CONVICTED (2009) | Simon Galliott, born 09/08/1975, of Westfield Road, Yeovil BA21 3DA – shot a dog in the eye with an air pistol.
Twisted: Simon Galliott (pictured, 2020) only received a two-year ban despite attacking a defenceless dog
On 11 October 2008 Galliott shot his then partner’s Staffordshire bull terrier Jake in the eye with an air pistol leaving him in excruciating pain.
Galliott alleged that Jake became over-excited and bit an 11-year-old child.
Galliott flew into a rage and went upstairs to fetch his air rifle, returning a few minutes later.
Simon Galliott pictured outside court in 2009 and (inset) photo of Jake’s horrific eye injury
The court heard how he goaded Jake before shooting him in the eye, which later had to be removed.
Sentencing: Galliott was banned from keeping animals for two years and ordered to pay fines and costs of £2,200. Jake remains with Galliott’s ex partner.
#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).
CONVICTED (2009) | Marianne Stribling aka Marianne Arkless, born 16/01/1981, of John Gay Close, Barnstaple EX32 8DB – locked two dogs in a garden shed to starve to death and failed to feed a rabbit
Pet killer Marianne Stribling is banned for life from keeping animals but had already breached her ban just one year after her initial sentence
German shepherd Charm and a collie named Prince were left to died in agony over three weeks in Stribling’s back yard. All that remained of Prince was matted fur, teeth and bones. Charm had eaten his remains in desperation before she also starved to death.
The corpses of the two dogs were found in a tiny garden shed. No food or water was available and a fenced-off run in the yard was covered in dog faeces and mud.
An RSPCA inspector was forced to crawl through a kitchen window to get in to the yard, because Stribling had lost the back door key.
A rabbit was also found at the scene. She too had been starved and had to be put to sleep.
Stribling told magistrates she had credit card debts totalling between £20,000 and £30,000 and could not afford to buy food for the dogs – one of which was said to have been an unwanted gift.
She claimed she had been “vilified” and had received death threats.
Animal welfare protestors were out in force at Stribling’s trial and as she was led away to begin a three-month prison sentence a woman in the public gallery called her an “evil bitch”.
Stribling was also banned from keeping animals for life, but in November 2009, following a tip-off, the RSPCA discovered two eight-week old kittens at her home. Police had to be called when the inspector was abused by a neighbour of Stribling but the cats were eventually handed over.
Sentencing: 12 weeks in prison. Banned from keeping animals for life.
CONVICTED (2009) | Jamie Paul Lismore, born 11 August 1984, of 34 Bankwell Street*, Brierley Hill, Dudley DY5 1PW – abandoned his animals, leaving one starving cat to eat her own kittens.
2015 photo of Jamie Lismore
Nine pets belonging to Jamie Lismore were left to die having been without food and water for at least one week. Three kittens aged just two weeks, were found dead at Lismore’s then home in The Avenue, Darlaston, while another young cat died despite the best efforts of RSPCA personnel to save her.
The young cats had become trapped in the kitchen alongside their three-year-old mother Maddie who had been so neglected she was rated as one on the body condition scoring system – which means emaciated.
Two of the kittens were dismembered, one dead and another was in such a bad way he had to be put down.
With the help of police, RSPCA inspector Deborah Scotcher managed to get inside the faeces-riddled property on July 9, 2008, where the animals appeared hungry and thirsty.
Lismore during his court appearance in February 2009
When assessed by vets the highest body score rating was three out of five for labrador, Major, who was around a year-old, while black and white collie Minstral, aged two, and tan mastiff cross-breed Duke, around eight months, rated just two. A three-month old cat called Patrick was also found.
It was only then the other cats, in the kitchen, were seen. Vets could not confirm if the kittens had died of starvation or were stillborn.
Lismore, who also has links to West Bromwich, admitted three charges of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and two of being a person responsible for an animal to ensure its welfare.
Mr Nick Sutton, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said: “This was a grave situation of abandonment.”
Mr Rob Perry, defending, said Lismore had been through a relationship breakdown at the time and was not regularly staying at the property. He said: “He is regretful and deeply sorry.”
Sentencing: 17 weeks in prison. Disqualified from keeping any animals for 25 years (expires 2034).
CONVICTED (2009) | Dominic Aaron Playdon, born c. 1982, of Mansfield House, Chelmsley Wood, Birmingham B37 6RT – kicked a puppy, causing factures, then failed to get her treatment.
Dominic Playdon aka DJ Domstep. Picture: Facebook.
Playdon, who according to his current (2022) Facebook profile is a “DJ, Producer, Artist”, was convicted of animal cruelty after the dog, a five-month-old Staffy named Sasha, had to have a leg amputated.
