Jaywick XL bully owner's arrogance killed our mum, say daughters

Jaywick XL bully owner's arrogance killed our mum, say daughters

A tragic incident unfolded in Jaywick, Essex, where Esther Martin was fatally attacked by two XL bully dogs at her son-in-law Ashley Warren’s residence on 3 February 2024. The 68-year-old suffered an immense number of bite wounds, resulting in a catastrophic bleed that claimed her life, just two days after the ban on XL bullies came into effect across England and Wales. Her daughters have pointed firmly at the dog owner’s arrogance as the cause of this heartbreaking event.

Esther had been at the house to look after the dogs while Warren, a 41-year-old aspiring rapper, traveled to London to film a music video. The property housed two adult XL bullies named Beauty and Bear, along with eight puppies, and notably, there was also a child present in the home at the time. CCTV footage played during the trial at Chelmsford Crown Court revealed chilling screams and frantic barking around 15:30 GMT, painting a grim scene of the attack.

Both of Esther Martin’s daughters expressed strong concerns about the dogs prior to the incident. Sonia Martin-Coppen recalled that their mother had warned about the danger the large, banned breed posed, highlighting that the dogs were uncontrollable and would jump at people. Kelly Fretwell added that Esther was not physically able to handle such powerful animals, given her limp, arthritis, and history of two hip replacements. Prosecutors cited that the combined weight of all ten dogs was nearly 190 kilograms, emphasizing the magnitude of the risk involved.

Authorities noted the ferocity of the dogs, with police resorting to using Tasers through a broken window rather than entering the house directly. Highlighting negligence, prosecutors revealed Warren had made no effort to obtain the required exemption certificates before the breed’s ban took effect. Esther’s daughters condemned Warren’s recklessness, with Martin-Coppen stating, “Mr Warren’s arrogance is what caused this. It’s not lack of knowledge – he knew the law was coming in.” Warren, who had been involved with another of Martin’s daughters who died in 2021, faces sentencing on 1 April after becoming the first person prosecuted under the XL bully ban

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