- James Trimble-Pettit, 31, has been charged following the September 14 attack
- Ian Price was killed near a school on Main Road, Stonnall, near Walsall, at 3.15pm
A man has been charged with the murder of a 52-year-old “hero” who was attacked by two XL Bully dogs as he tried to protect his elderly mother.
James Trimble-Pettit, 31, of Fradley, Staffordshire, has been charged with two counts of possessing a dog dangerously out of control resulting in death following an incident on September 14.
Ian Price was attacked and killed by two dogs who jumped through a neighbour’s window at a primary school on Main Road, Stonnall, near Walsall, at 3.15pm.
He reportedly tried to defend his elderly mother from the animals, but suffered injuries so serious that he later died in hospital.
The dogs bit him and tore off his clothes, leaving him to die in a pool of blood in his underpants in a horrific attack just metres from his home.
Witnesses said the dogs entered Mr Price’s mother’s garden through a hedge before “lashing out” at him in an attack that lasted up to 20 minutes.
The incident required the response of an air ambulance, paramedics and police, including armed response units, to the village’s Main Street.
Mr Trimble-Pettit will now face two charges before magistrates in September.
Police had previously said DNA tests were needed to confirm the breed of the dogs, but an expert examination indicated they were large dogs.
One of the dogs died after being restrained and the other died after being injected by a veterinarian.
Just hours after the attack on the father-of-two, then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that the XL bully breed was to be banned in England and Wales.
Ownership of XL Bully dogs is now restricted under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
Since December 31st, it has been illegal to sell, give away, abandon or breed a Bully XL.
And since February 1, owning an XL Bully without an exemption certificate has become a criminal offense.
In January, the Scottish government announced it would also impose protection measures for XL bullies, similar to those in place in England and Wales, after the country saw an increase in the number of XL bullies being dumped in the country.
After the attack, a witness also told The Sun: “It was so horrific I can barely talk about it. He was mutilated to death and it was just horrific.”
“A brave man took a big stick and hit the dogs to try to get them to come down, but the dogs paid no attention.
“Eventually he managed to get one of the dogs away from the man and the other ran through the hedge to his house – but this had been going on for 15 to 20 minutes.”
Neighbour Amanda Ward said her daughter, a student nurse, saw Mr Price being mauled to death by the two “evil” dogs.
Amy Bridgewater, 20, described to her mother the horrific attack which left her traumatised.
Ms Ward, 55, said her daughter, a third-year nursing student, rushed to the scene from her home that afternoon after hearing “screams” outside.
Ms Ward told MailOnline at the time: “Amy is still in shock at what she saw. It was absolutely horrific and it has shaken the whole village.”
Recounting the ordeal, she explained: “Amy heard screams and rushed out of the house. She saw the white dog covered in blood and wagging its tail with the other dog nearby.
“They had ripped the poor man’s clothes off and he was lying on the ground in just his underpants and covered in blood.
“It was a sickening sight for everyone. The dogs were XL Bully types and were both going crazy.
Amy said many people tried to fight the dogs by pushing wheelie bins against them.
“The man was lying on the ground, apparently unconscious, wearing only his underpants. The dogs had torn his clothes to shreds, ripping them from his body.”
Ms Ward added that Mr Price, of Stonnall, Staffordshire, was believed to have visited his elderly mother who lives opposite the family home and who “he visited every day”.
It appears he was attacked by runaway dogs as he was leaving his mother’s house.
Mr Price’s wife is a classroom assistant at nearby St Peter’s Primary School, which was closed following the attack. The couple have two children – a boy and a girl, both at university.
Ms Ward said: “Ian and his family are well known in the village and what has happened is a tragedy and everyone is deeply shocked.
“My daughter knows his wife and is extremely upset by what she saw. Amy would have tried to give him first aid, but by the time she arrived it was too late.
“It was a horrific scene for Amy and others. It’s horrific enough to be attacked by one dog, not two.
“I am very grateful that the Prime Minister has finally agreed to ban these killer dogs. He must ensure that we get rid of these horrible dogs.
“As a third-year nursing student, Amy is allowed to go out and help administer first aid, but she is told she is not required to help in dog attack situations.”
Following Mr Price’s death, his heartbroken next door neighbour Matt paid tribute to him, telling MailOnline of his “anger” at the brutal attack and the loss of “such a lovely guy” and a fellow Aston Villa football fan.
Matt, 43, who declined to be fully identified, told MailOnline at the time: ‘It was an accident waiting to happen, but it could have been avoided.
“Dogs should never have been allowed to run free in the streets and terrorize the neighborhood.
“The same dogs attacked a middle-aged woman who was walking her small dog about six to eight weeks ago. They should have been taken from their owner or euthanized.
“They are ferocious, killer dogs with huge, powerful jaws and it’s such a shame and it makes me so angry that someone has to be maimed and die for action to be taken.”
Matt, a parts supervisor at the Stellantis car factory in Merseyside, told how he confronted the owner of the dog who lives opposite his home after the previous attack on the woman.
Matt, who last spoke to Mr Price over the garden fence just days before his death, shared his passion for Villa. He said: “We are both fans and I am a season ticket holder and go to every game, but Ian is not.
“I always gave him an update. We last spoke two days before he passed away and he said they had lost their last chance but hoped they would play better against Crystal Palace at home on Saturday.
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“We often talked about Villa while I was mowing my lawn. I can’t believe he left in such a cruel way and we will never have those conversations again.
“I feel desperately sad and angry that he was not allowed to die in this place.
“Complaints were filed with the authorities after the last attack, but no one paid attention to them, nothing was done to apprehend the dogs or the owner.”
In a statement released on Friday, Staffordshire Police said James Trimble-Pettit, of Fradley, near Lichfield, has now been charged.
The brief statement added: “Ian’s family continues to be supported by specialist officers.
“Trimble-Pettit is due to appear at Cannock Magistrates’ Court on September 5.”
