Rapper jailed for owning XL bully which killed pensioner two days after breed ban
A rapper has been jailed for owning an XL bully dog that mauled a pensioner to death when it spiraled dangerously out of control at his Essex home.
Ashley Warren, 41, was jailed for 10 years and three months at Chelmsford Crown Court following the murder of Esther Martin, 68, at her home in Jaywick in February 2024.
Prosecutors said Warren asked Ms Martin, who is only 1.90m tall, to watch out for two XL bullies so she could go to London to shoot a music video.
The fatal attack took place just two days after a ban on the breed came into force in England and Wales; This made it a criminal offense to own or possess dogs without an exemption certificate.
Warren, 41, was convicted following an earlier trial that he was the owner of a dog called Bear, which caused fatal injuries when it ran dangerously out of control in a private place.
He was acquitted at Chelmsford Crown Court on the grounds that he was the person responsible for a dog called Beauty, which belonged to his girlfriend, and who did the same.
Warren, who now lives in Addlestone, Surrey, was sentenced at the same court on Tuesday.
He was told at an earlier hearing that he left Ms Martin with two dogs of the same breed and eight puppies at his home on Hillman Avenue, Jaywick.
Prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC said this was despite Ms Martin’s mobility issues, lack of dog training and “little or no experience” of being alone with them for long periods.
The court heard that within hours of Ms Martin’s arrival, she had suffered “dozens” of injuries, including a bite to arm tissue and a “complete fracture” of the bone.
Mr Paxton told jurors: “Given the resulting imbalance between Esther, the short 68-year-old, and the sheer strength of these banned XL bully dogs, you would think this was a tragedy waiting to happen.”
Police were at the property on an unrelated matter 11 days before the attack, and a video recording played to jurors showed Warren telling the officer it was “disgraceful as far as the law is concerned” and “my son already has papers.”
Mr Paxton said: “If this was a reference to an exemption certificate that was a lie.”
Warren admitted in court that she did not have an exemption certificate and did not apply for one.
The defendant was also found guilty of possessing a bladed object without good reason or lawful authority at Clacton railway station on February 3, 2024, after police officers found a knife he said he was supporting in a music video he filmed in London that day.
