Ellie died in the attack on New Year's Day Dog control laws

Ellie Lawrenson died when she was attacked by a pit bull terrier-type dog at her grandmother's home in St Helens.

Kiel Simpson, 23, appeared before Liverpool Magistrates and pleaded guilty to owning a dog banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

His mother, Jacqueline Simpson, 45, appeared before Liverpool Crown Court charged with unlawful killing.

Simpson was warned he could face jail. The Maximum penalty under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is a six months prison term or a �5000 fine.

'Morally responsible'

He was granted unconditional bail and will be sentenced on 16 May.

Michael Fogarty, defending, said his client felt "morally responsible" for the death of Ellie and that he "wanted to crawl into a hole".

The court heard the dog had been banished from the house, in the Eccleston area of St Helens, after biting Kiel Simpson's 19-year-old sister Kelsey on 21 November. Miss Simpson needed hospital treatment for puncture wounds to her thigh after the unprovoked attack.

Mr Fogarty said his client had made efforts to give the dog to someone else after the attack on his sister.

Jacqueline Simpson has not entered a plea

"This gentleman has had a dog ever since he was a boy and he found it very difficult to hand it over for destruction, so he was asking around, but he couldn't find anybody to take it," he said.

Mr Fogarty claimed his client had left instructions for the dog to be left outside the house but this had not happened.

Simpson voluntarily attended a police station on 3 January and admitted the dog was his.

The court was told Simpson has nine previous convictions, none of them for offences relating to dangerous dogs.

Granted bail

Jacqueline Simpson did not enter a plea when she appeared at Liverpool Crown Court, but her defence counsel indicated that she would plead not guilty at a later stage.

She is also charged with possessing heroin.

The next hearing has been set for 10 August and a provisional trial date set at 3 September. Ms Simpson was granted bail.

Ellie suffered fatal head and neck injuries in the attack at the house in Knowles House Avenue, in Eccleston, on New Year's Day.

The dog which attacked her was destroyed at the scene by Merseyside Police.