A dog owner who allowed his XL bullies to live in squalid conditions without adequate security has been jailed for five years and banned indefinitely from owning dogs after they killed a man in a Staffordshire village.
Ian Price, 52, died in hospital after suffering catastrophic injuries during a prolonged and vicious attack on Main Street, Stonnall on 14 September 2023. The two XL bullies had escaped through an insecure door and window from James Harrison Trimble-Pettit’s nearby home.
Members of the public attempted to intervene during the assault but were unable to prevent Mr Price’s fatal injuries. One dog died during the incident whilst a vet put down the other animal.
Stafford Crown Court heard on Thursday 12 February 2026 that Trimble-Pettit, 33, of Fradley, Lichfield, had received multiple warnings about his dogs’ dangerous behaviour and ability to escape but failed to take action. He pleaded guilty to two counts of being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control which caused death on the second day of his trial.
Evidence presented by the Crown Prosecution Service demonstrated the dogs had escaped on numerous occasions prior to the fatal attack. In March 2023, both animals got loose and attacked a woman and her dog inside a local shop. Witnesses described seeing the dogs escape through windows and gates multiple times.
One woman stopped using a local park in January 2023 after Trimble-Pettit warned her his dogs were “not friendly” whilst they ran off-lead and ignored his commands. The warning highlighted his awareness of the animals’ dangerous temperament and his inability to control them.
On the day Mr Price was killed, evidence showed Trimble-Pettit pushed the window shut from the outside but did not lock it securely, allowing the dogs to escape. When arrested, he claimed he had locked the dogs inside before leaving for work and blamed the housing association for his home being insecure.
However, an assessment found the windows and doors were in working order with no faults. An expert examination of Trimble-Pettit’s property revealed inadequate security combined with poor living conditions for the animals. The garden was full of faeces and investigators found no dog bed, crates, bedding or toys to stimulate the dogs’ minds inside the house.
James Morris from the Crown Prosecution Service stated: “This is a tragic case where Ian Price lost his life as a result of the sustained negligence of two XL bully dogs kept by James Trimble-Pettit.”
Morris added: “Trimble-Pettit failed to take heed of warnings that his dogs were dangerous and could escape. He failed to act like a responsible dog owner and kept his dogs in unsuitable and insecure conditions with no proper measures to prevent them getting out. He struggled to control his dogs and knew the danger they posed, yet took no adequate steps to secure them.”
The CPS prosecutor explained that witness testimony, CCTV footage and expert evidence built a comprehensive case proving Trimble-Pettit was seriously at fault. The strength of evidence left him no option but to change his plea on the second day of trial.
“Owning a dog is a significant responsibility and those who fail to control their dogs will be held fully accountable as far as the law allows,” Morris stated, adding: “Nothing can undo the devastation caused to Mr Price’s family, but we hope this conviction and sentence provides them with some measure of justice.”
The indefinite ban prevents Trimble-Pettit from ever owning dogs again, with breach of the disqualification order carrying criminal penalties. The case serves as a warning to dog owners who ignore previous incidents and fail to secure dangerous animals adequately.
