Kamal Ghorui
A fatal dog attack inside a home in Essex has led to a prison sentence, after a court found clear warnings were ignored and legal rules were not followed.UK rapper Ashley Warren has been jailed for 10 years and three months after two XL bully dogs killed his 68-year-old mother-in-law, Esther Martin. The incident took place at his home in Jaywick, Essex, on February 3, 2024. The attack came just two days after new laws banning the breed without an exemption certificate came into force in England and Wales.Prosecutors told the court Warren had asked Martin to look after two adult XL bully dogs and eight puppies while he travelled to London to film a music video. Martin, who was 5ft 3in, had mobility issues and little experience handling dogs alone. The dogs had not been walked for four weeks and were kept in a confined space, increasing the risk of aggressive behaviour. The attack began when she tried to separate fighting puppies and lasted at least 12 minutes.Martin suffered dozens of bite injuries across her body, including severe damage to her arm and a fractured bone. She later died from a catastrophic bleed. Prosecutor Christopher Paxton described the case as a “tragedy waiting to happen”.Police used a taser on the dogs before entering the property. Sentencing him at Chelmsford Crown Court, Mr Justice Jeremy Johnson said the attack was foreseeable and noted that the law had been widely publicised before it came into effect. He told Warren that he knew the breed was banned but failed to take any steps to comply. The court found him guilty of owning a dangerously out-of-control dog that caused death, named Bear. He was cleared of being responsible for the second dog, Beauty, which belonged to his girlfriend.The judge also said the dogs were kept in poor conditions and had not been exercised, which increased the likelihood of aggression. He added that Warren’s actions showed disregard for the law and for the safety of others.Warren received an additional three-month sentence for carrying a knife at Clacton railway station on the same day, which he claimed was a prop for his music video. The court heard he had nine previous convictions for 15 offences, including robbery, assault and affray.In statements read in court, Martin’s daughters described the lasting impact of her death. Kelly Fretwell said she is haunted by her mother’s final moments and holds Warren responsible. Sonia Martin-Coppen said their mother had a strong sense of humour and would be remembered as a loving parent, grandmother and friend.There were emotional scenes in court as the sentence was delivered. A brief disturbance also occurred during the hearing before order was restored. Outside court, the family said the sentence brings some relief, though nothing can make up for their loss.
