CONVICTED (2016) | Rowan Murphy (aka Rowan Heseltine), born 16 September 1996, from Middlesbrough but with links to Gainsborough, Lincolnshire – struck his pet dog on the back with an axe because he was in a bad mood.
Vicious brute Murphy claimed to be “an animal lover” when he appeared before magistrates.
He was found guilty of inflicting a 3cm-deep cut to Staffy Rocky’s lower back before leaving his pet to suffer in pain for up to a fortnight from the untreated wound.
The vet who treated the dog feared the wound had damaged its backbone. He discovered previous wounds that had healed, and found the pet was 2kg underweight.
When Lincoln magistrates condemned Murphy as being “not very nice to animals”, he replied: “I love animals.”
He was warned that “owning so much as a goldfish” would see him jailed.
Rachel Taylor, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said: “In the vet’s opinion Rocky was caused severe distress and pain at the time the injury was caused.
“There was further pain and suffering for seven to 14 days by the failure to seek veterinary treatment.”
Murphy had denied two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal at Frampton Terrace, Gainsborough, between February 18 and March 3 and 4, 2015, but was found guilty in absence at his trial.
The court heard how he had shouted at his three dogs to leave the living room after a row with his then partner. Rocky snapped a broom handle Murphy was holding, then the factory worker swung his axe.
The RSPCA and police stepped in following a tip-off from his girlfriend’s dad but could not access the Gainsborough address.
The man also told officials Murphy confessed that he “hit Rocky with the axe because he bit me”.
The court heard the girlfriend found Rocky injured at a previous address the couple had vacated and called the RSPCA. On being questioned Murphy claimed he had been robbed in the street by a gang who attacked the dog with an axe.
Gordon Holt, defending, said: “Mr Heseltine [Murphy] was at home with his partner.
“They had argued and he was in a bad mood.
“Rocky and the two other dogs were shouted at by Mr Heseltine to leave the living room.
“Rocky then went for him and snapped a broom handle that the defendant was holding.
“He accepts that he hit Rocky with an axe to his lower back and that was an over reaction to the dog becoming distressed at him.
“He buried his head in the sand and failed to get medical attention.”
Rocky was successfully re-homed.
Sentence: 12-week suspended prison sentence; £850 costs. Banned from keeping any animal for 10 years (expires March 2026).
I hope he has more patience with that Child He Is Pictured With.
As he obviously hasn’t got any patience with Dogs.
Thanks to the Girlfriends Dad for Reporting Him.
Scum is not safe with anything.
He won’t have no luck for what he has done.