Category Archives: Domestic Violence – Animals Targeted

Domestic Violence – Animals Targeted covers cases where animals are harmed, threatened or killed within the context of domestic abuse. Offenders may injure animals to intimidate, punish or control partners, children or other household members, or to exert dominance within the home. These incidents often involve repeated violence, coercive control, emotional manipulation and escalating risk to both animals and people. Animal abuse within domestic violence environments is a recognised warning sign for severe harm, including high‑risk offending, serial violence and danger to human victims. This category identifies cases where cruelty is used as a tool of domestic abuse, with specific offence types classified under the relevant cruelty or crime categories.

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

Dogs, Domestic Violence - Animals Targeted, Highlands & Islands, Physical Violence, Scotland

Walls, Shetland Islands: Harry Wishart

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CONVICTED (2026) | Harry James Wishart, born 28 July 1987, of Forratwatt, Walls, Shetland ZE2 9PF – subjected his wife, children and the family dog to years of violence and emotional abuse

Harry Wishart from the Shetland Isles terrorised his wife, children and pet dog over several years.
Harry Wishart terrorised his wife, children and pet dog over several years.

Wishart. director of construction business Harry J Wishart Ltd, pleaded guilty to a sustained course of “coercive and controlling” domestic abuse against his former partner and his three children, as well as an offence of animal cruelty in relation to an unnamed pet Labrador.

The court heard details from the Procurator Fiscal, describing a “harrowing” pattern of behavior. The offenses took place between 2022 and 2025 and included:

  • Abuse of Partner: punched the woman in the head while driving, threw a knife, phone, and broom at her, made derogatory comments, and drove at excessive speeds to terrify her.
  • Abuse of Children: beat two of his children with a length of wire, submerged a child’s head in a bucket of water, and locked his children in an unfinished room by blocking the door with a wooden board.
  • Animal Cruelty: kicked the family’s pet dog repeatedly and suspended him from a garage roof using a rope. The court heard the unnamed chocolate llabrador was checked by the Scottish SPCA and a vet afterwards and was found to have suffered no physical injuries.
Harry Wishart from the Shetland Isles terrorised his wife, children and pet dog (pictured) over several years.
Wishart is banned from owning animals until 2036 after his shocking sadistic cruelty towards the family dog (pictured).

In August 2025, after his arrest, Wishart went to the police station and claimed his wife had been controlling him and stopping him from seeing his family.

He said his children were “always trying to get him in to trouble”.

The prosecutor said that Wishart “seeks to control with fear and aggression” and had ruled a household that was left with an “atmosphere of unremitting anxiety and fear”.

Sheriff Neil Wilson was concerned by Wishart’s social work report, which said he had a “limited acceptance” of his guilt.

But defence agent Tommy Allan said Wishart now fully accepted responsibility for his actions.

He said his client had felt anxious and depressed while moving the family to a new house they were building in Walls – which had been a source of some difficulties.

He also said Wishart was running a business which supported two other families and had been stressed by this.

Allan said Wishart was someone who was being psychologically assessed and who was willing to carry out any form of non-custodial treatment.

He supplied two photos to the court – of Wishart with his children, and Wishart with the dog – and said that this was what his client had lost.

“That is a severe punishment,” he said. “Any further punishment does not need to be custodial.”

Sheriff Wilson strongly disagreed, however, saying that there was no alternative to a jail sentence.

Sentencing | jailed for a total of 28 month; ordered not to approach or contact his former partner or their children for an indefinite period. One-year supervision order after his release from prison. Wishart is banned from owning an animal for a period of 10 years (expires July 2036).

Shetland News

Belfast Region, Dogs, Domestic Violence - Animals Targeted, Northern Ireland, Physical Violence

East Belfast: Dylan Campbell

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CONVICTED (2026) | Dylan James Campbell, born October 1998, of Lewis Court, Beersbridge, East Belfast BT6 9TG – for animal cruelty and domestic abuse.

Belfast animal abuser and woman beater Dylan Campbell.

Campbell pleaded guilty to the following offences:

  • Domestic violence: Two counts of non-fatal strangulation or asphyxiation, two counts of common assault, and using threatening or abusive behaviour against his ex-partner.
  • Animal cruelty: Causing unnecessary suffering to his ex-partner’s chihuahua puppy.
  • Drug offences: Possession of Class A and Class C drugs.
  • Property damage: Causing criminal damage to police property.

The incidents began on 22 March 2025, after an argument escalated in Belfast city centre. Campbell became aggressive after monitoring his partner’s Facebook account and questioning individuals who interacted with her posts.

