CONVICTED (2023) | John Stewart, born c. 1960, and wife Cynthia Stewart born c. 1961, of Chapelton of Menmuir, near Edzell, Brechin DD9 7QN – subjected a dog and two cats to extreme neglect.
During the court appearance of “cruel and neglectful” John and Cynthia Stewart’, the judge noted the couple’s lack of remorse for their actions. Image source: Courier
John and Cynthia Stewart were given a 10-year ban on keeping animals after all three of their pets were put to sleep on humane grounds.
The remorseless couple offered no mitigation as they were sentenced for shocking cruelty to a 17-year old border collie named Ben and cats Ruff and Tumble, aged seven.
Starved and neglected: skeletal collie Ben was infested with fleas with the itching causing multiple lesions throughout his skin.
The stricken animals were rushed to a vet after being found in a state of suffering at the pair’s rural home by shocked Scottish SPCA investigators.
Collie Ben was severely emaciated. He had a cut on his leg so deep that the bone was visible, and was riddled with fleas. He was suffering from multiple skin lesions likely to have resulted from itching. He had severe alopecia and little muscle. His claws were overgrown with some curling painfully into his pads.
Ben’s body condition was given a score of 1/5.
Tumble was given a body condition score of 2/5. He was also suffering alopecia and skin excoriations. He had flea dirt throughout his coat and a heart murmur was detected.
He was given an ultrasound due to a bladder issue which had caused him to be pot-bellied. The cat was unable to fully empty his bladder.
Tumble also had a flea infestation, resulting in excessive itching and multiple lesions to the skin. He was also found to have a bladder condition which prevented him from urinating properly.
The vet said Tumble’s flea infestation should have been treated and must have been bothering the cat for at least a fortnight.
Ruff had similar skin and flea issues.
After the vet’s analysis, it was agreed Ben and Tumble would be immediately euthanised.
Post mortems concluded Ben’s condition would have been “easily identifiable” to anyone who saw him.
An ulcer found on his right hip was a result of lying on a hard surface for a long period and would have taken days to weeks to develop.
Ben would have suffered from distress for days to weeks and from arthritis for months to years.
Sentencing the Stewarts Sheriff Krista Johnston said: “These matters are very serious and I take them very seriously.
“This was a prolonged, appalling, offensive, avoidable way to treat these animals, supposedly in your care.
“It’s inconceivable you didn’t notice.
“It appears to me you were cruel and neglectful.
“You’ve shown no remorse, no insight into the ways these animals were treated and no realisation of the pain and suffering they must have undergone.”
Speaking afterwards Scottish SPCA Inspector Karen Cooper, said: “We are pleased that the Stewarts received a ban and supervision order, given the severity of neglect that Ben, Ruff and Tumble experienced.
“Their sheer disregard for the welfare of their animals was shocking.
“Although Ruff was in a slightly better condition than Ben and Tumble, upon being transferred to one of our centres for further care and attention it was discovered that he had a cancerous tumour.
“The difficult decision was therefore made to put him to sleep on veterinary advice.”
Sentencing | 200 hours of unpaid work each, reduced from the maximum community sentence of 300 hours due to the timing of their guilty pleas; 18 months of supervision. Banned from keeping animals for 10 years.
CONVICTED (2022) | Bradley Simpson, born 3 January 1998, of Watson Avenue, St Andrews KY16 8JE but with links to Honeygreen Road, Dundee DD4 8BG – stabbed his mother’s pet dog to death with a screwdriver.
Bradley Simpson stabbed a dog to death with a screwdriver and buried his burned remains in a local park.
Violent career criminal and drug abuser Simpson walked free from court with a 33-month ban on keeping animals and a social work referral after admitting repeatedly stabbing the German shepherd, called Buddy, with a screwdriver in Dundee.
Simpson formed part of the search party after Buddy was reported missing, before telling his mother: “You will never see him again. I’ve killed him.”
The remains of Buddy the German Shepherd were found burned and buried in a shallow grave.
The much-loved family pet had been in the family home when they went to bed but was missing the next morning. An alert was posted for the missing animal on a locally-targeted social media site and a search was carried out by a number of people.
