#MostEvil | Billy Rutter, born c. 1988, of Rufford Road, Poulton, Wallasey CH44 4BY – killed his young son’s pet rabbit and threw the severed head at his ex girlfriend before trying to cook the pet.
Violent persistent criminal Rutter crept into his ex-partner’s home as she slept upstairs with their two young children. He then killed his children’s pet rabbit and went upstairs to inform his sleeping ex.
When she didn’t believe him he threw the severed head at her, which landed on her pillow.
The terrified mum desperately tried to get help from neighbours and when she returned discovered he was trying to cook the body of their family pet in the oven because he “didn’t want to waste it”.
The woman collected her children and fled from the home, calling police from a payphone.
An officer, who had worked for the force for over 12 years, said upon entering the home it was “one of the most distressing sights he had ever seen”.
Rutter told officers “rabbits and chicks get slaughtered everyday” and said: “Bubble and squeak, have you ever tried rabbit it’s lovely”.
The court here there was evidence the rabbit had been nailed above the kitchen door.
In an interview Rutter said he had been drinking at his brother’s home and when he went to the woman’s house had “stepped on the rabbit by mistake and saw it fitting in distress and wanted to put it out of its misery”.
Rutter also said he “didn’t want to waste the rabbit so decided to skin it and cook it”.
Rebecca Smith, prosecuting, said they had been in a relationship for four years and shared two children.
Rutter is a convicted rapist, domestic abuser and ultra-violent career criminal
Ms Smith said they split in 2019 “because the defendant’s behaviour towards her changed” and he had been “drinking heavily”. She also believed he was “taking illicit substances”.
Ms Smith said a restraining order was imposed on June 20 following a criminal conviction, preventing Rutter from approaching or contacting the woman.
Rutter has 18 previous convictions for 36 offences including rape of a minor, assault with intent to rob, criminal damage, having a bladed article and failing to comply with a court order.
Paul Davison, defending, said Rutter had been diagnosed with PTSD and dissocial personality disorder.
In a psychiatric report Doctor Appleyard said Rutter’s dissocial personality disorder “impacted on his behaviour at the time”.
Mr Davison said: “If you suffer from dissocial personality disorder you are unconcerned with the feelings of others.”
He said: “He doesn’t have the same social or behavioural norms as you or I.”
Rutter admitted breaching a restraining order, causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and common assault.
Sentencing: jailed for one year and three months. Restraining order. No mention of a ban on keeping animals.
Rutter, now of Mackenzie Road in Leasowe, Wirral, was jailed for eight months after being spotted arming himself with a broken glass bottle during a fight on a night out.
New police mugshot of Billy Rutter – animal abuser, rapist, violent headcase
Liverpool Crown Court heard that at around 1.15am on December 11, 2022, police saw the drunken defendant holding a shattered bottle.
Matthew Conway, prosecuting, described how Rutter – hid the item behind his back then walked towards Temple Court, approaching a group of strangers outside Revolution.
A verbal altercation ensued, with the improvised weapon still concealed behind the 35-year-old’s back. The court was told that he had been involved in another argument with them moments beforehand.
The officers then ran up behind Rutter and tackled him. He “immediately” dropped the improvised weapon to the ground.
Rebecca Butler, defending, told the court today that her client’s mum had recently died while he has acted as a carer to his dad – who suffers from “severe arthritis”.
He was “about to take over the family business” before his arrest.
Ms Butler added: “The memory of that night is vague for the defendant. It was a stupid mistake, and he reacted in a way he shouldn’t have.
“He states he was assaulted and reacted badly. What was the intention thereafter, he has to admit.”
Rutter admitted possession of an offensive weapon in a public place during an earlier hearing. Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse, he was jailed for eight months.
Sentencing, Recorder Kate Cornell said: “I accept your genuine remorse and the fact you have not sought to minimise your offence. Had police not acted so quickly, who knows what might have happened.
“There was a real risk of serious disorder had you been able to the weapon as you intended when lots of people were around simply enjoying a night out. Had it not been for the actions of the police officers, who knows where you would be now.”
CONVICTED (2021) | Jordan Robert Edment (aka Jordan McQuade) , born 10 May 2000, of 38 Kilmeny Crescent, Wishaw ML2 8QS – left one dog in his care to starve to death and another to become severely malnourished.
Jordan Edment severely neglected his Pakistani Mastiff and failed to take the emaciated pup to the vet.
