#MostEvil | Aaron Nicholas Chapman, born 22/02/1991, of Hillside Park, Bodmin, but with links to Camelford – swung his pet cat around, striking him on the floor repeatedly, before killing him by cutting his throat
The court heard that Aaron Chapman, who is a self-employed builder and decorator under the name A Chapman Building and Decorating Services, became enraged after the cat, known as Lord Biris, ate his cannabis.
He then launched the “most horrendous, vicious, assault” on the defenceless animal, swinging him around and hitting him on the ground several times.
At this point the cat needed veterinary treatment but Chapman instead decided to cut his throat in a “deliberate and gratuitous act”.
Witnesses in the room were said to be left horrified.
Chapman pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal between December 1, 2018 and January 31, 2019.
He also admitted destroying the mobile phone of a former partner.
Sentencing Chapman, magistrates said there was no option but to impose an immediate custodial sentence due to the horrific nature of the crime.
Sentencing: jailed for 18 weeks; ordered to pay £205. Banned from keeping animals for life.
CONVICTED (2020) | Natalie Kerr, born c. 1960, of Barlow Close, Bury BL9 6WF – allowed dozens of birds at her wildlife hospital to suffer
Sanctuary owner Natalie Kerr was banned from keeping birds for life
Acting on a tip-off, RSPCA officials found various neglected birds at the Greenmount Wild Bird Hospital in Garside Hey Road, Brandlesholme, Bury, including pigeons, corvids, blackbirds, an eagle owl, swans and geese in aviaries around the grounds.
In total 211 birds were found on the premises – and 145 were found to be in such as state they had to be put to sleep.
Charity bosses say many of the birds could not fly and were visibly injured or in poor condition.
Broken wings, blindness and open wounds were just some of the injuries found when RSPCA inspectors and police raided Natalie Kerr’s wildlife sanctuary in July 2019.
The court heard a wooden building – which was used as the hospital unit – also contained more birds in what a vet described as in a “very poor state”.
RSPCA inspector Emma Dingley, who led the investigation, said that due to the number of birds which needed to be assessed, a mobile unit from the Greater Manchester Animal Hospital had to be sent to the site.
In a court statement RSPCA chief inspector Ben Strangwood added: “The aviaries were all looking tired and contained a lot of bird faeces and cobwebs.
“Some of the birds appeared unable to fly and were largely ground-dwelling, resulting in their feathers being a mess.
“Some birds had food and water and some didn’t. Some cages were very dirty with faeces. There were lots of flies and the smell was unpleasant.
“There were birds in there with head tilts, bandages/tape on wings, open wounds, glassy eyes indicating blindness, drooping wings, feathers in very poor condition.
Many birds had chronic or severe injuries or disease, which could not be treated without further compromising their welfare, or were unsuitable for release into the wild, or for permanent captivity.”
Emma added: “Many birds had chronic or severe injuries or disease, which could not be treated without further compromising their welfare, or were unsuitable for release into the wild, or for permanent captivity.
“One pigeon had a deformed beak which meant it was unable to feed himself and he was emaciated – the notes indicated he had been named Beaky by the hospital.
“Another duck was found with two broken wings which the hospital had named Wingie. There was also a pigeon with an open wound you could see his heart. It was so sad and a vet decided that many had to be put to sleep to end their suffering.”
Some of the birds were saved though and one blind European Eagle has been rehomed with a specialist keeper and is said to be thriving.
In October 2020 sanctuary manager Natalie Kerr pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to two identified birds and failing to ensure others received adequate care.
Sentencing: four-month curfew; £1,000 court costs. Banned from keeping birds for life.
CONVICTED (2020) | Michael P Tognetti, born c. 1997, of 82 Main Street, Wolston, Coventry CV8 3HJ – strangled his pet cat to death and buried her in his garden
Cat killer: Michael Tognetti
Tognetti strangled elderly tortoiseshell cat Ruby to death with a trouser cord to “put her out of her misery”. He then buried her body in a shallow grave in his garden.
A member of the public tipped off the RSPCA and Inspector Helen Smith visited Tognetti’s address to investigate. Tognetti told the inspector he was expecting a visit from the charity and took her to the area of his garden where he’d buried Ruby’s body.
