CONVICTED (2011) | Scott Westlake, born 7 December 1987, of 9 Austin Close, Frome BA11 5AY – punched a dog in the face causing an eye injury
Westlake attacked the Staffy, known as Dogger, after becoming angry at having to clean up mess the dog had made. The RSPCA were alerted by concerned neighbours who reported sounds of a dog being beaten, and attended to find Dogger with a cut to his eye. The inspector told Westlake to take the dog to a vet but he only did so two days later.
The vet who examined Dogger concluded that his eye injury was consistent with being struck by a human fist and the person responsible would have caused unnecessary suffering to it as a result.
Dogger belonged to Westlake’s friend, Jason Dando, who had apparently “dumped” him on Westlake on many occasions. Dando has been cautioned by the police.
Sentencing: two-year conditional discharge, £500 towards costs; three-year ban on keeping animals (expired 2014).
#MostEvil | Matthew West, also known as Matthew Ryan, born 06/02/1990, a career criminal originally of Embankment Road, Plymouth PL4 9HX, but with links to Camborne, Cornwall – kicked and dragged a Staffordshire bull terrier; the dog’s leg had to be amputated and she lost the sight of one eye
West kicked and dragged five-month-old Staffy Tia so severely that one of her hind legs was badly broken and later had to be amputated. The court heard that Tia was also found to be blind in one eye, had symptoms of mild concussion and had grazes over her body.
A passer-by saw West kicking and dragging the puppy down the street and alerted police.
Victim Tia
West gave evidence to say that the dog was already injured when he bought her for £250 a few days before. He denied kicking or dragging the dog and said he was just trying to get her to walk.
West’s lawyer said his client had a history of psychiatric problems.
West was found guilty and sentenced to 12 weeks in jail for the animal cruelty offence and banned from keeping animals for 25 years. He was given a further four weeks for a public order offence in which he had threatened a female housing officer and said he would ‘burn the place down’.
Sentence: 12-week prison sentence; 25-year ban on keeping animals (expires September 2036).
CONVICTED (2011) | Leigh Lynch, born c. 1972, of Gorse Road, Shirley, Croydon CR0 – starved a German Shepherd and mastiff for 21 days
Leigh Lynch
Mother-of-two Leigh Lynch pleaded guilty to starving her German Shepherd dog Lady and female mastiff Stella for 21 days.
She denied three extra counts of not ensuring animal welfare by not taking the two pets to the vets for overgrown claws, fleas and a skin condition.
Mastiff Stella was starved and neglected by cruel Leigh Lynch alongside a German shepherd
Speaking after the case an RSPCA inspector said: “These dogs were very clearly underweight and that would have been obvious to anyone who saw them. The owner should have sought help to care for her dogs and not simply left them neglected and hungry. There is no excuse”.
Sentence: 250 hours’ community work; £500 costs, four-year ban on keeping animals (expired 2015).
CONVICTED (2011) | Ian Procko (aka Caim Procko) of Ferrers Walk, St Ann’s, Nottingham NG3 2GN – kicked a dog in the head and stabbed him in the shoulder
The court heard that Ian Procko “flipped” when the dog bit his girlfriend, Georgia Burrows. He took the unnamed animal into the kitchen where he kicked him in the head before stabbing him in the shoulder. The dog survived the attack but was later put down due to an unrelated illness.
Following his court appearance, Procko was assaulted by two men. One attempted to stab him in the chest with a knife. The other attacked Procko with a machete resulting in him sustaining a hand injury. Procko jumped over a wall to escape. Two men were later questioned in connection with the incident.
Sentencing: 12-month community order of 135 hours’ unpaid work. He was not banned from keeping animals.
CONVICTED (2011) | Alex Downes, born 14/04/1989, of Alberta Street, Stoke-on-Trent ST3 4LB- attacked his pet boxer dog, fracturing his jaw and causing head and eye injuries
Alex Downes
Downes had been drinking and taking the MCAT drug when he attacked his dog, Bronson, because he had made a mess on the floor.
