Man mauled to death while looking after brother’s dogs including XL Bullies

A man was found dead in a garden after being savaged by dogs that he offered to care for while his brother was in hospital, an inquest has heard.

Nicholas Glass, 33, suffered multiple fatal wounds after being attacked by his siblings pets, two of which were XL bullies, at a house in the Rubery area of Birmingham.

He is believed to have been mauled on the night of August 19, before being found on August 21.

The inquest heard he likely fled through a rear window but bled to death before reaching safety.

Birmingham Assistant Coroner Adam Hodson said police received a call in the early hours to say several dogs were roaming loose in Hereford Close.

The animals had come from a property belonging to Mr Glass’s brother, James, who was in hospital at the time.

Mr Glass had offered to look after them while his sibling recovered.

Two of the animals were secured and two more found by police days later.

Two were XL bullies while there was also an American bulldog and a mixed breed Staffordshire terrier.

Mr Glass was then found in the rear garden, his body partly obscured by a wooden panel which had been propped up. The court he died as a result of blunt force trauma from multiple dog bites.

The assistant coroner said CCTV footage had shown Mr Glass going into the property before barking was heard.

He added: ‘I am satisfied on the balance of probabilities that Nicholas was bitten by more than one of his brother’s dogs.

‘There is no evidence as to which breed of dog was responsible.’

He said it was possible that Mr Glass had been attacked in the property, left via a window and hidden behind a fence panel before ‘succumbing to his injuries’.

It was also possible that he could be heard crying for help.

He added: ‘This appears to have been a terrible tragedy.

‘It appears to me that Nicholas was a caring brother and son who simply offered to look after his brother’s dogs while his brother was in hospital.

‘He sadly lost his life as a terrible consequence.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.