The man whose suspected 'XL Bully' dogs mauled his mother-in-law to death yesterday has been named as Ashley Warren, a wannabe rapper who goes by the name Wyless Man.
The dogs, which were put down by the police, were owned by breeder Warren, who was said to own eight animals. Essex Police said its officers were called to a property at Jaywick Sands, near Clacton-on-Sea shortly after 4pm on Saturday where they found Esther Martin, 68, seriously wounded before she died at the scene.
Police said the breeds which attacked Ms Martin are yet to be determined, but the family claimed they were XL Bully dogs. The mother of four was visiting the seaside village from London to see her eleven-year-old grandson when her life was cut short.
The boy is believed to have seen the tragedy unfold as he came out "shouting for help" when the attack happened. Esther's daughter Kelly Fretwell claimed to the Mirror that there were eight XL Bullies present in the house — six puppies and the two adults who attacked the victim — when her mother was left there alone. Police this afternoon said local people tried to fight their way into the home where the retired Tesco worker was mauled to death.
Warren posted a Facebook ad selling XL Bully puppies for £500 in November, along with another dog resembling a Rottweiler.
Furious chimp launches bottle at girl filming him leaving her bleeding at zooKelly told the Mirror: "She was amazing. She was retired and trying to bring her life back on track after the passing of my sister two years ago. She came to visit my nephew and now she is dead. We told him that they were dangerous. This is a very distressing time for our family.
"If someone knocked on your door at night to say that your mum had been mauled to death, would you believe them? There could have been two victims, my nephew has not only lost his mum and grandmother but he had to witness all this violence. He could have been killed as well."
Speaking to reporters, Esther's family said she was a retired Tesco worker and had four children. Her daughter Kelly Fretwell, 46, said she was a dedicated grandmother, who tried to see her grandson as often as she could. Esther has two other living children, aged 47 and 45.
* Police have confirmed a 39-year-old man from Jaywick was arrested on suspicion of dangerous dogs offences and remains in custody.