Police had gone to the defendant’s home following a report of breaking glass and a dog barking, When they knocked at the door they heard shouting, a scream and a dog.
Zoe Speake, prosecuting, told the court: “When Downes answered the door a malnourished dog staggered out from behind him panting. It had a number of injuries and the defendant had blood on one of his trainers.”
Ms Speake said Downes told them: “The dog messed on the floor so I gave him a beating.”
Officers who went into the house saw blood on the walls and on the floor.
Magistrates heard that a vet who examined the dog found he had multiple injuries including a fractured jaw, head trauma and trauma to both eyes.
Sentencing: jailed for 12 weeks. Banned from keeping animals for life but can appeal from September 2021.
CONVICTED (2011) | dogfighters Colin Barclay Reid, born 12 October1986, of Smith Road, Banff AB45 1BN and brother David Lewis Reid, born 6 October 1988, of High Shore, Macduff AB44 1SN
“Cruel and barbaric” brothers Colin (left) and David Reid were only banned from keeping dogs for five years despite being described as key players in organised dog fighting
In September 2011 Colin and David Reid pleaded guilty to encouraging bull terrier-type dogs to attack each other at a disused open-air swimming pool in Tarlair between July 29, 2008 and January 20, 2011, and also to keeping dogs for fighting.
Video footage captured the Reid brothers forcing their dogs to fight.
Undercover investigators raided the homes of the pair and found footage of dogfighting on a laptop. The brothers were believed to have operated among a wider ring of dogfighters.
And it is believed they had been involved in the depraved activity for years.
One of the injured dogs rescued from the scene
The case marked the first conviction for animal fighting since new legislation allowed SSPCA inspectors to search and enter homes of suspected dog fight organisers.
The brothers are close associates of a man whose dog was found in a ditch by the SSPCA during the investigation.
The dog had been shot through the skull and investigators are convinced other dogs who had become too old to earn their keep through fighting would also have been killed.
Convicted dogfighter Colin Reid in 2018. He’s now a father and also owns at least one dog.
Other fighting dogs were found dead within 20 miles of Banff, showing signs of appalling cruelty and suggesting the problem was widespread.
The dogs are believed to have been killed and dumped to avoid the SSPCA bringing charges against their owners.
In 2006, David Reid was convicted of cutting off part of both ears of two bull terriers with scissors. He pleaded guilty and was banned for two years from keeping animals and fined £300.
2018 photo of Colin Reid. His ban on keeping dogs expired in September 2016.
An undercover investigator said: “The implication of mutilating this animal was that it was a fighting dog.
“Owners do this to ready dogs for fights, to make them look fierce and to stop other dogs locking jaws on their ears while fighting.
“At the time, we couldn’t prove that he was involved in dogfighting but then the case was blown wide open when we saw the video.
“It shows both Reid brothers throwing their own dogs into a fight in the middle of the night at a secluded place not far from their home.”
The investigator added: “We also found videos of dog fights from eastern Europe.”
Colin Reid has a tattoo glorifying dog fighting.
The probe uncovered evidence from farmers, who believed their cattle may have been attacked by dogfighters training their animals.
The crucial evidence was gathered when the SSPCA investigation team and police raided four homes, seizing six pit bulls.
Intelligence was received the following month that a dog had been shot and dumped on a farm.
Officers were shocked to see a clear bullet hole through the back of its skull.
The dog’s carcass still held an identifying microchip, which proved it belonged to an associate of the Reid brothers.
David Reid was also sentenced to jail for going on the rampage after he was reported to the SSPCA. He hunted down a man he suspected of “grassing” him and attacked him along with an accomplice, breaking his skull and pelvis.
The Scottish SPCA said the case sent a message to anyone taking part in the “abhorrent activity.”
It followed an undercover operation by the animal charity.
Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn said: “Our investigation revealed both David and Colin Reid were heavily involved in dog fighting, a sickening crime which causes dogs horrendous injuries and can often be fatal.
