Ashley Warren, an aspiring musician, has received a 10-year prison sentence following the fatal mauling of his mother-in-law by an XL Bully dog he owned. The attack occurred at Warren's home in Jaywick, Essex, on February 3, 2024, claiming the life of 68-year-old Esther Martin.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard that Ms. Martin, who had mobility issues and limited experience with dogs, was asked to mind two XL Bully dogs while Warren, 41, traveled to London to film a music video. The fatal incident took place just two days after a ban on the XL Bully breed came into effect across England and Wales.

During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Ms. Martin sustained numerous injuries, including a complete fracture of her arm bone, during a sustained attack lasting at least 12 minutes. Warren was found guilty of being the owner of one of the dogs, named Bear, which was involved in the attack. He was acquitted of responsibility for the second dog, Beauty, which belonged to his girlfriend.

Mr. Justice Jeremy Johnson highlighted that Ms. Martin was the first individual to be killed by an XL Bully dog following the implementation of the new law. The judge stated that although the ban was recent, its introduction had been widely publicized for many months prior. He noted Warren's awareness of the breed's impending ban but his failure to take any steps to comply with the legislation.

The court also heard that the dogs had been confined to an overly small space and had not been walked for four weeks preceding Ms. Martin's death. Justice Johnson concluded that these conditions significantly escalated the risk of aggressive behavior from the animals.

Sonia Martin, Ms. Martin's daughter, delivered an emotional victim impact statement to the court, expressing her anger at Warren's subsequent social media posts and songs featuring XL Bullies. She conveyed that she holds Warren entirely accountable for her mother's death and the pain she endured.

In addition to the 10-year sentence for his role in Ms. Martin's death, Warren received a separate consecutive three-month term for an unrelated offense of possessing a bladed article.