XL bully owner whose pet mauled dog walker to death appears in court

The owner of an XL Bully which mauled a dog walker to death as he tried to protect his puppy, has appeared in court.

Christopher Bell, 45, is accused of having a dog dangerously out of control, resulting in the death of Ian Langley, 54.

Mr Langley, who weighed just eight stone, died in hospital after being attacked in Shiney Row, near Sunderland, on the evening of October 3rd last year.

He had been out walking his Patterdale terrier pup, Bow, on his usual route along a green in front of terraced house when witnesses said Bell's dog — a tan and white bully called Titan —  ran out of his home and towards Bow.  

Mr Langley is said to have instinctively bent down to pick Bow up, alarmed by the size of the approaching dog. Titan then seized Mr Langley around the neck and mauled him, causing catastrophic injuries. The dog was destroyed at the scene. 

Bell did not enter a plea during a hearing at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court on Friday and is set to appear at Newcastle Crown Court on November 18.

Wearing spectacles and grey suit, Bell, now living in Hull, Humberside, appeared before District Judge Zoe Passfield in a short hearing. 

The charge put to him was that he was the owner of an American bully XL which was out of control and whilst so out of control injured Ian Langley who died as a result of the injuries, contrary to section 3(1) and (4) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

Prosecutor Anna Barker told the court: 'This is a tragic case which resulted in the death of Ian Langley.

'The crown submits that the nature of the case, the severity and the likely sentence is such that it should be dealt with at the crown court.'

Judge Passfield said: 'I agree with that and decline jurisdiction.'

The attack happened before the XL bully ban came into force on January 1 this year, making it illegal to own the breed without an exemption certificate.

Mr Langley, who is originally from Liverpool, was affectionately known as Scouse to the communtiy in Shiney Row.

Friends said Mr Langley would have had no chance of fighting off the attack by the powerful male dog.

Terrified Bow ran away during the incident and was later found cowering nearby and taken to a friend of Mr Langley's home.

Janice Gonzales, 65, said at the time: 'Ian was here at 3pm the day before, chatting and helping to weed my back yard. He said he'd come back to help me with my allotment because I suffer arthritis.

'That's the kind of man he was, kind and helpful and friendly.

'He always walked Bow along that same route but on Tuesday night something happened and it seems as though the bully went for Bow and Ian picked her up to try to keep her safe.

'The dog's got hold of him and the injuries were terrible. We were up all night waiting for news because we heard to begin with that he'd survived.

'My daughter came round devastated to say he had died and it was just awful.

'Bow ran away during the attack and we thought she must have been killed as well but she was found and someone brought her to us and we took her in to look after her.

'We also have a male Patterdale and Ian had talked of breeding them.

She was a bit shaken but she's doing OK now. He loved her and she was a great companion for him.'