A fatal dog attack inside an Essex home has led to a prison sentence, after a court found clear warnings were ignored and legal rules were not followed.British rapper Ashley Warren has been jailed for 10 years and three months after two XL dogs killed his 68-year-old mother-in-law Esther Martin.
The incident occurred at his home in Jaywick, Essex, on 3 February 2024.
The attack came just two days after new laws banning the breed without an exemption certificate came into force in England and Wales.Prosecutors told the court that Warren asked Martin to babysit two adult dogs and eight puppies while he traveled to London to film a music video. Martin, who was 5 feet 3 inches tall, had mobility problems and little experience handling dogs on his own.
The dogs were not walked for four weeks and were kept in an enclosed space, increasing the risk of aggressive behaviour. The attack began when she tried to separate the fighting puppies and continued for at least 12 minutes.
Martin suffered dozens of bite injuries throughout her body, including severe damage to her arm and a broken bone. She later died from a catastrophic hemorrhage. Prosecutor Christopher Paxton called the case “a tragedy waiting to happen.”
Police used a stun gun on the dogs before entering the property. Sentencing him at Chelmsford Crown Court, Judge Jeremy Johnson said the attack was foreseeable and noted the law had been widely publicized before it came into effect. He told Warren he knew the breed was banned but failed to take any steps to comply. The court convicted him of owning a dangerous, out-of-control dog that caused death, named Bear.
He was acquitted of responsibility for his girlfriend’s second dog, Beauty.The judge also said the dogs were kept in poor conditions and had not been trained, which increased the potential for aggression. He added that Warren’s actions showed her disregard for the law and the safety of others.Warren received an additional three-month prison sentence for carrying a knife at Clacton railway station on the same day, which he claimed was a prop for his music video.
The court heard he had nine previous convictions for 15 offences, including theft, assault and affray.In statements read in court, Martin’s daughters described the lasting impact of her death. Kelly Fretwell said she is haunted by her mother’s final moments and holds Warren responsible. Sonia Martin-Cobain said their mother had a strong sense of humor and will be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother and friend.There were emotional scenes in court during the sentencing. There was also a brief disturbance during the hearing before order was restored. Outside court, the family said the ruling gave them some relief, although nothing could compensate for their loss.
