Jones admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the unnamed dog by punching her. The dog was found to have a broken pelvis.
Sentencing: jailed for four weeks suspended for 12 months; £122 in costs. Banned from keeping animals for life.
Source: Wakefield Express (article removed)
Elsworthy admitted committing the offence in Woodend Road in Bournemouth on April 14, 2019.
It took place in the beer garden of the Buffalo Bar when it was in Woodend Road in Winton. The bar has since been relocated.
Police issued a CCTV appeal at the time because officers were unable to identify Elsworthy or the owner of the dog.
The appeal appeared in the Daily Echo and prompted more than 100 readers to voice their anger.
Elsworthy pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, namely a dog, by throwing it against a wall, kicking it and hitting it when he appeared before Poole magistrates on Friday August 21.
The charge was brought under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Police said the dog did not suffer any lasting injuries.
Elsworthy also pleaded guilty to failing to surrender to custody at Poole magistrates’ court on August 9, 2019.
A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: “This was an upsetting and shocking attack and no animal should be treated this way.”
Sentencing: community order with a rehabilitation activity requirement and 80 hours of unpaid work. He was ordered to carry out a further 100 hours of unpaid work for failing to surrender to custody. Total of £170 costs and charges. Three-year ban on keeping animals (expires August 2023).
Lindsey Sim, who was involved with shambolic horse welfare charity North Devon Equine Rescue alongside relative Ann Sim, has been banned from keeping horses for five years after vets found three of her animals had not been cared for properly.
Sim admitted charges relating to horses Kelly, Malibu and Blaze, following a prosecution by the RSPCA.
Vets found Kelly to be in an emaciated state as a result of insufficient nutrition and an untreated parasite infection.
Sim also admitted to failing to meet the needs of Blaze, a foal, and Malibu, a grey pony.
Sentencing: six rehabilitation days; total of £240 in fines, costs and charges. Banned from keeping horses for five years, but can appeal after three (expires August 2025).
Staffies Trinity, Harley, Quinn and Petrol were heard yelping by a neighbour as Steven Klein hit, kicked and threw things at them.
The court heard a witness’s flat overlooks a communal area where Klein, who owns Harley, his girlfriend Melanie Harding – owner of Trinity and Quinn – and their lodger Kelly Oldham, Petrol’s owner, keep their dogs.
The neighbour reported she had seen and filmed Klein losing his temper, shouting and swearing at the dogs and being physically abusive on an “almost daily basis” and reported it to Gateway Housing, which in turn reported it to the RSPCA.
RSPCA prosecutor Paul Ridehalgh said: “The case involves potentially painful and frightening handling and control methods employed by Stephen Klein which were known and observed by Melanie Harding and Kelly Oldham and they failed to protect their dogs from Stephen Klein.
“She has observed the dogs cry out after being hurt and they appear scared of Mr Klein. She has provided CCTV video of the communal area showing various incidents that have occurred and this video corroborates her written description of the incidents.”
Videos show Klein kicking a lighter coloured dog, who ran away lame in the right hind leg, holding another dog down and forcibly slapping her, and swiping at a dog with the broom, hitting his head.
Further video evidence shows Klein pick up a ball and throw it forcefully at a dog, into his side, as he tries to run past.
In May 2019 the dogs were seized and the three defendants interviewed.
In interview Klein claimed that he would use a stick to “control” the dogs and after being shown the video clips he claimed that he was “just playing” with the dogs.
He denied failing to ensure their needs were met by failing to protect them from suffering but was found guilty after a trial.
Sentencing |
Klein: ordered to pay a total of £570 in fines, costs and charges. Banned from keeping animals for six years (expires August 2026).
Harding and Oldham, who were described in court as ‘vulnerable’ were ordered to pay £300 costs. They were banned from keeping animals for just four years (expires August 2024).
Polish career criminal Kujawski slammed the dog, Ernie, between a door leaving him whimpering and yelping in pain.
PC Mark Farley and Mechelse herder Ernie rushed to Shirley High Street to attend reports of a car theft at around 12.47am on Wednesday, February 5, 2020.
Kujawski was spotted and suspected of having a weapon.
When the police arrived he fled the scene but Ernie was deployed to stop him.
Kujawski ran into his house and trapped the dog between a door injuring his paw.
PC Farley called for backup and with the help of a member of the public was able to free the dog.
A police spokesperson said: “Luckily Ernie has recovered well and is still a valuable member of our force.”
The duo received a Chief Constable Commendation for “showing courage, resilience, bravery and professionalism in detaining two suspects in a fast-moving, high threat environment”.
PC Mark Farley said: “Ernie did a fantastic job, and he would do so again without hesitation.
“It was by far the most difficult moment as a dog handler for me, putting him in harm’s way is never taken lightly, but we are here to protect the public.
“I am honoured to have received the award, but even more proud to see Ernie getting the recognition he deserves.”
Kujawski was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
Sentencing: unpaid work requirement of 100 hours; £123 compensation.
Aylott pleaded guilty to three Animal Welfare Act offences at Swansea Magistrates’ Court on 27 July 2020.
Two offences related to a German shepherd dog known as Shadow whom Aylott starved to death before concealing his remains in a pink duvet in the back of his people-carrier vehicle.
Post-mortem examination confirmed that Shadow had suffered unnecessarily due to his extremely poor body condition, severe weight loss, ear disease and skin lesions.
Another German shepherd, Suzie, found at the property was also extremely thin but survived. She is to be made available for rehoming having undergone extensive training.
