XL bully owner jailed after man, 84, 'savaged'

A man whose XL bully dog mauled an 84-year-old to death in a "savage attack" has been jailed.

Sean Garner's dog Toretto had to be shot 10 times after the animal savaged elderly neighbour John McColl on a street in Warrington, Cheshire, on 24 February 2025.

The 31-year-old was found guilty of owning a dog that caused injury while dangerously out of control last month.

He was jailed for 12 years at Liverpool Crown Court.

McColl spent a month in intensive care with "catastrophic" injuries before dying five weeks after the attack, which lasted 45 minutes.

'XL bully killed my dad but owner hasn't apologised'

The court previously heard he had walked onto Garner's driveway on Bardsley Avenue before the animal lunged at him and "would just not let go" - and then stood guard over him as neighbours remained powerless to help.

Armed police then arrived and shot the dog, and Garner - who was out at the time - was later tracked down and arrested.

Addressing Garner in court, McColl's granddaughter Kelly Percival, 33, said: "Your dog basically ate my grandad, but you and your family don't care."

Garner, 31, looked down as Percival read a statement, in which she said he had denied her grandfather a "dignified death".

Jailing Garner, Judge Brian Cummings KC said: "The suffering experienced by Mr McColl was quite unspeakable and really does not bear dwelling on."

He said the retired steel erector, who remained conscious throughout the attack, must have been in "absolute agony".

McColl had been on his way home from the pub shortly after 18:00 GMT when he walked into the driveway of Garner's home, where the dog had been left on a patio area which the prosecution alleged was only secured by a gate with a latch.

Neighbours described using items including a spirit level and a walking stick to try and get the dog away from him as the attack unfolded.

David Birrell, prosecuting, said police officers who went the scene had suffered flashbacks and needed counselling after seeing what happened.

The court heard Garner, his then-pregnant partner and two children had moved into the semi-detached home three weeks before the incident.

They told the landlord they had one French bulldog, despite owning a micro bully and two XL bullies, a breed banned in 2024.

Garner claimed Toretto, who he had previously described as "missing a few nuts and bolts", had been put in a small shed on the patio, which he secured with a padlock.

His claim that McColl must have unlocked the shed and opened it was described by the prosecution as "absurd".

Judge Cummings said: "If there ever was any remorse it is completely nullified by these offensive lies."

He said Garner had contested the "uncontestable" and told him: "I cannot accept that you have shown any true remorse."

Garner, who has previous convictions for driving and drugs offences, pleaded guilty before his trial to two counts of owning an XL bully without an exemption certificate.

Birrell said: "The defendant has convictions which reveal a history of reckless disregard for the law and for safety.

"At the time of this incident, despite operating a recovery business driving up and down the country, he was disqualified from driving."

Lloyd Morgan, defending, said: "Sean Garner does express his deepest sympathy to the family of Mr McColl for the loss, and the manner of the loss, of their beloved family member."

He said Garner was the primary carer for his partner Lauren Lawler, who had been diagnosed with stage three Hodgkin's lymphoma and, when she was ill, he cared for their children.

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