Schoolgirl dog attack: ‘No-one may face prosecution’

THE death of a schoolgirl apparently savaged by a pack of dogs may not lead to a criminal prosecution, it emerged yesterday.

Police investigating the death of 14-year-old Jade Anderson said they were working to establish whether any criminal offences had been committed.

The teenager was discovered with wounds consistent with a dog attack at a property in Greater Manchester on Tuesday.

Jade was visiting the house, the home of a friend, and was alone when she was attacked by four dogs – believed to be two bull mastiffs and two Staffordshire bull terriers –which were later shot by police.

A fifth dog, which was not considered a danger to the public, was “contained” at the scene in Atherton, near Wigan, Greater Manchester Police said.

Speaking outside the house yesterday, Superintendent Mark Kenny said he had devoted a number of officers to finding out what happened.

“The investigation will take a considerable period of time,” he said. “We are not going to jump to any conclusions, we want to work out exactly what has happened before we make any decisions.

“Nobody has been arrested.

“There is an investigation which will establish whether there are criminal offences so we are speaking to everybody who was involved to establish what has happened.”

Mr Kenny said the dogs’ owner, who was out of the house when the attack took place, had been interviewed and was co-operating with police.

“They are in shock as well and we have got to find out what happened for them too,” he added.

Specialist vets were examining the remains of the destroyed dogs to confirm what breed they are and to make sure they were not illegal.

Mr Kenny said the force had not received any previous complaints or reports of dangerous dogs at the property. He added: ““This is the first incident of this nature we have attended at this location.”

The house is a two-storey, terraced housing association maisonette.

Signs at the front and back of the house warned, “Beware of the Dog”.

Police attended shortly after 2pm on Wednesday, after a report of a teenage girl being seen unconscious and a number of dogs being “out of control”.

Police marksmen “humanely” destroyed four of the animals.

Jade had stayed at the address before, Mr Kenny said, but officers are looking into how well she knew the dogs.

Her parents, who live just a few streets away, were too upset to talk.

Mr Kenny said the family was receiving the support of a police Family Liaison Officer.

The officer had earlier described them as “devastated”.

He added: “They are clearly very upset.”

A steady stream of well wishers have left flowers and soft toys near the scene of the attack.