The court heard he kicked Sasha, causing severe injury, and then failed to take her to the vet for several weeks. When Playdon finally took the dog to an RSPCA hospital vets discovered the extent of the injury. Sadly, it was too late to save one of Sasha’s legs.
Gaynor Sutton, for the RSPCA, told the court: “Given the severity of the fracture and the fact that amputation was necessary, it is likely severe trauma had occurred.
“The lack of explanation and quiet nature of the dog meant vets suspected non-accidental injury.”
Playdon was also convicted of three charges of theft after stealing his neighbours bank cards and 15 counts of fraud for using the cards to purchase items including mobile phones.
After the sentence was passed, Mrs Sutton said she hoped Playdon’s punishment would serve as an example to other pet owners. She added: “I am pleased with the result, particularly the ban because it means other animals won’t be placed in serious harm.
“This is a serious offence, it was deliberate.”
Sentencing: jailed for four months. Banned from keeping animals for life.
Playdon’s Facebook business page is here. He trades under the name ‘DJ Domstep’.
At the time of the offence, Playdon was living in Church Road, Erdington, Birmingham but as of 2021 he lives in Chelmsley Wood (source: public electoral roll).
An ex-partner of Dominic Playdon described her time with him. The implications are that Playdon is a serial animal abuser and dog killer and domestic abuser. These must be treated as allegations but the source is reliable.
[Playdon] sat and told me all the gory details about how he strangled a puppy to death, called his mate to dump the body, got angry with the other dog and beat it up for going near him when he was upset that the puppy had died.
I also found out social services took his son from him and his ex at birth. He’s a real wrong’un. He’s manipulative, controlling and evil. He literally locked me in his flat to stop me going out he’s disgusting.
CONVICTED (2009) | John Michael Bagster, born 14/04/1988, formerly of Stamford , Lincolnshire, and more recently (2019) of Stewart Court, Ransome Road, Gun Hill, Coventry CV7 8NX – subjected a dog to a litany of violent abuse.
Puppy abuser John Bagster originally from Stamford, Lincs, and Minty, the victim of his sadistic violence
Puppy Minty was taken in by Bagster at just 12 weeks old, but suffered a catalogue of sustained cruelty over a 3-week period.
In one early incident Bagster and his friend Thomas Robinson put Minty in a trolley and spun him around. When they took the puppy out he collapsed to the floor, dizzy – something the pair found hilarious.
The cruelty got worse. On one occasion Bagster punched Minty very hard to his hip with a clenched fist. The puppy let out a yelp and from that day onwards had a limp.
Less than one month after being adopted by Bagster, little Minty was subjected to a brutal attack when the yob hit him with a frying pan, repeatedly punched him and smashed him around in a trolley. The pup suffered a pelvic fracture, broken hind leg and a swollen and bruised leg and stomach.
Sentence: 21 weeks in a young offenders institution for each of three charges he faced. The sentences were suspended for one year. Bagster was also sentenced to 120 hours’ community service and ordered to pay RSPCA costs of £700. Bagster was banned from keeping animals for 15 years (expires 2024).
Bagster’s equally cruel accomplice Thomas Robinson of Water Street, Stamford, was prosecuted separately for his involvement in Minty’s ordeal. He was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to the dog and handed a 15-year pet ban, 80 hours of community service and ordered to pay £250 in court costs.
CONVICTED (2009) | Shane Walker, born circa 1989, of Addlestone, Surrey repeatedly kicked and stamped on a dog’s head at a railway station.
Career criminal Walker, who went on to commit murder, admitted beating his auntie’s bull terrier Daisy, horrifying onlookers and leaving his pet whimpering.
Walker, then of Bridge Wharf, Chertsey, had been drinking in pubs in Surbiton with his cousin on September 25 2008 and was on his way home when the attack happened at 10pm.
Walker was seen punching, kicking and stamping on the dog, and witnesses were “clearly shocked and disturbed by the incident”.
He told police he had only drunk a few lagers but could not remember hitting the dog, or anything until he woke up in police cells the next morning.
Daisy was taken away from her owner and into the possession of the police on suspicion of being a banned breed. Her fate is unknown.
Defence solicitor John Sellars insisted Walker was only “play fighting” with the dog, but added: “Certainly there was a breach of the peace and he went a bit far.”
He said the dog had no serious injuries and was otherwise in a healthy condition.
Sentencing | Two weeks in custody to run concurrently with a sentence he was already serving for burglary, meaning he served no extra time for the animal cruelty offence. Banned from keeping any animal but allowed to apply to have the order lifted after 12 months.