Edment’s two-year-old Pakistani mastiff, known as Rumple, had to be put to sleep after being found in extremely poor health, while a second dog was five kilos underweight.
The thug pleaded guilty to failing to animal cruelty offences relating to Rumple and a second dog named Butch.
Rumple was found in a dire condition, weighing just 40kg with his ribcage and hip bones clearly visible.
Scottish SPCA Inspector Heather Lawson said, “On November 7, 2019, we attended Edment’s property following a complaint of dog neglect to our helpline by Police Scotland, who had attended regarding a separate matter.
“They detailed how concerned they were for a dog they had met at the property who was skin and bones, and another who was underweight.
The young dog had to be put down after not responding to veterinary treatment.
“When we attended, we found Rumple to be in extremely poor health. All his ribs, spine, and hip bones were prominent and he had a hunched posture.
“The second canine, a Johnston’s bull dog type named Butch, was very lean. Both dogs were friendly and very excitable.
“When given a drink of water, both dogs drank vigorously and emptied the entire bowl.
“It was further discovered that neither of the dogs were receiving any current veterinary treatment.
“We seized both dogs and took them for the immediate veterinary attention they desperately needed.
“Upon examination, Rumple was in an emaciated condition and was malnourished. He weighed 39.3kg and should easily be eight to ten kilograms heavier than this.
“He had a faster than normal heart rate suggesting he was dehydrated, had trouble using all four of his limbs correctly and an altered gait.
“Rumple was caused unnecessary suffering because of Edment failing to seek veterinary care, and a lack of nutrition.
“Butch was found to be around four to five kilograms underweight.
“Both dogs were taken to one of our centres to receive the proper care and ongoing treatment they needed.
“Sadly, Rumple’s condition deteriorated and the heart breaking decision was made to put him to sleep on welfare grounds.
“Butch is still in the care of one of our centres, and this sentencing means we can now find him the loving forever home he deserves.”
Sentencing: 10-year ban on owning animals. Deprivation order on Butch.
CONVICTED (2021) | Patrick Medford, born c. 1940, of 9 Yew Tree Close, Welling DA16 3BY – shot a cat with an air rifle, killing her
Evil pensioner Patrick Medford shot his neighbour’s cat with an air rifle he used for shooting pigeons.
Medford admitted shooting his neighbour’s cat, Ethel, in the abdomen with an air rifle. The pellet was embedded in Ethel’s intestines and despite emergency surgery to save her, she sadly died.
RSPCA Inspector Harriet Daliday was contacted by Ethel’s owner, who told her she had received a series of threatening emails from Medford about the cat being in his garden. The neighbour said that Medford had an air rifle which he used to shoot pigeons.
Inspector Daliday visited Medford at his address and was shown the rifle in the upstairs rear bedroom overlooking the garden. The garden also had multiple cat scarers and an automatic sprinkler system used to scare off cats and foxes.
A police ballistics report proved that the pellet extracted from Ethel matched Medford’s rifle.
The court heard vet reports stating Ethel was in severe shock and severe abdominal pain when they examined her just two hours after she came home vomiting and clearly in pain.
The report stated: “She could not walk and had a very low heart rate. An X-ray was taken of her abdomen and this revealed a shotgun pellet clearly visible in her abdomen. We also found a fresh puncture wound on her abdomen consistent with a recent puncture from a pellet. Ethel was stabilized overnight and had exploratory abdominal surgery the following day.
“During this surgery four puncture wounds were found in her intestines where the pellet had penetrated. Two punctures were in her small intestine and two in her colon. Ethel recovered from the surgery however succumbed to sepsis related complications post op and died despite all our best efforts.”
Speaking after the prosecution, Inspector Daliday added: “This is a tragic case in which a cat was callously shot and sadly died. This would have caused poor Ethel suffering and also caused a lot of heartbreak for her owner who lost her much-loved pet.
“Unfortunately, air rifle attacks are not as rare as we would like. The injuries caused by such attacks are horrific and often fatal as was the case with poor Ethel.”
Sentencing: 16 weeks in custody, suspended for two years. Ordered to pay £600 in costs as well as £2,036 in compensation to Ethel’s owner. Disqualified from keeping all animals indefinitely.
CONVICTED (2021) | Jago Mattew Lethbridge, born c. 1997, of Ferndale Street, Faringdon but with strong links to St Ives in Cornwall and Hugh Town on St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly – killed a chicken he stole from a farm by breaking its neck.
Lethbridge, who works as a boat skipper, admitted stealing two chickens from a farm on St Mary’s on the Isles of Scilly.