Meanwhile, Simpson’s mother saw a pool of blood at the door of her home and splashes of blood within the living room and kitchen area. When she went outside to investigate further she saw more blood spattering on the side of the house.
Simpson was quizzed about what had happened and made comments about killing the dog and telling his family they would never see him again.
The search for Buddy came to an end when a horrified dog walker in a local park saw a scorched patch of ground close to a mound of disturbed soil which looked like it had been recently dug. When the mound was scraped back it revealed the charred remains of a dog, which was subsequently confirmed to be missing Buddy.
Simpson later spoke about being inspired to carry out the horrific slaying of the family pet after watching a Netflix series based around rescue dogs.
He admitted causing a protected animal unnecessary suffering. A not guilty plea to burning and dumping the dog in the park to conceal his crime was accepted by the Crown.
Solicitor Theo Finlay, defending, told the court: his client had been misusing drugs and this “has had a pretty catastrophic effect on him mentally.”
The dog killer had previously complained he had become “a target” during a period of remand in prison.
Simpson has a number of previous convictions, including for domestic abuse, under-age sex offending, theft and assault to permanent disfigurement.
Sentencing | three-year social work supervision order. Disqualified from owning or keeping any animal for just 33 months.
CONVICTED (2022) | Jason Louis McAndrew, born c. 1977, of Marketgate, Arbroath – failed to treat his dog’s agonising skin condition.
Mac was put to sleep to end his appalling suffering after being neglected by his heartless owner, Jason McAndrew.
McAndrew admitted causing unnecessary suffering and failing to provide appropriate care and treatment in relation to nine-year-old German shepherd Mac. Very sadly the dog was put to sleep because of his poor condition. He had fractured teeth, an infected wound and dermatitis.
McAndrew was fined £150 and given a two-year ban on keeping animals. The sentence has been criticised by the Scottish SPCA, which had hoped for a longer ban.
A member of the public first reported concerns about McAndrew’s injured dog to the animal welfare charity on October 22, 2020.
Inspector Karen Cooper said: “The dog was taken to a nearby veterinary surgery.
“Mac was later transported to a Scottish SPCA animal rescue and rehoming centre for further care and attention.”
An initial assessment revealed wounds down the dog’s legs and around his scrotum, where the top layer of skin had disappeared.
Ms Cooper said: “The wound was clearly very tender as Mac was unwilling to let anyone near it.
“All of the wounds were infected and weeping discharge which had become matted in to the hair around them.
“There was an obvious pungent smell coming from Mac and he was extremely sore because of his wounds.”
Later test results showed Mac had an auto immune condition where his body was “attacking its own skin.”
“This was likely to have been a condition that built up over time and was present for months if not years,” said Ms Cooper.
“His condition was potentially treatable and leaving his condition untreated led to Mac being caused unnecessary suffering for a prolonged period of time.”
Later that week, McAndrew agreed to sign Mac over into the care of the charity.
“Sadly, the difficult decision was made to put Mac to sleep on veterinary advice due to the extent of his injuries,” said Ms Cooper.
She added: “We would have hoped to have seen a lengthier ban as McAndrew was responsible for the welfare of Mac and sadly his needs were not met.
“We understand that veterinary treatment can be expensive, but ignoring Mac’s condition was not the way to handle the situation and caused him an unnecessary amount of suffering.”
She urged anyone with concerns about an animal to contact the Scottish SPCA hotline.
Sentencing | fined £150. Two-year ban on keeping animals.
CONVICTED (2022) | Rhys Owen Davies, born 12 December 1993, of Bwthyn Grug, Llanbedrog, Pwllheli LL53 7HN – kept five dogs for animal fighting and failed to treat their injuries.
Davies, who has now returned to his home town of Llanbedrog in North Wales, admitted keeping and training five Patterdale Terriers to fight animals, as well as failing to seek veterinary treatment for two which had sustained injuries from fighting.
Davies, a former gamekeeper at the Millden shooting estate* in Glenesk, Brechin, Angus DD9, also pleaded guilty to breaching the conditions of his firearms licence by having unsecured firearms and ammunition in his then home in Turnabrae House.
