Category Archives: Animal Torture

Animal Torture covers the most extreme cruelty cases, where offenders deliberately inflict pain, suffering or mutilation on animals for sadistic pleasure, punishment, control or entertainment. These incidents include beating, stabbing, burning, drowning, dismemberment, prolonged physical abuse, deliberate injury with weapons and acts carried out with clear intent to cause severe harm. Animal torture represents the highest‑risk cruelty pattern, often linked to repeat offending, escalating violence and significant danger to both animals and the wider public.

Animal Torture, England, Glasgow & West Scotland, Global Monkey Torture Network, London, North West England, Organised Animal Crime, Physical Violence, Primates, Psychological Abuse, Scotland, Serial Animal Abusers, West Midlands, Worst of the Worst, Zoosadism

Bexley, Greater London: Bartosz Poklek

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Head‑and‑shoulders police mugshot of Bartosz Poklek against a plain light‑coloured background, looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression.
Polish national Bartosz Poklek was convicted in London for running an international monkey‑torture network.

Bartosz Poklek, a 30‑year‑old Polish national living in Bexley, south‑east London, was convicted at Woolwich Crown Court after admitting to running a large‑scale international monkey‑torture network between June 2023 and September 2025.

He pleaded guilty to commissioning, scripting and distributing videos depicting the torture and killing of baby monkeys in South‑East Asia, as well as publishing obscene videos for gain, possessing indecent images of children, and possessing ketamine.

Judge Christopher Grout described the case as the worst example of animal abuse he had encountered and imposed a sentence of three years and three months, of which Poklek will serve roughly one third under the Sentencing Act 2026.

Bartosz Poklek was not an outlier but a central node in the Global Monkey Torture Network — a sprawling, transnational web of online zoosadists whose appetite for cruelty has pulled in offenders from Scotland, England, and the United States.

Side‑by‑side composite image. Left: A social‑media style portrait of Natalie Herron, facing the camera against a plain background. Right: A police mugshot of Peter Stanley, also facing the camera. Both images are cropped to head‑and‑shoulders format.
Police mugshot of Peter Stanley alongside a social‑media photograph of Natalie Herron. Both have convictons related to the global monkey‑torture network.
Two police mugshots shown side by side. Left: Holly Le Gresley, facing the camera against a plain background. Right: Adriana Orme, also facing the camera against a plain background. Both women appear in neutral lighting with straightforward identification‑style portraits
Police mugshots of Holly Le Gresley (left) and Adriana Orme (right), both convicted for their roles in the global monkey‑torture network.

Like Natalie Herron of Airdrie, Holly Le Gresley and Adriana Orme of Worcestershire, and Peter Stanley of Liverpool, Poklek belonged to the same grotesque digital underworld: a community that fetishised the suffering of baby monkeys and treated torture as entertainment, currency, and social capital.

Poklek’s role was unusually active. Operating from a rented room in Bexley, he commissioned, scripted, distributed and profited from videos depicting the torture and killing of infant monkeys in South‑East Asia. He was not merely a consumer but a facilitator — a man who wrote instructions for how the animals should be harmed, who liaised with perpetrators abroad, and who curated a vast personal archive of abuse.


Saving Mini: Inside the global network torturing baby monkeys – BBC World Service

Within the online groups he frequented, he was treated with reverence and known by titles such as “The General” and “The Boss”, a status that seemed to compensate for the reality of his life: an isolated, drug‑dependent loner living in an HMO.

The footage he collected and circulated was sold for hundreds of pounds to members of Telegram and Discord groups that numbered in the hundreds.

These groups were not fringe corners of the internet but thriving, international communities whose members discussed torture with chilling casualness. Investigators described conversations in which participants moved seamlessly from planning abuse to chatting about gardening or family errands. One British woman ended a discussion about torture by announcing she needed to pick up her grandchildren.

Animal abuser Bartosz Poklek is shown standing outdoors in daylight, with brick houses and chimneys behind him. A wooden fence runs along the right side of the scene. The sky is partly cloudy, and bright sunlight from behind creates a soft backlit effect.

Poklek’s offending was uncovered after he attempted to obtain court documents from a related monkey‑torture case in the United States — a move that drew the attention of Homeland Security Investigations and triggered a joint operation involving the National Wildlife Crime Unit, the Metropolitan Police, West Mercia Police, and US federal agencies. When officers examined his devices, they found around 3,000 videos of extreme physical abuse, alongside indecent images of children.

Judge Christopher Grout, sentencing him at Woolwich Crown Court, described the case as the worst example of animal abuse he had encountered in his career. He noted that Poklek would serve only around a third of his three‑year‑three‑month sentence under the Sentencing Act 2026 and stated plainly that the statutory maximum for animal cruelty — currently five years — is “too low”.

The CPS called Poklek a “key cog in a vile trade” and emphasised the need to root out the enablers of online animal torture wherever they are found.

Poklek may be deported to Poland after release. Even that feels insufficient. His crimes were not impulsive acts of cruelty but sustained, organised, deliberate sadism.

The monkeys he targeted were babies: intelligent, social, sensitive animals whose suffering was turned into a commodity for an international audience of zoosadists. Poklek revelled in their pain. The law, as it stands, barely registers it.

Metadata

  • Full Name: Bartosz Poklek
  • Born: circa 1996
  • Address: Bexley, South‑East London
  • Case Location: London, England
  • Conviction Date: October 2026
  • Court: Woolwich Crown Court
  • Offence: Commissioning, scripting, distributing and profiting from videos depicting the torture and killing of baby monkeys; publishing obscene videos for gain; possession of indecent images of children; possession of ketamine
  • Animal(s): Baby monkeys (primates)
  • Outcome For Animals: Tortured and killed in commissioned videos
  • Investigating Bodies: National Wildlife Crime Unit; Metropolitan Police; West Mercia Police; US Homeland Security Investigations; US Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Sentence: 3 years 3 months imprisonment; eligible for release after serving approximately one third
  • Previous Convictions: Not publicly reported
  • Additional Notes: Revered within the monkey‑torture community; known as “The General” and “The Boss”; possessed approximately 3,000 videos of extreme abuse; attempted to obtain US court documents relating to a connected case; part of the same organised network as UKACF‑documented offenders Natalie Herron, Holly Le Gresley, Adriana Orme and Peter Stanley
  • Reporting Gaps: Exact number of animals harmed; identities of overseas perpetrators; full extent of Poklek’s communications with other UK‑based offenders

BBC News
Crown Prosecution Service
Daily Mail

Animal Torture, England, North West England, Pet Theft, Physical Violence, Serial Animal Abusers, Small Animals, Wildlife Crime / Bloodsports, Worst of the Worst

Carlisle, Cumbria: Axel Read

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A man in a thick grey winter coat with a fur‑lined hood stands outside a building entrance, adjusting the coat near his neck. This is Axel Read, convicted of stealing two ferrets and allowing his dogs to kill them.
Read turned up to court in a Canada Goose jacket — a brand notorious for using real fur — which feels grimly appropriate for someone who treats animals as disposable.