“It is testament to our inspectors involved that these extremely cruel and barbaric men are serving jail sentences.
“This was the first conviction for animal fighting under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act of 2006, which empowers Scottish SPCA inspectors to search and enter homes under warrants to retrieve evidence.”
He added: “During raids on the Reid brothers we discovered video evidence which not only proved their guilt but also clearly demonstrated their fascination in watching the poor dogs involved viciously fight each other.
“We also removed six dogs, including three pitbull terrier-type dogs which are illegal having been classified as dangerous, veterinary equipment and various paraphernalia associated with dog fighting.”
Sentencing: David Reid was jailed for six months and Colin Reid was sentenced to four months. They were banned from keeping dogs for just five years (expired September 2016).
Two other men were initially prosecuted for dog fighting alongside the Reid brothers, namely William Stuart from Macduff and Stuart Grant from Banff.
The outcome of their cases was never reported. Full details:
Alleged Accomplice 1: William Allan Stuart, born 16 January 1975, of Doune Crescent, Macduff AB44 1PN
Alleged Accomplice 2: Stuart Alexander Grant, born 7 February 1980, previously of Seafield Crescent, Banff and more recently Birch Grove, Mintlaw, Peterhead AB42 5GN
CONVICTED (2011) | Scott McDonnell, born 8 October 1980, with a most recent known address of Blackburn Road, Haslingden, Rossendale BB4* – abandoned a dog in a hazardous environment without food and water.
McDonnell, then of Hardman Terrace, Stacksteads, admitted leaving a dog unattended and failing to provide him with a suitable diet.
The court heard that McDonnell was staying with friends but had left his dog behind in a house that was littered with broken glass. Although McDonnell claimed to love the dog, he had left him without food, water, walks or companionship as he couldn’t be bothered to walk the short distance back to his house to care for him.
The underweight animal was finally rescued after RSPCA inspectors, who had been watching the house and had repeatedly tried to squirt water to the dog through an air vent, alerted police who broke in.
McDonnell, who alleged he had been too tired to go and look after the terrier, refused to sign him over to the RSPCA, leaving the charity with a £1,500 bill.
The dog was taken to a vet and put on two kilos in just 17 days after he was properly fed.
Sentence: £250 fine. A 10-year ban on keeping animals (expired September 2021).
McDonnell, who has links to Tyldesley and Bury, Greater Manchester, is now living at 31 Cross Street, Great Harwood, Blackburn BB6 7BT. His ban expired earlier this year and he does appear now to have a dog.
CONVICTED (2011) | Matthew Pearson, born 25/03/1983, of Okement Drive, Wolverhampton WV11 1UZ – allowed five of his parents’ six pets to starve to death while they were away.
Matthew Pearson pleaded guilty to 34 animal cruelty charges after he left his family’s six pets to starve to death
Matthew Pearson admitted 34 animal welfare offences relating to two dogs, two cats, a rat and hamster.
The father-of-two, who had been given £1,515 by his mother to feed the animals, had neglected to do so.
Pearson, then of Graisley Lane Wolverhampton, had been left in charge of his parent’s animals at a property in Portway Road, Bilston, in January 2011 when they went to visit family in Cornwall.
Heartbreaking: starved dog Buster’s emaciated body was found curled up in his basket in the family’s faeces-strewn kitchen
RSPCA inspectors were called to the house in March 2011 after a complaint.
Inspector Jayne Bashford said once inside they were confronted with a “truly horrific and disturbing” scene.
One emaciated bearded collie-type cross-breed dog, Buster, was found curled up dead in a basket in the kitchen. Officers then found two dismembered tortoiseshell cats, a dead hamster and a dead rat.
A second collie-type dog, Beethoven, was found to be just one stage away from being emaciated, weighing 8kg instead of the usual 13kg.
Beethoven survived by feeding on the remains of the two cats that had starved to death.
Tests later revealed the desperate, scavenging dog had torn the cats apart, leaving them as no more than a bag of bones.
