Mother finds three-week son mauled by dog hours after losing her grandmother

Three-week old Reggie Blacklin was mauled to death by the family dog while he slept. 
(PHOTO: COURTESY)

A mum whose three-week old baby was mauled to death by the family terrier was with her dying grandma just hours before the tragedy, it has emerged.

Maria Blacklin, 28, was at the deathbed of nan Alice, 80, when she passed away at a care home in the early hours of Friday.

The mum-of-four returning home in the early hours of Saturday to find baby son Reggie mauled on the floor. Maria Blacklin was already grieving when she arrived home to the horrific discovery of her three-week-old child dying on the floor.

Patterdale terrier Tricky was kept in an outhouse at their home in Sunderland but family friends told how he could 'burrow' his way out of the back garden to escape.

He somehow got into the terrace property where he found Reggie sleeping, and mauled the baby.

Frantic, Maria called for an ambulance and went with her son to hospital, but he died shortly after arrival.

Maria has told friends she does not blame partner Ryan Young, 30, who was looking after the baby. She is now struggling to come to terms with the loss of her grandma and newborn son.

Maria's brother David, 22, said, "Maria had been with us throughout the day, and left for home in the early hours of Saturday – it was less than 24 hours after nan died.

"She then found her three-week-old son dying on the floor.

"You just do not expect something like that to happen, it was such a shock.

“It is hard to imagine what she is going through.”

Maria's best friend, who did not want to be named, said, "She is devastated and is being comforted by her mother, who has just lost her own mum.

"Maria is such a wonderful mother. The dog was never in the house, it was always kept in the garden, and it played with all the children around here.

"Maria would have her other children out the back playing and the dog did not bite."

Maria lived at the address with Reggie and his siblings, sister Regan, four, brothers Lucas, six, Shane, 11, and Ryan's son Ryan jnr, 13, by a previous relationship.

Paul Tweddle, 50, a qualified criminal psychologist, who lives opposite the family, said, “They are a lovely, caring couple. They had only just brought Reggie home.

"I had seen the terrier from time to time. Sometimes I see it clambering at the fence and it gets out. I shout to Ryan 'The dog has got out' and he comes and gets it. It is tiny."

Police said the dog has been removed from the address on Falkland Road, Sunderland, and is likely to be destroyed.