Esther, 68, was fatally injured after being attacked by two dogs at a house at Hillman Avenue in Jaywick, Essex, on Saturday, February 3, when she was visiting her 11-year-old grandson.
She left behind her daughter Sonia Martin, of Chesterfield, who paid tribute to her ‘amazing’ mum following her sudden death.
Essex police launched an investigation into Esther’s death and today (July 25) the Crown Prosecution Service authorised Essex Police to charge Ashley Warren with connection with the tragic incident.
Chief Superintendent Stuart Weaver said: “I know there has been a huge amount of speculation about the breed and type of dog involved here, but it was really important we got that information right and established the facts.
“We owe it to Esther and her family to ensure we are thorough, professional and, above all, fair. XL Bully is not a breed of dog in itself, but a sub-category of the American Bully and identifying categories of a breed can be a complex process.
“It requires a police-trained dog expert to examine the physical features of the dog against specific measurements, in line with the guidelines published by the Government.
“A forensic post-mortem was also carried out by a veterinary scientist and through this combination it was confirmed that the dogs were XL Bullies. A team of experienced detectives are continuing their investigation into Esther’s death and continue to make good progress.
“We would like to thank the public once more for their courageous efforts to save Esther prior to the arrival of our officers.”
“What you did was incredibly brave and a testament to the Jaywick community’s ideals. I also want to thank the responding cops once more for their unwavering bravery and professionalism in making sure the community was protected.