CONVICTED (2019) | Mark Cuthbert, born 7 March 1977, of 82 Thornyflat Place, Ayr KA8 0NE – set his dogs on wildlife including badgers; bought cats online to use as live bait for his dogs; failed to get vet treatment for his dogs’ fighting injuries.
Mark Cuthbert pleaded guilty to keeping dogs for the purpose of an animal fight and killing a cat at home and at another premises.
Cuthbert used the selling website Gumtree to purchase the cats – with many owners believing their animals were going to a safe home.
The Scottish SPCA’s special investigations unit (SIU) received intelligence in March 2018 that Cuthbert had dogs for animal fighting. The SIU obtained a warrant to search Cuthbert’s address and, upon inspection, found his pets had injuries consistent with animal fighting.
They also suspected he had been self-medicating his dogs to avoid drawing attention to his illegal activities.
Investigators seized an electronic device that contained video and images of animal fights. The clips included Cuthbert’s dogs killing badgers and domestic cats.
Objects in the footage matched animal fighting paraphernalia discovered at his home. Among the items seized were tracking collars, nets, live animal traps, syringes, superglue, and pet carriers.
DNA analysis of these supported the case that many of the items were used for animal fighting.
The dogs involved in the case were black and white Patterdale terrier, Billy, and two brown female Patterdale terriers known as Digger and Tally.
Cuthbert pleaded guilty to keeping dogs, cats and a rat for an animal fight contrary to the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 under Section 23 (1) (a), for procuring cats for the purpose of animal fighting and arranging, participating and causing animal fights to take place under Section 23 (2) of the Act.
Commenting on the investigation and court case, a Scottish SPCA undercover special investigation unit (SIU) officer said, “This is a truly horrific case of animal cruelty, where we suspect dozens of animals have suffered mentally and physically at the hands of Mark Cuthbert. His inhumane treatment of animals is completely unacceptable.”
“We investigate reports of animal fights every week and the imagery and videos we discovered on his phone are some of the most depraved and upsetting we have seen. One harrowing video shows the three dogs attacking a domestic cat in a field which is fighting for its life. It’s clear the cat was caused horrendous suffering and many of the cats he purchased will have suffered long, torturous deaths.
“Cuthbert had been picking up the cats for his dogs to attack from the online selling site, Gumtree.
“After contacting Gumtree, we found correspondence between Cuthbert and people who had listed their cats on the site which led us to believe large numbers of cats were uplifted from pet owners who trusted their cats were going to a good, safe home.
“As well as the cats he purchased under false pretence, his own dogs have been treated appallingly. When we visited Cuthbert, two of his dogs had very obvious facial injuries and scars to the face, nose and jaw. Digger had a healed injury to the lower lip which had caused a v-shaped deformity and Billy was very aggressive when approached.
“If you are using an online service to find a new home for, or sell, your pet, please be vigilant and ensure your pet is going to a safe environment. If you are suspicious, do not continue with the sale and notify the Scottish SPCA as soon as possible.”
The Scottish SPCA’s special investigations unit are experts in investigating animal fighting offences and rely on information from the public to continue to put a stop to this horrific activity. All information shared with the Scottish SPCA can be treated with confidentiality and can be reported to the animal helpline on 03000 999 999.
Sentencing: ten months’ imprisonment. Ten-year ban on owning or keeping any animal (expires October 2029).
Additional Information
Mark Cuthbert’s long-term live-in partner is Wendy McIlloney, born 28/02/1970. They have two older children together and she has others from previous relationships.
McIlloney makes no secret of the fact that she also enjoys hunting and neighbours have said that she accompanies Cuthbert on hunting/digging trips with their dogs.
Disturbingly, it is alleged that she procured cats on her boyfriend’s behalf. As yet, no charges have been levelled against McIIloney.
The pair are also backyard breeders of Staffies and lurcher-type dogs.
Cuthbert deserves the death penalty–but only after he has received at least 100 lashes (with vinegar rubbed in his scars) –to make sure that he dies in the same agony as many of his animal victims. His jail sentence of 10 months is a joke–he should NEVER walk the streets again. Hope that soemone gets him once he is out of jail.
Yes hope he’s ripped apart, bastard, for his partner she deserves the same. Scum
He deserves the death penalty. Hope he is killed in jail, or soon after he is released.
Yea this horrible I hope he gets a slow and painfull death, poor innocent cats..
Animal abusers are disgusting and should get a different treatment than just getting locked up.
The cockeyed slag he lives with should have got the jail as well, maybe better she is on the street. She will now have to watch her back . She will get it first and the cockroach Cuthbert well plenty time to get him sorted. Make no mistake it will happen
Please let me know when it does happen. I’d happily kill him myself.
reward 50.000 euro/ death of death !!
Let’s not forget the nasty piece of scrag girlfriend – Wendy McIlloney. Two pieces of shit that would do well to be removed from society. Hope they suffer equal to the pain they have dished out. What goes around comes around eventually – bad luck Wendy & Mark – you’ll get yours someday ????
He and She need to be ripped apart. Hope they get what’s coming to them!
These people will always have a strong social media appetite/presence as live for fame no matter at what price nor how cheap. My prayers for the poor, trusting animales they savaged. No prayers for these animals in the photos though, taken by willing and rabid accomplices. There is a long, unending hell waiting for them both in the next life.
How fucking sick.
Death would be too nice for him. I feel that he should be put in a trap from “Spiral: From The Book Of Saw” – it involves a man being put in a trap where he has to rip off all 10 of his fingers or be electrocuted to death. I have never done anything violent but I’m an animal lover. I had a cat named Buddy (RIP) when I was seeing someone that is now an ex. I even told him that if he hurt my cat I would hurt him. I have never been violent but animal abusers are thing I would hurt; they abused and made the animal(s) suffer so I believe they want to be treated the same way they treat animals; what other reason do they have – they must think that there’s nothing wrong about abusing and make others suffer, so if that’s how they think, I think that they want to be treated the same way they treated animals.