Davies kept trophy photos of dogs he used to fight and bait wild animals
The court heard that an employee of a photo print company contacted the SSPCA with serious concerns about the welfare of several dogs pictured in an order for 58 images placed by Davies.
Many of the dogs showed progressively more serious facial injuries over the period the images were taken and several males posing and digging into what looked like badger setts or fox dens. There were numerous images showing dead foxes.
Many of the images showed injured dogs and dead foxes.One horrific image showed a terrier latched onto a bleeding badger
The SSPCA identified them as ‘trophy’ photographs showing a group of males engaging in the organised fighting and killing of wild animals over an extended period. Davies was easily identifiable in many of the images.
Inspectors from the SSPCA and officers from Police Scotland went to Davies’ home in Brechin with a warrant on the morning of October 8, 2019. Police found a Benelli shotgun propped against a wall near the front door, two rifles were also found, a Tikka .243 rifle on the sofa and a CZ rifle in the hall cupboard next to the open gun cabinet.
An assortment of ammunition, including 23 bullets in a pot on the floor, five in a carrier bag behind the front door and one on top of a bed were seized by police.
Davies was pictured alongside others posing after digging into fox dens or badger setts.
Eleven dogs were found within kennels on the property. Five Patterdale Terrier dogs had obvious signs of injury.
Two of the terriers, Lola and Tuck, had fresh injuries. Lola’s were to her mouth and lower jaw and Tuck had part of his lower face missing and fresh injuries which produced an obvious smell when near the dog. There were also healing wounds to his forelegs.
All the dogs were taken to Scottish SPCA facilities for examination and treatment.
Inspectors found equipment on the property linked to illegal animal fighting including, locator collars, medication, needles and syringes and a staple gun used to staple up injuries.
Badger DNA was found on a red locator collar following forensic examination.
Photobooks were recovered from the property like the print order placed by Davies.
The dogs had been used repeatedly for fighting, resulting in serious disfigurement
Davies was interviewed under caution and admitted that the dogs had not received veterinary treatment in the time that he had owned them. He denied using the dogs to fight or kill foxes or badgers and claimed they had sustained injury from legal ratting and foxing.
Davies agreed to sign all the terrier dogs over to the Scottish SPCA for rehoming.
The injured dogs were examined by specialist vets. Their expert opinion was that the dogs had been kept for the purposes of animal fighting and their injuries were sustained from face-to-face combat with badgers or foxes.
Another dog is left disfigured after being trained to fight badgers and foxes for the entertainment of her sick owner
Davies’ phone was seized during the search and images of him engaged in digging activities and the dogs with fresh wounds were found. There were also numerous conversations with associates referencing digging activities and sharing photographs showing dogs pulling badgers out of setts.
A number of voice messages with associates were also found where they discussed digging with the dogs. In one message, Davies’ asks an individual about the size of photographs to print to make a digging album. Davies states, “And if I do get the knock for it at least everything’s all in the one place for them to find”.
GPS location data from Davies’ phone also placed him in two rural locations on 21 September 2019 where he was found to have had a conversation with the same associate about meeting to bait and later that night his associate sent an image of Davies standing in a large hole holding one of the terrier dogs.
Speaking after the sentencing, Karon Rollo, Head of the Wildlife and Environmental Crime Unit of COPFS said: “Animal fighting is a cruel illegal activity which causes terrible and unnecessary suffering to animals.
“The evidence clearly shows the scope of the involvement Rhys Davies had with an organised group that took pleasure in killing wild animals in such a wicked and inhumane manner.
“I welcome the sentence and the granting of the order preventing him from keeping animals for 15 years. I would like to thank Police Scotland and the Scottish SPCA for their part in investigating and gathering evidence of these offences.
“Hopefully this prosecution and the sentence will serve as a message to others who would cause such suffering that there are consequences and that they will be held to account for their actions and could also lose their liberty.
“COPFS will continue to work to ensure those who participate in these barbaric practices are prosecuted and would encourage anyone who may have information on animal fighting to contact Police Scotland or the Scottish SPCA.”
Sentencing | eight months in prison; £1,800 fine for firearms offences. Banned from owning or keeping animals for 15 years.
