A man has been convicted over an XL bully attack that saw a 68-year-old woman mauled to death at his home.
Ashley Warren, 41, has been found guilty of owning an XL bully dog called Bear that mauled Esther Martin in Jaywick, Essex, on 3 February 2024.
But a jury cleared him of being in charge of another XL bully called Beauty, which also injured Ms Martin.
The medical cause of her death was recorded as “dog bite wounds to the upper right limb”.
A jury heard Ms Martin, who was 5ft 3in tall, had limited mobility following a hip replacement and had suffered “dozens and dozens” of injuries in the attack.
Warren, now of Addlestone, Surrey, had left her with the two dogs, named Beauty and Bear, and eight puppies of the same breed, at his home in Hillman Avenue.
The amateur rapper had asked Ms Martin to mind the animals so he could travel to London to film a music video.
Warren had pleaded not guilty to being the owner of a dog named Bear which caused injury resulting in death while dangerously out of control in a private place.
He also denied being a person in charge of a dog named Beauty which caused injury resulting in death while dangerously out of control in a private place.
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During the trial, at Chelmsford Crown Court, he said the XL bullies were “loving dogs” and were not “raised to attack or bite”.
The case was the first of its kind since new laws on owning XL bullies came into effect at the start of 2024, Essex Police said at the time.
An inquest hearing was previously told Ms Martin was found unresponsive and had sustained “unsurvivable” dog bite wounds.
Warren was also found guilty of one count of possessing a knife at Clacton railway station on 3 February 2024.
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