Man guilty of XL bully offence after dog killed mother-in-law in his home

An amateur rapper has been found guilty of owning or being in charge of an XL bully dog that mauled his mother-in-law to death - two days after the breed was banned.

The pet, named Bear, killed Esther Martin, 68, while she was at Ashley Warren's home in Jaywick, Essex, on 3 February 2024.

Warren was filming a music video in London when Martin suffered "dozens and dozens" of bite wounds.

The 41-year-old, now of Addlestone in Surrey, will be sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court at a later date.

The jury spent 14 hours and 28 minutes before coming to a verdict.

Warren sat in the dock wearing a grey hoodie with his head facing down throughout the hearing.

He was cleared of being in charge of another XL bully called Beauty, which also injured Ms Martin.

He was also found guilty of possessing a knife at Clacton railway station on 3 February 2024, by a majority of 11 to one.

Warren had denied being the owner of a dog named Bear that caused injury resulting in death while dangerously out of control in a private place, and to being in charge of another dog named Beauty, which did the same.

Jurors found him guilty of being the owner of Bear by a majority of 11 to one.

Martin, from Woodford Green, east London, was described in court as a "doting and loving grandmother" who had mobility issues that left her with a limp.

Leaving her in charge of the two XL bully dogs – and eight puppies was a "tragedy waiting to happen", prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC said.

She was attacked within hours of arriving in Jaywick, where Warren had asked her to watch his dogs while he was in London shooting the video.

"Esther suffered dozens and dozens of dog bite marks and wounds, which led to a catastrophic bleed and her death," Paxton said, when opening the trial.