Esther Martin was left at home with 10 XL Bullies, including two adults named Beauty and Bear and eight puppies, while her son-in-law Ashley Warren traveled to London, according to multiple reports. Warren went to London to film a music video and 'meet a lady friend'. The attack occurred on February 3, 2024, in Jaywick, Essex. Esther Martin, who was 5ft 3in tall, had mobility issues following a hip replacement.
The attack was brutal and sustained. Esther Martin suffered dozens and dozens of injuries, including a bite through the tissue of her arm and a complete fracturing of the bone. Audio captured her screams and dogs barking during the attack, multiple reports indicate. According to research, the attack lasted at least 12 minutes and was a sustained and repeated attack, in the words of Mr Justice Jeremy Johnson.
It was a 'tragedy waiting to happen'.
Warren had demonstrated clear disregard for new regulations. The XL Bully ban came into force on February 1, 2024, just two days before the fatal incident. Research indicates Warren failed to obtain exemption certificates for his XL Bully dogs and admitted in court he had not applied for them. During a police visit 11 days before the attack, Warren was caught on video saying 'it's a shame about the laws' and 'my boy's got papers already,' according to research. Prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC stated that if Warren's reference to papers was about an exemption certificate, it was a lie.
Ashley Warren was jailed for 10 years and three months after his dog Bear killed Esther Martin. During sentencing, there were audible gasps and a shout of 'yes' from the public gallery, research shows. The court described the situation as a 'tragedy waiting to happen'.
If Warren's reference to papers was about an exemption certificate, it was a lie.
The judge emphasized the case's broader significance. Esther Martin was the first person killed by an XL bully dog after the new law came into force, emphasized by the judge. According to research, Warren's actions demonstrated a sustained pattern of disregard for the law and for the lives and safety of others, emphasized by the judge.
Warren was intimately familiar with the victim's limitations. According to multiple reports, Ashley Warren had known Esther Martin for more than 12 years and would have been aware of her mobility issues. Prosecutors stated that Esther Martin had little to no experience handling powerful dogs. Prosecutor Chris Paxton KC said that no one would reasonably believe Esther Martin could control the dogs.
Expressing anger at Warren.
Key details about the dogs and the attack's trigger remain unclear. According to research, the attack was carried out by Warren's XL bully dog named Bear. Multiple reports indicate Ashley Warren was cleared of being responsible for the other dog, Beauty, which belonged to his girlfriend. The specific evidence that led to this clearance has not been disclosed, and the exact circumstances that triggered the dogs to attack Esther Martin are unknown.
This case is not isolated. On March 31, XL bully breeder Sean Garner was found guilty of causing the death of 84-year-old John McColl by being the owner of a dangerously out-of-control dog, multiple reports indicate. John McColl was fatally attacked by Garner's dog Toretto on February 24, 2025, after mistakenly entering Garner's driveway, according to multiple reports.
Expressing anger at her mother's death and at Warren for forcing the situation.
The response to the second attack was violent. Multiple reports indicate officers shot Toretto 10 times to bring it under control. Neighbors tried to save John McColl using a brush and a golf club, multiple reports indicate.
There is some contradiction regarding the location of the first attack. Research indicates the attack occurred at Warren's home on Hillman Avenue in Jaywick, Essex.
Expressing frustration at Warren's social media posts and songs featuring XL bullies and saying he misses them.
Several critical unknowns persist in the case. It is unclear how many XL Bully dogs Ashley Warren actually owned at the time of the attack, beyond the two adults and eight puppies reportedly present. What measures, if any, were in place to ensure Esther Martin's safety while alone with the dogs has not been confirmed. The current status or whereabouts of the dogs involved in the attack, including Beauty and the puppies, remains unknown.
Family members have expressed profound anger. Sonia Martin, Esther Martin's daughter, expressed anger at Warren, according to a press conference. She also expressed anger at her mother's death and at Warren for forcing the situation. Furthermore, she expressed frustration at Warren's social media posts and songs featuring XL bullies and saying he misses them.