RSPCA inspector Holly Brown said: “Poor Shadow suffered and ultimately lost his life because of a lack of nutrition and suitable care.
“His body was concealed in the boot of a car – but, fortunately, we were able to find Shadow’s body and secure some justice for the suffering he had faced.
“Thankfully, another dog – Suzie – will get another chance of forever home happiness, but her body condition was also very poor and her needs were clearly not being met.
“Owning animals is a privilege – and something this man will no longer be entitled to do, as a result of the way both Shadow and Suzie were treated.”
Sentencing: 12-week prison sentence, suspended for two years; 140 hours of unpaid work; £2,500 in costs. Banned from keeping all animals indefinitely.
This is a horrific case of (non animal) violence from August 2020 but it’s mentioned in the newspaper report that Woods’ first offence was in 2008 when he set fire to a neighbour’s budgie using an aerosol so that earns him an entry on our database.
I can’t find the original media but I would imagine he was never named as he was only around 14 at the time.
Woods now has been sentenced to 15 months in jail (half in custody and the remainder on licence) after attacking a young woman.
The woman was left with more than 60 bruises and scratches on her face and body after the “cowardly” assault.
Some of the wounds left by Woods were described as looking like “claw marks”.
Woods; offending began in 2008 when he was a young teenager and he set fire to a neighbour’s budgie.
A judge said at the time that Woods’ pattern of offending demonstrated a “worrying personality trait” and he said he had concerns the defendant would go on to become a “very dangerous man” unless he changed his ways.
Woods’ convictions include spitting at a police officer, battery, criminal damage, drink-driving, driving while disqualified, witness intimidation, drugs matters, and two for assault occasioning actual bodily harm – one of these had seen him attack his mother and then go on to squirt ketchup around the house.
Joseph Pocklington was spotted by a woman in Crown Street, Darlington, who filmed the abuse on her phone before confronting him and taking the dog.
The witness then called the police who later found Pocklington asleep in a nearby church yard.
Alan Davies, prosecuting, said: “At around 4.20pm on Sunday, December 22, a witness was waiting to pick up her daughter on Crown Street in Darlington.
“She noticed the defendant sat on some steps with a black lurcher or greyhound type of dog on a short lead.
“She recorded him grabbing the dog by the neck, dragging it towards him and punching it to the face a number of times.
“The witness and her daughter challenged him and took the dog, he became upset by this and left. The witness then contacted the police who found him sleeping in a church yard.
“He was arrested and told police ‘yeah, I did give my dog a few slaps,’ he was then shown footage from the incident and became upset, saying he could not remember assaulting the dog and could only remember getting angry because the dog was trying to run into the traffic.”
Pocklington pleaded guilty to one count of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
Stephen Andrews, mitigating, said his client’s behaviour was out of character and he was very upset having watched the footage of the incident.
He said: “You have heard that when he was interviewed he became very upset and that’s because he was appalled by what he seen.
“You have a gentleman here who would describe himself as a dog lover. He has kept dogs for many years without any issues whatsoever, he looked after them and he protected them.
“How then does he end up before you for an offence of this type? He has over a period of time abused alcohol and has essentially become alcohol dependant.
“He has no recollection of the incident, but he tells me he can remember his feet becoming tangled with the dog lead and becoming angry.
“You have heard that police found him asleep in a public area a short time after, and that is because he was so intoxicated. He is incredibly remorseful.”
Sentencing: 12-month community order; total of £180 in costs and charges. Banned from keeping animals for two years (expired August 2022).
Wildlife persecutors Broderick, Cartwright, Thompson and Walpole were all given suspended prison sentences for cruelty towards badgers and deer. Mobile phone footage was handed to the RSPCA by police, who were investigating Walpole for an unrelated crime [in April 2019 he alongside Broderick and Thompson were jailed for their part in an organised crime gang targeting ATM machines]. This showed the four men badger digging and baiting.
Dillon Broderick pleaded guilty to wilfully killing a badger on February 18, 2018; killing a deer during the close season on March 11, 2018; killing a deer at night on the same date; killing a deer during the close season on March 13, 2018; wilfully killing a badger on April 15, 2018; and interfering with a badger sett on April 15, 2018 by causing a dog to enter it with intent or being reckless as to whether his actions would have that consequence.
Scott Walpole pleaded guilty to the same offences as Broderick, as well as admitting to intentionally killing two mallards on April 4, 2018.
Kai Cartwright and John Thompson both admitted to wilfully killing a badger on April 15, 2018 and interfering with a badger sett on April 15, 2018 by causing a dog to enter it with intent or being reckless as to whether their actions would have that consequence.
Investigating officer Jason Bowles said: “On the phone we found multiple images and videos showing the men out with their dogs, digging into badger setts and setting their dogs on badgers.
“This ‘sport’ is cruel and barbaric, and I’m sure this footage would be incredibly upsetting for the public to see.”
PC Samantha O’Key, Cumbria Police wildlife, rural and environmental crime coordinator, said: “We are very pleased with the outcome of this investigation and the subsequent convictions that have been brought against these individuals, as Cumbria Police takes animal cruelty very seriously. We worked diligently with our RSPCA colleagues and this is a good example of partnership working at its most effective.”
Sentencing:
Broderick and Walpole each received a two-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, for the crimes against the deer, as well as a four-month jail sentence suspended for 18 months, for the other offences. The court also ordered them to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.
Cartwright and Thompson were each given a four-month jail term, suspended for 18 months, and were ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.
All defendants were banned from having custody of a dog for life, or until a further order is made.