‘The arrogance of XL bully owner killed our mum’
5 hours agoLewis AdamsandNicola Haseler,Essex
John Fairhall/BBCWarning: This article contains distressing content
The daughters of a woman mauled to death by XL bully dogs said the arrogance of the owner of one of the animals was to blame for the killing.
Esther Martin was attacked at her son-in-law Ashley Warren’s home in Jaywick, Essex, on 3 February 2024.
She suffered “dozens and dozens” of bite wounds, which led to a catastrophic bleed. The 68-year-old was fatally injured just two days after the dogs were banned in England and Wales.
“Who would deserve to be ripped apart by two dogs, knowing that’s what is happening?” Sonia Martin-Coppen, 49, told the BBC.
Martin had travelled from Woodford Green in east London to be at the property, where there were two adult XL bullies – called Beauty and Bear – and eight puppies.
There was also a child at the house.
Warren, a 41-year-old aspiring rapper, had asked Martin to look after the dogs that day while he went to London to film a music video.
Footage from a nearby CCTV camera, shown to the jury at Chelmsford Crown Court, captured screams coming from the house in Hillman Avenue and dogs barking “in a frenzied state” at about 15:30 GMT.
Family handoutWarren was found guilty of owning or being in charge of Bear and possessing a knife at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday.
“She had raised concerns about the dogs,” Martin-Coppen said.
“The fact they were big; the fact they were XLs; the fact they were banned; the fact they were not under control and would jump up at people.”
Martin’s other daughter, Kelly Fretwell, said her mother had “waddled” when she walked, had a limp, arthritis and had undergone two hip replacements.
He told police his XL bullies were friendly – days later his mother-in-law was mauled to death
The combined weight of all 10 dogs inside Warren’s house had been up to 190kg (29st 13lb), prosecutors had told the jury.
“It didn’t take a brain surgeon or a rocket scientist to know that she was not a fit and able person [to care for the dogs],” Fretwell said.
Martin-Coppen added: “We are not talking small animals. We are talking pure muscle, pure power, untrained, cooped up in a small house.”
Ashley WarrenThe animals were so ferocious, police officers chose to Taser them through a smashed window rather than go into the house, the trial had heard.
Prosecutors said Warren had made no attempt to get an exemption certificate for his XL bullies ahead of the dogs being banned.
They had not been walked for four weeks before the attack and a dog behaviour expert had described conditions inside Warren’s home as “impoverished”.
Martin-Coppen said: “They shouldn’t have been in the property; they should have been rehomed.
“Mr Warren’s arrogance is what caused this. It’s not lack of knowledge – he knew the law was coming in.”
PA MediaWarren had been in a 14-year relationship with another of Martin’s daughters, Clare, who had died suddenly in 2021, aged 29.
Esther Martin was described by her daughters as having had an “infectious laugh” and grand sense of humour.
They said she had just been “regaining her life” after Clare’s death.
“It was the first time in a long time she was starting to feel positive,” Martin-Coppen said. “Warren’s actions by not being a responsible dog owner directly impacted that day.”
Warren, now of Addlestone in Surrey, was the first person to be prosecuted under XL bully ban.
He will be sentenced on 1 April.
Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
More on this storyRelated internet links