James Harrison Trimble-Pettit was sentenced to five years in prison for his two XL Bully dogs fatally attacking Ian Price in Staffordshire, England. The incident occurred on September 14, 2023, when Price tried to help return one loose dog to safety, only for both to maul him in a 12-minute attack.
Incident Details
Price, a 52-year-old father of two, suffered catastrophic injuries from multiple bites and blunt force trauma while walking near Stonnall. Bystanders tried to intervene, but police eventually shot one dog at the scene and euthanized the other; Trimble-Pettit was arrested immediately.
The dogs had a history of escaping through open windows or doors, lacking proper containment, toys, or bedding, and had previously attacked people and pets.
Court Proceedings
Trimble-Pettit, 33, pleaded guilty in October 2025 at Stafford Crown Court to owning dogs dangerously out of control that caused death. Judge John Edward described the attack as an “appalling act of savagery” due to owner negligence, despite no intent to harm.
Defense argued it stemmed from negligence, not malice, with Trimble-Pettit expressing remorse via a letter to the family.​
Victim Impact
Price’s wife, Hannah, shared in court how the loss “broke” her, haunted by nightmares of the dogs and telling their children. His family remembered him as selfless, kind, brave, and indestructible—a beloved figure whose final act exemplified his character.
Detective Superintendent Cheryl Hannan called the death preventable, emphasizing the owner’s failure to secure the powerful animals.​
Broader Context
The case contributed to the 2023 XL Bully ban in England and Wales, with then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak labeling the breed a community danger due to repeated incidents.​
