Overview

• Ashley Warren, 40, appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court and pleaded not guilty to charges related to the fatal attack by two XL bully dogs.
• The victim, Esther Martin, 68, sustained 'unsurvivable' dog bite wounds and was found unresponsive inside a property on Hillman Avenue.
• Warren is the first individual charged under new laws on owning XL bully dogs in England, which came into effect shortly before the incident.
• In addition to dog-related charges, Warren also pleaded not guilty to possessing a bladed article at Clacton railway station on the same day.
• A three-to-four week trial is scheduled to begin on August 11, 2025, and Warren has been granted conditional bail.