Malu Cursino
Live reporter

Image source, Essex Police

Ashley Warren has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after his XL bully dog mauled his mother-in-law Esther Martin to death.

The 41-year-old from Jaywick, Essex, had left Martin with his dog named Bear and nine other XL bully dogs, eight of them puppies, while he filmed a music video in London.

The attack was "sustained and repeated," lasting "at least 12 minutes", the judge said.

Warren "knew it was of a type that was capable of being aggressive, and ... knew that Esther Martin could not control it," the Mr Justice Jeremy Johnson said.

In a statement delivered in front of Chelmsford Police Station after the sentencing, Martin's daughters expressed their gratitude to the court for having "recognised the gravity of this tragedy".

"She'll be remembered for being a great friend to many, a sister, an aunt, a grandmother and a great grandmother," Sonia Martin-Coppen said.

Warren was given an additional three-month sentence for possession of a bladed article. He will serve a 10-year and three-month sentence in total.

For more on this story, please visit our news report.

Image source, Martin Family

Esther's daughter Sonia says her mother had a great laugh and a wicked sense of humour.

"She'll be remembered for being a great friend to many, a sister, an aunt, a grandmother and a great grand-mother."

"But to us, she always was and always will be our mum."

Laura Foster
at Chelmsford Crown Court

Esther's daughters became very emotional as they spoke. At one point, they were holding each others hands as they said this sentence "is more than just a number of years".

"It is a validation of the pain we have endured and a step towards protecting other families from the same nightmare."

Laura Foster
at Chelmsford Crown Court

Esther Martin's daughters have told the press they are pleased with the sentence.

Together they read a joint statement in front of Essex Police station, watched by other members of the family and Esther's friends.

"We are grateful the court had recognised the gravity of this tragedy."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 standards."

Laura Foster
at Chelmsford Crown Court

Image source, Crown Copyright

Ashley Warren previously told the court how Bear (above) was "dopey" and a "bit like a teddy bear".

He described Beauty (below) as "gentle" and "loving".

But the two dogs were responsible for mauling Esther Martin to death in Jaywick in Essex in February 2024.

Warren was found guilty of being the owner of Bear but the jury cleared him of being in charge of Beauty which, the court heard, belonged to his girlfriend.

Image source, Crown Copyright

Laura Foster
at Chelmsford Crown Court

Ashley Warren was away in London filming a music video at the time his mother-in-law was attacked in his home.

The court heard he got the train back to Clacton railway station as soon as he heard about what had happened.

Essex Police officers were there waiting.

We're expecting Esther Martin's daughters to give a statement shortly.

We will bring you updates from that when we can.

Image source, Laura Foster/BBC

Sean Dilley
at Chelmsford Crown Court

There was disruption at Court 1 earlier when Sonia Martin-Coppen read her victim impact statement, following her mother's death.

One male stood up in the public gallery, about 5m (16ft) from the dock. He waved his arms and pointed at Warren, swearing and telling him “I’ll sort you out”. A crowd stood to prevent the man walking towards the dock.

He continued shouting, describing the defendant as a “mug.” Another man joined in.

Warren also waved his arms and looked visibly angry – but his words were drowned out.

The first man was led out of court while the second continued the verbal attack.

Judge Jeremy Johnson KC warned that anyone causing further disruption would be asked to leave.

The moment Ashley Warren was sentenced to 10 years and three months in prison was broadcast live on the BBC.

Mr Justice Jeremy Johnson KC described Esther Martin's death as a "foreseeable incident".

We have now heard from the police following this afternoon's sentencing.

Det Ch Insp Louise Metcalfe, who led the investigation, says: “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 describes the investigation as "challenging and complex" noting that it was "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," she adds.

"Their hard work has ensured Ashley Warren has been held accountable for Esther’s death."

Image source, Essex Police

Laura Foster
at Chelmsford Crown Court

Two adult XL bully dogs, Beauty and Bear, and eight of their puppies, were at the house in Jaywick when police arrived on 3 February 2024.

The trial heard how each puppy weighed about 10-12 kg each, with all the dogs weighing 180-190kg in total.

All of them were destroyed following the attack on Esther Martin.

Image source, Ashley Warren

Stuart Woodward
at Chelmsford Crown Court

Esther Martin’s family smiled, clapped and hugged as the verdicts were read out.

There was a cry of "yes" from the public gallery.

Ashley Warren is sentenced to 10 years in prison for owning one of two XL bully dogs that mauled his mother-in-law Esther Martin to death.

For possession of a bladed article, he has a three month sentence, to be served consecutively.

That means his total sentence is 10 years and three months.

Stuart Woodward
at Chelmsford Crown Court

Before passing his sentence, Judge Johnson bans Ashley Warren for life from having custody of a dog.

Laura Foster
at Chelmsford Crown Court

Mr Justice Johnson tells Ashley Warren he did not accept the assertion he had shown any "genuine remorse".

Warren winced when he heard this and continued to look straight at the judge.

The judge describes the incident as a "sustained and repeated attack" that lasted "at least 12 minutes".

He goes on to say that Warren failed to respond to warnings and concerns about the dogs that had been expressed by other people.

The judge tells the court that Warren was in London to record a music video when Esther Martin was at his home.

He says it appears the puppies "may have started fighting" and it's possible an attempt was made to separate them, and possible during this that Martin fell to the ground.

"The two adult dogs responded by attacking her. She was mauled to death," the judge says, detailing her injuries.

The dogs were so aggressive that police were initially unable to enter the property, he adds.

Martin was the first person to be killed by an XL bully dog after the law came into force - just two days after, he tells the court.

Stuart Woodward
at Chelmsford Crown Court

Mr Justice Johnson continues: “I am sure that you [Ashley Warren] could and should have reasonably foreseen the risk. As well as knowing it was prohibited, you knew it had been pent up in the house for weeks, you knew it was capable of being aggressive and you knew Esther Martin could not control it."

Addressing Ashley Warren, the judge says: "You are 41, you've been convicted of 15 previous offences. Those include offences of robbery and assault, and breaching a non-molestation order."

The judge says the defendant was aware that a law was coming in to ban XL bully dogs.

"But you did not take any steps to comply with the law," he says.

The judge points out that he did not walk the dogs in the four weeks prior to Esther Martin's death, which "greatly increased" the risk of aggressive behaviour from them.