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Ashley Warren, living in Jaywick, Essex, had told police that his XL bully dogs were misunderstood and even claimed they were less aggressive than poodles. However, this portrayal was starkly contradicted by a tragic incident that unfolded days later. On 3 February 2024, while Warren was in London filming a music video, his mother-in-law, Esther Martin, 68, was left at his house with the two XL bully dogs, eight puppies, and a child.
Tragically, screams from the property in Hillman Avenue alerted Warren, who immediately called for someone strong to attend the scene. Despite the urgency, it was too late to prevent disaster. Martin suffered “dozens and dozens” of severe bite wounds and died within minutes from the attack. When Warren returned to Clacton railway station, police arrested him, making him the first individual in the UK to face charges under the XL bully legislation.
At trial, Warren was found guilty of owning one of the dogs responsible for Esther Martin’s death—a dog called Bear. He was acquitted of charges related to the other dog, Beauty, which also caused injuries but belonged to his girlfriend. Martin had traveled from Woodford Green, east London, and arrived at the house shortly before midday on the day she was fatally attacked. She had been described by family as a “loving and doting grandmother,” despite her medical issues, which included arthritis, a limp, and pending surgery for a second hip replacement.
Footage shown in court revealed horrifying moments, including Martin’s screams caught on a Ring doorbell camera. Warren’s awareness of the dogs’ strength was highlighted by CCTV footage from 31 January, which recorded him chasing Bear after it escaped, revealing the dog’s 47kg (7st 4lb) weight and the difficulty he had restraining it. Prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC questioned the jury, “How did the defendant expect Esther Martin to control the dogs?” Furthermore, a police visit to Warren’s home a week prior to the attack showed that Warren openly lamented the laws governing such dogs while misleading officers by claiming he had exemption paperwork for Bear. Despite his statements defending the XL bullies as “one of the friendliest dogs that I know,” the events made clear the deadly nature of the animals in his care
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