Daniel Twigg died in an ‘appalling tragedy’
16:52, 10 Oct 2025Updated 17:58, 10 Oct 2025
Mark Twigg (left) and Joanne Bedford (right)(Image: Manchester Evening News)
The parents of a three-year-old boy mauled by two dogs on a farm have been jailed following his death. Daniel Twigg suffered horrific injuries following the ‘appalling tragedy’ at Carr Farm, in Milnrow, Rochdale, on May 15, 2022.
Joanne Bedford, 37, and partner Mark Twigg, 43, had moved onto the farm with their children and were looking after the dogs while their owner was on remand in prison.
Both signed a contract, agreeing to care for the man’s eight or nine ‘untrained guard dogs’, which included Cane Corso, American Bulldog and a Boerboel breeds.
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Signs were in place warning visitors about the dogs, including ‘do not exit your vehicle’; ‘dogs are loose’; and ‘beware of the dogs they bite’.
A trial at Manchester Crown Court heard how the dogs – including Tiny, a Boerboel, and Sid, a Cane Corsa – lived in poor conditions, with no clean bedding and ‘surrounded by their own faeces’. They were not exercised.
The couple had also been warned about the risk of Daniel being bitten by the dogs by an RSPCA inspector, but ‘brushed off that warning’. Their eldest son had also been bitten in the past.
On the morning of May 15, 2022, Twigg went to work while Bedford remained at the farm with Daniel and her daughter. She took Daniel for a bath after he had soiled his nappy and dressed him before they both went downstairs to the kitchen.
He then asked to go outside. Bedford went upstairs to get Daniel a pair of shorts, asking her daughter to ‘keep an eye on him’.
Bedford heard screaming and ran downstairs to find Daniel ‘face down, with puncture wounds to his neck… covered in blood’ in the dog pen. An ambulance was called and the child was rushed to hospital. He sadly died that afternoon.
Daniel Twigg(Image: GMP)
Bedford had ‘failed to supervise’ Daniel and he was alone when he entered the yard, the trial heard. Twigg was responding for ‘feeding, watering and mucking’ the dogs and dealt with complaints about the animals when they escaped.
At Minshull Street Crown Court, John Elvidge KC, prosecuting, said: “This case is a tragedy. Daniel sustained multiple bite injuries, mostly to his neck consisting of repeated biting and rapid shaking. Sadly he did not survive.
“A neighbour responded to the call by taking a knife into Carr Farm. The dog made him feel like a prisoner in his own home. Responding officer, PC Justice, said what she saw will stay with her for the rest of her life.
“PC Greaves, an experienced dog handler, was shaken by the situation. He said ‘I cannot unsee what I have seen. I cannot stop thinking about poor little Daniel. I just hope he did not suffer’.”
Sid, was believed to have inflicted the fatal injuries, was shot dead by police. Tiny, was not believed to have caused injuries, is now in kennels under police supervision.
Mr Elvidge KC added: “The public does not have free access. It is funded by the kennels, not the public purse, and she is free to remain there. She remains secure and well behaved, they will keep her there for the rest of her life. She has responded well since being removed from Carr Farm.”
Interrupting a sentencing hearing on Friday (October 10), Bedford sat on the floor of the deck and cried: “The dog needs to be put to sleep, please.”
Police at the scene(Image: M.E.N.)
Ian Henderson KC, defending Bedford, asked for the judge to take into account the traumatic effect of the attack and the bereavement his client is going through.
“The conviction will follow her for the rest of her life. Her loss is punishment she will have to bear for the rest of her life. If she is sent to prison today, not only will that punish her, but it will also punish her children,” he said.
The court heard she is deaf in both ears and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder with comorbid depressive symptoms.
Andrew Thomas KC, defending Twigg, said he was appealing the conviction. He said both Twigg and Bedford had to live with the grief for the rest of their lives.
He said Twigg suffers from a severe bulging disc in his spine, which means he now walks with a stick and cannot work. He was also diagnosed with autism and has hearing difficulties.
Bedford was jailed for three-and-a-half years and Twigg was handed two years and eight months. Both were banned from owning dogs for 15 years. They both were found guilty of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control, having been cleared of gross negligence manslaughter.
Jailing them both, of Kings Street, Radcliffe, Mr Justice Kerr described the attack as an ‘appalling tragedy’. He added: “You were both responsible for the security of the pen at the side of the farmhouse where Sid and, later, Tiny lived.
“I am acutely conscious that you are both suffering continuing punishment through bereavement. However, your pain and suffering at the loss of your son, and the suffering of your other children for the loss of their brother, does not change the fact that it is the wrongdoing of you, Daniel’s parents, that has deprived him of his life, you of your son and his siblings of their brother.
“The wrongdoing that led to Daniel’s death must be punished and it is my mournful duty to see it done.”