Man guilty of XL bully offence after fatal attack
Shivani Chaudhari,Chelmsford Crown Courtand
Lewis Adams
An amateur rapper has been found guilty of owning one of two XL bully dogs that mauled his mother-in-law to death – two days after the breed was banned.
The pet, named Bear, killed Esther Martin, 68, while she was at Ashley Warren’s home in Jaywick, Essex, on 3 February 2024.
Warren was filming a music video in London when Martin suffered “dozens and dozens” of bite wounds.
The 41-year-old, now of Addlestone in Surrey, will be sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court on 1 April.
The jury spent 14 hours and 28 minutes deliberating before coming to a verdict.
Warren sat in the dock wearing a grey hoodie with his head facing down throughout the hearing.
He had denied being the owner or in charge of two dogs caused injury resulting in death while dangerously out of control in a private place.
Jurors found him guilty by a majority of 11 to one of being the owner of Bear but cleared him of being in charge of the other dog, Beauty, which also injured Martin.
He was also found guilty by a majority of 11 to one of possessing a knife at Clacton railway station on 3 February 2024.
Martin, from Woodford Green, east London, was described in court as a “doting and loving grandmother”.
She was 5ft 3in (1.6m) tall and had restricted movement due to a hip replacement, arthritis and a limp.
Leaving her in charge of the two XL bully dogs, and eight puppies, was a “tragedy waiting to happen”, prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC said.
She had mobility issues and “little to no experience” of being left alone with them for a prolonged period of time, Mr Paxton said.
He 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.”
Paxton said it was a “ludicrous suggestion” to say she could be considered a “fit and proper person” to control the dogs.
She was attacked within hours of arriving in Jaywick, where Warren had asked her to watch his dogs while he was in London shooting the video.
“Esther suffered dozens and dozens of dog bite marks and wounds, which led to a catastrophic bleed and her death,” said Paxton, when opening the trial.
Warren had been in a relationship with Martin’s daughter Clare for 14 years before she died suddenly in 2021.
He would have been aware of Martin’s mobility issues and had “no basis” to believe she could “physically stop the dogs”, Paxton said.
Footage from nearby CCTV, shown to the jury, captured screams coming from the house in Hillman Avenue and dogs barking “in a frenzied state”.
The animals were so ferocious that police officers chose to Taser them through a smashed window, rather than enter the house, Paxton said.
A doctor was airlifted to the scene but Martin, who suffered at least 60 mostly dog-related injuries, was pronounced dead after being pulled from the property.
But Warren told the jury his XL bullies were “gentle” and that “not in a million years” could he have predicted them attacking anyone.
He wept at times during the trial, insisting “happy, lovely” Martin had never shown any unease about the dogs and that he was “never going to get over” her death.
Warren became the first person to be charged with XL bully-related offences.
Paxton said Warren was aware his dogs were banned but acted as if the law did not apply to him, choosing not to get an exemption certificate or muzzles.
He was released on bail ahead of sentencing.
After the verdict, Det Ch Insp Louise Metcalfe, of Essex Police, said: “I am pleased that we have been able to ensure Ashley Warren has been held accountable but I know that no verdict will ever bring Esther back.
“I know her death has had, and continues to have, a huge impact on her family and my thoughts are with them today as they continue to grieve the loss of their mother.”
In a statement. Martin’s daughters, Sonia and Kelly, said: “Our mum will be remembered in many ways by many people, but we will remember her for her infectious laugh, comforting smile and wicked sense of humour.”