Man found guilty over XL bully attack that killed woman in his home

A man has been convicted over an XL bully attack that saw a 68-year-old woman mauled to death at his home.

Ashley Warren, 41, was found guilty of owning an XL bully dog called Bear that mauled Esther Martin in Jaywick, Essex, on 3 February 2024.

The jury convicted Warren on the charge by a majority of 11 to one, but cleared him of being in charge of another XL bully called Beauty, which also injured Ms Martin.

The medical cause of her death was recorded as "dog bite wounds to the upper right limb".

A jury heard Ms Martin, who was 5ft 3in tall, had limited mobility following a hip replacement and had suffered "dozens and dozens" of injuries in the attack, including a bite through the tissue of her arm and a "complete fracturing" of the bone.

Warren, now of Addlestone, Surrey, had left her with the two XL bullies and eight puppies of the same breed, at his home in Hillman Avenue.

The amateur rapper had asked Ms Martin to mind the animals so he could travel to London to film a music video.

Warren had pleaded not guilty to being the owner of a dog - Bear - which caused injury resulting in death while dangerously out of control in a private place.

He also denied being a person in charge of a dog - Beauty - which caused injury resulting in death while dangerously out of control in a private place.

During the trial, at Chelmsford Crown Court, he said the XL bullies were "loving dogs" and were not "raised to attack or bite".

The case was the first of its kind since new laws on owning XL bullies came into effect at the start of 2024, Essex Police said at the time.

An inquest hearing was previously told Ms Martin was found unresponsive and had sustained "unsurvivable" dog bite wounds.

Police had visited 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".

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

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

He said in evidence he had "never seen this coming in a million years" and said: "I would never have left Esther with the dogs if I thought they were dangerous."

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

(c) Sky News 2026: Man found guilty over XL bully attack that killed woman in his home