He also pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the chicken by breaking its neck and killing it.
Sentencing | 12-week custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months; four-month curfew. Ordered to pay compensation of £171.20, a surcharge of £128 and costs of £85. Ten-year ban on keeping animals (expires June 2031).
CONVICTED (2021) | Brian Buckthorpe, born c. 1956, of 90 Cannon Street, Lincoln LN1 1AG – breached his lifetime banning order; kept a guinea pig and rabbit in foul conditions; tried to hide evidence by attempting to flush the rabbit down the toilet.
Buckthorpe, who already had a lifetime ban on keeping animals for an unknown offence, kept a guinea pig named Clive in a cage so full of hardened filth and faeces his head touched the wire top. The guinea pig was in such poor condition with an untreated joint condition and lump on his anus, he had to be put to sleep.
As RSPCA officers were gathering evidence, Buckthorpe was heard repeatedly flushing the toilet. Investigators then discovered a “dripping wet” rabbit called Bright Eyes. It appeared that Buckthorpe had been trying to flush the rabbit down the pan.
Bright Eyes was taken in by an animal centre for rehoming.
Bright Eyes survived his ordeal which included a repeated attempt by his twisted owner to flush him down the toilet
Buckthorpe pleaded guilty to three offences under the Animal Welfare Act.
The court heard how he had struggled with mental health problems and gave him credit for his guilty pleas.
Sentencing: four-month custodial term, suspended for 18 months. He was ordered to pay £300 in costs plus a £128 victim surcharge. His lifetime ban on keeping animals will continue.
Buckthorpe was prosecuted in relation to the theft of a family dog: a young Staffy named Kelly. The dog was recovered and returned to her owner following a police investigation.
Despite already being on a suspended sentence for breach of a disqualification order, Buckthorpe left court with a further suspended sentence, this time for six weeks.
A Lincoln policing team said “our team share the public’s frustration with this decision”.
CONVICTED (2021) | bloodsports maniac and dog-fighting kingpin* Anthony Holloway, born 1 October 1992, of 17 Cumbrae Crescent South, Dumbarton G82 5AW – forced his dogs to fight and took selfies with the corpses of dead animals; exposed as major player in organised dog-fights.
Evil thug Anthony Holloway pictured outside court
Anthony Holloway walked free from court with a community payback order and a four-year-ban on keeping dogs despite being convicted of a litany of sadistic animal cruelty.
He was caught in October 2019 after officers from the Scottish SPCA’s Special Investigation Unit stopped him and an associate at Cairnryan ferry port after a badger baiting trip.
The pair had three Patterdale terriers – Honey, Dodger and Floss, and a Lakeland terrier-type dog called Red with them.
All dogs were found with scars and one had fresh wounds consistent with animal fighting. The dogs were seized by the Scottish SPCA.
Items of clothing, some stained with blood, were removed from the scene and were later identified as belonging to Holloway from images gathered as evidence.
A full veterinary examination of the dogs showed scarring around the face, head and jaw. The vet determined that all of the dogs had injuries consistent with being used repeatedly to fight animals, predominantly badgers.
The court saw a series of film and stills taken from Holloway’s phone that showed him digging out badger setts and holding up a dead fox, which had its jaw ripped off. One still showed a young boy in glasses, grinning as he held a large dead fox.
The court heard Holloway had fabricated an artificial badger sett to allow pups to practise killing animals.
The court also heard that Holloway was strongly suspected of being involved in dog fighting, after his mobile phone showed he had texted an associate about a fight. It is believed he took his own dogs to Ireland to take part in fights organised by criminal gangs.
One video found on Holloway’s phone showed two lurcher dogs chasing a fox and ripping it to pieces.
Holloway claimed his regular job is pest control, sometimes killing foxes and badgers with his specially-trained dogs. But Joe Stewart, prosecuting, said that was nonsense, as killing animals with dogs is illegal in Scotland.
Mr Stewart said: “There were messages sent to an associate that refer to Holloway fighting dogs with another domestic dog. It is certainly the Crown’s position that the offences were not connected with vermin control.
“I cannot accept that this is legal work. There is no legal way to use dogs to kill other animals. You require a licence to legally kill badgers and this must be done humanely and with a firerarm. The videos and photographs make it crystal clear that the killing of these animals was gratuitous and it was done for fun.
“There are pictures of the accused and his friends digging out badgers and foxes and the purpose was not pest control. It was a blood sport.