On 31 July 2024, Axel Shane Read, 24, broke into the back garden of neighbour Laice Cleough in Upperby, Carlisle, and stole her two rescue ferrets, Pumpkin and Latte, from their enclosure.

Two ferrets are being held up by a person’s hand. One has darker brown fur and the other is pale cream. Both have pink noses and small rounded ears. These are Pumpkin and Latte, stolen from their owner’s garden and later found dead with bite and head trauma.
Rescue ferrets Pumpkin and Latte were stolen from their enclosure and later found dead after being used as bait for dogs.

CCTV captured Read and another man at around 6:30pm shining a light into the cage before Read opened the door, reached inside, and removed both animals. The ferrets were among 25 kept by Cleough, who also cared for other rescued animals.

Both ferrets were later found dead — one dumped in a black bin, the other under a hedge. They had bite marks, body trauma, and head injuries, consistent with being used as bait for dogs.

A video shown in court depicted Read holding one of the ferrets and “trying to get one of his dogs to have a go at it”.

Judge Fanning described the act as “an act of execution and an act of sadism”, noting that the animals would have expressed a stress odour and “died in fear”.

Further footage showed Read disposing of one of the dead ferrets while saying it “stinks”, and celebrating the dogs’ involvement by telling one it was a “good boy”.

Axel Read and a second male stand indoors against a light‑coloured wall. One wears a blue Nike athletic shirt with hands clasped; the other, partly visible, wears an orange Under Armour shirt with arms crossed.

The judge said Read’s dogs were trained to kill by applying pressure to the neck. He rejected suspending the sentence, stating that doing so might lead “other young lads” to think such behaviour was acceptable.

Read denied involvement, telling the owner: “I don’t have your stinky ferrets. If I had taken your ferrets, I would have skinned them and left them outside your front door.” He also threatened to destroy her car and home. Cleough said the incident left her paranoid, scared to live in her own home, and fearful of seeing Read, whom she described as unpredictable.

Axel Read stands outdoors at night holding a dead rabbit by its hind legs and a flashlight. A black‑and‑white dog on a blue leash stands in front of him. The scene shows Read engaged in hunting with dogs.

Read was unanimously convicted by a jury of five on multiple counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, including causing a ferret to be destroyed by a dog and causing a ferret to be taken from its protected enclosure, resulting in its death.

Sentence

Court: Carlisle Crown Court
Date: 6 October 2026
Penalty: 15 months’ imprisonment
Ban: None reported
Restraining Order: 3 years — no contact with victim; barred from entering a residential Carlisle road
Mitigation: None reported

At a Glance

  • Offender: Axel Read
  • Born: circa 2002
  • Age at Conviction: 24
  • Address: Marks Avenue, Belle Vue, Carlisle CA2
  • Occupation: Roofer
  • Previous Convictions: Not reported
  • Additional Information: Read is known locally as a wildlife persecutor; his social media accounts contain numerous images of dead animals and birds, including hunting with dogs and with a firearm
  • Animal Victims: Pumpkin & Latte (ferrets)
  • Victim Fate: Both found dead with bite wounds, body trauma, and head injuries
  • Evidence: CCTV of theft; CCTV of baiting; physical injuries; owner statement
  • Case Type: Theft; fatal animal abuse; baiting; dog‑related cruelty

BBC News
Metro
News & Star

UKACF Commentary

The killing of Pumpkin and Latte was not a moment of panic or a reckless mistake — it was a deliberate, sustained act of cruelty. The CCTV footage and witness accounts show a man who did not simply disregard animal suffering, but actively sought it out, encouraged it, and took pleasure in it. Judge Fanning’s description of the incident as “an act of execution and an act of sadism” is not rhetorical flourish; it is an accurate reflection of the behaviour captured on video.

Axel Read kneels beside a dog at night. In front of them lies a row of dead birds arranged on the ground with a rifle placed above them. The scene is lit by artificial light and shows the results of a hunting session.

Read didn’t just steal the ferrets. He handled them in ways clearly intended to maximise fear and distress. He encouraged his dogs to attack them, praised the dogs afterwards, and even mocked the dead animals while disposing of their bodies. This is cruelty carried out with intention, enjoyment, and a complete absence of empathy.

What makes this case even more disturbing is what the court did not do. Despite the sadism, despite the baiting, despite the fatal injuries, despite the clear evidence of deliberate violence, Read was not banned from keeping animals. This means that the man who fed two terrified ferrets to his dogs can legally continue owning dogs — and, crucially, can continue hunting with dogs, something he already does extensively.

His social media accounts, filled with images of dead wildlife, hunting trophies, and animals killed with dogs and firearms, show a long-standing pattern of behaviour. The ferrets were not an isolated incident; they were simply the victims caught on camera. The absence of a ban means that nothing prevents him from continuing the same activities that preceded this offence.

For the owner, the impact has been profound. Her statement describes paranoia, sickness, fear, and a loss of safety in her own home. She was left terrified of seeing Read again — and given his behaviour, her fear is entirely justified. The restraining order offers some protection, but it does not address the core issue: a man who has demonstrated sadistic violence towards animals still has legal access to animals.

This case exposes a serious gap in the system. When an offender demonstrates sadism, enjoyment of suffering, and a pattern of violent behaviour towards animals, a ban should be automatic. The fact that Read can walk out of prison and immediately resume hunting with dogs is not just a failure — it is a risk.

Pumpkin and Latte deserved better. Their deaths should have resulted in a lifetime ban. Instead, the man who killed them retains the legal right to continue the very activities that led to their suffering.