*The Millden Estate is one of a number of shooting estates in the Angus Glens. According to the insightful blog Raptor Persecution UK, the estate is “long- known amongst conservationists as a raptor persecution hotspot” where in 2009 a poisoned golden eagle named Alma was found, with a golden buzzard meeting a similar fate in the same year.
Another blogger, former police officer Alan Stewart aka the Wildlife Detective, described a “catalogue of criminality” taking place on the estate, with incidents including a working collie being poisoned in 2006. He continues:
Around the same time the eggs of a nesting hen harrier disappeared and two fresh shotgun cartridge cases were found near the nest. Despite DNA tests on the cartridge cases and the shotguns of the keepers being taken for comparison with the mark on the cartridge cases made by the firing pin no charges could be brought.
… in 2009 a dead otter was found in a fox snare.
In 2010 an egg tray and nitrile gloves, all with traces of pesticide, were recovered buried on the estate. It is likely that eggs baited with pesticide had been set out.
In 2011 a buzzard was seen being shot. The person doing the shooting drove off in a Land Rover. Neither the vehicle nor the person shooting could be identified. Despite a search on a rocky hill face, we were unable to recover the dead buzzard.
In 2012 … a satellite-tagged golden eagle probably caught in a spring trap, mysteriously moved overnight from Millden Estate and was found dumped, still alive and with two broken legs, on Deeside.
No one has ever been prosecuted for any of these alleged offences and Millden Estate has denied any responsibility.
On 1 November 2022 the Daily Record published an article revealing Rhys Davies’ links to other convicted wildlife persecutors Anthony Holloway (who’s also involved in dog fighting) and Liam Taylor.
CONVICTED (2021) | zoophiles Mark Findlater, born c. 1987, of Sidlaw Range, Kirriemuir DD8 5DW, Joshua Lee-Paterson, born c. 2000, of Millden Steading West, House West, Balmedie, Aberdeen AB23 8YY, and Jordan Turnbull, born c. 1992, of Meigle Street, Galashiels, TD1 1LN.
Horse rapists Jordan Turnbull (left) and Joshua Lee-Paterson
Jordan Turnbull and Joshua Lee-Paterson each admitted having an “unnatural connection” with separate horses at Cothal Farm in Fintray.
Serial offender Mark Findlater pictured during his previous prosecution case. He was said to have coerced the other two into raping the ponies
A third male, Mark Findlater, admitted a charge of distributing “obscene material” of his co-accused “engaging in sexual activities with horses”.
The incident happened in a small wooden stable in a field.
At the time, the Shetland ponies – named Jack and Ruby – were owned by Findlater.
The court heard Findlater was in a relationship with Turnbull and Lee-Paterson at different times.
Jordan Turnbull
Both men blamed him, claiming he controlled and manipulated them into attacking the horses.
Lee-Paterson said he was trying to protect the animals.
Prosecutor Colin Neilson told the court: “He said that Findlater had threatened to harm the horses if he didn’t carry out the acts.”
All of the depraved incidents, during which an air compression device was used, were captured on a mobile phone.
Findlater, who has a past conviction for possession of animal pornography, insisted he had not witnessed the sickening attacks and received the images on social media.
Between January 17 and February 11, 2020, Findlater sent a number of packages to people containing letters “describing the acts of bestiality undertaken by the co-accused” along with images depicting the acts.
The images were sent to various people including the manager of a hotel, residents of several farms and cottages, and a newspaper reporter.
Joshua Lee-Paterson
Solicitor Stuart Murray, representing Lee-Paterson, said the offence had taken place when his client was “on the cusp of turning 18”.
He added a court-ordered social work report contained discussion over concerns of “controlling and coercive behaviour” from Findlater.
Regarding the offence, Mr Murray went on: “He’s struggling to come to terms with the fact he has taken part in that type of behaviour.
“The report states Mr Paterson was not driven or motivated by any sexual attraction to animals.”
The solicitor said his client suffered from “worrying mental health issues and had been “coerced” into committing the offence.
Defence agent James Caird, representing Findlater, said: “He was not involved in the abuse of the animals or in any way present when the photos were taken.
“He received these images as a member of a social media group.”
Mr Caird said his client suffered from mental health problems, adding: “His position is he was a whistle-blower in this matter.”
