XL Bully Owner Jailed 12 Years for Fatal Mauling of Pensioner

Sean Garner, the owner of an XL bully dog that fatally mauled 84-year-old John McColl in Warrington, Cheshire, was sentenced to 12 years in prison on Friday at Liverpool Crown Court. The attack occurred on February 24, 2024, when McColl, a retired steel erector, wandered into the driveway of Garner's home on Bardsley Avenue shortly after 6 p.m. while returning from a pub.

McColl suffered catastrophic facial injuries during the 45-minute assault by the dog, named Toretto and weighing seven stone four pounds. A postmortem examination later revealed no food in the animal's stomach, only human remains, indicating it had begun consuming McColl while he remained conscious and in agony. Neighbors heard his cries and attempted to intervene using improvised tools, including a spirit level, walking stick, brush, and golf club, but the dog guarded him aggressively and continued the attack. Armed police arrived around 7 p.m., shooting Toretto 10 times to stop it. Officers also shot a second XL bully, named Malibu, found inside the house to ensure safety at the scene.

McColl was rushed to Aintree Hospital and later transferred to Whiston Hospital, where he underwent a 17-hour operation and...