March 31, 2026
Chris Paxton KC and Hannah Gladwell have concluded the case of Ashley Warren, an amateur rapper who was found guilty of owning an XL bully dog, which led to the death of his mother in-law.
He was the first person in England and Wales to be charged with XL bully-related offences that came into force in February 2024.
The XL Bully named Bear fatally attacked Esther Martin at Warren’s home in Jaywick, Essex, on 3 February 2024.
At the time of the incident, Esther Martin had been left alone with two adult XL bully dogs and eight puppies while Warren travelled to London.
The attack occurred two days after it became a criminal offence to own an XL bully in England and Wales without a certificate of exemption.
Warren was also found guilty of possessing a knife at Clacton railway station on the same date.
Sentencing took place on 31st March 2026, and the defendant was sentenced by Mr Justice Johnson to 10 years and 3 months imprisonment and was disqualified for life from being in custody of a dog.
RLC Counsel:
Chris Paxton KC is an accomplished Silk, frequently instructed in complex and high-profile crime cases on both sides of the courtroom. In 2024, he was nominated for Crime and Extradition Silk of the Year at the Legal 500 Bar Awards
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