The solicitor accepted Findlater had a previous conviction for possession of “similar material”.
Lawyer Mathew Patrick, appearing for Turnbull, said his client had also been pressured into committing the offence.
He said: “Were it not for that intimidation, it’s certain, Mr Turnbull’s position is, this offence would not have taken place.”
Mr Patrick said his client is “otherwise a respectable member of society” and runs his own firm.
He explained Turnbull suffered from psychological difficulties, added: “It does seem to me he’s easily open to suggestion and easily led and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if that played some part in this.”
Sentencing: Findlater – jailed for 13 months and two weeks. Lee-Paterson – 18 months supervision and 225 hours of unpaid work. He was also made subject to the notification requirements of the Sexual Offences Act for 18 months. Turnbull – jailed for seven months and made subject to the notification requirements for 10 years. None of them were banned from keeping or having access to animals.
Joshua Lee-Paterson gave his address in court as Bell Place, Bagshot, Surrey GU19 5NE.
Update October 2022
Operation Frankish 2 – Cage The Monsters (OF) revealed on their Facebook page that Jordan Turnbull was working as a coach driver with Edinburgh Coach Lines, and dealing with members of the public, including children, on a daily basis.
Suspecting that Edinburgh Coach Lines was unaware of their employee’s sick past, OF reached out but the company’s response was muted to say the least.
So OF went to the papers and on 18 October 2022 The Sun ran a story on the scandal, with their reporter confronting Turnbull at his workplace.
Like his (hopefully now former) employer, Turnbull had little to say.
Excellent work as ever by OF as another animal abuser learns the hard way that their vile behaviour will neither be forgiven, nor forgotten.
CONVICTED (2018) | prolific hare courser James McPhee, born c. 1967, of Bloomfield Crescent, Arbroath DD11 3LL – unleashed lurcher dogs on wild hares.
Car dealer McPhee, who is now said to be living in Roseacres Chalets, Newport-on-Tay, Fife DD6 8SP, pleaded guilty to charges of hunting a brown hare with a dog at Carrot Farm, Carrot Hill, Inverarity, on April 28, 2017, and at Ingliston Farm in Forfar, on May 12, 2017.
The court heard that as a member of the travelling community, McPhee had been in the habit of hare coursing for food, resulting in a number of previous convictions.
Defence solicitor Nick Markowski said that in the first offence the accused had been seen with his daughters in a field, while the other matter involved two dogs and several men in what the court was told was a “classic hare coursing” scenario.
Mr Markwoski said McPhee’s dog, Gip, had now been given to a friend and had recently had pups.
“His record of 35 convictions over the past 20 years is reasonably significant, but it has slowed down and his last contravention of the Wild Mammals Act was in 2009,” the lawyer said.
“He accepts he has a record for hare coursing from when he was a younger man and he is under no illusions that what is uppermost in the court’s mind is prison.
“He doesn’t have a dog, that car was sold for very little and he is apologetic to the court,” said Mr Markowski.
Sheriff Murray told McPhee there were “several aspects of considerable concern” in the case, including his role in driving others to participate in coursing and giving away the dog, which he said could often be worth thousands of pounds in such crimes.
“What occurred was obviously hare coursing and these are your 11th and 12th convictions so there can be no alternative to a sentence of imprisonment,” said the sheriff.
In 2016 McPhee was prosecuted for hare coursing alongside father and son Mark Reid and John Stewart and others, but was cleared on that occasion due to lack of evidence.
CONVICTED (2016) | Mark Reid, born 18/08/1970, of the travellers site in Tealing, Dundee DD4 0QY and his son John Stewart, born 07/02/1995, previously of Balgate Mill in Kiltarlity, near Beauly, Scottish Highlands, but more recently of Balmoral Terrace, Dundee DD4 8SJ – set lurchers on wild hares and watched as the dogs tore the animals apart
Remorseless John Stewart and Mark Reid pictured outside court
Mark Reid and his son John Stewart were found guilty of deliberately hunting brown hares with three dogs at West Cultmalundie Farm, Tibbermore, near Perth, on 2 November 2015.
This was Reid’s third conviction for wildlife crime.
