Man avoids jail after dog mauls woman to death

A FORMER British Army paratrooper whose dog mauled a woman to death avoided jail after admitting that he kept his animal in a cage more than six inches shorter than the dog.

Barbara Williams, aged 52, suffered a severe haemorrhage to her head and neck when she was attacked by the Neapolitan mastiff at her home on December 23, 2010.

Alex Blackburn-Smith, from south London, previously pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the dog’s welfare and to being in possession of a banned pitbull terrier.