Bristol XL bully owner escapes jail after dog kills teenage cousin

Kelcie Reed, 24, received an 18-week suspended sentence after her XL bully named Prince fatally attacked Morgan Dorsett, 19, in Bristol.

Suspended sentence for owner of XL bully that killed 19-year-old in Bristol flat

A 24-year-old woman whose XL bully fatally attacked her teenage cousin has walked free from court, The Independent reports. Kelcie Reed was handed an 18-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, at Bristol Crown Court.

Morgan Dorsett, 19, from Shrewsbury, Shropshire, died on 26 February 2025 after being bitten by the dog — named Prince — inside a flat on Cobhorn Drive, Withywood, Bristol. She suffered fatal bites to her neck and head, the court heard.

Reed had previously pleaded guilty to being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control, causing injury resulting in death. Alongside the suspended sentence, Judge Anna Richardson imposed a nine-month mental health treatment requirement.

"This is a case that was utterly tragic for Morgan Dorsett's family and it has also had a huge impact upon you," Judge Richardson said in court. "I accept not a comparable impact, but a huge impact."

The judge acknowledged that the sentence was unlikely to satisfy the victim's relatives. "The sentence that I pass, regardless of where I found this case was on the guidelines would, I suspect, appear entirely inadequate to Morgan's family," she said. "That is because the harm that has been suffered is of the greatest possible magnitude for her loved ones."

Richardson warned Reed that the suspended term carried real consequences: if she failed to attend appointments or complete the treatment requirement within 18 months, she would serve the custodial sentence.

Prince was confirmed to be an XL bully breed. Police said the dog was sedated at the scene and was subsequently put down.

XL bullies have been banned in the UK following a series of attacks deemed "concerning" by authorities. It is illegal to own one without a certificate of exemption, and breeding, selling, or abandoning the animals also carries criminal liability.

Figures obtained by The Independent showed that at least 23,000 dog attacks were reported in the 12 months following the introduction of the ban. A Defra spokesperson said at the time: "The ban on XL bullies is there to protect public safety and we expect all XL bully owners to comply with the strict conditions. Ongoing dog attacks show we need to do more to protect public safety. We will continue to encourage responsible dog ownership across all breeds of dog and to consider whether the current dog control rules are sufficient to ensure communities are protected."

Source: The Independent