Man pleads guilty to owning dangerously out-of-control XL hooligan who killed his neighbor near Sunderland

A man has pleaded guilty to owning the dangerously out-of-control bully dog XL which killed his neighbour.

Christopher Bell, 45, admitted the offense at Newcastle Crown Court.

Hooligan XL killed Ian Langley in Shiny Row, near Sunderland, on October 3 last year.

A 54-year-old man suffered a fatal neck injury when he was attacked while walking his puppy.

Bell, formerly of Maple Terrace, Shiny Row, pleaded guilty to being the owner of a dog which caused bodily harm resulting in death while in a dangerous condition without control in a public place.

Bell, who now lives in Coltman Street, Hull, has been released on bail and will be sentenced on January 27.

The accused called his dog Titan – “American hooligan XL”.

Police shot the dog at the scene to protect the public.

Neighbors said Mr Langley, who was originally from Liverpool, was walking his puppy, called Bow, when he was attacked.

His puppy escaped and managed to escape and was cared for by a neighbor after the attack, which horrified the residents of the estate.

At the time, Michael Kennedy, also of Shiney Row, said he had known Mr Langley for more than 20 years and said many people knew him simply as “Scouse”.

He said: “He was a really good lad, he came from Liverpool, he was a nice rogue you could say.

“He never did anything wrong, he wasn’t a violent person, he wasn’t a tough person, he wasn’t one to look for trouble.

“He was very thin, he wouldn’t have stood a chance against a big dog.”