The confrontation escalated into violent physical assaults at the victim’s home later that evening.

The victim told police the accused grabbed her around the throat and started to squeeze it with his hands which she described as “terrifying”, adding: “I was unable to breathe”.

She recalled a previous incident on January 25, 2025 when she was at home and the defendant was also present. The woman said she was “frightened” as the defendant became argumentative. He told her he wanted to buy more drugs but she said she didn’t have enough money in her bank account.

She said she went into her son’s bedroom and sat on the bed and was followed by Campbell who sat down next to her and started “shouting and ranting”.

“My puppy was sitting on me and the defendant was shouting and he said the dog was ‘yapping’ before throwing the puppy across the floor. This behaviour scared me.”

During police interviews, Campbell accepted possession of the drugs but made no comment to all further questions relating to the domestic assaults.

The court heard Campbell has 25 previous convictions on his criminal record with four entries for common assault, one for a threat to kill and eight for drug offences.

In May 2017, he was convicted of striking an ex-partner in the head and threatening to kill her. In 2021 he was further convicted of striking another partner to the head and pushing her to the ground, before striking her to the face and arms.

Sentencing | 28 months in custody, followed by an additional 28 months on supervised licence upon his release. Five-year restraining order. It has not been reported whether an animal disqualification order was issued.

BelfastLive

Dogs, Domestic Violence - Animals Targeted, Glasgow & West Scotland, Physical Violence, Scotland

Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire: Brooke Thornley

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CONVICTED (2026) | Brooke Thornley, born c. 2008, previously of Fleetwood, Lancashire, and now Hunter Road, Crosshouse, Kilmarnock KA2 – kicked her family dog around the house and attacked her parents and sister when they tried to intervene.

Violent headcase Brooke Thornley, previously of Fleetwood, Lancashire, and now Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire.

Thornley was celebrating her 18th birthday with her family at a local pub in Fleetwood before returning home. Under the heavy influence of alcohol, she became enraged when the family dog refused to dance with her.

She kicked the dog, who ran into the kitchen, but Thornley chased him to kick him again. Her sister tried to intervene but Thornley turned on her, kicking her and stamping on her head.

The girls’ mum then stepped in to protect her daughter but Thornley kicked at her and hit her all over her body. She then picked up a knife and lunged at her mother, who was fortunately able to knock the knife out of her hand.

Thornley proceeded to smash up the kitchen before leaving the house with the dog. When she returned she started banging on her sister’s door and making threats to kill her.

This woke their father up and he came out of his bedroom and told their mother to call the police. Thornley ran at him, causing him to fall and hurt his wrist.

When the police arrived Thornley became aggressive with them and had to be handcuffed before being arrested. She gave “no comment” answers to all questions in an interview at the police station.

Thornley’s sister suffered bruising to her leg, chest and shoulder, and their mum had swelling and bruising to her face and cheek.

The court heard that the victims were no longer supportive of the prosecution and had declined to give impact statements to the court.

Thornley pleaded guilty to ABH, criminal damage and animal cruelty.

The court heard she has since moved to Kilmarnock, Scotland to live with her aunt and uncle and has started working.

Recorder Michelle Brown, sentencing, said the case was so serious she would ordinarily have no hesitation in handing down a prison sentence. However she recognised that Thornley was just 18 when she committed the offences and it was set against a difficult background at home.

She said: “It is clear from their statements that your sister and mum were very frightened and distressed by your actions. You have found a new life with support from extended family and have found work.”

She told Thornley: “Your behaviour and the vicious nature of the assault on your family members and the dog were very serious. I very much hope you will work with the Probation Service to deal with this. You now have support and every opportunity to make your future a better one – I very much hope you take it.”

Sentencing | three year community order with a 12 month mental health treatment requirement, 20 days of rehabilitation activity requirements and 80 hours of unpaid work. No ban on keeping animals.

LancsLive
Blackpool Gazette

Dogs, Domestic Violence - Animals Targeted, England, North West England, Worst of the Worst

Westhoughton, Greater Manchester: Brian Coote

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CONVICTED (2026) | Brian Coote, born 27 April 1989, of Quakerfields, Westhoughton, Bolton BL5 2BJ – killed his elderly father’s rescue dog with a samurai sword after flying into a rage.

Dog killer and elder abuser Brian Coote from Westhoughton, Bolton, Greater Manchester.

Officers from Greater Manchester Police were called to Quakerfields, Westhoughton, on Christmas Day 2025.

Coote had been drinking on the night of Christmas Eve and was offered a cup of tea by his 71-year-old father, Alan, after he got up the next morning. Coote threw the cup of tea at his father and gripped him by the arms causing injury to him.

