Man whose XL bully dog escaped and killed his neighbour jailed for three years
Christopher Bell, 45, left his door open when he came out of his house to run after Ian Langley, 54, who had thrown a stone at his home.
A man whose XL bully dog escaped and killed his neighbour as he chased him for breaking his window has been jailed for three years.
Christopher Bell, 45, came out of his house barefoot to run after Ian Langley, 54, who had thrown a stone at his home in Shiney Row, near Sunderland, on October 3 2023.
Newcastle Crown Court heard Bell left the door of his house open, allowing his two XL bully dogs to get out and join in the chase.
The animals overtook their owner and the larger one, Titan, knocked Mr Langley to the ground and latched on to his neck, causing unsurvivable injuries, prosecutors said.
The court heard in the months leading up to the fatal incident, Titan had attacked two dogs and was “known to local residents”.
Bell pleaded guilty to being the owner of a dog which caused injury leading to death while dangerously out of control in a public place.
Prosecutor Jolyon Perks said a witness described seeing Mr Langley pacing in front of Bell’s house in Maple Terrace before picking up two stones, throwing them at the window and running across the road into a passageway.
He had run for about 100 metres before he was brought to the floor by Titan who took hold of his neck between his jaws and resisted all Bell’s attempts to pull him away, the court heard.
Mr Perks said Bell was eventually able to pull the dog off Mr Langley and drag him back to his house before returning to the scene and calling emergency services.
Mr Langley was taken to hospital but had suffered “catastrophic injuries to his neck” and was pronounced dead less than two hours after the incident.
Titan was destroyed at the scene and Bell’s other dog, Sapphire, was taken away and euthanised, the court heard.
Mr Perks described two previous occasions where Titan had shown aggression to other dogs and attacked them, saying Bell had failed to act on prior knowledge of his dog’s behaviour.
On July 26 2022 he ran into the street and attacked a Yorkshire Terrier. The court heard Bell came out of his house but was unable to stop the attack immediately.
“He asked bystanders for a cigarette lighter to burn his dog’s nose with the aim of getting him to release the terrier from his jaws,” Mr Perks said.
In June 2023, both Bell’s dogs were off leads and away from his house when they attacked another dog in a “savage” incident lasting five to 10 minutes, that stopped only when the defendant appeared and threw water over them.
A victim impact statement from Mr Langley’s son Jayke Langley, who works as a teacher in Taiwan, said: “My father Ian Langley was not only loved by everyone in the community, he was also my role model and best influence in my life.
“His kindness and generosity shaped me into who I am. He taught me to make time for others and give to those less fortunate.”
Mr Langley said changes in the law following an “alarming increase in fatal dog attacks” in 2023 “tragically came too late for my dad”.
In mitigation, the court heard Bell was “profoundly sorry for what has happened” and that it was “a horrible accident”.
A judge heard Bell “had no quarrel with Mr Langley” and what prompted him to smash the defendant’s window remains unknown.
Judge Carolyn Scott jailed Bell for three years and banned him from owning a dog indefinitely.
The judge said: “It is apparent to me you failed to respond to concerns raised by others regarding the dog’s behaviour. I accept there is no evidence of aggression to other people.”
She told Bell his failure to stop Titan leaving his home before setting off after Mr Langley ultimately resulted in his death.
Detective Chief Inspector Jason Henry, of Northumbria Police, said: “This case highlights the very tragic consequences of what can happen when people fail to control dogs within their care.
“We would urge everyone to follow the legislation and guidance in place to help protect themselves and others from events like this happening in the future.”
Since February last year it has been a criminal offence to own an XL Bully in England and Wales without an exemption certificate.
The dogs must also be kept on a lead and muzzled in public places, as well as neutered.