Animal Torture, Dogs, England, Physical Violence, South West England, Worst of the Worst

Taunton, Somerset: Lewis Orchard

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A young man in a black hoodie with the hood up sits in a bedroom with a bed, backpack, and carpeted floor visible behind him. Natural light comes from the left.
Lewis Orchard admitted attempting to burn an American Bulldog with a spray can and lighter.

Incident Details

Orchard was banned from owning or dealing with animals after attempting to set a dog on fire using a spray can and a lighter.

He appeared at Taunton Magistrates’ Court on 1 October 2026 having previously pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an American Bulldog in Taunton on 17 April 2024.

A young man with short dark hair and tattoos on his neck and arm wears a black T‑shirt with white and green graphics. He is indoors against a neutral background.

The court heard that Orchard used a spray can and lighter to create a flame and directed it towards the dog.

Magistrates found that he knew, or ought reasonably to have known, that the flame would cause unnecessary suffering or was likely to do so.

Sentence

Orchard was made subject to a 10‑year disqualification order, with a minimum of five years before he can apply to have it lifted. The order prevents him from owning, keeping, transporting, dealing with, or influencing the care of any animal.

A young man in a black hoodie raises his middle finger toward the camera. He has light hair, visible acne, and is standing in front of leopard‑print fabric and a red cloth.

He was also ordered to pay £200 in costs, £80 in fines, and must complete a community order with a probation requirement.

At a Glance

Name: Lewis Jack Orchard
Date of Birth: 11 April 2004
Last Known Address: Most recently of Norton Fitzwarren; previously linked to an address in Priory Avenue, Taunton TA1 1XX
Crime Summary: Attempted to set an American Bulldog on fire using a spray can and lighter
Outcome for Victim: Dog survived; no confirmed injuries reported
Sentencing: 10‑year ban (expires October 2036), community order, probation requirement, £200 costs, £80 fine.

Somerset County Gazette

UKACF Commentary

Cases like this highlight a recurring and deeply frustrating problem: when prosecutions are handled outside the RSPCA, the level of detail released to the public is often minimal. We are told what happened in the most basic terms, but not how, why, or under what circumstances an animal ended up in danger. That lack of transparency does nothing to protect animals and leaves serious gaps in public understanding.

What we do know is stark enough. Orchard attempted to ignite a spray can at an American Bulldog, an act that could have caused catastrophic injury or death. The dog survived, but survival does not erase intent. It does not erase fear. And it does not erase the reality that someone chose to carry out an act of cruelty that could easily have escalated into fatal harm.

The 10‑year ban is appropriate, but bans alone do not tell the full story. Without clear reporting, we are left with unanswered questions about the dog’s background, living conditions, and what led to this incident. These gaps matter. They matter for safeguarding. They matter for prevention. And they matter for ensuring that no other animal ends up in the same situation.

UKACF will continue to push for full disclosure in all animal cruelty cases, regardless of who brings the prosecution. Animals deserve better than partial narratives and missing context. The public deserves better too.

If you have any information about this incident, Orchard, or the dog involved, you can contact us in confidence. We protect our sources, and your information may help us build a clearer picture of what happened and ensure the dog’s story is fully told.

Animal Torture, Denial of Veterinary Treatment, Dogs, England, Physical Violence, Psychological Abuse, South East England, Unfit Living Conditions, Worst of the Worst

Slough, Berkshre: Jack Smith

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A recent photo of Jack Smith indoors, smiling slightly, wearing a black quilted jacket over a blue collared shirt.
Jack Smith beat a defenceless puppy around the head, hid him injured in a bedroom, tied his mouth shut, and left him wrapped in a urine‑soaked blanket with a fractured rib and severe facial trauma.

Case Summary

Jack Smith narrowly avoided an immediate prison sentence after being found guilty of serious animal cruelty offences.

On 31 January 2025, Slough Borough Council’s animal welfare inspector attended a property in Ledgers Road, Slough, following reports that a man had been seen beating a puppy around the head repeatedly. Smith refused entry and denied owning a dog.

A brown and white puppy sitting on a beige rug, looking alert and healthy after recovery from injuries.

On 6 February 2025, the council officer returned to lawfully remove Smith from the property. After a forced entry, the officer and managing agent carried out a condition survey and found the flat in extremely poor condition, with large quantities of rubbish and waste items throughout.

A puppy was discovered hidden in a bedroom, wrapped in a urine-soaked blanket. The animal had severe injuries to his head, muzzle and face. Veterinary examination revealed multiple blunt-force trauma injuries, a fractured rib, and evidence that his mouth had been tied shut.

A close‑up of the injured puppy lying on a light rug, showing scabbing and irritation around the muzzle and nose.

The puppy also had injuries to his ears from attempts to remove the ligatures.

Smith continued to deny ownership, but a microchip check confirmed he was the registered owner.

After failing to attend initial hearings, a warrant was issued for his arrest. He later pleaded guilty at Reading Magistrates’ Court on 18 September 2026.

Offender Overview

A portrait of Jack Robert Smith, taken in 2017, showing him with short curly hair and light facial hair, wearing a dark collared shirt indoors.
Police‑appeal photo of Smith, taken in 2017 when he was reported missing.

Name: Jack Robert Smith
Born: May 1998
Age at Conviction: 28
Last Known Address: Ledgers Road, Slough SL1 2RQ
Occupation: Unknown
Previous Convictions: Not known
Additional Information: Prosecution brought by Slough Borough Council

Incident Details

Date of Offence: 31 January 2025
Location: Ledgers Road, Slough
Victim: Male puppy
Nature of Cruelty: Beating, blunt-force trauma, mouth tied shut, neglect, concealment
Discovery: Puppy found hidden in a bedroom, wrapped in a urine-soaked blanket

Animal Victims

Species: Dog (puppy)
Condition: Severe head and facial injuries, fractured rib, trauma from ligatures
Outcome: Taken into council care, fostered immediately, fully recovered and rehomed

Sentence

Court: Reading Magistrates’ Court
Date: 18 September 2026

Penalty:

  • 20-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months
  • 6-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months (to run consecutively)
  • 200 hours of unpaid work
  • £450 fine
  • 10-year disqualification from owning animals (expires September 2036)

Mitigation: Judge stated custody was appropriate but restricted by current sentencing limitations.

