Man Who Owned 10 XL Bullies ‘Could Not Predict’ Dogs Would Kill Mum-In-Law

A man whose XL bullies killed his mum-in-law has told a jury not “in a million years” could he predict his pack of 10 mutant XL bully dogs might have turned violent against her.

Ashley Warren 41, AKA rapper Wyless Man, told Chelmsford Crown Court that his dogs were “gentle” and that Esther Martin, 68, never expressed unease about the dogs.

Esther was alone at Warren’s house with a child and 10 of the dogs when she was mauled to death on February 3 2024 – two days after the XL Bully breed had been banned in the UK.

Two of the dogs – named Bear and Beauty – were responsible for the attack.

At the time, amateur rapper Warren was filming a music video in London.

Giving evidence, Warren admitted he “could’ve done a lot more” to make his XL bullies compliant with the law, having kept them unneutered and unmuzzled, and claiming he couldn’t afford £20 muzzles as he was on benefits (his train ticket to London was £40).

The 2 adult dogs were destroyed at the scene, and the puppies were put down at a later date.

Warren told the court: “I was frightened. I didn’t want them to get put down or anything like that so I kept them in the house. If I was to know this would’ve happened I would have done it different. I couldn’t see this coming in a million years.”

He said his dogs “weren’t raised to attack”, adding: “She knew the dogs. I never thought for one second this would happen.”

He said Beauty was “a gentle, loving, caring dog” and that Bear was “a teddy bear” who “was really gentle”.

Warren received a call that day at 15:37 from the child at the residence, who informed him the dogs were attacking Esther Martin.

He said: “I tried to get a strong man to go round and save her. I said, ‘Break the window, kick the door off. Do whatever you have to do’. All I was thinking about at that time was Esther. I know she went through a lot of pain.”

Warren had been in a 14-year relationship with Esther’s daughter, Clare, who died suddenly in 2021.

To top it all off, Warren was found to be in possession of a knife when he was arrested that day at Clacton railway station. He claims it was a ‘prop’ for the music video.

Warren had previously written on social media: “don’t tell me what to do with my f****** dogs”, and boasted about breeding the animals, which he sold for £500-a-puppy on Facebook. However, since the tragic accident, he has said he fully backs the XL Bully ban.

I guess if there’s one thing that will change your perspective on the XL Bully ban, it’s having them maul your mother-in-law to death in your own home. I don’t doubt that this guy feels pain and remorse at the fact this happened, but I’ve got the feeling he wasn’t exactly the ideal candidate to socialise XL Bully dogs in the first place.

How many more Wyless Men are there out there who are breeding these dogs and selling them on to likeminded individuals who have no business owning dangerous dogs?

The trial continues.

For the XL Bully owner who punched a vet in the face for failing to save his dog’s life, click HERE.