Dad jailed after 12-day-old son killed by 'dangerous' dog

A dad has been jailed for four years after his dog violently attacked his 12-day-old newborn to death. Steven Joynes, 36, appeared for sentencing after pleading guilty to being in charge of a dangerously out of control dog causing injury resulting in death.

Elon Jase Ellis-Joynes was attacked by the family dog as he lay on a sofa in the living room at his home in Doncaster. At the time, Joynes was outside in the garden while Elon's mother, Abigail Ellis, had left the room to go to the toilet.

Charges against the mother have previously been dropped. Sheffield Crown Court heard how the dog had previously bitten another child in the family, and Joynes was seen "hitting" and "kicking" out at it when it misbehaved, Yorkshire Live reports.

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The court heard that Ms Ellis had three other children with a previous partner who died three years ago. Richard Thyne, prosecuting, said she had started a relationship with Joynes, who moved into her home on Welfare Road, Woodlands, Doncaster, and brought with him a Chow Chow-Alsatian cross called Teddy.

He told the court Joynes had bought the dog in 2019 as a gift for his ex-partner’s daughter, but he took over ownership of Teddy when “it became apparent they couldn’t cope” with him.

Mr Thyne said that in April 2020, five months before the fatal incident, Ms Ellis went to a GP with her son, who had a bite wound on his right thigh. The doctor was told that the boy had been bitten by a stray dog, but he revealed in a police interview after Elon’s death that in fact, it had been Teddy that bit him, the court heard.

Mr Thyne said: “He said his mum and stepdad