Council Statement

Councillor Zafar Satti, lead member for public protection and regulatory services, said:

“This is a sad case where an animal has suffered due to mistreatment from its owner and a lack of care. A prison sentence was narrowly avoided. We hope it acts as a serious reminder to people that owning a pet comes with responsibilities and a duty of care. If you cannot manage to look after your animals, look for support, and do not simply neglect them.”

Slough Express
Slough Observer

UKACF Commentary

Cases like this remind us that cruelty doesn’t always look like a dramatic headline — sometimes it’s a frightened puppy hidden in a bedroom, injured, silent, and hoping someone will finally intervene. What happened to this little lad wasn’t an accident, a moment of panic, or a lapse in judgement. It was sustained violence, followed by concealment, denial, and a complete refusal to take responsibility.

The fact that he survived is down to the council officers who refused to walk away, who pushed for entry, and who acted the moment they saw him. Their persistence is the only reason this puppy’s story didn’t end in the worst possible way.

But the outcome in court once again highlights the gap between the suffering animals endure and the consequences faced by those who harm them. A fractured rib, blunt‑force trauma, ligature injuries — and still no immediate custody. It’s a pattern we see far too often, where the gravity of the harm is acknowledged, yet the sentence stops short of reflecting it.

This puppy’s recovery and new life are the bright points in an otherwise bleak case. He was failed by the person who should have protected him, but he was saved by people who refused to ignore his suffering. That is what matters now: he is safe, loved, and living the life he deserved from the start.

For the public, transparency is essential. People have a right to know what happened behind that closed door, and to understand why cases like this continue to fuel calls for stronger, more consistent sentencing in animal cruelty offences. We share these stories not to sensationalise, but to ensure that the victims — the animals who cannot speak for themselves — are never forgotten.

Animal Torture, Dogs, England, Lifers, North East England, Physical Violence, Serial Animal Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Consett, County Durham: John Bagnall

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A man in a red shirt sitting indoors, facing the camera with a neutral expression.
John Bagnall caused prolonged suffering to his elderly terrier‑type dog, Jake.

Case Summary

John Bagnall, born 7 May 1988, of Wansbeck Grove, Consett, was banned from keeping animals for life after his elderly terrier‑type dog, Jake, died following months of suffering caused by blunt‑force trauma.

Offender Overview

  • Name: John Bagnall
  • Born: 7 May 1988
  • Age at Conviction: 38
  • Address: Wansbeck Grove, Consett DH8 6EW
  • Occupation: Unknown
  • Previous Convictions: Not stated
  • Additional Information: Court heard that Bagnall is autistic.

Incident Details

On 29  October 2025, RSPCA Inspector Christine Nisbet attended Bagnall’s home after reports that his dog had been beaten.

Bagnall claimed he found Jake dead the previous morning and had thrown the body onto nearby wasteland “so the foxes could eat it.”

A veterinary examination revealed multiple rib fractures of differing ages on both sides of the body, consistent with repeated blunt‑force trauma. The vet confirmed that Jake had suffered significantly.

Animal Victim

A small terrier‑type dog with a wiry brown coat and darker fur around the muzzle, looking toward the camera.
Jake, the elderly terrier‑type dog who suffered multiple rib fractures over time.
  • Name: Jake
  • Species/Breed: Terrier‑type dog
  • Age: 16 years
  • Condition: Multiple rib fractures; evidence of prolonged suffering
  • Fate: Deceased

Sentence

  • Court: Peterlee Magistrates’ Court
  • Date: 16 September 2026
  • Penalty: 24‑week custodial sentence, suspended for two years
  • Ban: Lifetime prohibition on keeping animals
  • Costs: £300 plus £154 victim surcharge
  • Mitigation: Defence claimed Jake had fallen down stairs; offender’s autism noted.

RSPCA Statement

Inspector Christine Nisbet said:

“It is awful to think of the suffering Jake endured over months. Every living creature deserves a life free from suffering and filled with compassion.”

ChronicleLive
Northern Echo

Animal Torture, Dogs, Domestic Violence - Animals Targeted, England, North West England, Physical Violence, Serial Animal Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Widnes, Cheshire: Lewis Walker

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A police mugshot of Lewis Walker standing against a plain background. He has short brown hair, facial tattoos near his left eye and neck, and is wearing a light grey shirt. A Cheshire Constabulary emblem appears in the top right corner.
Lewis Walker kicked, stabbed and battered a helpless dog, and terrorised his partner for years. Now jailed and banned from owning dogs for 15 years.

Incident Details

Former soldier Walker, who is originally from Speke in Liverpool, subjected his partner and her dog Odie to years of escalating violence, coercion and intimidation.

A close‑up photo of Odie, a brindle bull‑breed dog with a broad head and short striped fur. His mouth is open with his tongue out, and he is outdoors on artificial grass near a wooden fence.
Odie, the gentle bull‑breed who never stood a chance against the violence he endured.

His behaviour deteriorated sharply from 2021 onwards, with repeated assaults, strangulation, threats to kill, and destruction of property. He poured bleach over his partner’s clothing, smashed a fishbowl, locked her out of their home, and left her with a perforated eardrum.

Walker filmed himself kicking Odie 17 times and sent the footage to his partner.

Lewis Walker kicking and attacking Odie during a prolonged incident of abuse

In autumn 2024, he armed himself with a hammer, warned “watch what happens”, and struck the howling dog with the weapon before stabbing him with the claw end. He told his partner “you’ll be next” and threatened to stab police officers if she called 999. He also threatened to “paint the house red”.

A close‑up of a brindle bull‑breed dog’s head with a small open wound on the top, showing red tissue. The background is an indoor wall or door.
Head injury sustained by Odie during Walker’s hammer attack.

He later telephoned the veterinary practice where his partner worked and falsely claimed he had been attacked by Odie. As a result of this fabricated allegation, Odie was euthanised.

A close‑up of a brindle‑coated dog’s body showing a small red wound or sore on the skin. The surrounding fur is slightly disturbed.
Injury to Odie’s body following the hammer attack carried out by Walker.

The victim has also endured sustained harassment and hostility from Walker’s relatives. Despite the evidence of prolonged abuse, members of his family publicly defended him, dismissed her experiences, and attempted to discredit her.

