. "You have to look at the dog's past to try and truly understand what temperament that dog has, what training that dog has had, and whether you are a suitable person to own that type of dog."

He advised anyone concerned about their dog's behaviour to contact a vet or specially trained dog liaison officers at the force.

Source: BBC News