DOG HORROR
Jaywick dog attack: Screaming grandma mauled to death by two ‘unregistered XL Bullies’ in front of traumatised grandson
The attack comes just days after a ban on XL Bullies was introduced
A GRANDMA was mauled to death by two allegedly unregistered XL Bullies in front of her "traumatised" grandson, her family have said.
Cops raced to a home in Jaywick, Essex, shortly after 4pm yesterday where they found Esther Martin seriously injured.
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The 68-year-old had been visiting the coastal village for the weekend to see her grandson in a house believed to have had six XL Bully puppies and two adult bullies.
The two adult dogs are said to have launched their attack in the back room, as her grandson fled 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.
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"The owner of the bullies decided to go out and leave mum with six XL bully puppies and two adults.
“We believe they are all unregistered and uninsured.";
Neighbours said they heard the woman shout "get off, get off".
Another neighbour heard a commotion outside and saw a man with a shovel trying to break into the window.
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The owner of the bullies decided to go out and leave mum with six XL bully puppies and two adults.
Paul Martin
She said he was shouting he's going to kill the dog, but she warned if he does she will call the police.
He then said there was a woman on the floor in the house because the dog attacked and so she did call the police.
Officers then turned up and shot the dogs.
Julie Coleman, 62, and Mike Coleman, 74, said they heard shouting as a man tried to break his way into the house to help.
They said: "I heard lots of shouting. It started with the shouting. We just got in from work when it all kicked off about 4pm.
"The fella came down the road - he was shouting and banging on the window with his fist. He then picked up a brick and broke the window.
"It's horrible. I heard them shoot the dogs. It's so upsetting. I was in tears.
Dangerous Dogs Act explained
After eleven horrific attacks in 1991, Home Secretary Kenneth Baker promised "to rid the country of the menace of these fighting dogs" by introducing the Dangerous Dogs Act.
The law is often considered controversial as it focuses on a dog's breed or looks instead of an individual dog's behaviour, and fails to stem the rise of dog attacks.
According to the RSPCA, over a third of the people killed by dogs since the act was brought in were attacked by legal breeds.
As of December 31 last year, it became illegal to sell, breed or give away XL Bully dogs under the Act.
From February 1, it became illegal to own an XL Bully dog in England and Wales without an exemption certificate.
Anyone found in possession of an XL Bully and is not meeting the strict rules will have their dog taken away and faces prosecution and a criminal record.
It comes after a spate of fatal attacks, which saw 11 deaths linked to XL Bullies in just three years.
"The guy was shouting. The dogs were barking. It set ours off. They could sense something. It was so loud.
"I couldn't understand him. I heard him shout 'give me a sign! Are you alright?'. I think she was dead by that point.
"A young lad climbed up and was looking out the kitchen window.
"There was apparently blood everywhere. Her head was covered in blood."
Daughter Sonia said she wanted to thank the neighbours for getting involved.
Another neighbour, who has been renting an AirBnB on the road for the past month, said the dogs were always very aggressive.
He used to walk his dog down to the end of the road but stopped doing so because he was so worried about them.
Tearing up, he said: “There were two dogs that were very aggressive, always barking and trying to get through the gate.”
He said he never saw the dogs because the gates were always locked, but said: “They were properly aggressive. They would attack the gate.”
She told : "They were XL Bullies. There were eight of them in the house, six puppies and two adults. None of them neutered, not registered.
"The owner's words were "no one is going to tell me what to do with my own f*****g dogs."
"Mum had raised concerns about the dogs, over their breed and their temperament."
Essex Police said a 39-year-old man from Jaywick was arrested on suspicion of dangerous dogs offences.
The suspect, who is from the village, is being questioned by detectives in custody.
This incident will be a huge shock to the community and I understand their concerns.
Glen Pavelin
Essex Police said it was trying to establish the circumstances which led to the incident.
A force spokesperson said: "We have been carrying out inquiries to establish the circumstances which led up to the incident and we believe she had been assaulted by two dogs."
The force added that there was no wider threat to the community.
Cops said the breeds will be confirmed later, but the family have claimed they were XL Bully dogs.
The attack comes just days after a ban on XL Bully type dogs came into force.
Chief superintendent Glen Pavelin said: "My thoughts, and those of our officers and staff, are with the family of the woman who died yesterday.
"This incident will be a huge shock to the community and I understand their concerns.
"We'll have officers in the area throughout today so please come and speak to them if you have any information or are worried.
"Experienced detectives are leading the investigation to identify exactly what has happened.
Did you see what happened? Contact: [email protected]
"I know there will be speculation about the breed of the dogs involved.
"We're waiting for confirmation from experts about this before releasing further details and I'd ask people not to speculate.
"If anyone has any information about what has happened please contact us."
If you have any information, CCTV, dash cam or other footage in relation to this incident, then please contact police.
Please quote incident 723 of February 3.
You can let cops know by submitting a report on the website or by using the online Live Chat service available Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) between 10am-9pm.
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If you would like to make an anonymous report you can contact independent charity @Crimestoppers, by visiting their website or by calling 0800 555 111.
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Fatal XL Bully attacks
Ian "Scouse" Langley, 54, was protecting his puppy when the animal pounced on him outside a home in Sunderland in October 2023.
Ian Price, 52, was viciously savaged in September 2023 by the beasts as he tried to protect his elderly mum from them after they escaped.
Jonathan Hogg, 37, was killed in May 2023 entered the dog's pen when it went for 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 was believed to have been killed by her own pet - an American Bully XL.
Shirley Patrick, 83, died 17 days after being mauled in a “hellish”, violent dog attack in December 2022.
Ian Symes, 34, who was known to friends as "Wiggy", died at a recreation ground in Fareham, , after the savage attack in August 2022.
Joanne Robinson, 43, was fatally mauled 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 mauled to death in March 2022 at her home by the American Bully XL.
, 10, was killed by a hulking XL Bully dog named Beast in November 2021 as he played at friend's home in Caerphilly.
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