The owner of two XL bully dogs has been charged over the death of a grandmother in Essex.

Ashley Warren, 40, has been charged over the death of Esther Martin who was killed by two XL bully dogs in February.

Warren, of Leyton, east London, has been charged with two counts of owning or being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death, Essex Police said.

The force said he was also charged with two offences under the Animal Welfare Act, possession of a bladed article and possession of a Class B drug.

Ms Martin, 68, from Woodford Green in London, was visiting her 11-year-old grandson at the time she was attacked by the dogs.

It is the first case of its kind since new laws on owning XL bullys came into force on 1 February, according to police.

It is now a criminal offence to own one of the animals in England and Wales without an exemption certificate.

The ban on XL bully dogs was introduced after a spate of attacks in recent years.

The breed was added to the Dangerous Dogs Act on 31 October last year when restrictions came into force dictating the dogs must be kept on a lead and muzzled in public.

Breeding, selling or abandoning the dogs also became illegal as of 31 December 2023.

Coroner’s officer Andy Flack said in February the 68-year-old was “unresponsive” after the attack and that “her injuries were unsurvivable“.

He added Ms Martin was pronounced dead at 4.47pm, with the medical cause of death recorded as “dog bite wounds to the upper right limb” from the XL bullys.

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The same month, Warren said he thinks XL bully dogs should be “wiped out,” and added: “I never knew any of this was going to happen.

“I would’ve never left my son or his nan in that kind of danger.”

Warren is due to appear before Colchester Magistrates’ Court on 22 August.

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