Owner of XL bully that ‘basically ate’ great-granddad in fatal attack is jailed

The owner of an XL bully dog that started eating a pensioner alive before killing him in a ‘savage’ attack has been jailed for 12 years.

John McColl, 84, suffered ‘catastrophic facial injuries’ in the 45-minute attack by Sean Garner’s dog in Warrington, Cheshire, in February last year.

He remained conscious despite the ‘unspeakable suffering’ he endured and died from his injuries around a month later.

The animal, which was called Toretto and weighed 7st 4lb, was shot 10 times by armed police and a second dog found in the house was also shot.

An examination of the dog later found it had no food in its stomach, but human remains were detected.

Detective Inspector Simon Mills said some of the officers and others involved had needed counselling after the incident.

He said: ‘In 28 years, these are the worst injuries I’ve sadly seen to anybody.’

Addressing Garner in court, Mr 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 Ms Percival read a statement, in which she said he had denied her grandfather a ‘dignified death’.

Mr McColl’s daughter, Joann Percival, 57, told the defendant: ‘You robbed us of our dad, grandad, great-grandad, but you don’t care and it’s not OK.’

Garner was found guilty after a trial of being the owner of a dog which caused injury while dangerously out of control.

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’.

The trial heard Mr McColl was on his way home from the pub shortly after 6pm on February 24, 2025, 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 Mr McColl.

David Birrell, prosecuting, said police officers who attended the scene had suffered flashbacks and needed counselling after witnessing the ‘savage’ attack.

He said: ‘The Crown allege a catalogue of failures by the defendant which caused the dog to be dangerously out of control and thereby caused the death of Mr McColl.’

The court heard Garner, his then-pregnant partner and two children had moved into the semi-detached home three weeks before the incident and told the landlord they had one French bulldog, despite owning a micro bully and two XL bullies, a breed which was 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 Mr 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 argued 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.

Mr 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 lymphoma and, when she was ill, he cared for their children.

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