THE uncle who owned the illegal pit bull dog that killed five-year-old Ellie Lawrenson has been jailed.

Kiel Simpson was sentenced to eight weeks in prison this morning.

District Judge Alan Jones handed down the sentence at Liverpool City Magistrates' Court.

The 24-year-old had pleaded guilty to owning a banned breed under the dangerous dogs act a fortnight ago.

The illegal dog, a five-and-a-half stone pit bull, named Reuben, killed Simpson's niece Ellie, from Fleetwood Close in Great Sankey, during the early hours of New Year's Day.

The attack happened in the home of Ellie's grandmother, Jackie Simpson, in Knowles House Avenue, Gillars Green. Police marksmen shot the killer pit bull dead following the attack.

In court a fortnight ago, Simpson's defence said that the 24-year-old, wanted to "crawl into a hole" following his niece's death.

It was said Simspon, who joined Ellie's father Darren Lawrenson (30) as one on the pallbearers at the youngster's funeral, felt "morally responsible" for what had happened.

Magistrates heard that Simpson had decided to get rid of the dog after it bit his sister Kelsey last autumn.

However, he had been unable to find owners for the one-year-old animal, which he had bought for £400, and did not want it to be put down.

Prosecutors described the dog as an "incredibly powerfully animal with the strength to bite and shake".

In the wake of Ellie's death in January, police confirmed they had twice written to Simpson last summer following complaints about the dog.

One of the complaints related to an attack on another dog and the other was about it barking.