A screenshot of three Facebook posts by a woman named Jennifer Reynolds defending her nephew, Lewis Walker. The posts describe him as kind, caring, a good man, and a “gentle giant”, and claim negative reports about him are lies.
Walker’s aunt publicly defended him, calling him a “gentle giant” and a “good man” despite the evidence of prolonged abuse.
Screenshot of a Facebook comment posted by Lewis Walker's mother Michelle Walker containing hostile and insulting language.

One aunt laughably described Walker as a “gentle giant” and a “good man”, comments which caused further distress to the victim and minimised the severity of what she had endured.

Judge Garrett Byrne described the case as “one of the worst cases of causing an animal suffering that the court has seen”, adding that Walker had made his partner’s life “a living nightmare”.

Reaction in court

Walker’s relatives continued their hostility during sentencing. As he was led to the cells, supporters shouted abuse across the courtroom. Their behaviour added to the victim’s distress and demonstrated the ongoing intimidation she has faced from those aligned with Walker.

The judge’s condemnation of Walker’s actions stood in stark contrast to the family’s attempts to defend him.

His partner described living in constant fear, stating that no prison sentence could undo the trauma and that she remains deeply affected by the abuse.

Sentence

Walker admitted one count of controlling and coercive behaviour on the day of trial. He was jailed for four‑and‑a‑half years, handed a 15‑year ban on owning dogs, and given an indefinite restraining order preventing contact with his ex‑partner.

At a glance

A close‑up police mugshot of Lewis Walker facing the camera. He has short dark hair, facial tattoos on the left side of his face and neck, and is wearing a dark shirt against a plain grey background.

Offender: Lewis Walker
DOB: 7 October 1992
Age at Conviction: 33
Background: Former soldier
Addresses:
• Harefield Road, Speke, Liverpool L24 0SB (previous)
• Living with partner in Widnes at time of offending
• Additional Widnes link: Alexander Drive, Widnes WA8 8DZ (mother’s address)
Victims: Odie (dog, euthanised following Walker’s false allegation); former partner
Offences: Controlling and coercive behaviour; prolonged domestic abuse; violent attacks on Odie
Previous Convictions:
• GBH with intent (2012, 3 years)
• Robbery & offensive weapon (2014, 4 years)
• Common assault (2018, 26 weeks)
Sentence: 4.5 years’ imprisonment
Animal Ban: 15‑year ban on owning dogs (expires September 2041)
Court: Liverpool Crown Court
Date: 28 September 2026

Liverpool Echo

Animal Torture, Cats, Denial of Veterinary Treatment, Dogs, England, Permitted Animal Suffering, Physical Violence, Serial Animal Abusers, South West England, Worst of the Worst, Yorkshire and The Humber

Kilham, East Yorkshire: Ellen Gibson

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Ellen Gibson sitting indoors while a small brown dog licks her chin. She is wearing glasses and a black shirt, and the background shows household furniture and plants.
Former dog walker Ellen Gibson permitted the prolonged suffering that led to the death of a dog and cat.

Case Summary

Ellen Gibson, 24, was convicted for her role in the prolonged suffering and eventual deaths of a Labrador‑type dog named Chance and a cat named Casper.

Although not the primary perpetrator of the violence, Gibson permitted the abuse to occur, failed to prevent it, and failed to obtain prompt veterinary treatment for Chance’s catastrophic head injuries.

Close-up of Chance, a brown dog, being held gently during a veterinary examination. One eye appears swollen and irritated, and the setting resembles a clinic.
Chance sustained multiple traumatic head, throat, and spinal injuries over several months. He’d also had his whiskers burned off.

She later acquired Casper despite ongoing RSPCA involvement, and he too died from severe, repeated trauma.

Her offending is linked to the case of Jordan Wood, who inflicted the physical violence that caused both animals’ deaths. Wood was jailed for 18 months and banned for life in August 2026. Gibson was sentenced separately in September 2026.

Offender Overview

Ellen Gibson taking a selfie near a coastal cliff, wearing glasses and a black hoodie. The background shows rocky cliffs, grass, and the ocean.
  • Name: Ellen Gibson
  • Born: 26 June 2002
  • Age at Conviction: 24
  • Last Known Address: Ropery Close, Kilham, Driffield YO25 4SZ
  • Occupation: Former professional dog walker
  • Previous Convictions: None known
  • Additional Information:
    • Changed plea to guilty at Bodmin Magistrates Court
    • Subject to mental‑health treatment requirement
    • Co‑offender: Jordan Wood (sentenced August 2026)

Incident Details

Between December 2024 and April 2025, Gibson was responsible for Chance and Casper while living at Trekenning Tourist Park, Newquay. During this period:

Chance (Labrador‑type dog)

Close-up of Chance’s face during a veterinary exam. His eye is red and swollen, with small puncture-like marks near the eyelid. Hands gently hold his head still.
A close view of Chance’s ear being lifted for examination. Small dark marks are visible on the outer ear, and he is wearing a red harness and blue collar.
  • Sustained multiple traumatic head, throat, and spinal injuries over several months
  • Whiskers burned off
  • Suffered repeated blunt‑force trauma
  • Gibson failed to obtain prompt veterinary treatment for severe head injuries
  • Seized by police following vet concerns
  • Despite weeks of RSPCA care, Chance had undetected internal injuries including:
    • Crushed trachea
    • Fractured hyoid bone
  • His trachea collapsed while running in a field, causing respiratory failure and death

Casper (cat)

  • Acquired by Gibson after Chance’s seizure, despite RSPCA involvement
  • Plan was in place to remove him for safety
  • Gibson posted online that Casper had died before removal could occur
  • RSPCA intercepted his body prior to cremation
  • Post‑mortem revealed:
    • Catastrophic chest trauma
    • Multiple rib fractures across three timelines
    • Severe head injuries
    • Blindness
    • Organ damage
  • Injuries consistent with prolonged, repetitive violence
  • Died as a result of inflicted trauma

Animal Victims

Chance

  • Species: Dog
  • Breed Type: Labrador‑type
  • Sex: Unknown
  • Age: Unknown
  • Injuries: Multiple traumatic head, throat, and spinal injuries; crushed trachea; fractured hyoid bone; burned whiskers
  • Fate: Died from respiratory collapse following undetected internal injuries

Casper

  • Species: Cat
  • Sex: Male
  • Age: Unknown
  • Injuries: Catastrophic chest trauma; multiple rib fractures across three timelines; severe head injuries; blindness; organ damage
  • Fate: Died from inflicted injuries
  • Photos: ✘ None available

Sentence

Court: Bodmin Magistrates Court
Date: 24 September 2026

Penalty:

  • 23‑week prison sentence, suspended for two years
  • 15‑year ban on keeping animals (expires September 2041)
  • Mental‑health treatment requirement
  • £1,000 costs
  • £154 surcharge

    Mitigation:
  • Guilty plea
  • Mental‑health factors considered by the court

RSPCA Statement

RSPCA Inspector Jack Alderson said:

“The cruelty inflicted upon innocent animals like Chance and Casper is an unforgivable betrayal of trust. Every living creature deserves a life free from suffering and filled with compassion.”

