Gran ‘mauled for 12 minutes’ in XL Bully horror attack

The pensioner suffered awful injuries during the attack

A man whose XL bully dogs mauled a grandmother to death has been jailed for more than a decade.

Esther Martin, 68, suffered catastrophic injuries when she was attacked by two adult XL bullies at a property in Jaywick in February 2024.

The fatal mauling occurred just two days after a nationwide ban on the breed came into force, making it illegal to own an XL bully in England and Wales without an exemption certificate, with the breed being disproportionately involved in a rising number of severe dog attacks prior to the ban.

Ashley Warren, from Addlestone in Surrey, showed no emotion as he was handed a sentence of 10 years and three months. As he was led from the dock, a woman appeared to slip him a note before he was taken down to the cells.

Mr Justice Jeremy Johnson described the incident as being “foreseeable”, adding that it “had been foreseen by those who sought to warn” Warren. He said that the defendant would serve 40 per cent in custody and the remainder on licence.

Ms Martin had been the victim of a “sustained and repeated attack” which lasted “at least 12 minutes”, prosecutors said. The pensioner “should have expected to feel safe and protected” at the property on Hillman Avenue in Jaywick, they added.

Chelmsford Crown Court was told Warren, an amateur musician, had arranged for Ms Martin, who was just five-foot-three-inches tall and had a “history of medical complaints”, to come to the address while he was in London recording a music video.

Ms Martin fell over at the property, possibly during an attempt to stop some XL Bully puppies fighting, and the two adult dogs began attacking her.

“She was mauled to death,” Mr Justice Johnson explained, adding that she had suffered “dozens of bites”. He continued: “The dogs were so aggressive that police were initially unable to enter the property.”

One of Esther’s daughters expressed the anger she felt towards Warren, stating he “made social media posts and sang about XL bullies, saying that he missed them”.

Sonia Martin added: “I can’t ever forgive Ashley Warren for his role in my mum’s death and hold him entirely responsible for the pain and suffering during her long death.

“I [will] forever hold him responsible. I hold him responsible for putting his needs above those of others and his actions will reverberate throughout our family forever.”

Another of Esther’s children, Kelly Fretwell, paid tribute to her mum, saying: “She had the best sense of humour ever and wicked laughter. She had the kindest smile.”

The sentencing hearing briefly descended into disorder when several people in the public gallery began shouting towards Warren in the secure dock, leading to what appeared to be a response from the defendant.

One onlooker yelled “shut your mouth” before security staff intervened and ushered a number of individuals from the courtroom. Officers remained stationed nearby for the rest of the proceedings.

Warren was convicted at Chelmsford Crown Court of owning a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death, as well as possession of a knife. He was acquitted of a separate charge of being in charge of a dog that was out of control causing injury resulting in death.

Prosecutor Chris Paxton KC told the court that Warren had nine previous convictions for 15 offences, including robbery, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray.

“The facts and circumstances of Esther’s death are simply awful and I recognise the pain and hurt to so many people has been caused as a result of what happened,” said Warren’s defence barrister Allan Compton.

“It was his genuine belief having looked after the dogs for over a year that they were not aggressive. There was nothing in that lived experience to tell him that they were capable of that reaction that occurred so tragically.”

Warren was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the dog offence and three months consecutive for the knife offence. He will serve 40 per cent in custody before being released on licence.