An XL bully owner has said he wants the breed to be 'wiped out' after his two dogs mauled a grandmother to death.
Esther Martin, 68, was killed on Saturday (3 February) afternoon at a property in Jaywick, Essex, while she reportedly tried to split up a fight between the two pets named Beauty and Bear.
She had gone to Ashley Warren's home to take care of her 11-year-old grandson, who he shared with her daughter Claire who sadly passed away two years ago at the age of 28.
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Esther's relatives have claimed that the two animals were 'penned in a small chalet' and that she was instructed to try and break up any brawls between them with a broom by her son-in-law, despite concerns they were 'aggressive'.
Her devastated daughter Sonia told the BBC that she suspects this is the point when the XL bullies attacked her.
The 47-year-old said: "How the hell can that be any good for an animal? We’re very angry. People complain about the dogs. It’s not the dogs."
The horrific attack came just a couple of days after the outright ban on the controversial breed came into force across England and Wales, making it a punishable criminal offence to own an XL bully without a certificate of exemption.
It followed the legislation brought in on 31 December, 2023, which made it illegal to breed, sell, advertise, gift and exchange American XL bully dogs while owners were warned these dogs must be muzzled and kept on a lead in public.
The owner of the two dogs, Ashley, admitted that he used to reckon the government crackdown on the breed was a 'joke' and said that he never had any indication that his pets would ever be a risk to anyone.
But in wake of the tragedy over the weekend, the dad has had a complete change of heart and has now called for XL bullies to be completely eradicated, as he believes they have a 'killer switch'.
Six police officers had arrived at his home 'within minutes' to try and save Esther, but she passed away at the scene despite their best efforts.
Discussing his opinion of the recently introduced restrictions surrounding the breed with The Sun, Ashley - a rapper who goes by the stage name Wyless Man - said: "Now, I couldn’t support them enough."
He tearfully told how his dogs loved Esther and were very comfortable in her presence, so he didn't have any concerns when he left her at his home to care for his son while he went to London to film a music video.
Ashley explained: "Never in a million years did I see [the dogs] as a risk. If my dogs did that to her, when I had never seen anything but love from them, then that breed just has a killer switch.
"I honestly thought the ban was a stupid government plan to wipe out a breed which I had never seen anything but softness and love from. Now I think they need to be wiped out."
He said that his son's grandmother 'meant everything' to them both, while adding: "I’m sorry for everyone’s loss, from the bottom of my heart."
The 39-year-old dad was arrested on suspicion of dangerous dog offences but has since been released on bail, while Beauty and Bear were both destroyed by police at the scene.
Olivia Burke