Man Convicted in XL Bully Fatal Mauling Case

Ashley Warren, a 41-year-old aspiring rapper from Addlestone, Surrey, was convicted Friday at Chelmsford Crown Court of owning an XL Bully dog that caused the death of a 68-year-old pensioner during a fatal mauling at his home in Jaywick, Essex, on February 3, 2024. The attack, involving two adult XL Bullies named Bear and Beauty, occurred just two days after the breed became illegal to own in England and Wales without an exemption certificate.

Esther Martin, who stood 5 feet 3 inches tall and suffered from mobility issues including a recent hip replacement, arthritis, and a limp, had agreed to look after the two adult dogs and their eight puppies while Warren traveled to London to film a music video. Warren, who accepted ownership of Bear and responsibility for the pregnant Beauty, left Martin alone with the animals and a child in the small chalet-style bungalow on Hillman Avenue. The combined weight of the adult dogs alone exceeded 180 kilograms, and court evidence described them as large, muscular, and unpredictable.

The incident began when Martin attempted to separate two fighting puppies using a broom, a task she had handled briefly before under supervision. According to...