A man has been jailed for three years after his XL bully dog escaped from his house and killed his neighbour, who had thrown a stone at his window. Christopher Bell, 45, pleaded guilty to being the owner of a dog that caused injury leading to death while dangerously out of control in a public place.
The tragic incident occurred on October 3, 2023, in Shiney Row, near Sunderland. Bell had stepped outside his house barefoot to chase Ian Langley, 54, who had thrown a stone at Bell’s home. In his rush to confront Langley, Bell inadvertently left the door open, allowing his two XL bully dogs to escape and join in the chase.
Titan, the larger of the two dogs, overtook Bell and attacked Langley, knocking him to the ground and clamping its jaws onto his neck. The attack caused catastrophic injuries, which Langley could not survive, despite efforts to pull the dog off. Bell eventually managed to drag Titan away and return to the scene to call emergency services. However, Langley was pronounced dead less than two hours later in hospital.
Titan was euthanised at the scene, and Bell’s other dog, Sapphire, was also taken away and put down. Bell’s failure to control Titan’s aggressive behaviour, despite prior incidents, was central to the case. The court was informed that Titan had previously attacked two other dogs in separate incidents, and Bell had failed to take appropriate action to address the animal’s aggressive tendencies.
In one incident in July 2022, Titan attacked a Yorkshire Terrier. Bell, unable to stop the attack, had resorted to asking bystanders for a cigarette lighter to burn his dog’s nose in an attempt to get it to release its grip. In another savage attack in June 2023, Titan and Sapphire attacked another dog for several minutes before Bell intervened by throwing water over them.
The court also heard from Jayke Langley, the son of the victim, who described his father as a beloved figure in the community and his greatest influence. “My father was not only loved by everyone in the community, but he was also my role model and the best influence in my life,” Langley said in a victim impact statement. “His kindness and generosity shaped me into who I am. He taught me to make time for others and give to those less fortunate.”
Bell’s defence argued that it was a tragic accident, with no prior animosity between him and Mr Langley. However, Judge Carolyn Scott emphasised that Bell’s failure to control his dog had directly led to Langley’s death. She also acknowledged that there was no evidence to suggest Titan had shown aggression toward people before the fatal incident.
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The judge sentenced Bell to three years in prison and imposed a lifelong ban on him owning dogs. “It is apparent to me that you failed to respond to concerns raised by others regarding your dog’s behaviour,” Judge Scott said. “You had the responsibility to prevent Titan from escaping your home, and your failure to do so ultimately resulted in Mr Langley’s tragic death.”
Detective Chief Inspector Jason Henry of Northumbria Police warned that the case highlighted the devastating consequences of failing to control dangerous dogs. “This case demonstrates the very tragic consequences of what can happen when people fail to control dogs within their care,” he said. “We urge everyone to follow the legislation and guidance in place to help protect themselves and others from events like this.”
Since February 2022, it has been a criminal offence to own an XL Bully dog in England and Wales without an exemption certificate. The legislation requires these dogs to be kept on a lead and muzzled in public places, as well as being neutered.
The case has sparked further debate about dangerous dogs and the responsibilities of owners in ensuring public safety.