Linked Cases

This case is directly linked to the conviction of Jordan Wood, who was jailed for 18 months and banned for life for inflicting the violence that caused Chance and Casper’s deaths.

Voice
Companion Life

Animal Torture, England, Hare Coursing, North East England, Organised Animal Crime, Physical Violence, Poaching, Serial Animal Abusers, Wildlife, Wildlife Crime / Bloodsports

Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham: Connor Bradshaw

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A formal police mugshot of wildlife killer Connor John Bradshaw, wearing glasses and a dark athletic shirt, facing the camera against a plain background.
Police mugshot of Connor John Bradshaw, taken during the wildlife crime investigation.

Case Summary

Connor John Bradshaw used his dogs to hunt and harm wildlife, sharing images of dead deer and hares on multiple social media platforms. Intelligence supplied by Naturewatch Foundation led to a joint investigation with Cleveland Police, resulting in a prison sentence and a long-term dog ban.

Offender Overview

Name: Connor John Bradshaw
Born: 8 October 1998
Age at Conviction: 27
Last Known Address: Roseworth area, Stockton‑on‑Tees TS19 (later HMP Holme House)
Occupation: Unknown
Previous Convictions: Not reported
Additional Information: Habitual wildlife offender; used Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to display dead animals and glorify dog‑led hunting behaviour.

Incident Details

Bradshaw posted photographs and videos showing dead deer and hares, with his dogs standing over the bodies. In one disturbing post, he joked about “playing tug of war with a deer” with his dog.

Connor John Bradshaw standing in a gym wearing an orange athletic shirt and glasses, with weight benches and gym equipment visible in the background.

In February, Cleveland Police received detailed intelligence from Naturewatch Foundation, who had been monitoring Bradshaw’s online activity. This information prompted Stockton’s Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) to question Bradshaw, leading to charges for:

  • Six counts of hunting a wild mammal with a dog
  • Causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal

Bradshaw later provided his address as HMP Holme House.

Sentence

Court: Teesside Magistrates’ Court
Date: 11 September 2026

Penalty:

  • 12 months’ imprisonment
  • 15‑year disqualification from keeping dogs (expires September 2041)
  • Ban expiry: Bradshaw cannot appeal for at least 10 years

    Mitigation: None reported

Agency Statements

Cleveland Police – NPT Sergeant Mitch Baldwin

Bradshaw showed “a shocking amount of disregard for the welfare of animals” and repeatedly caused “unfathomable suffering to wildlife”.

Connor John Bradshaw indoors wearing a black winter jacket with a fur‑lined hood, glasses, black athletic trousers, and a Valentino crossbody bag.

He praised the “fantastic partnership work” between the neighbourhood team and Naturewatch Foundation, highlighting how vital collaborative investigations are in tackling wildlife crime.

Naturewatch Foundation – Wildlife Crime Campaign Manager Jim Clark

Clark stated that offenders who persecute wildlife “should expect to feel the full force of the law”.

He congratulated the investigating officer for securing a strong result and emphasised the importance of partnership work in protecting wildlife for the future.

TeessideLive
Northern Echo

Animal Torture, Birds, England, Wildlife Crime / Bloodsports, Worst of the Worst, Yorkshire and The Humber

Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Owen Rayner

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A young man sits in a vehicle wearing a blue jacket, looking into the camera. This is offender Owen Rayner, later filmed chasing, hitting and stamping on ducks at Cawthorne Woods.
Owen Rayner laughed as he chased, hit and stamped on defenceless ducks at Cawthorne Woods, South Yorkshire.

Case Summary

Owen Rayner, 20, of Greenside Avenue, Staincross, Barnsley, received a suspended prison sentence after disturbing footage showed him chasing, striking and repeatedly stamping on ducks at Cawthorne Woods, a South Yorkshire beauty spot. The footage was originally posted on Snapchat and later passed to police and the RSPCA.

Offender Overview

Name: Owen Rayner
Born: 2 February 2006
Age at Conviction: 20
Last Known Address: Greenside Avenue, Staincross, Barnsley Occupation: Unknown
Previous Convictions: None known
Additional Information: His surname was misspelt as “Raynor” in early press coverage. Footage shows multiple older teenage males laughing during the attack. They have not as yet been identified.

Incident Details

Rayner was filmed chasing a flock of Mallard ducks at a lakeside area in Cawthorne Woods. He struck three ducks with large branches and then returned to stamp repeatedly on them. It is not known whether the ducks survived.

A composite image showing two stills from the Snapchat video of the attack. In one, Rayner moves toward ducks in a wooded area; in the other, he runs at them along a path. These frames capture the filmed cruelty in which ducks were chased, struck with branches and stamped on.
Stills from the Snapchat video show Rayner chasing, hitting and stamping on terrified ducks during the filmed attack.

He pleaded guilty to one offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981: intentionally killing or causing injury to three ducks/ducklings.

Animal Victims

Three Mallard ducks (survival unknown).

Sentence

Court: Barnsley Magistrates’ Court
Date: 7 September 2026

Penalty:

18‑week prison sentence suspended for two years; 150 hours of unpaid work; £400 costs; £154 victim surcharge

Mitigation:

His age at the time of the offence and the impact on future employment prospects were cited.

Magistrates’ Remarks: “As a bench we have never seen anything this bad. This was appalling behaviour which was seriously aggravated by the fact it was posted on social media. One of my colleagues felt physically sick as he watched that video footage and heard the case outlined to us.”

RSPCA Statement

Inspector Keith Hogben said: “I viewed the three video clips in which I viewed three older teenage men abuse several Mallard ducks at a lakeside by chasing, hitting with a stick, stamping on at least three ducks. It’s unclear whether these ducks were killed.”

