Esther Martin: Man charged after grandmother killed by XL bully dogs
Ashley Warren, 40, has been charged following the death of Esther Martin, who suffered fatal injuries in an attack by two XL bully dogs in February.
Thursday 25 July 2024 15:54, UK
A man has been charged after the death of a grandmother who suffered fatal injuries in an attack by two XL bully dogs.
Esther Martin, 68, died after she was attacked by two dogs in Jaywick, Essex, in February.
Ashley Warren, 40, of Leyton, east London, has been charged with two counts of owning or being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death, Essex Police said.
The force said he was also charged with two counts of possession or having custody of a fighting dog, two offences under the Animal Welfare Act, possession of a bladed article, and possession of a Class B drug.
It is the first case of its kind since new laws on owning XL bullys came into force on 1 February, according to Essex Police.
Ms Martin, from Woodford Green in London, was visiting her 11-year-old grandson at the time she was attacked by the dogs.
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Coroner's officer Andy Flack said in February Ms Martin was "unresponsive" after the attack and that "her injuries were unsurvivable".
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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.
Warren is due to appear before Colchester Magistrates' Court on 22 August.