Owner of out of control XL bully that chased and killed 54-year-old man jailed
Owner of out of control XL bully that chased and killed 54-year-old man jailed
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Ian Langley, 54, suffered fatal neck injuries when he was attacked while he walked his puppy in Shiney Row near Sunderland. An XL Bully owner whose out-of-control dog killed his neighbour has been jailed for three years. Ian Langley, 54, suffered fatal neck injuries when he was attacked while he walked his puppy in Shiney Row near Sunderland on 3 October 2023.
![[Ian Langley, 54, suffered fatal neck injuries when he was attacked while he walked his puppy]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/10/04/15/newFile-3.jpg)
Christopher Bell, 45, formerly of Maple Terrace, Shiney Row, pleaded guilty to being the owner of a dog which caused injury leading to death while dangerously out of control in a public place at Newcastle Crown Court on 18 November. Christopher Atkinson from the Crown Prosecution Service said Mr Langley’s injuries were catastrophic and, despite Bell making a panicked call to emergency services, Mr Langley tragically died a short time later.
![[The dog that attacked Mr Langley was an XL bully breed]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/19/13/ba245f9142ab1201e523a645e630171dY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM0Njk1MDU1-2.73952705.jpg)
“It was clear from the evidence in this case that Bell had not attempted to control the dog as he chased Ian Langley, admitting in a police interview that his primary focus had been to catch Langley and that it was for this reason that he did not think to intervene in his dog’s pursuit,” he said on the day Langley pleaded guilty.
“Our thoughts remain with the family of Ian Langley, for whom this must remain a difficult time. We hope the conviction of Bell today provides some measure of comfort.”. Police shot the dog, an American bully XL named Titan, at the scene to protect the public. It was understood at the time that another XL bully was taken away by police for public safety.