“That could be the only motivation for fighting two domestic dogs.”
Holloway was found guilty of training his dogs for the purpose of animal fighting and also convicted of supplying videos of animal fighting.
A Scottish SPCA special investigations unit inspector said: “While we view every prosecution as a success, we are disappointed with the sentence Holloway received.
“He showed a complete lack of regard for their welfare. Badgers can be lethal and we have had to put animals to sleep in the past due to the injuries they sustained during a fight with a badger.
“It’s difficult to say how many animals suffered at the hands of Holloway. It won’t just be the wild animals involved in fighting but his own dogs too. He showed a complete lack of regard for their welfare.
“We had asked for Holloway to receive a lifetime disqualification on owning or keeping dogs so we are frustrated with the four-year ban. This does not reflect the level of cruelty Holloway allowed to be inflicted on wildlife and his own dogs.
“We were hopeful that the overhaul of animal welfare legislation, where maximum sentencing was increased, would be utilised by the court and act as a deterrent for anyone else considering undertaking such abhorrent crimes.”
Prior to sentence, Sheriff Gallacher had warned Holloway he could face jail. He told him: “What we have seen is barbarity. It’s the sport of doing it, the pleasure of seeing an animal attacking another animal.
“Holding a dead fox in your hand is nothing to do with managing vermin – it’s sport.”
Despite this, the sheriff opted against a lifetime ban after defence lawyer Judith Reid said that would have a serious effect on Holloway’s income. Holloway appeared to expect a jail sentence and had brought a large black bag to court.
Sentencing: 270-hour community payback order. Banned from owning dogs for just four years (expires June 2025).
Scottish newspaper the Daily Record exposed Holloway as a key player in the twisted world of dog-fighting.
A source told a Record reporter that Holloway trained his fighting dogs at his “Roc Red” stable to kill, pitting them against badgers and foxes to prepare.
They said: “People like Holloway cannot stop themselves from showing off, which often involves trophy photos of their dogs ripping foxes and badgers apart. But he has gone further than most and has faced off his animals against other dogs at ultra-secret fight meets in the UK and Ireland.
“He has been over to Ireland many times and there is a far more established dog fighting community over there. He is also connected to some of the most notorious dog fighters in England.
“They all have stable names and the communications are quite sophisticated, mostly on secure or encrypted sites like WhatsApp and Telegram. It is normal for match reports to be written up, just like reports from boxing matches, only the loser often ends up dead.”
The source says the tight-knit dog fighting community is paranoid about getting caught.
They added: “This leaked photograph and match report will be a major concern to anyone involved in dog fighting in Scotland and the UK.”
The Record investigation revealed that Holloway used a full complement of fighting dog training methods. These include canine treadmills to increase stamina and “break sticks” to prise open dogs’ mouths if they are locked into a rival’s neck.
One leaked image showed Holloway posing at his ramshackle compound with a American pit bull called Roc Red’s Widow. The photo was marked 2XW – meaning the dog had won two fights previously.
The dog also has a blue anaesthetic liquid on her face after suffering serious facial cuts in a fight. The anaesthetics are shared among the fighting circle, with the trainers carrying out their own crude attempts at patching up dogs after fights. Taking animals with fighting injuries to vets could arouse suspicion.
The Record wrote that some of Holloway’s dogs had been forced to take part in multiple bloody fights for the pleasure of other depraved brutes in Scotland and elsewhere.
Holloway’s compound in Dumbarton.
The Record obtained images taken from inside the grim lair operated by Holloway and his accomplices, where innocent dogs have been reared from pups and trained to rip others apart.
Reporters also observed him inside the compound during October 2022 tending to dogs despite being banned by a Scottish court for a horrendous series of animal cruelty offences.
Dogs are kept in steel cages in the compound, which is only accessible via a locked door. According to the “match report” obtained by the Record, Holloway’s dog, Roc Red’s Gypsy, won a battle against a 36lb buckskin bull terrier.
The rival was bred by a stable called Still Game after the Scottish comedy show. The report tells how Gypsy ripped the throat of his rival, Still Game’s Chloe, and grips her brutally in his teeth for five minutes before the rival trainer – also believed to be Scottish – throws the towel in.
The report states: “The damage to Chloe’s chest is clear and with his bitch fading fast, Chloe’s handler rightly picks up, giving Roc Red and Gypsy a well deserved win in 27 mins.”
It is not known if Chloe survived.
A spokesperson for the Scottish SPCA, which brought the badger baiting case against Holloway after a rigorous investigation, said he is known to be one of the most persistent menaces to animals in Scotland.