He told Inspector Smith he had used a cord from his jogging bottoms and said it took about 30 seconds to kill Ruby. He killed her, he said, because Ruby was elderly and needed to be put out of her misery.
Ruby was “put out of her misery” by her callous owner Michael Tognetti
Veterinary examination confirmed that she had died due to strangulation.
Inspector Smith said: “Anyone with concerns about an animal coming to the end of their life should seek veterinary advice and putting a pet to sleep to end any suffering should be done in the most humane way possible.”
Another cat at the property, a male called Oscar, was signed into RSPCA care and has since been rehomed.
Sentencing: 24-month community service order; a total of £390 costs and charges. Lifetime ban on keeping animals.
CONVICTED (2020) | Robert Colin Phillips, born c. 1993, of Parkhill Road, Wellswood, Torquay TQ1 2AL – caught on camera mistreating his pet dog.
Dog abuser Rob Phillips from Torquay
Phillips, who works as a head chef at the Orange Tree Restaurant in Torquay, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the dog, a springer spaniel known as Bella.
The young dog ran off from Phillips after being startled by fireworks. When he caught up with her, he hit her in the neck twice before taking hold of her by the scruff of her neck and dangling her in the air. Part of the attack was caught on CCTV.
Phillips with the dog he abused, Bella
A man saw Phillips strike Bella several times with some force. She then escaped a second time and re-appeared at the feet of the witness who took her into a restaurant to look after her while the police were called.
The RSPCA say Bella is currently in a foster home with another dog that she loves.
Sentencing: 12 month community order involving 100 hours of unpaid work; a total of £390 costs and charges. Banned from owning dogs for three years (expires October 2023).
Phillips was back in court after being charged with breaching his disqualification order “by participating in the keeping and from being party to an arrangement under which could control or influence the way dogs are kept.” He pleaded not guilty but was convicted. He was fined £161 and ordered to pay costs of £775.
CONVICTED (2020) | Scott Dan Preston, born c. 1978, of 31 Ladenham Road, Littlemore, Oxford OX4 6AZ – left a mothering dog to starve just weeks after she had given birth
Evil Preston allowed his pet Staffy, known as Looney, to starve until she was half a normal weight for her breed. The dog, who had had a litter of puppies just weeks earlier, was found in a collapsed state and weighing just 10kg.
Her skull and skeleton were prominent through her skin and there was a total lack of muscle.
Despite treatment to stabilise Looney through intravenous fluid, she started to fit and went into cardiac arrest after a few hours. Very sadly, she died in the veterinary surgery.
The fate of Looney’s puppies is not known.
Preston pleaded guilty to an animal welfare offence, following a prosecution by the RSPCA.
Inspector Andy Eddy, who investigated for the charity, said: “She weighed just 10kg and an average dog of her breed would weigh a minimum of 20kg so she was at least half of her correct body weight.
“Veterinary tests found no other problems that could have caused her condition and that correct feeding by the owner would have prevented this.
“The owner would have had plenty of opportunity to seek veterinary help sooner, sadly it was far too late for her to seek help when they did.”
Sentencing: a total of £385 costs and charges; Rehabilitation Activity Requirement. Five-year ban on keeping animals (expires October 2025).
CONVICTED (2020) | Sabrina McClelland, age unknown, of Irvington Park, Kilkeel, Newry BT34 4LX – left two poorly dogs unattended for at least 48 hours
Sabrina McClelland abandoned two unwell dogs but only received a five-year ban
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council prosecuted mother-of-four Sabrina McClelland for animal cruelty after she left an injured female Rottweiler and neglected male shih-tzu alone and abandoned at her home.
The unnamed dogs were neglected and abandoned by their cruel owner
She pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the dogs and for failing to take reasonable steps to ensure their welfare needs were being met.
On May 21, 2019 a council animal welfare officer visited the above address following a report that two dogs had been abandoned at the property.
On investigation they found a badly matted shih tzu type dog and a Rottweiler who was unable to weight bear on her front right leg. An Officer returned on May 23, 2019. The two dogs were still present, and the Rottweiler was very dull.
No one had entered the property for at least 48 hours to care for the dogs.
A search warrant was obtained and the two dogs were removed from the address.
Both dogs were examined by a veterinary surgeon who certified that they were suffering.
