A GRANDMOTHER was hacked to death by two allegedly unregistered XL thugs in front of her “traumatized” grandson, her family said.
Police officers rushed to the house in Jaywick, Essex, shortly after 4pm yesterday where they found Esther Martin seriously injured.
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Esther Martin, 68, hacked to death by two ‘XL thugs’ in Essex Credit: JOHN McLELLAN
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Police were called to Hillman Avenue in Jaywick shortly after 4pm yesterday Credit: JOHN McLELLAN
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A policeman lays flowers in front of the address Credit: JOHN McLELLAN
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The dogs allegedly attacked in the back room of the houseCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
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Neighbors said they saw a man with a shovel trying to break in through the window Credit: JOHN McLELLAN
The 68-year-old was visiting Jaywick at the weekend to see her grandson at the home where she is believed to have had six XL Bully puppies and two adult bullies.
Two adult dogs were said to have attacked in a back room, while her grandson ran from the property to raise the alarm.
Her children Paul Martin (45), Kelly Fretwell (46) and Sonia Martin (47) were at the scene this morning.
Paul told The Sun: “She came to visit her grandson. The bully’s owner decided to go out and leave mum with six XL bully puppies and two adults.
“We believe they are all unregistered and uninsured.”
Neighbors said they heard a woman yelling “Get down, get down.”
Another neighbor heard a commotion outside and saw a man with a shovel trying to break through the window.
The bully’s owner decided to go outside and leave the mom with the bully’s six XL puppies and two adults.
Paul Martin
She said he shouted that he was going to kill the dog, but she warned that if he did, she would call the police.
He then said that the woman was on the floor of the house because the dog had attacked her, so she called the police.
The police then appeared and shot the dogs.
Julie Coleman, 62, and Mike Coleman, 74, said they heard yelling as the man tried to break into the house to help.
They said: “I heard a lot of shouting. It started with shouting. We had just come home from work when it all started around 4pm.
“A guy came down the road – he was shouting and banging his fist on the window, then he took a brick and broke the window.
“It’s horrible. I heard them shooting the dogs. It’s so upsetting. I was in tears.
Explanation of the Law on Dangerous Dogs
After eleven horrific attacks in 1991, Home Secretary Kenneth Baker vowed to “rid the country of the menace of these fighting dogs” by introducing the Dangerous Dogs Act.
The law is often seen as controversial because it focuses on a dog’s breed or appearance rather than the behavior of an individual dog and fails to stop the rise in dog attacks.
According to the RSPCA, more than a third of people killed by dogs since the law was passed have been attacked by legal breeds.
As of December 31 last year, it became illegal under the Act to sell, breed or give away XL Bully dogs.
From 1 February it became illegal to own an XL Bully dog in England and Wales without an exemption certificate.
Anyone who owns an XL Bully and does not comply with the strict rules will have their dog confiscated and face prosecution and a criminal record.
It comes after a spate of deadly attacks, which has led to 11 deaths linked to XL thugs in just three years.
“The guy was yelling. The dogs were barking. That set ours off. They could feel something. It was so loud.
“I couldn’t understand him. I heard him yelling ‘give me a sign! Are you okay?’ I think she was dead by that point.
“The young man climbed up and looked through the kitchen window.
“There was apparently blood everywhere. Her head was covered in blood.”
Daughter Sonia said she wanted to thank the neighbors for getting involved.
She told MailOnline: “They were XL Bullies. There were eight of them in the house, six puppies and two adults. None of them were neutered, they weren’t registered.
The owner’s words were: “no one is going to tell me what to do with my fucking dogs.”
“Mom expressed concern about the dogs, because of their breed and temperament.”
Essex Police said a 39-year-old man from Jaywick was arrested on suspicion of dangerous dog offences.
The suspect, who is from the village, is being interrogated by detectives in custody.
This incident will be a great shock to the community and I understand their concerns.
Glen PavelinChief Superintendent
Essex Police said they were trying to establish the circumstances leading up to the incident.
A police spokesman said: “We are carrying out inquiries to establish the circumstances leading up to the incident and we believe she was attacked by two dogs.”
The force added that there was no wider threat to the community.
Officers said the breeds would be confirmed later, but the family claimed they were XL Bully dogs.
The attack comes just days after a ban on XL Bully dogs came into effect.
Chief Superintendent Glen Pavelin said: “My thoughts, as well as those of our officers and staff, are with the family of the woman who died yesterday.
“This incident will be a great shock to the community and I understand their concerns.
“We will have officers in the area throughout the day so please come and speak to them if you have any information or concerns.
“The investigation is being conducted by experienced detectives to determine exactly what happened.
Did you see what happened? Contact: [email protected]
“I know there will be speculation about the breed of dogs involved.
“We are awaiting expert confirmation on this before releasing further details and I would ask people not to speculate.
“If anyone has any information about what happened, please contact us.”
If you have any information, CCTV, dash cam or other footage relating to this incident please contact the police.
Please quote incident 723 of February 3rd.
You can notify the officers by submitting a report on the website or using the online Live Chat service which is available Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) between 10:00-21:00.
Visit the website to learn more about their reporting services.
If you would like to make an anonymous report, you can contact the independent charity @Crimestoppers, by visiting their website or calling 0800 555 111.
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A 39-year-old Jaywick man has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous dog offenses Credit: JOHN McLELLAN
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Police believe she was attacked by two dogs and the animals were later destroyedCredit: Essex Police
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The woman died at the sceneCredit: Essex Police
Fatal XL Bully attacks
Ian “Scouse” Langley, 54, was protecting his puppy when the animal pounced on him outside his home in Sunderland in October 2023.
Ian Price (52) was viciously mauled by the beasts in September 2023 as he tried to protect his elderly mother from them after they escaped.
Jonathan Hogg, 37, was killed in May 2023. He walked into the dog’s pen when it came towards him, leaving bite wounds on his arm, leg and head.
Natasha Johnston, 28, was mauled to death while walking a pack of dogs in January 2023. She is believed to have been killed by her own pet – American Bully XL.
Shirley Patrick, 83, died 17 days after she was mauled to death in a “hellish”, violent dog attack in December 2022.
Ian Symes, 34, known as “Wiggy” by friends, died at a recreation ground in Fareham, Hampshire, after the savage attack in August 2022.
Joanne Robinson, 43, was fatally injured by pet Rocco at her home in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, in July 2022.
Keven Jones, 62, went into cardiac arrest after being bitten by Cookie-Doe at Chanel Fong’s home in Wrexham, North Wales in May 2022.
Bella-Rae Birch, one, was beaten to death in her home in March 2022 by American thug XL.
Jack Lee, 10, was killed by a bulky XL Bully dog named Beast in November 2021 while playing at a friend’s home in Caerphilly.
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