Man denies charges over fatal XL Bully attack

Esther Martin died from “unsurvivable” dog wounds, an inquest hearing was told

Family handout Esther Martin, who is wearing a red top and white cardigan with a flower pinned to it. She is smiling. — Esther Martin died from “unsurvivable” dog wounds, an inquest hearing was told

A man has denied having dangerously out of control XL Bully dogs which fatally attacked a grandmother.

Esther Martin, 68, was visiting a property in Jaywick, near Clacton-on-Sea in Essex, on 3 February when she was killed.

Ashley Warren, 40, pleaded not guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court to two counts of owning or being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death. He was told he would face trial in August 2025.

He was the first person to be charged with dog-related offences after the XL Bully breed was banned in England two days before Ms Martin’s death.

Ashley Warren, 40, entered his not guilty plea at Chelmsford Crown Court

PA Media Ashley Warren, who is wearing a brown shirt and a black leather jacket. He is looking past the camera. — Ashley Warren, 40, entered his not guilty plea at Chelmsford Crown Court

The dogs, called Beauty and Bear, were destroyed by attending officers from Essex Police.

During the brief hearing, Mr Warren, of Walnut Road, Leyton, east London, but previously of Jaywick, also denied having a knife at Clacton railway station on 3 February.

An inquest hearing on 22 February was told Ms Martin was found unresponsive inside a property in Hillman Avenue, Jaywick, and had sustained “unsurvivable” dog bite wounds.

Her medical cause of death was recorded as “dog bite wounds to the upper right limb”.

Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.