After further clinical investigations the vet determined that the Rottweiler should be put to sleep on welfare grounds. The little shih-tzu has since recovered and been rehomed.
Sentencing:£380 in fines and costs. Five-year disqualification order (expires October 2025).
CONVICTED (2020) | Alan James Holt, born c. 1956, of Five Quarters, Radcliffe, Manchester M26 3NU – viciously attacked two dogs during a drink-fuelled domestic violence incident
Holt flew into a rage after a drinking session and attacked his then partner and her pet dogs.
One of the dogs, a Staffordshire cross breed called Rogue, suffered scratches to their torso whilst the other, called Zeta, lost two of her front teeth after Holt kicked her in the head.
Holt’s partner suffered swelling and bruising to her face, as well as bruises to her arm, stomach and back.
Holt pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) and two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. He was already serving a community order for another recent incident of ABH.
District Judge Jack McGarva told him: “This is an appalling set of offences.
“I have seen the photographs of the injuries and she has severe bruising to her face and you have strangled her.
“Even though she was drunk may well have thought she was going to die at that point.
“Strangling someone is a terrible thing to do, particularly in the context of domestic violence.
“Also to attack two dogs – they could not fend for themselves or complain.”
Sentencing: 26 weeks in prison for the new offences and was re-sentenced to 12 weeks, to run consecutively, for the previous incident making a total of 38 weeks. No ban on owning animals was imposed.
CONVICTED (2020) | Philip Thomas, born c. 1960, of Beckwith Street, Birkenhead – sent videos of a sex act being performed on his pet dog
A magistrate branded Philip Thomas as “depraved” for possessing the videos, which showed his dog walker, Sarah Joanne Meredith, performing a sex act on his Patterdale Terrier, Buddy.
When Thomas received the videos to his phone his partner called police and he was subsequently charged for possessing extreme pornography.
Thomas also faced a charge of handling stolen goods in relation to motorcycles.
Angela Blackmore, prosecuting, explained Merseyside Police received a call explaining Thomas possessed the videos.
Ms Blackmore said: “Having been arrested and taken to Wirral Custody Suite in relation to the matter he indicated the female had taken the dog for a walk and returning saying ‘I’ve done something really bad.'”
Ms Blackmore explained that in interview Thomas said he didn’t contact Meredith, but said he “was going to assault her next time he saw her”.
She explained Thomas admitted forwarding the images.
The court heard Thomas has previous convictions dating between 2003 and 2018 including convictions for dishonesty and breaching court orders.
The court heard his last conviction was in May 2018 for begging.
The court heard that after receiving the video police were called within hours. Having been charged for possessing the extreme pornographic videos Thomas learnt he was also charged for handling stolen goods.
However, after failing to attend his trial Thomas was convicted in his absence.
Sentencing, chair magistrates Peter Ashworth said: “We view this as a very serious offence. A very serious and depraved offence.
“The dog was rightly taken away from you.”
Sentencing: eight-week custodial sentence which was suspended for 18 months; 25 days of Rehabilitation Activity Requirements; costs and charges totalling £637.
CONVICTED (2020) | animal pornographers and paedophiles Rehan Baig, born c. 1983, and wife Haleema Baig, born c. 1982, of Shepherd Street, Great Horton, Bradford BD7 3DG – for cruel and sexually perverse treatment of chickens
Depraved Rehan Baig has been jailed for three years for having sexual intercourse with chickens and possessing indecent images of children.
The court heard how he hoarded sick home movies of his violation of chickens all of which died as a result of the vile sexual abuse. His wife, Haleema Baig, joined in with the depravity and filmed some of it on her mobile phone.
The court heard that the indecent images of children as young as six, and the home movies, came to light when the National Crime Agency raided the couple’s home on July 9, 2019. Computers and a phone were seized and images found that Judge Richard Mansell QC said would make right-thinking people “sick to the stomach.”
Haleema Baig
Haleema Baig filmed her husband having sex with a number of chickens on different occasions. One of the birds was dead at the time and he was caught on camera putting another carcass into a bin bag.
Prosecutor Abigail Langford said the home movies were made in the cellar or basement at the couple’s home.
Other depraved footage showed the couple sexually abusing a dog.