He then ran to another room to fetch a decorative Samurai sword.

Alan fled over a garden fence to raise the alarm, but when he returned with police officers, he found his rescue dog Max dead behind the garden shed. Coote had slashed the Jack Russell three times with the sword, causing catastrophic injuries.

Officers then found Coote covered in blood. He spat at and kicked the arresting police officers and later spat at a custody officer.

Coote pleaded guilty to assault causing grievous bodily harm; causing unnecessary suffering to an animal; assaulting an emergency worker; and common assault.

In a statement issued following the hearing, Sergeant Sarah Kirkman from Bolton’s Evidence Review Team, said: “The actions that Coote took towards his elderly father and his dog that he had rescued from an abusive home were nothing short of despicable.

“He turned what should have been a day of celebration into a nightmare, first by seriously injuring his father and then by causing catastrophic injuries to his loyal and faithful companion, Max, that he could never have survived.

“He then continued with his acts of violence by assaulting two police officers and a volunteer from the appropriate adult scheme, whose only role in the investigation was to provide support to Coote in custody.

“The sentence passed to him reflects how seriously Greater Manchester Police takes domestic abuse and animal cruelty, and assaults against its officers and staff.

Sentencing | jailed for 47 months. 10-year restraining order. No mention of a ban on keeping animals.

Manchester Evening News
Bolton News

Cats, Domestic Violence - Animals Targeted, East of England, England, Serial Animal Abusers

Colchester, Essex: Brook O’Sullivan

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CONVICTED (2026) | Brook Lucas O’Sullivan, born October 2004, of James Ward Road, Berechurch, Colchester CO2 – callously dangled a petrified cat from a window and threatened to stab him to get back at his ex-girlfriend.

Animal abuser, domestic abuser and thief Brook O'Sullivan from Colchester, Essex.

O’Sullivan was convicted following a three-day trial after jurors heard how he used the unnamed cat as a weapon of emotional abuse during a wider campaign of coercive and controlling behaviour.

The court heard O’Sullivan held the terrified cat out of a window by the neck in what prosecutors described as a “callous” attempt to cause maximum distress to his ex-girlfriend.

Evidence presented during the case showed the threat to the cat was not an isolated incident. O’Sullivan had previously threatened to stab the animal during arguments, with the prosecution arguing he repeatedly used fear and intimidation to control his victim.

Jurors were told the cruelty formed part of a wider pattern of abusive behaviour that included stalking, repeated unwanted contact, turning up at the woman’s home and seizing her mobile phone.

While O’Sullivan was cleared of a sexual assault allegation, he was convicted of animal cruelty, coercive and controlling behaviour, stalking and theft after the court heard he stole around £7,000 worth of belongings — including a Rolex watch — from a woman who had taken him into her home while he was homeless.

Sentencing | £1,000 fine, plus £500 compensation to the voman and £500 in court costs. Five-year ban (expires May 2031).

Colchester Gazette
Colchester Gazette (archived link)

Dogs, Domestic Violence - Animals Targeted, England, North West England, Physical Violence, Worst of the Worst

Lostock Gralam, Cheshire: Jason Lamb

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CONVICTED (2026) | relentless domestic abuser Jason Connor Lamb, born c. 1998, with a most recent address of Celandine Court, Cheshire Avenue, Lostock Gralam, Northwich CW9 7YU, but with strong family links to Winsford – attacked two dogs with a machete and knuckle duster after they tried to protect the woman he was beating.

Relentless domestic abuser Jason Lamb also targetted one of his victim's pets, beating two dogs with a machete and knuckle duster.
Headcase. Relentless domestic abuser Jason Lamb also targetted household pets, beating two dogs with a machete and knuckle duster.

Lamb was charged with a raft of offences including animal cruelty, engaging in coercive and controlling behaviour, intentional strangulation, intentional suffocation, various driving offences, criminal damage, and possession of an offensive weapon.

In relation to the animal abuse charges, he admitted beating one ex-partner’s dogs when they tried to defend her, though denied he used weapons. This was contradicted by photographs seen by the court showing the animals’ brutal facial injuries.

Lamb stood trial before a jury at the crown court for six domestic violence-related offences, including coercive and controlling behaviour and intentional strangulation.

He was found guilty and sentenced on March 18, 2026.

The court heard that Lamb inflicted psychological trauma on two of his ex-partners during a horrific campaign of terror.

He “humiliated and degraded” the women between February 2023 and September 2025. One was just 17 when he met her.