The spokesperson said: “Anthony Holloway has previously been involved with animal fighting, and last year was handed a four-year ban on owning or keeping dogs as well as a 270-hour community payback order. Our investigation left us with no doubt that Holloway is a significant member of organised dog fighting and badger baiting in Scotland and throughout the UK.
“We would welcome any information on any persons in Scotland known to be involved in animal fighting. All calls made to our animal helpline on 03000 999 999 are confidential.”
The Daily Record spotted Holloway inside the compound and we later tried to speak to him at his home in Dumbarton about his activities. There was no response when the Record tried to speak to him.
On 1 November 2022 the Daily Record published a follow-up article on Holloway, which revealed that he is also a member of an animal killing ring that includes some of the most vicious abusers in the UK.
Sadistic Holloway shared grisly photos and videos of animal mutilation with Rhys Davies, a former gamekeeper at the Millden Estate in Angus. Davies is currently serving an eight-month jail sentence for badger baiting – the longest in Scottish legal history.
Rhys Davies
Holloway and Davies exchanged messages relating to badger baiting and the covert world of dog fighting.
Both men were given bans on keeping animals after major investigations by the SSPCA’s Special Investigations Unit.
One senior inspector for the unit said: “During our investigations we were able to establish that Anthony Holloway and Rhys Davies were prolific in their animal fighting activities throughout the UK. In August this year, Davies was sentenced to eight months in prison and a 15-year ban on owning or keeping animals.
“Holloway has previously been involved with animal fighting, and last year was handed a four-year ban on owning or keeping dogs as well as a 270 hour community payback order.
“Our investigation left us with no doubt that Holloway is a significant member of organised dog fighting and badger baiting in Scotland and throughout the UK. These cases involved some of the most serious cruelty our special investigations unit has ever dealt with.”
During the court proceedings against Rhys Davies, a detailed narrative was prepared for the court by the SSPCA.
The narrative states: “Davies is clearly in communication with an individual who is well practised in fighting his dogs with badgers. The reporting officer has identified this individual as Anthony Holloway from photographs that he sent of himself to Davies.
“He has sent him two clear videos of his dogs pulling badgers from their setts. They are exchanging information regarding dog breeds and talking about what dogs are best for killing what animals, be it badger or fox. There are other, numerous conversations with this individual.”
Sentencing Davies in August 2022, Sheriff Derek Reekie told him: “It is deeply disturbing, the horrific, cruel and senseless nature of the crime, as well as the cruelty to your own dogs. Your text messages demonstrate your sickening enjoyment in what you were doing.”
Officers also discovered damning conversations with a man named as “T” – another sadist, Liam Taylor from Macduff, Aberdeenshire, who was convicted of similar offences in November 2021.
CONVICTED (2021) | farmer Andrew John Conibear, born c. 1964, of Vellacott Farm, Combe Martin, Ilfracombe EX34 0PG – failed to look after animals in his care.
Over two years Conibear had repeatedly been advised by officers from Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards and vets from the Animal and Plant Health Agency about the condition of his livestock.
The animals were in poor condition with little food and suitable conditions to lay.
In one instance a lamb was so weak he could not stand and had to be euthanised to prevent further suffering.
Conibear pleaded guilty to failing to look after animals in his care .and to failing to dispose of dead livestock without ‘undue delay’.
Sentencing | Ordered to pay a £150 fine and a £34 victim surcharge.Banned from keeping cattle and sheep for two years (expired June 2023). The court suspended the ban for three months in order to give Conibear time for the sale and disposal of his existing livestock.
CONVICTED (2021) | Robbie Duce, born 24 December 1993, of 23 Grantham Green, Middlesbrough TS4 3QS – locked his two dogs in a cage to starve
Robbie Duce kept boxers Duke and Rocky locked in a cage for around 12 hours a day. Both dogs were emaciated and one was found with an untreated wound
Cruel Robbie Duce pleaded guilty to three animal welfare charges when he appeared before Teesside Magistrates Court.
The RSPCA investigated after receiving a report from a concerned member of the public about two neglected boxer dogs at a property.
Inspector Clare Wilson attended the address on January 7, 2021, and found the emaciated dogs, Duke and his son, Rocky.
Hypocrite Duce boasts about his bond with his dogs on social media. In reality he left “man’s best friend” to languish in barren metal cages without food and water
Inspector Wilson said: “Duke was extremely emaciated and I could easily see all his bones protruding – his spine, skull, hip bones, shoulder blades and ribs were spiky to touch. He also had deep sores down to the bone on his hip bones. His eyes looked red and had discharge staining below them.
