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  "path": "/2026/04/17/owner-xl-bully-basically-ate-great-granddad-fatal-attack-jailed-28013285/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-17T14:16:29.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "News",
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    "Crime News",
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    "supports HTML5\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tvideo",
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  "textContent": "To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tvideo\n\nUp Next\n\nPrevious Page\n\nNext Page\n\n**The owner of an XL bully that started eating a pensioner alive before killing him in a ‘savage’ attack has been jailed for 12 years.**\n\nJohn McColl, 84, suffered ‘catastrophic facial injuries’ in the 45-minute attack by Sean Garner’s dog in Warrington, Cheshire, in February last year.\n\nHe remained conscious despite the ‘unspeakable suffering’ he endured and died from his injuries around a month later.\n\nThe 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.\n\nAn examination of the dog later found it had no food in its stomach, but human remains were detected.\n\n##  Sign up for all of the latest stories\n\nStart your day informed with Metro's **News Updates** newsletter or get **Breaking News** alerts the moment it happens.\n\nDetective Inspector Simon Mills said some of the officers and others involved had needed counselling after the incident.\n\nHe said: ‘In 28 years, these are the worst injuries I’ve sadly seen to anybody.’\n\nAddressing 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.’\n\nJohn McColl suffered ‘catastrophic facial injuries’ in the 45-minute attack (Picture: Cheshire Police/PA)\n\nThe XL bully, called Toretto, which attacked John McColl (Picture: Cheshire Police/PA)\n\nGarner, 31, looked down as Ms Percival read a statement, in which she said he had denied her grandfather a ‘dignified death’.\n\nMr 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.’\n\nGarner was found guilty after a trial of being the owner of a dog which caused injury while dangerously out of control.\n\nJailing Garner, Judge Brian Cummings KC said: ‘The suffering experienced by Mr McColl was quite unspeakable and really does not bear dwelling on.’\n\nHe said the retired steel erector, who remained conscious throughout the attack, must have been in ‘absolute agony’.\n\nThe 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.\n\nNeighbours described using items including a spirit level and a walking stick to try and get the dog away from Mr McColl.\n\nSean Garner has been jailed for 12 years over the fatal attack (Picture: Cheshire Police/PA)\n\nDavid Birrell, prosecuting, said police officers who attended the scene had suffered flashbacks and needed counselling after witnessing the ‘savage’ attack.\n\nHe 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.’\n\nThe 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.\n\nGarner 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.\n\nHis claim that Mr McColl must have unlocked the shed and opened it was described by the prosecution as ‘absurd’.\n\nJudge Cummings said: ‘If there ever was any remorse it is completely nullified by these offensive lies.’\n\nHe said Garner had argued the ‘uncontestable’ and told him: ‘I cannot accept that you have shown any true remorse.’\n\nJohn McColl’s daughter Joann Percival and her daughter Kelly Percival (Picture: Eleanor Barlow/PA)\n\nGarner, 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.\n\nMr Birrell said: ‘The defendant has convictions which reveal a history of reckless disregard for the law and for safety.\n\n‘At the time of this incident, despite operating a recovery business driving up and down the country, he was disqualified from driving.’\n\nLloyd 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.’\n\nHe 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.\n\n******Get in touch with our news team by emailing us atwebnews@metro.co.uk.******\n\n**For more stories like this,** check our news page.\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Owner of XL bully that ‘basically ate’ great-granddad in fatal attack is jailed"
}