During an attack on one partner, her two dogs tried to defend her, so he attacked both with a machete and punched them wearing a knuckleduster.

He also financially abused both women, plunging them into thousands of pounds worth of debt, and forced one to take cocaine with him.

Lamb systematically isolated both women from their families and all their friends.

He forced one to resign from her job as a supervisor in a cleaning firm because her workplace was too near a building site and he did not want her to be so close to other men.

He also strangled one of the women on three separate occasions, and on another occasion, tried to suffocate her by holding a shower head over her mouth.

He even removed all the internal doors from one of their homes ‘so she would have nowhere to hide from him’.

She fought back and cut his face near his eye, after which he held her down and allowed himself to bleed all over her face as a form of humiliation.

Lamb’s most recent partner reported the last incident of strangulation to police on September 5, 2025.

The next day, Lamb was arrested behind the wheel of a black Audi following a high-speed police chase through residential areas and country lanes around Winsford and Whitegate,

Lamb has previous convictions for domestic violence and other offences of violence, criminal damage, and motoring offences.

Defending, Paulinus Barnes said her client “grew up in an abusive home”.

Sentencing | seven-and-a-half years for domestic violence, animal cruelty, and driving offences; 15-year restraining order in respect of both victims; seven-year driving ban. Banned from keeping animals for 10 years (expires March 2036).

Northwich and Winsford Guardian

Dogs, Domestic Violence - Animals Targeted, Glasgow & West Scotland, Physical Violence, Scotland, Serial Animal Abusers, Small Animals, Starvation / Malnutrition, Worst of the Worst

Maybole, South Ayrshire: David McQuaker

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CONVICTED (2026) | domestic abuser/rapist David McQuaker, aka David Ankers, born 21 September 1999, with a last known address of Balvaird Road, Maybole KA19 8JE – for sadistic cruelty to gerbils and a dog.

Domestic abuser and rapist David McQuaker, aka David Ankers, from Maybole, South Ayrshire also targeted household pets for abuse.

McQuaker engaged in a course of abusive behaviour against his then partner, which included inflicting suffering on household.

He starved two gerbils and disposed of one of them by throwing her into a refuse chute while she was still alive. He also kicked a dog on the head and threw him to the floor.

The animal cruelty was carried out in the presence of the woman, who was subjected to violent, verbal and sexual abuse by him.

McQuaker was found guilty of engaging in a course of abusive behaviour against the woman between 2019 and 2023 in Ayr, Maybole and elsewhere, which included sexual offending, in that he forced her to have sex without consent.

He shouted, swore and acted aggressively towards the victim, made threatening and derogatory remarks, and isolated her from friends and family.

He brandished a knife and pushed the woman onto a couch and onto the floor.

Domestic abuser and rapist David McQuaker, aka David Ankers, from Maybole, South Ayrshire also targeted household pets for abuse.

McQuaker was also convicted of assaulting a teenager at a house in Ayr in July 2020 when he grabbed her mobile phone, pushed her, pulled her to the floor and struck her with his hand.

He also admitted a further charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive way in January 2023 at an address in Ayr by threatening to kill himself and others during an online live stream.

Sentencing | five-year custodial. Placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely; non-harassment orders prohibiting him from contacting or attempting to contact victims. No mention of a ban on keeping animals.

Ayr Advertiser

Dogs, Domestic Violence - Animals Targeted, England, Physical Violence, South East England

Maidstone, Kent: Thomas Egan

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CONVICTED (2026) | drug abuser, alcoholic and serial woman beater Thomas Egan, born c. 1994, of Upper Fant Road, Maidstone ME16 – launched a drunken attack on his sister and her elderly dog.

Maidstone man Thomas Egan attacked his sister and her elderly dog, when he came to her defence.
Source: KentOnline

Violent headcase Egan who has a previous conviction for attacking his mother, punched his sister repeatedly on her left arm and on the forehead, leaving her battered and bruised. He then turned his attention to the woman’s elderly German Shepherd when the dog barked at him, punching him several times on the head.

Steve was so traumatised by the violence that he dropped to the floor, but Egan continued to hit him until the woman managed to drag him and a second dog away.

Maidstone man Thomas Egan brutally attacked his sister and her elderly dog, when he came to her defence.
Source: Thomas Egan – Facebook

Prosecutor Victoria Aked told the bench: “It was July 19, and he had been staying [at his sister’s home] for two months, and she had two elderly dogs at the address.

“She came home to beer cans and sofa cushions all over the floor, and her home was in disarray, and he was lying on his side, still slouched on the sofa.

