XL bully owner jailed after dog killed pensioner in ‘savage attack’

The owner of an XL bully who killed a pensioner in a “brutal attack” has been sentenced to 12 years in prison.

John McColl, 84, was attacked by the dog belonging to Sean Garner after the pensioner pulled into the driveway of Garner’s home in Warrington, Cheshire, in February last year.

He suffered “catastrophic facial injuries” in the 45-minute attack and died from his injuries nearly a month later, Liverpool Crown Court heard on Friday.

The animal, named Toretto and weighing 7.4 lb, was shot 10 times by armed police, while a second dog in the house was also shot.

Later, when the dog was examined, it was seen that there was no food in its stomach, but it started to eat Mr. McColl alive.

Addressing Garner in court, Mr McColl’s granddaughter Kelly Percival, 33, said: “Your dog actually ate my grandfather, but you and your family don’t care.”

Garner, 31, looked down as she read a statement in which Percival’s grandfather said he was denied “a dignified death.”

Mr McColl’s daughter Joann Percival, 57, told the defendant: “You stole us from our father, our grandfather, our great-grandfather but you don’t care and it’s not right.”

The defendant was found guilty following a lawsuit alleging that he was the owner of a dog that got dangerously out of control and caused injury.

Jailing Garner, Judge Brian Cummings KC said: “The suffering suffered by Mr McColl was indescribable and is not really worth dwelling on.”

He said the retired steelmaker, who was conscious throughout the attack, must have been in “absolute agony”.

The trial heard Mr McColl pulled into the driveway of Garner’s home on his way home from the pub shortly after 6pm on February 24, 2025, and the dog was released into the patio area, which the prosecution alleged was protected only by a latched door.

Neighbors said they used items such as spirit levels and walking sticks to get the dog away from Mr McColl.

Prosecutor David Birrell said police officers at the scene had flashbacks and needed counseling after witnessing the “brutal” attack.

He said: “The Crown alleges that the defendant made a series of mistakes that led to the dog becoming dangerously out of control, resulting in Mr McColl’s death.”

The court heard Garner, his then-pregnant wife and their two children moved into the semi-detached house three weeks before the incident and told the landlord they had a French bulldog, although they also had a micro-bully and two XL bullies (a breed banned in 2024).

Garner claimed that Toretto, whom he had previously described as “missing a few nuts and bolts,” was placed in a small shed on the porch, which he secured with a padlock.

Mr McColl’s claim that he should have unlocked the shed and opened it was described as “absurd” by the prosecution.

Judge Cummings said: “If there is any remorse it is completely invalidated by these offensive lies.”

He said Garner objected to what was “indisputable” and told him: “I cannot accept that you have shown genuine remorse.”

Garner, who has previous convictions for driving and drug offences, pleaded guilty to two non-exempt charges of possessing an XL bully ahead of his trial.

Mr Birrell said: “The defendant has convictions that reveal a history of reckless disregard for the law and safety.

“At the time of this incident he was disqualified from driving, despite running a rescue business driving up and down the country.”

Lloyd Morgan, defending, said: “Sean Garner expresses his deepest condolences to Mr McColl’s family for the loss of their beloved family member and the manner in which he was lost.”

He said Garner was the primary caregiver for his partner, Lauren Lawler, who was diagnosed with stage three Hodgkin lymphoma, and took care of their children when she became ill.