Pearson’s lawyer told the court his client had “decided he just couldn’t cope” with the animals after they had become unwell.
The house was littered with dog and cat urine and faeces.
A pathologist confirmed that the animals died as a result of cardio-respiratory failure secondary to chronic malnutrition and emaciation.
Speaking after Pearson was sentenced, Inspector Bashford said: “I will never, ever forget the scene upon entering this property.
“All individuals involved, including experienced police officers, were visibly shocked by the conditions and horrific sight of multiple dead animals.
“Particularly disturbing to me were the scratch marks on the rear of the kitchen door where Buster had desperately tried to escape before he was found dead in his bed.”
“To die of starvation is an appalling, painful way for any animal to die and their suffering was so needless and preventable if only help had been sought.”
Beethoven recovered in the RSPCA’s care and was rehomed.
Sentencing: jailed for 20 weeks; £1,000 costs. Banned from keeping pets for ten years(expired September 2021).
CONVICTED (2011) | Shaun Hewson, born 25 July 1985, from Louth in Lincolnshire – stamped on two kittens, killing them, and kicked their mother to “prove” how much he hated cats.
In July 2011 Hewson stamped on and killed two four-week-old kittens to “prove” how much he hated cats. He also kicked the kittens’ mother, one-year-old Stewie.
Stewie and her kittens before they were attacked by twisted Shaun Hewson
The court heard that the vicious and unprovoked attack occurred during a drinking session at the home of the cats’ owner, Frances Ashman.
Hewson, who as of December 2020 continues to work as a binman for East Lindsey District Council, kicked the adult mother cat “for no reason” lifting her upwards off the floor “like a football”.
Miss Ashman told him: “Don’t kick my cat.” He shouted: “I hate cats. You know I hate cats.” She asked him to leave but he refused and told her: “I’ll show you how much I hate cats.”
He went over to where four kittens were sitting and stamped on two of them, Maddie and Bella. One of the kittens suffered a fractured hind leg and a haemorrhage, and the other a fractured skull. Hewson told Miss Ashman: “That’s how much I hate cats.”
Miss Ashman later said: “The cats had done nothing to harm Shaun all night. This was a cool, calm, calculated attack. I have no doubt he meant to kill those kittens. He clearly has something wrong with him to do something like this.”
Hewson’s lawyer denied that his client was an “animal hater”. He realised, however, that he had to control his “binge drinking” and had cut back since the night of the attack.
He was ordered to pay £400 compensation to Miss Ashman for the “loss and distress” caused and £85 costs.
Sentence: 14-week suspended prison sentence; 200 hours’ unpaid work; £400 compensation to Miss Ashman and £85 costs. Five-year ban on keeping animals (expired 2016).
CONVICTED (2011) | Hayley A Cronin, born 24/06/1983, of Kimble Drive, Bedford MK41 9SZ – allowed her dog to die of hyperthermia after leaving him tied up in direct sunlight for several hours
Hayley Cronin
Single mother Cronin pleaded guilty to causing cross-breed Buster unnecessary suffering when she left him tied up in the sun.
The court heard how Cronin, who supports her three young children on benefits, was under severe stress when the incident happened in June 2011.
The court heard how an RSPCA inspector attended the address after concerns were raised that a dog had died at Cronin’s home. Cronin confirmed that the dog had died and took him to a neighbour’s address where Buster was found on the kitchen floor covered in a damp sheet.
A post-mortem later showed that Buster’s temperature had reached 41.9 degrees. A normal temperature is between 37.9 and 38.9 degrees. The vet also reported that Buster had gone through extreme suffering in the run-up to his death.
Cronin was fined £500, which included court costs and a victim surcharge and banned from keeping a dog for seven years. Her father, who attended the hearing, said that he would pay the fine his daughter’s behalf.
Sentence: £500 fine; seven-year ban on keeping dogs (expired 2018).
Source: Bedford Today (article removed).
We collate data on animal cruelty convictions in the UK
