Nan 'shielded toddler grandson with her own body' during horror mauling

A nan has told a court of the horrific moment she knew a dog was about to attack her grandson, before she tried to shield him with her own body.

The toddler was so viciously bitten he needed plastic surgery on his right leg and groin after being mauled outside his own home in north London last summer. Willesden Magistrates' Court heard the child was with his grandmother, when the Pocket Bully dog named Onyx escaped from his owner's home.

Emma Eatwell, prosecuting, told the court Onyx attacked the child after he escaped. She said: "He ran up to them at speed. His grandmother describes the dog menacingly approaching them. She knew that she and her grandson were about to be attacked by the dog."

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She tried to pull her grandson away and cover his body with her own, the court heard. "The dog grabbed the child by the leg and began pulling. He was shouting and crying at the time," Ms Eatwell added. "The dog bit him twice around the leg area and also in the groin. It caused deep puncture wounds which required hospital attention."

The dog's owner, mum-of-six Lysa Marten apologised in court about what took place. Ms Martyn, 49, previously appeared on ITV's This Morning in 2020 seeking help for her sons' addiction to Fortnite.

She also hit the headlines in 2019 when she finally had a daughter after giving birth to five sons. The court heard that following the dog attack, Martin drove the boy and his grandmother to the Royal Free Hospital where he was given antibiotics and painkillers. He needed stitches and underwent surgery to remove damaged tissue, the court heard.

The prosecution is seeking a destruction order for the dog. Ms Eatwell told the court: "This was an unprovoked attack on a very young child. His injuries could have been significantly worse if it had not been for the actions of the child's grandmother, who attempted to shield the child with her own body.

"We say that there is a significant risk of a similar incident happening again. All it took for the dog to become aggressive was for [the boy] to walk along the street with an adult. He did not provoke the dog, he did not interact with the dog."

In a victim impact statement the boy's mother said that she has been receiving therapy. Describing how she feels when she thinks about the attack she said: "I feel my throat close up. I become worried and scared. I can no longer leave the house by myself. The screams of other children trigger myself."

The boy's grandmother said: "I felt my grandson's life was put in danger by that dog." Giving evidence Martin said: "He's a very playful dog, he was a puppy. He does display hyperactivity in his actions. He's a baby, he does dart around."

She said that she tried to help the boy and his grandmother immediately after the attack. "I was thinking how I would react if that was my child. I went into parent mode straight away. I got an ice bag to help with the injury. I took them straight to the emergency department. I was very apologetic about what happened. I just kept apologising. It was an adult mistake, not a dog mistake."

Nicola White, defending Martin, said: "It is quite clear that the defendant has given clear and consistent evidence. I believe that she is a credible witness. It was simply a very unfortunate accident. You heard her feelings in respect of the incident.

"She took the parties to the hospital. She went as far as to get the antibiotics from the pharmacy. She would be happy to pay compensation." Onyx' was spared the death penalty after a judge said he was a "much loved family pet". District Judge Jack Walsh warned Martin she will have to abide by a number of conditions in order to keep him alive.

In public Onyx will have to wear a box style muzzle and be on a fixed leash no longer than 1.5 metres. At home she will have to install an animal gate from the wall to the stairs in the hallway, put the dog behind the gate before she opens the door and fit a second bolt at the bottom of the side gate.

Before the side gate is opened the secondary gate must be closed and locked with Onyx behind it in the garden.

The judge told Martin: "This was a shocking and frightening attack on a young boy which caused serious injury to him." He said the boy's grandmother bravely sought to shield him from the bites." He added: "Onyx is not a banned breed. He is a much loved family pet. I know that Ms Martin was very upset that Onyx caused those injuries.

"She said that she would comply with any condition imposed by the court to ensure that Onyx can return to her. The safety of the public is what I am concerned with. What Onyx did was serious.

"He bit his upper leg and groin, which required cleaning, surgery and general aesthetic. This must have been painful and extremely frightening for him. It is submitted by the defence that Onyx was playing. His idea of playing can clearly cause injury. I accept that Ms Martin will now be very, very careful with Onyx."

The judge said that the attack was not entirely Ms Martin's fault because a neighbour had left a side gate open when he came into the garden to borrow a wheelbarrow, and Onyx ran out.

The injuries here were in my view serious, but your culpability in my opinion is low. There is no suggestion that Onyx injured or attempted any of your children or children of friends." Martin was ordered to pay £500 in compensation to the boy, and £500 to his grandmother. She will also have to pay £500 in kennel costs.

"She will pay the money at a rate of £80 a month as she is on Universal Credit. The judge told Martin, who became tearful in the dock: "It is important that you pay the order when required.

"The compensation order is going to be the sentence of the court."