Parents receive suspended sentences following death of Kyra King

The parents of a three-month-old baby who was killed by a huskie dog while in their care have been handed suspended sentences.

Baby Kyra King was attacked by a Siberian huskie dog owned by Vincent King, 53, and Karen Alcock, 41, as she was strapped in her pushchair at Ostler's Plantation at Woodhall Spa late on 6 March 2022.

The investigation found that they had taken their daughter out with them to the woodland to exercise 19 Siberian huskie dogs late evening.

King and Alcock first walked five of the dogs together as Kyra was pushed in her pushchair by her mum, before King took seven of the dogs on a sled run.

King, of Castledyke Bank, New York, raced the dogs competitively, the investigation found.

When he returned from the sled run, three of the dogs were paced in the centre of the van to drink and rest, and the side door closed. They were not shut into kennels, which the van was fitted with, and there was no guard separating the front of the cab from the rear of the van.

Kyra was in her pushchair next to the front passenger door of the van, which was open.

While Alcock, previously of the same address as King, and he were at the back of the van preparing the next group of dogs, one of the huskies jumped into the cab of the van from the rear and went out of the open van door to where Kyra was. She was then attacked.

Alcock and King attempted CPR on their daughter until paramedics arrived, and despite the best efforts of everyone on scene, Kyra died from the injuries.

The incident was reported to police by the East Midlands Ambulance Service at 11.13pm that night.

King and Alcock were arrested at the scene, and following a lengthy investigation examining all the circumstances and evidence of the case, they were charged.

Both admitted to being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death. A destruction order was today granted at court for the dog, Blizzard.

DC Craig Davey led the investigation. He said: “This has been an utterly tragic case, and today, our thoughts are of Kyra and the short life she lived, and the people who loved and lost Kyra.

"Our investigation was to understand the circumstances which meant Blizzard was able to get close enough to Kyra to inflict such horrific injuries. Sadly, we found that she had died from an attack which could have been prevented had safety measures been taken such as closing the dogs in kennels, or ensuring that they couldn’t get out of the van.

“The dedication and determination of our officers to understand what happened at Ostler's Plantation is to be commended; this was an incredibly difficult case to be involved in, but we knew how important it was that we found out the truth about what had happened. It is a stark reminder to all about the dangers of dogs and children.

“What happened to that three-month-old baby girl is something that will haunt all of us involved in this investigation, and the wider public who have been so invested in justice for Kyra, as well as her parents, forever. Today’s sentencing brings justice for Kyra, but I think I could speak for everyone when I say that the sadness at such a senseless loss will remain.”

Today, Alcock was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, and 80 hours' unpaid work.

King received 10 months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, and 100 hours' unpaid work.