He added: “This is one of the worst deliberate acts of cruelty on innocent, defenceless animals I have seen in 27 years of working for the RSPCA. The fact those involved were laughing as they carried out this cowardly act shows how little respect they have for animals.

“Animals feel pain, fear and distress, just like we do, and always deserve to be shown kindness, compassion and respect.”

Yorkshire Post
Rayo

UKACF Commentary

Some cases stay with you because of the violence. Others stay with you because of the intent. This one stays with you because of both.

What happened at Cawthorne Woods wasn’t a moment of stupidity or a lapse in judgement. It was cruelty carried out for entertainment — filmed, laughed at, and posted online as if the suffering of terrified ducks was something to brag about. That’s what makes this case so deeply unsettling. It wasn’t hidden. It wasn’t impulsive. It was performed.

The ducks in that video were defenceless. They were simply existing in their own habitat when a group of teenagers decided they were props for a joke. You can see the fear in the way they scatter. You can see the intent in the way Rayner chases them down. You can see the violence in the way he swings branches and stamps on their bodies. And you can hear the laughter — the part that tells you everything you need to know about the mindset behind this attack.

Magistrates said they had “never seen anything this bad.” The RSPCA inspector said it was one of the worst deliberate acts of cruelty he’d seen in 27 years. They’re right.

This wasn’t just an attack on animals. It was an attack on empathy itself. A deliberate choice to cause pain, record it, and share it.

UKACF exists because of cases like this — cases where animals suffer at the hands of people who treat cruelty as entertainment. Cases where the justice system can only go so far. Cases where the victims cannot speak for themselves.

The ducks mattered. Their fear mattered. Their pain mattered. And what happened to them deserves to be documented, remembered, and condemned without hesitation.

Animal Torture, Cats, Dogs, England, Lifers, Pet Sitters, Dog Walkers, Boarding Kennels, Dog Trainers, Physical Violence, Serial Animal Abusers, South West England, Worst of the Worst, Yorkshire and The Humber

Newquay, Cornwall / Kilham, East Riding of Yorkshire: Jordan Wood and Ellen Gibson

3 Comments
A composite image showing Jordan Wood and Ellen Gibson, the two people responsible for the prolonged suffering and deaths of Chance the dog and Casper the cat. On the left, Jordan Wood stands on a beach under a grey sky, wearing glasses and a light T‑shirt. On the right, Ellen Gibson takes a mirror selfie indoors, flexing her arm in a sleeveless black top. The two images are placed together to show both individuals connected to the same cruelty case.
Jordan Wood and Ellen Gibson let a dog and cat suffer months of violence, fractures, blindness and agony until both animals died.

Case Summary

Labrador‑type dog Chance and cat Casper suffered months of brutal, repetitive violence at the hands of Jordan Wood, culminating in catastrophic injuries that led to their deaths.

A close-up of Chance being held gently during a veterinary examination. His left eye is swollen and injured. He looks calm and trusting despite the pain. The image shows the aftermath of the abuse he endured.
Chance

Wood, aged 25, formerly of Trekenning Tourist Park, Newquay, pleaded guilty to three animal welfare offences following an RSPCA investigation.

His co‑defendant, Ellen Gibson, aged 24, formerly of Cornwall and now living in Kilham, Driffield, also admitted causing or permitting unnecessary suffering.

Chance endured prolonged physical abuse, strangulation injuries, spinal trauma, and repeated blunt‑force blows.

Casper suffered catastrophic chest trauma, multiple rib fractures across three timelines, severe head injuries, blindness, and organ damage. Both animals died as a result of the violence inflicted upon them.

Jordan Wood standing outdoors in falling snow, wearing a hoodie and plaid shirt. He is shown as one of the individuals responsible for the prolonged violence that killed Chance the dog and Casper the cat.
Jordan Wood inflicted months of violence that left Lab-cross Chance broken, strangled and dying, and left Casper the cat blind, crushed and fighting for breath.

Wood has been jailed for 18 months and banned from keeping animals for life. Gibson will be sentenced separately in September 2026.

Offender Overview

Name: Jordan Wood
Born: 22 December 2000
Age at Conviction: 25
Last Known Address: Trekenning Tourist Park, Newquay; family home at Hillside Park, Bodmin PL31 2NB
Occupation: Unknown
Previous Convictions:

  • Possession of a throwing knife (blade over three inches), Bridlington, Yorkshire — January 2025
    • Community order
    • £120 fine
  • £85 costs

    Additional Information:
  • Defence cited PTSD and depression
  • Known to have moved between Cornwall and Yorkshire

Offender Overview (Co‑Defendant)

Name: Ellen Gibson
Born: 26 June 2002
Age at Conviction: 24
Last Known Address: Ropery Close, Kilham, Driffield YO25 4SZ
Occupation: Former dog walker — Happy Hippy Pet Services
Previous Convictions: None known

Additional Information:

  • Responsible for Chance and Casper during periods of injury
  • Pleaded guilty to causing or permitting unnecessary suffering
  • Returned to family home in Kilham, Driffield, East Riding of Yorkshire
  • As of August 2026, she is reportedly employed in a care home where she works with vulnerable adults

Incident Details

Concerns were raised in April 2025 when Chance was taken to a vet with severe injuries.

Jordan Wood taking a mirror selfie indoors, flexing his arm in a sleeveless black shirt. He is shown as one of the individuals responsible for the prolonged abuse that killed Chance and Casper.

The RSPCA were alerted and attended Wood’s address. Chance was seized by police and placed into RSPCA care, where further examinations revealed:

  • Multiple traumatic head injuries
  • Skull fractures on both sides of the frontal bones
  • Sagittal crest fracture
  • Strangulation injuries and altered airway size
  • Windpipe compression consistent with repeated collar tightening
  • Spinal fracture from high‑level blunt force
  • Burned whiskers
  • Swelling, bruising and abrasions around eyes, ears, face and neck

Chance was euthanised due to complications from his pre‑existing throat fractures.

Ellen Gibson sitting indoors while a small dog licks her face. She is shown as one of the individuals who caused or permitted the prolonged abuse that led to the deaths of Chance the dog and Casper the cat.
Ellen Gibson — a former professional dog walker – admitted causing or permitting the violence that left Chance and Casper dead.