Two other men – James McPhee, born c. 1967, of Bloomfield Crescent, Arbroath DD11 3LL (but more recently of Roseacres Chalets, Newport-on-Tay DD6 8SP) and James McConnachie, born c. 1968, of Forres Crescent, Dundee DD3 0EP – were cleared during the trial due to a lack of evidence linking them directly to hare coursing.
Prolific hare courser James McPhee was cleared on this occasion but has dozens of convictions for similar offences
McPhee went on to be jailed in 2018 for further hare coursing offences.
The rigid carcasses of the two dead hares were shown during the trial.
One witness said he saw two lurchers “pulling a hare apart”.
Robert McElwee told the trial: “The people with them were further away. Before that we had seen them for some time with the dogs. They were lined out across the field looking for hares.
“We knew what it was – coursing hares.”
He said one of the men shouted “video that” as they took footage which was later passed to the police and shown during the trial.
Mr McElwee said: “That’s when the two dogs were pulling the hare to bits.
“I saw one lying dead at the side of the road.”
PC George Westwood said: “I saw two persons running off with dogs across the field. They were wearing Barbour-style jackets.
“We collected two hares from the stubble field near the steading. They were fresh, they were still limp.”
Solicitor Douglas Williams, defending Reid, said: “He has a previous conviction for this activity from Forfar and he comes from a background where this activity has, to an extent, been normalised.
“When he returns to his extended family in Ireland, hare coursing isn’t illegal and is ongoing.
“He goes to Ireland once a year and part of the activities he gets involved in is hare coursing.”
Sheriff Lindsay Foulis said: “The whole tenor of the report is indicative of someone who quite frankly doesn’t consider they have done anything wrong and has no intention of altering his ways.
“Against that background I have very considerable reservations whether any fine of a significant nature would be paid.”
Sentencing: Mark Reid – jailed for four months*; banned for six years from keeping any dogs (expired March 2022).
John Stewart – ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work; banned from keeping dogs for just two years (expired 2018).
CONVICTED (2015) | Sean Thain, born c. 1995, of Plantingside Cottage, Edzell, Brechin DD9 7XR* – “choke-slammed” a husky puppy onto a tiled kitchen floor.
2021 mugshot of Sean Thain
The unnamed puppy was left injured and limping after the spontaneous attack carried out by Thain at his parents’ home.
He appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and admitted causing his family dog unnecessary suffering on March 21, 2014.
The court heard that Thain had invited three friends round to his home at Plantingside Cottage, Edzell, for some drinks as his parents were away.
When they arrived the four of them began drinking beer and vodka.
This is believed to be the puppy subjected to a sickening attack by her owner, Sean Thain. Tragically, the puppy later died from meningitis, which Thain’s lawyer insisted was not linked to the assault.
Shortly later, without warning, Thain picked up the puppy by her collar and tossed her into the air before throwing her down on the hard kitchen floor.
Fiscal depute Cheryl Clark said that the dog appeared to be injured as a result of the “choke-slam” and limped away under the table.
The court heard that later on, Thain became aggressive when friend Kyle Leask tried to take a pillow from the accused’s room so he could go to sleep on the floor.
Ms Clark said that Thain tried to punch Mr Leask and missed, but then kicked him in the chest.
The court heard that as a result of his behaviour a fight broke out among the friends and Thain’s parents returned home.
They then called the police.
Defence agent Iain McGregor told the court the husky had since died after catching meningitis. He said this was in no way connected to the incident involving his client.
Thain had also been accused of threatening to set the dog on fire the next morning, but his not guilty plea was accepted by the Crown.
Sentencing was deferred to June 2015 but the outcome isn’t available online.
The Press and Journal reported that Thain was attacked at a party by a 25-year-old animal lover named Adam Martin. Adam lost his temper after overhearing Thain bagging to party guests that he’d killed a dog.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard Thain was left with permanent scarring after Adam’s attack left him with 10 stitches to the inside and outside of his mouth.
Fiscal depute Andrew McMann told the court that Adam and Thain had been drinking together at a house on Cairngrassie Circle, Portlethen, on October 15, 2021.
“During the course of the night, the accused received a telephone call from another person which appeared to aggravate him,” he said.