“He was slurring his words and was intoxicated, and she said something like ‘look at the state of the place’, and he lunged forward and punched her on the left arm.

“It was with a hard fist, and she had a puffy jacket on at the time, and then he said something like ‘you’re mum, you’re mum’ and then punched her with his full force in the forehead.”

The court heard the attack left a large lump on her forehead, which was very painful.

Ms Aked added: “He then punched her again in the forehead, and Steve the German Shepherd barked at him as he was upset – he’s a very old gentle dog – and he then punched him in the head several times.”

Magistrates were told the dog was so frightened he dropped to the floor, cowering and yelping. Egan’s sister was then able to drag Steve and her other pooch away and get them outside.

The prosecutor added: “He then turned back to her and was red [with anger] in his face. She got to a safe place and called the police.”

The prosecutor added: “She cared for him, but his behaviour made her feel unsafe and she’s frightened of his actions and it was distressing for Steve; he’s a huge part of their family.

“She said when he [Egan] drinks, she doesn’t recognise him and that he needs to want to get help and during inverview he made no comment.

“He’s a violent man, and there has been another attack on a family member”.

Maidstone man Thomas Egan brutally attacked his sister and her elderly dog, when he came to her defence.
Source: KentOnline

Magistrates were told Egan’s previous convictions included criminal damage, being drunk and disorderly and six assaults on police officers.

Ms Aked added: “His first assault was against his own mother, so very similar. It was punching and directed to a female.”

Magistrates told Egan the charges were serious matters, but that he wasn’t going to prison.

The chairman of the bench added: “The assault was just terrible to leave bruises of that level. You have a terrible history; you have to control your anger, and you have to think, but we believe you are genuine [in your efforts to stop abusing substances].”

Egan is prohibited from contacting his sister for five years by way of a restraining order.

Inexplicably, magistrates decided not to ban him from keeping animals, despite his conviction for causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

Sentencing | 18-month community order with 200 hours of unpaid work and 14 days of ‘rehab’; 120-day alcohol abstinence tagging order £500 in compensation; victim surcharge of £114 and £85 court costs. No ban.

KentOnline

Cats, Domestic Violence - Animals Targeted, East Midlands, England, Worst of the Worst

Corby, Northamptonshire: Josh Westwood

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CONVICTED (2025) | Joshua Westwood, born c. 2000, of Westminster Walk, Corby NN18 9JA – killed a defenceless kitten and assaulted his former partner.

Kitten killer Joshua Westwood from Corby, Northants - stamped on a 12-week-old kitten, killing him.

Westwood, described in court as a violent and dangerous individual, stamped on the 12-week-old kitten, Taco, causing fatal injuries. He had previously threatened to scald the tiny pet.

The attack on Taco took place in February 2023 when Westwood was staying at the home of his former partner and their two children. The woman had previously been granted a non-molestation order against Westwood following an assault in November 2022 when he chased her, pulled her down the stars and strangled her for around 30 seconds.

Kitten killer Joshua Westwood from Corby, Northants - stamped on a 12-week-old kitten (Taco, pictured), killing him.

Despite this, she allowed him to stay with her for a couple of days at the end of January 2023.

On February 2, she left the house to go out with friends. Westwood was left alone to look after Taco.

But seconds later he ran out after the group.

“Don’t scream, but.. the cat..” he said to them.

The woman ran back into the house and found the kitten shaking, with blood coming out of his mouth. Westwood had stamped on the pet, killing him.

Kitten killer Joshua Westwood from Corby, Northants - stamped on a 12-week-old kitten, killing him.

Westwood has six previous offences on his record including for criminal damage in 2018, burglary in 2019, obstructing arrest in 2019 and for a public order offence in 2023.

He denied breaching a non-molestation order, criminal damage in relation to the kitten and intentional strangulation but was found guilty after a trial in 2023. There was then a delay as he initially said he wanted to contest the verdict before dropping his appeal.

He was finally sentenced in December 2025.

Kitten killer Joshua Westwood from Corby, Northants - stamped on a 12-week-old kitten, killing him.

Westwood’s lawyer told the court his “vulnerable” client had been assessed by a psychiatrist and found to have a mild personality disorder as well as ADHD, which had been exacerbated by the consumption of psychoactive substances.

He said that a prison term could also have an effect on his client’s “mental health conditions”, adding that during a previous period of incarceration he had isolated himself in his cell and had not left it.

He said Westwood has five children but is in contact with only one of them, and he receives benefits as he does not work.

Sentencing | two years and six months in prison. Indefinite restraining order. Admonished for killing the kitten. No ban.

Northants Telegraph