In August 2025, Casper was found dead with catastrophic injuries from at least three separate timelines of blunt‑force trauma:

  • Rib fractures healing at different rates
  • Dislocated sternum
  • Limb fractures
  • Liver laceration
  • Lung collapse
  • Severe head trauma
  • Bilateral eye trauma, blindness, retinal detachment, lens rupture
  • Pus accumulation within the eyeballs
  • Multiple cartilage fractures in both ears

Casper’s cause of death was severe blunt‑force trauma to the chest, resulting in respiratory failure.

A close-up of Chance’s ear showing patches of hair loss and dark scabbed injuries. The photo highlights the physical damage he suffered before being rescued.
Every mark on Chance’s body, including the cigarette burns on his ears, tells the story of the torture he endured.

Veterinary evidence confirmed both animals endured prolonged physical pain and mental torment.

Animal Victims

Chance (Dog)

  • Male Labrador‑type
  • Suffered repeated blunt‑force trauma
  • Skull, throat, spine and facial injuries
  • Whiskers burned off
  • Euthanised due to complications from injuries
Chance standing on a beach with a tennis ball in front of him, looking alert and happy. This photo shows him in better times, before the injuries and trauma that ultimately led to his death.
Chance was joyful. He was trusting. He was failed.

Casper (Cat)

  • Male
  • Suffered catastrophic chest trauma
  • Rib fractures across three timelines
  • Severe head injuries
  • Blindness and extensive eye damage (his eye was reportedly gouged out while he was still alive)
  • Died from lung collapse and respiratory failure

Sentence (Jordan Wood only)

Court: Truro
Date: 6 August 2026

Penalty:

  • 18 months; imprisonment
  • Lifetime ban on keeping animals
  • Guilty of three animal welfare offences

    Mitigation:
  • Defence cited PTSD, depression, and difficult childhood

RSPCA Statement

RSPCA Inspector Jack Alderson said:

“The cruelty inflicted upon innocent animals like Chance and Casper is an unforgivable betrayal of trust. Every living creature deserves a life free from suffering and filled with compassion.”

CornwallLive
Rayo

Fate of the Animals

Chance was removed from Jordan Wood and Ellen Gibson along with several rats and rabbits. The smaller animals were unharmed.

Chance was immediately placed under the care of the RSPCA Cornwall Branch, where he received repeated health checks, veterinary treatment and daily monitoring. A member of staff fostered him to ensure he had stability, safety and comfort while the investigation progressed.

Despite weeks of dedicated care, Chance had suffered internal injuries that were not initially detectable. Unknown to the team and the attending vets, he had a crushed trachea and fractured hyoid bone caused by strangulation.

While running in the field at the centre, his damaged trachea suddenly collapsed, causing respiratory failure and his death.

His passing occurred despite every possible intervention, and only because of the violence inflicted on him before rescue.

Unbeknownst to the RSPCA, Gibson later acquired another animal — Casper the cat. As soon as this was discovered, a plan was put in place to have him removed. Before this could happen, Gibson posted on social media that Casper had died.

Casper’s body had already been sent for cremation, but the RSPCA were able to intercept it in time.

Both Chance and Casper were sent to a forensic pathologist. The examinations revealed the full extent of the injuries suffered by both animals, confirming prolonged, repeated, non‑accidental trauma.

UKACF Commentary

Jordan Wood’s case is one of the clearest examples of prolonged, escalating violence against companion animals that we’ve seen in recent years. The veterinary findings alone — multiple skull fractures, throat and windpipe compression injuries, spinal trauma, and repeated blunt‑force blows — show a pattern of deliberate harm inflicted over months, not moments. Chance’s injuries were so severe and so varied that they could not be explained by any accidental cause, despite Wood’s claim that the dog “ran into a fence.”

Casper’s post‑mortem findings were even more disturbing: fractures healing at different rates, catastrophic chest trauma, skeletal injuries, and internal organ damage, all pointing to repeated episodes of violence across at least three separate timelines. His cause of death — extensive lung collapse and respiratory failure due to blunt force trauma — reflects sustained suffering rather than a single fatal incident.

The RSPCA’s own inspector described the cruelty as an “unforgivable betrayal of trust,” and it’s difficult to disagree. These animals were not only harmed — they were harmed repeatedly, severely, and in ways that demonstrate intent, force, and a complete disregard for pain, fear, and vulnerability.

The lifetime ban imposed on Wood is both appropriate and necessary. Cases like this highlight why lifetime bans exist: to prevent individuals who have demonstrated a capacity for extreme violence from ever having access to animals again. The 18‑month custodial sentence, while welcome, inevitably feels small compared to the suffering endured by Chance and Casper — a recurring issue in UK sentencing for animal cruelty.

Ellen Gibson’s involvement, while different in nature, still reflects a failure to protect animals in her care. Allowing suffering and failing to seek veterinary treatment are not passive oversights — they are active breaches of duty that enable harm to continue. Her sentencing will determine whether the courts recognise the seriousness of enabling or permitting cruelty, not just inflicting it.

This case is a stark reminder of how vital community vigilance is. It began because a vet recognised that Chance’s injuries did not match the explanation given. Without that intervention, both animals’ suffering might have continued unnoticed. It also underscores the importance of robust enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, particularly Section 4(1), which exists precisely for situations where unnecessary suffering is inflicted or permitted.

For UKACF, this case stands as a deeply troubling example of sustained violence, preventable deaths, and the need for stronger deterrents. Chance and Casper deserved safety, care, and compassion — not months of pain followed by fatal injuries. Their story must be remembered, not only to honour them, but to reinforce why reporting concerns, supporting the RSPCA and Scottish SPCA, and demanding stronger sentencing all matter.

Additional Photos of Jordan Wood and Ellen Gibson

Update | 24 September 2026

Ellen Gibson, 24, has now been sentenced for her role in the prolonged abuse suffered by Chance the dog and Casper the cat. Gibson admitted allowing the violence to continue, failing to protect the animals, and failing to obtain urgent veterinary care for Chance’s catastrophic head injuries.

She received a 23‑week prison sentence, suspended for two years, along with a 15‑year ban on keeping animals, a mental‑health treatment requirement, and £1,154 in costs and surcharges. Magistrates stated that her failure to act contributed directly to the suffering and deaths of both animals.