“As the complainer was standing beside a sofa the accused began to be aggressive towards him.
“An argument took place and the accused then headbutted the complainer who lost his balance and fell down.”
As Thain attempted to cover his face, Adam rained down repeated blows on his face.
Mr McMann said that Thain got up and tried to walk away, but Adam continued to punch him in the face “multiple times”.
Adam pleaded guilty to one charge of assault by headbutting and punching Thain to his injury.
Defence agent Christopher Maitland told the court that his client’s behaviour was in reaction to the complainer telling people he’d killed a dog.
“This was something he was boasting about,” Mr Maitland said.
“Mr Martin is an animal lover and took great umbrage to this – he’d been drinking and lost control.
“It’s very unfortunate that he acted in this way but he feels remorseful about it and has taken responsibility for his actions.”
Sheriff Andrew Miller told Martin: “I note that you have a previous conviction for assault but that was six and a half years ago.
“You have pled guilty at the first opportunity and I think the best thing all round to draw a line under this is to impose a fine.”
CONVICTED (2013) | Kevin Hutcheon, born 26/01/1989, of Golden Acre, Montrose DD10 0EX – repeatedly stabbed a dog in the street
Kevin Hutcheon adds animal cruelty to his long list of criminal convictions
Violent career criminal Kevin Hutcheon left the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, named Rocco, “lifeless” after claiming the dog had bitten his foot.
When police arrived at the scene, they found the dog with multiple injuries and covered in blood. Despite his wounds, Rocco survived the attack.
Sergeant James Robertson told the court that he and a colleague found the badly injured dog lying in Victoria Street, Montrose on 9 August 2013.
He said: “When I arrived the dog was heavily covered in blood – it was soaked in blood and lifeless.”
PC Rhiannon McDonald, who also attended the incident, said Hutcheon, who did not own the dog, had said the animal attacked him.
She said: “[Hutcheon] had two small puncture wounds on his foot – he said he had been bitten on the foot and that he had stabbed the dog twice because he had been bitten.
“I had seen the dog a few times before in the street – he was always very happy and friendly and let you pat him.”
A search of Hutcheon’s home later found a blood-soaked knife sitting on a baby’s high chair.
Hutcheon, giving evidence in his own defence, said he “loved animals” – but had been left with no choice but to stab the dog.
He said: “He was trying to take a snap at either my face or my neck. I gave it a kick and the dog went for my foot.
“I love animals. He attacked me and wouldn’t let me go.”
Earlier, a vet told the trial that the dog would have died within an hour if he had not received treatment for a series of wounds, which included a cut to his jugular vein.
A jury convicted Hutcheon of causing a protected animal unnecessary suffering by repeatedly stabbing it with a knife, contrary to the Animal Health and Welfare Act, and being in possession of a knife in Victoria Street following the attack.
He was acquitted of charges of threatening two men and a woman at the property, headbutting the woman and being in possession of a knife.
Sentencing: jailed for 12 months on the animal welfare charge and 21 months on the knife charge. Sentences were concurrent.
#MostEvil | Declan Kevin Baker, born 6 January 1991, of Craig O’Loch Road, Forfar DD8 1BZ – cooked a kitten in a microwave
Sadistic kitten killer Declan Baker pictured outside court in 2009 (left) with a more recent (2019) photo of him on the right.
In February 2009 Baker pleaded guilty to cooking a four-week-old kitten in a microwave.
Although the kitten initially survived, one of his paws became swollen and flesh elsewhere on his tiny body started to decay. Six days after the attack he was put to sleep to end his suffering.
Baker could not explain his sadistic act other than to say that he had drank half-a-bottle of whisky and that it was a joke that had gone too far.
The kitten – one of a litter – belonged to Baker’s friend, who called the police when he discovered what Baker had done. Animal welfare campaigners were disappointed that Baker was not given a custodial sentence. However, Baker was met with angry scenes outside the court and had to be taken home in a police van. He had also received death threats.
In January 2010 Baker was told that he would not have to complete his community service sentence due to a debilitating medical condition, the precise nature of which was not revealed.
Sentencing: 120 hours of community service. Banned from keeping pets for seven years (expired 2016).
