XL Bully Owner Jailed Three Years After Fatal Attack

Christopher Bell, 45, has been sentenced to three years in prison after his XL Bully dog, Titan, fatally attacked his neighbor, Ian Langley, 54, in Shiney Row, near Sunderland, on October 3, 2023. The incident occurred when Langley reportedly threw stones at Bell's home, prompting Bell to chase him outside, inadvertently allowing his dogs to escape. Titan knocked Langley to the ground and inflicted catastrophic neck injuries, leading to his death shortly after at the hospital. The court heard that Titan had a history of aggression, having attacked other dogs previously, and Bell had failed to control the dog or prevent the incident. Following the attack, Titan was destroyed at the scene, and Bell's other dog, Sapphire, was also euthanized. Judge Carolyn Scott imposed a lifetime ban on Bell from owning dogs due to the severity of the incident and his prior knowledge of Titan's dangerous behavior.