Rapper Convicted Over Fatal XL Bully Attack on Pensioner
An aspiring rapper has been convicted of a dangerous dog offence after leaving a frail pensioner in charge of two XL Bullies that mauled her to death. Ashley Warren, 41, arranged for 68-year-old Esther Martin to look after the animals, along with eight puppies of the same breed, while he went to meet a female friend.
Fatal Mauling in Essex Home
The fatal attack occurred on February 3, 2024, at Warren's home in Jaywick, Essex, while a child was present in the property. Ms Martin, who stood just 5ft 3in tall, sustained dozens of injuries including a bite through her right arm that severed an artery. Police officers who arrived at the scene refused to enter the property due to the ferocity of the dogs, eventually tasering and shooting them.
Prosecutor Chris Paxton KC described the incident as "an accident waiting to happen," noting that Ms Martin had mobility issues, lacked dog training experience, and had "little to no experience" of being left alone with the animals for prolonged periods. The court heard that Warren had expected the elderly woman to handle two adult XL Bullies and their eight puppies despite their weight, size, power, and unpredictability.
Timing of Government Ban
The attack occurred just two days after the Government made it a criminal offence to own an XL Bully in England and Wales without a certificate of exemption. Warren had not attempted to obtain certificates for any of the ten dogs in his property, despite being aware of the widely publicised ban.
During the trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, jurors heard that Warren had admitted to struggling with the pets in messages sent days before the fatal attack. In one text to his former girlfriend Jade McSeveney, who had moved out, he wrote: "Dogs got to go by Monday. Your half [Beauty and half the pups]... or will have to go to RSPCA because too much for me."
Child's Harrowing Account
The court heard a chilling account from a child who witnessed the attack and bravely attempted to intervene. The child, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, described how the female XL Bully named Beauty and the male named Bear knocked over suitcases holding a bedroom door closed during commotion after puppies had been fighting.
"As soon as I got it to [her], Beauty ran and jumped on the [pen] gate and pushed Bear and [he] has hit [Esther] and she's hit her head. She was bleeding from the head," the child told police in a recorded interview. The child added that Ms Martin had injured herself on a kitchen cabinet handle and called out "help me" before the attack escalated.
The child eventually left the property fearing injury, running outside to call for help before the front door blew shut, locking them out. In their statement, the child revealed that Ms Martin "cannot handle the dogs" and that "they only listen to me when I shout and tell them to lay down."
Police Response and Investigation
Ten officers, some wearing riot gear including helmets and shields, arrived at the house after the attack but were unable to save Ms Martin, who was declared dead after being removed from the property. A post-mortem examination revealed she had been bitten on the front and back of her arms, as well as on her torso, legs, and head.
Police had visited the property just 11 days earlier following a dispute between Warren and his ex-girlfriend about ownership of Beauty. Bodycam footage shown to jurors captured Warren telling an officer "it's a shame about the laws" and claiming "my boy's got papers already" - which prosecutor Paxton described as a lie if it referred to exemption certificates.
Trial and Verdict
Warren, who sat with his head bowed during parts of the two-week trial, had denied being the owner of a dog which caused injury resulting in death while dangerously out of control in a private place. He was found guilty by a majority verdict of 11 to 1. The offence carries a maximum jail term of 14 years.
The defendant was acquitted of being in charge of another dog which caused injury resulting in death while dangerously out of control in a private place. He was also convicted by a majority of 11 to 1 of having a bladed article without good reason or lawful authority at Clacton railway station on the day of the attack, which he claimed was a prop for a music video.
Warren will be sentenced at a later date. The case has highlighted concerns about XL Bully ownership and supervision following the recent ban, with prosecutor Paxton telling the court: "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."
