Dog attack baby death accidental

Cadey-Lee was attacked by the dogs as she slept

A five-month-old girl who was mauled by at least one rottweiler died accidentally, an inquest has found.

Cadey-Lee Deacon was in the Rocket pub in New Parks, Leicester, when she was attacked on 23 September 2006.

In a statement to the inquest, the baby's mother Amy Burchell described how she found her daughter covered in blood on the pub's roof terrace.

Two rottweilers were kept to guard the pub and had previously been in contact with Cadey-Lee without incident.

Mrs Burchell and her then-boyfriend Lee, who managed the pub, were moving furniture to a new premises when the attack happened.

What has happened is the most tragic loss I could have faced Amy Burchell

The inquest in Leicester heard how a fire escape door was left open for 15 minutes which allowed the dogs, Bruno and Bess, to get into the living quarters from the roof terrace, where they were normally kept.

In written evidence, read out in court, Mrs Burchell said: "I looked inside (Cadey-Lee's room) and saw the Moses basket was on the floor in the middle of the room and the stand was toppled over. The blankets were also on the floor.

"I then ran out and ran on to the roof terrace.

"I could see my baby on the floor. I could see that the big dog, Bruno, was lying next to her.

"I did not see (the other rottweiler) Bessie but at that stage I just focused on getting Cadey-Lee.

"I picked her up and... and she was totally covered in blood. There was a bite mark on her head. I thought she was dead."

Bite marks

Cadey-Lee was rushed to hospital but was confirmed dead on arrival.

Mrs Burchell said: "She was my only child and everything to me. What has happened is the most tragic loss I could have faced."

The dogs belonged to the licensee of the pub Lesley Burchell, Lee's mother.

A post-mortem examination found that the child had suffered "a substantial number of injuries", including bite marks to her head, chest and abdomen.

Police investigated the incident but the Crown Prosecution Service concluded in September 2006 that there was insufficient evidence to secure a conviction.

Leicestershire coroner Martin Symington said: "The attack on the five-month-old baby was a horrific event but I do accept that the attack was unexpected and the family could not have anticipated it.

"I believe that Cadey-Lee's death was the result of a tragic accident and I am prepared to accept that, in the hurly-burly of the family packing up and moving from the pub, it was overlooked that the door between the dining room area and the roof area was left open."