A mother and son who own XL Bully dogs have been jailed after a boy’s scalp was bitten off in a brutal attack.

Amanda Young, 49, was looking after her godson in her Bootle flat and another child had come to play.

Lewis Young, 30, who owned the XL Bully, was at work at the time.

The mut, named Snoop, ferociously attacked the eight-year-old as soon as the child called at the flat.

XL Bully (stock pic)

Young admitted she had several large gins when the attack happened and was unable to halt the dog.

Neighbours heard the screams of the child and ran to help.

Several people tried to pull the dog off the boy, hurling bottles and other items at the animal.

The suspected XL Bully dog only let go after already biting off the child’s scalp.

Lewis Young and Amanda Young

The eight-year-old was rushed to hospital and sustained “life-changing injuries”.

Snoop was destroyed at the scene but the Youngs claimed not to know he belonged to the banned breed.

The 30-year-old pleaded guilty to being the owner of a dog that caused injury while dangerously out of control in a public place at Liverpool Crown Court.

Young’s mother also pleaded guilty to being in charge of a dog that caused injury while dangerously out of control in a public place.

Lewis Young was subsequently sentenced to two years imprisonment and Amanda Young handed 20 months imprisonment.

Senior Crown Prosecutor Eve Johnson, of CPS Mersey-Cheshire, said: “This was a horrific attack on a young child whose life will never be the same again.

Police confirmed that the dog had been destroyed (stock pic)

“XL Bully Dogs are banned because they are dangerous.

“This dog was kept for long periods of time in a small flat and had never, as far as Lewis Young was concerned, undergone any behaviour training at all.

“Lewis claimed he didn’t know the dog was a banned breed and he hadn’t registered it and hadn’t made any attempt to formalise his ownership of the dog.

“This child had simply gone to a neighbour’s house to play and suffered dreadful injuries.

“That was the result of the actions of Amanda and Lewis Young in failing to make sure the dog they had was a legal breed and could be controlled.

“They have been prosecuted for their crimes but the victim is left with many years ahead where he will struggle with the consequences of what happened that day.”