Rapper sentenced to 10 years in prison after XL bully kills mother-in-law
A rapper has been sentenced to a decade in prison after his XL bully killed his mother-in-law.
In February, Ashley Warren was found guilty of owning an XL bully dog that killed 68-year-old Esther Martin in Jaywick, Essex.
On March 31st, Judge Justice Johnson sentenced Warren to 10 years behind bars at Chelmsford Crown Court.
According to Sky News, 41-year-old Warren was also handed an extra three-month sentence for possession of a bladed article and a lifetime disqualification from keeping dogs.
Detective Chief Inspector Louise Metcalfe said, “Our thoughts today are with Esther’s family, as they have been throughout our investigation. No sentence can ever bring Esther back but I hope this result will help them to move forward. “
She added, “This was a challenging and complex investigation, and the first of its kind in the country following the change in legislation. I want to thank my team for their diligence, professionalism, and dedication. Their hard work has ensured Ashley Warren has been held accountable for Esther’s death.”
The XL bully was banned in England just two days before the attack took place in February 2024, after Warren left her alone with his two dogs of the same breed. Martin’s death marked the first person to be killed since the ban was enforced.
Martin reportedly suffered a “sustained and repeated attack” for around 12 minutes; the judge claimed that Warren didn’t show “any genuine remorse.” Her cause of death was dog bite wounds to the upper right limb, with Warren’s dog, Bear, responsible for the fatal injury.
Her daughter, Kelly Fretwell, said, “Today’s sentencing brings a sense of relief and a long-awaited path towards peace for our family. While nothing can truly compensate for the loss of our mum, we are grateful that the court has recognised the gravity of this tragedy.”
She continued, “The outcome represents the accountability we have fought for, and it sends a clear message that the lives of our loved ones are precious, and that those responsible for such preventable heartbreaks will be held to the highest standard.”