Man Guilty of XL Bully Offence After Fatal Attack in Essex

Published: 20 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

An aspiring rapper has been found guilty in a landmark case involving a fatal XL bully dog attack, the first such verdict reached since England and Wales introduced a ban on the controversial breed. The decision at Chelmsford Crown Court comes more than two years after the tragic death of a 68‑year‑old grandmother, and highlights ongoing concerns about dangerous dogs and public safety under the new legislation.

Ashley Warren, 41, was convicted on Thursday of owning an XL bully — a muscular and powerful type of American Bully — that mauled his friend’s mother‑in‑law, Esther Martin, to death at his home in Jaywick, Essex, on 3 February 2024. The attack occurred just two days after the breed was made illegal to own without a certificate of exemption in England and Wales.

Jurors deliberated for more than 14 hours before returning a guilty verdict by a majority of 11 to one. Prosecutors told the court that Warren had left Ms Martin in charge of two adult XL bully dogs, Bear and Beauty, along with eight puppies, so he could travel to London to film a music video.

Ms Martin, who had limited mobility due to previous medical issues, suffered dozens of bite wounds in the brutal attack, including injuries severe enough to fracture a bone, before dying at the scene. The court heard that the dogs were large, powerful and difficult to control, and that Warren had failed to apply for exemption certificates that might have legally permitted him to keep them.

While Warren was cleared of being in charge of Beauty — which all parties agreed belonged to his girlfriend — he was found guilty of the charge related to Bear, the dog that caused fatal injuries. He was also convicted of possessing a bladed article without lawful authority after police found a knife on him at a train station on the same day as the attack.

Essex Police described Ms Martin’s death as “a needless tragedy” that has deeply affected her family and the wider community. Assistant Chief Constable Glen Pavelin paid tribute to her life and emphasised the importance of holding owners accountable when they fail to manage powerful, banned breeds responsibly.

The verdict marks the first fatal attack case involving an XL bully since the ban came into force on 1 February 2024, which made it a criminal offence to own or possess one of the dogs without official exemption. The government introduced the restrictions after a series of high‑profile attacks by the breed, which critics say makes them inherently dangerous to the public.

Warren is due to be sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court on 1 April, where judges will consider the severity of the offence and the circumstances that led to Ms Martin’s death. Legal experts say the case could set an important precedent for future prosecutions involving banned or dangerously out‑of‑control dogs.

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