A heartbroken mum is demanding justice after her son was allegedly mauled by an illegal XL bully in a gruesome attack.
The remains of Scott Samson were found in his blood-drenched living room in March, alongside the dog he had agreed to look after for a mate. A post-mortem has failed to confirm whether the 38 year old was killed by the beast, or if he passed away from natural causes before it savagely tore his body apart.
His mum Morag, 60, is livid upon learning that police have forked out thousands on kennel fees for the XL bully named Mitch, while no one will face charges over her son’s tragic death, reports the Daily Record.
She expressed her anguish, saying: “This XL bully ate my son. This evil monster dog ate his face, his throat, his tongue and other parts of his body. And nearly a year on from his death, I’m told the dog is being ‘well cared for’ by police in kennels.
“The Crown has said there isn’t enough evidence to prosecute the owner. I still have not grieved for my son.
“I was told by the undertaker I wouldn’t be able to see him and would need a closed coffin. I didn’t even get to give my son a final kiss or a cuddle to say goodbye and I didn’t even know why.”
“Why is this devil dog still alive and no-one is being held accountable? Why are they protecting the dog that ate my son?”.
The dog is owned by 37 year old Neal Stark, from Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, who handed it over to a friend when he was imprisoned in February for drug-related crimes. The friend then passed it on to Scott when he went on holiday.
Morag has revealed that officers failed to inform her the dog had savaged Scott when his body was found at his Castlefern Road home in Rutherglen on March 15. She bid her final goodbye at his funeral in April, unaware of the horrific reality that only came to light in a post-mortem report she received weeks afterwards.
Following the tragedy, four year old Mitch has been housed at one of just three kennels across Scotland licensed to hold seized XL bullies. Prosecutors confirmed last week that nobody will face criminal prosecution, despite the animal being unregistered and identified by breed specialists as a prohibited XL bully.
Following enquiries by the Sunday Mail to police, it’s understood a destruction order has now been issued, meaning the dog is likely to be euthanised. Morag, who also lives in Rutherglen, has stated that police originally informed her that her son had succumbed to an accidental drug overdose – yet the post-mortem proved inconclusive and suggested he may have been fatally attacked by the animal.
She continued: “The cause of death is inconclusive because of the damage done. I know XL bullies are strong, powerful dogs that go for the jugular so he wouldn’t have stood a chance.
“Scott was dead within days of picking the dog up. I didn’t hear from him and knew something was wrong and called the police. When we went in the dog was in the hall and I could see Scott’s legs and his black shorts in the living room.
“The detectives said it was a suspected drug overdose. No-one told me what that dog did to him.”
Morag has revealed that dog catchers were unable to remove the aggressive canine, leaving it in the room with Scott’s body for an additional 13 hours. She believes the dog continued its attack during this time.
She said: “The dog catchers turned up with big metal shields and poles but they couldn’t get the dog as it became so agitated.
“They left the dog in the room with Scott’s body and I think that is when it then attacked his private parts. When I’d seen his legs in the living room, he had been wearing black shorts but the forensic officers must have removed his clothing.
“The thought of my son lying in a blood-soaked room, locked in with that dog for hours after what it had done to him makes me feel sick.”
The pathologist’s report recorded ‘inconclusive’ as the cause of death could not be determined due to the extensive damage inflicted on Scott. Morag remains uncertain whether the dog attacked and killed her son before consuming his body or if he had already passed away.
She expressed: “When I received the post-mortem, I was devastated. No-one had prepared me. The police let me find out with a letter through the door.
“I had to ask the pathologist and she said all that was left of his face were his eyeballs. I lie in bed at night and think about my beautiful, kind son and what happened to him in that room with that monster.”
In June, dog breed experts confirmed the dog was an XL bully. However, the police had to bring a breed specialist from Cumbria to Scotland to conduct the test.
Last year, we reported that despite new laws set to take effect in 2024, Police Scotland lacks officers trained to identify prohibited XL bully dogs. The force has had to depend on dog legislation officers from other parts of the UK to aid with prosecutions.
Morag has lodged a complaint with the police.
She expressed her concern, stating: “This dog should be destroyed, it doesn’t matter if it attacked him before or after death. It has been confirmed as an XL bully, it is unregistered and is a dangerous banned breed.”
Scottish Conservative shadow minister for community safety, Sharon Dowey MSP, voiced her criticism: “This deeply troubling case exposes serious failures in how dangerous dogs are dealt with in Scotland, leaving families devastated and police tied up with costly, drawn-out processes. SNP ministers were far too slow to act on XL Bullies, and this failure has left communities less safe while taxpayers foot the bill.”
She added: “Police and prosecutors need the powers, clarity and resources to act decisively, and SNP ministers must urgently explain why that is still not happening.”
A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service commented: “Having carefully examined all the circumstances surrounding the death, investigations are now concluded.”
A representative from Police Scotland responded: “We have received a complaint, which is currently under investigation, and it will be responded to in due course.”