“I was taken through to the kitchen where I saw Rocky, a white and brindle entire male Boxer dog of one-and-a-half years of age in a large metal crate in the kitchen.
“There was nothing on the base of the crate apart from the metal bars and it was empty apart from an empty food bowl and a water bowl containing a small amount of water. Rocky was also emaciated although not as thin as Duke. I could see his spine, ribs and pelvic bones clearly protruding.
“There were no comfortable resting areas for either of the dogs. There would also have been no opportunity for the dogs to toilet and their coats were soiled.”
Duce only received a six-year ban despite proving himself unfit to care for an animal
She rushed the dogs to a local vets in Darlington and the vet confirmed they were in a suffering state. Duke had a deep sore which needed stitching and both needed to gain weight.
The dogs were signed over by Duce into RSPCA care and were rehabilitated by RSPCA Felledge Animal Centre.
An independent vet said in a statement: “In my opinion these dogs were caused unnecessary suffering for no less than six weeks.
“Duke had very deep, painful and infected ulcers or pressure sores. These were formed over the prominent bony prominences and were due to the emaciation and poor living conditions with the dog lying on the floor of a metal cage.
“In my opinion, these ulcers could have been prevented by keeping the dog in good bodily condition and by providing the dogs with comfortable beds to sleep on.
“It was reported that the dog was left in the metal indoor kennel for at least 12 hours a day whilst the dogs’ owner was at work. There was no plastic kennel liner in the cage, and there was no bedding. This would not have provided adequate space for the dogs to move around and there were no comfortable resting areas. There would have been no opportunity for the dogs to toilet and their coats were soiled.”
Both Duke and Rocky were rehabilitated by the RSPCA and went on to find new homes
Following the court hearing Clare added: “Both dogs are transformed – I saw Rocky the other day and he recognised me. He looks amazing and so happy! I am so pleased for them both that they have recovered so well and have found loving new homes and they still see each other and enjoy playing together as the video shows.”
Sentencing: 12 month community order with 200 hours of unpaid work; £495 costs and charges. Six-year ban on keeping animals (expires June 2027).
CONVICTED (2021) | Deon Ellis, born c. 1989, said to be of no fixed abode but with a last known address of Fallowfield, Luton LU3 and with links to Corby, Northants – stole a puppy before stabbing him and deliberately running him over with his van.
Persistent criminal Deon Ellis
Deon Ellis savagely attacked ‘XL bully’ dog Hugo, who was just four months old at the time, leaving him for dead in the road.
Hugo was later found with serious injuries and knife wounds by volunteers who had searched through the night for him following a social media appeal. The young dog had to have life-saving surgery which was paid for by public donations.
The court heard Ellis had been involved in a dispute with Hugo’s family and stole the dog in ‘revenge’ while he was being walked.
Witnesses reported Ellis grabbing and lifting the dog by his collar before leaving the scene.
Victim Hugo
Hugo was then taken more than 60 miles away to Corby where a woman heard a dog cry out in pain and Ellis driving towards him. He was then seen swerving the van to make sure he hit the animal.
The puppy was later found and taken to a vet with lacerations which were consistent with stab wounds. Blood splatters which were linked to Hugo’s DNA were found in the back of the van which was recovered in the town.
The court heard Ellis, who appeared over video-link from HMP Peterborough, callously refused to give Hugo’s owner details of what he had done to the dog.
The court heard that Ellis’ previous convictions included possession of a firearm in 2015.
Ellis was convicted by a jury of theft of a dog and criminal damage to a dog.
Recorder George Keightley told Ellis it was a “cruel, targeted and planned act” which was “motivated by revenge”.
He added: “You attempted, in my view, to either seriously injure or kill this puppy and in effect left it for dead in the street.”
Sentencing: Ellis was jailed for a total of two years and four months and will serve up to half before being released on licence.
CONVICTED (2021) | Christopher Jesper, born 26 February 1972, from Pydar Street, Truro – slapped a husky repeatedly
Drifter Jesper, who has links to Plymouth, Chester, York and Bangor in Wales, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the unnamed dog by slapping him or her several times.
Jesper was sentenced on March 5 2021
Jesper was ordered to pay a fine of £40, a surcharge of £95 and costs of £85. He was barred from keeping a dog for a period of two years (expires March 2023).
