A RAPPER has been jailed after leaving a gran alone to look after his pack of ten XL Bullies before she was mauled to death.
Esther Martin had restricted movement and arthritis when Ashley Warren left her in charge of the dogs, which had a combined weight of 30st.
The 68-year-old was savaged by the two adult Bullies, named Beauty and Bear, in what was described as a “tragedy waiting to happen”.
Warren 41, has now been jailed for ten years and three months after he was found responsible for two dogs that caused injury resulting in death while dangerously out of control in a private place.
Chelmsford Crown Court heard the dogs were “unpredictable, towering, muscular” animals.
One of the adult animals more than 7st and the other 6st – meaning it was a “ludicrous suggestion” to believe Esther was fit to control them.
As well as her mobility issues, the 5ft 3ins gran had “little to no experience” of being left alone with them for a prolonged period of time.
Despite this, Warren had asked Esther to mind the animals while he travelled to London to film a music video.
Prosecutor Chris Paxton KC said: “Ashley Warren expected Esther to be able to handle and control these two adult XL bully dogs, as well as their eight puppies, with the weight, size, power and unpredictability they possessed, with no or minimal training.
“Given Esther’s age and her mobility issues, as well as other factors, Esther was clearly not a fit and proper person to look after these ten dogs in that situation, but no doubt, members of the jury, it suited this defendant to have her do so, so he could pursue his own agenda that day.
“It was, you may think, a tragedy waiting to happen, given the imbalance that arose between 68-year-old Esther, short in stature, and the towering power of these banned XL bully dogs.”
Footage played to the court captured the dogs barking and the screams of both Esther and a child in the property at the time.
The gran tragically sustained “dozens and dozens” of injuries, including a bite through the tissue of her arm and a “complete fracturing” of the bone.
Mr Paxton said: “Such was the ferocity of the dogs that police officers and emergency services were unable to enter the home until the police deployed and used their tasers.”
The attack came two days after the Government made it a criminal offence to own an XL bully in England and Wales without a certificate of exemption.
Warren had not attempted to get a certificate for any of the ten dogs in the property but was aware on the ban.
Just 11 days before the horror, police had gone to his home about an unrelated issue when they asked about the XL Bullies.
Warren told them it’s a shame about the laws” and “my boy’s got papers already”, which was a lie.
He added: “These dogs are so friendly it’s unbelievable, it’s like I’ve only seen them ever attack people when (they’re attacked).”
Warren also told the officer: “You get them little poodles that come up to you and go rah, rah, rah, you know – they’re more aggressive.”
He pleaded not guilty to being the owner of two dogs that caused injury resulting in death while dangerously out of control in a private place.
Warren accepted he owned Bear and was in charge of Beauty, which was his girlfriend’s dog and that both were dangerously out of control in his house.
But the rapper denied the charge on the grounds that he reasonably believed Esther was a “fit and proper person to be in charge” of them.
Warren also denied having a bladed article without good reason or lawful authority at Clacton railway station on February 3, 2024.
He will be sentenced at a later date.
Ashley Petchey, Senior Crown Prosecutor with the CPS East of England, said: “This was a wholly avoidable tragedy. Ashley Warren made the decision to leave a vulnerable woman alone with two powerful, banned dogs and their puppies.
“The evidence showed that he was responsible and failed to take even the most basic steps to protect those in his care, which sadly lead to the untimely death of Esther Martin.
“Our thoughts remain with Esther Martin’s family, who have endured an unimaginable loss.”