Haleema Baig, a senior care assistant, claimed to be the victim of her husband’s controlling and coercive behaviour. But Miss Langford said it was the Crown’s case that she was a willing participant.
The court heard that the sexual abuse killed the chickens. It was believed they had been family pets but there were none at the address when the police searched it.
“The defendant caused the death of the chickens on each occasion,” Miss Langford said.
Rehan Baig admitted intentionally performing an act of penetration on live chickens.
He also admitted possessing extreme pornographic images which were “grossly offensive, disgusting or otherwise of an obscene nature” which portrayed in an “explicit and realistic way” a person performing an act of intercourse with an unknown animal, a dog and several chickens.
He also pleaded guilty to making indecent photographs of children, as well as the possession of 405mg of cocaine and 4.07g of cannabis resin.
His wife pleaded guilty to three aiding and abetting counts, namely filming her husband having sexual intercourse with a chicken.
Simon Hustler, for Rehan Baig, said the offences had attracted national and international publicity, including making news in Pakistan, Spain and Germany.
“They have attracted derision, loathing and ridicule,” he said.
Baig had been unable to leave his home and even had to send out for cigarettes.
“It’s a lengthy sentence he must serve, if not a life sentence in many respects,” Mr Hustler said.
The films seized by the police had been made several years ago.
John Bottomley, for Haleema Baig, said his client had left her husband because she alleged he was abusive to her, and she was now living in a refuge.
“The punishment is the shame and humiliation for the rest of her life,” Mr Bottomley said.
Sentencing her to six months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, with a rehabilitation activity requirement, Judge Mansell said there may have been an element of manipulation and coercion by her husband.
He told Rehan Baig he was guilty of “unspeakable cruelty to the animals he abused for his own sexual gratification.”
“The pain and suffering was horrific that you inflicted on these chickens,” the judge said.
Baig had also committed “depraved, perverted and despicable acts” by hoarding images of young children being sexually abused.
“They are the victims of human trafficking and exploitation,” he said.
The “home movies” of Baig having sex with the chickens were “simply beyond comprehension,” Judge Mansell said.
Rehan Baig was banned for life from keeping any animal and he must sign on the sex offender register, also for life.
CONVICTED (2020) | Kristopher Robert Flynn, born 05/10/1991, of Parbrook Road, Huyton, Liverpool L36 3XE – left two dogs to starve in their own filth
Kris Flynn left his pet dogs Skye (top) and Pepper to starve in foul conditions. Luckily they were rescued in time following police intervention.
Kris Flynn, who retains links to Fazakerley in north Liverpool, was banned from keeping animals for 10 years after his two emaciated pet dogs were found living in their own urine and faeces.
The two dogs – Pepper and Skye – were found by Merseyside Police when they entered Flynn’s home in Parbrook Road on an unrelated matter on December 5, 2019.
The court heard how the pets were in an emaciated condition with their bones protruding from their bodies.
Sickened officers also discovered the dogs were living in their own urine and faeces in the kitchen of the squalid house.
The property contained rubbish, dirty clothes, dirty dishes and rotten food. It also smelt strongly of urine and faeces.
A police officer seized the dogs and took them to a nearby veterinary surgery. The RSPCA were also alerted.
RSPCA Inspector Kathryn Kellegher was sent to collect Pepper and Skye to take them for treatment at the charity’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital and an investigation was launched.
Lurcher Pepper’s body condition was scored at 2 (with 1 the lowest and 7 the normal weight), and weighed just 7kg.
Mastiff Skye had a body condition score of just 1 and her initial weight was 13.6kg.
After a few weeks in RSPCA care, both dogs had increased their body weight to more normal levels.
Kathryn said: “The poor dogs were extremely thin and their bones were clearly visible through their skin.
“They smelt strongly of urine and their coats were stained on the bottom as they had lived in their own urine and faeces.
“Skye was so weak she didn’t have much energy to walk. But within a few weeks of being fed a proper diet they were soon getting back to health and their coats looked better as the photographs of them a few weeks later show.
“Once they were in full health they were put up for adoption and I am delighted to say they have been rehomed.”
Father-of-one Flynn pleaded guilty to failing to meet the needs of his dogs by providing them with a safe environment and appropriate diet.
Sentencing: ordered to pay a total of £852. Banned from keeping animals for 10 years.
