Bristol woman pleads guilty over teen dog attack

A 24-year-old woman has pleaded guilty to being in charge of a dangerously out-of-control dog that fatally mauled a teenager in Bristol last year. Kelcie Reed admitted the charge at Bristol Crown Court on Wednesday in connection with the death of 19-year-old Morgan Dorsett.

The attack occurred on February 26, 2023, inside a flat on Cobhorn Drive in the Withywood area of Bristol. Emergency services were called to the scene at 7:19 p.m. but were unable to save Dorsett, who was from Shrewsbury, Shropshire. She died from catastrophic neck injuries inflicted by the XL Bully dog, named Prince. The dog was later euthanized.

Reed, of Barrowmead Road in the Lawrence Weston area of Bristol, spoke only to enter her guilty plea to the charge of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control, causing injury resulting in death. She was released on conditional bail and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 9. Her defense barrister, Sarah Regan, told the court the plea was entered on a basis that means Reed disputes part of the prosecution’s case. The judge warned Reed there was a strong likelihood of immediate custody at her next court appearance.

Following the tragedy, tributes were paid...