XL Bully owner pleads guilty over dog attack which left Shiney Row dad dead

A man has admitted being the owner of an XL bully which killed a dad while dangerously out of control.

Ian Langley, 54, died in hospital after being attacked by Christopher Bell's dog, Titan, outside a house on Maple Terrace, in Shiney Row, near Sunderland, on October 3 last year. During an appearance at Newcastle Crown Court, Bell pleaded guilty to being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control which caused injury resulting in death.

Bell, 45, will be sentenced on January 27 next year. Judge Robert Adams told him: "You have pleaded guilty and will get credit for that at the time of sentence. I'm ordering a pre-sentence report but in doing so I'm giving no indication about sentence - all options will be open to the court on that occasion."

READ MORE: Police arrest man armed with hedge cutter during dispute with neighbour in Northumberland

READ MORE: Gateshead woman bit off part of her partner's lip and spat it out during row over cheating claims

Bell was further released on bail with two conditions, which are to cooperate with the preparation of a pre-sentence report and to have his home at Coltman Street, Hull, as a correspondence address.

Since Mr Langley's death, XL Bully dogs have become a banned breed. On December 31 last year it became illegal to rehome, breed or sell an XL Bully dog. And on February 1 this year it became illegal to own an XL Bully without an exemption certificate. For owners to keep their dog they must obtain public liability insurance, and have it microchipped, muzzled in public and neutered.