Man jailed for 10 years over XL bully attack which killed pensioner, 68, from east London

A man has been jailed for 10 years for being the owner of one of two XL bully dogs which mauled 68-year-old Esther Martin to death while dangerously out of control at his then home in Jaywick, Essex.

It is the first fatal attack case since a ban on the dog breed came into force.

Two dogs – named Beauty and Bear – killed Ms Martin on February 3, 2024, two days after the start of the ban on February 1, 2024.

The law makes it a criminal offence to own or possess an XL bully dog in England and Wales without a certificate of exemption.

Ashley Warren’s earlier trial at Chelmsford Crown Court was told he left Ms Martin with the two dogs, and eight puppies of the same breed, at his home in Hillman Avenue in Jaywick.

Warren, 41, was found guilty of being the owner of the dog named Bear which caused injury resulting in death while dangerously out of control in a private place.

He was acquitted of being a person in charge of the dog named Beauty - which belonged to his girlfriend - which did the same.

Warren, now of Addlestone, Surrey, was sentenced at the same court on Tuesday.

Prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC said Warren asked the 5ft 3in woman to mind the animals so that he could travel to London to film a music video.

Mr Paxton said Ms Martin was left alone with the dogs despite her mobility issues, lack of dog training and "little to no experience" of being left alone with them for a prolonged period of time.

Hours after her arrival Ms Martin sustained "dozens and dozens" of injuries, including a bite through the tissue of her arm and a "complete fracturing" of the bone, the court heard.

Mr Paxton told jurors: "It was, you may think, a tragedy waiting to happen, given the imbalance that arose between 68-year-old Esther, short in stature, and the towering power of these banned XL bully dogs."

Police had been to the property about an unrelated matter 11 days before the attack, and a video recording, played to jurors, showed Warren telling the officer "it's a shame about the laws" and "my boy's got papers already".

Mr Paxton said: "If that was a reference to an exemption certificate, that was a lie."

Warren accepted in court that he did not hold exemption certificates and had not applied for any.

The defendant was also found guilty of having a bladed article without good reason or lawful authority at Clacton railway station on February 3 2024, after officers found a knife which he said was a prop in a music video he had been making that day in London.

He was sentenced to an additional three months in prison for this offence.