Ashley Warren: Owner of XL bully dogs charged over death of grandmother in Essex in first case of its kind

The owner of two XL bully dogs has been charged over the death of a grandmother in Essex.

Ashley Warren, 40, has been charged over the death of Esther Martin who was killed by two XL bully dogs in February.

The 68-year-old, from Woodford Green in London, was visiting her 11-year-old grandson at the time.

It is the first case of its kind since new laws on owning XL bullys came into force on 1 February, Essex Police said.

It is now a criminal offence to own one of the animals in England and Wales without an exemption certificate.

The ban on XL bully dogs was introduced after a spate of attacks in recent years.

The breed was added to the Dangerous Dogs Act on 31 October last year when restrictions came into force dictating the dogs must be kept on a lead and muzzled in public.

Breeding, selling or abandoning the dogs also became illegal as of 31 December 2023.

Coroner’s officer Andy Flack said in February the 68-year-old was “unresponsive” and that “her injuries were unsurvivable“.

He added Ms Martin was pronounced dead at 4.47pm, with the medical cause of death recorded as “dog bite wounds to the upper right limb” from the XL bullys.

The same month, Warren said he thinks XL bully dogs should be “wiped out,” and added: “I never knew any of this was going to happen.

“I would’ve never left my son or his nan in that kind of danger.”

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