CONVICTED (2024) | Mark Williams, born 13 July 1985, of The Deanes, Tiverton EX16 5GT – kicked his partner’s pet chihuahua and threw him 20 feet across a room.
Williams, who was once hailed as a hero after jumping into a canal to rescue a dog in distress, became so angry that he punched his own television and partially throttled his girlfriend before venting his rage on her tiny dog. The attack took place in the presence of a four-year-old boy.
Nigel Wraith, prosecuting, said Williams had been in a volatile on-off relationship with the woman for some time. She was living at his home on March 31, 2023, when an argument started after he returned home drunk.
Teacup chihuahua Smoothie was severely injured in the drink-fuelled attack but survived
He became jealous, threw her mobile telephone against a wall, punched and broke his television and put one hand around her throat, obstructing her airway and leaving her gasping for breath.
He then kicked her teacup chihuahua, Smoothie, before picking the dog up and throwing her out of the living room and into the kitchen where she hit the oven door and could be heard yelping in pain.
The owner reckoned Williams threw the dog the distance of three small cars parked end to end.
The dog suffered injuries to her jaw and hips.
Williams admitted intentional strangulation and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
Williams’ lawyer Evie Dean said her client was addressing his use of alcohol and seeking help for “mental health issues”.
Sentencing | jailed for 14 months, suspended for two years; 120-day alcohol abstinence tag; relationship course; 120 hours of unpaid community work. No ban.
CONVICTED (2023) | Erica Marisa Tavares, born 8 August 2000, of Constance Close, Dudbridge Road, Stroud GL5 3BH* – launched a “frenzied” fatal knife attack on the family dog after he escaped from home.
Tavares stabbed American bulldog ‘Thanos’ after having a row with her partner about the pet’s escape.
She repeatedly stabbed the dog with a 12in (5.08cm) knife. He suffered four head wounds and a fatal wound to his abdomen.
Tavares admitted causing unnecessary suffering to Thanos and assaulting her partner Gerson Barros.
Prosecutor Ed Hollingsworth told the court that the incident happened on the afternoon on 11 February 2023 when Mr Barras had just returned to their home to Stroud.
On his arrival, he was told that Thanos had been running around the street during the early hours of that morning and had been taken in by the local vets. They contacted the police and later arranged for the dog to be returned to its owners.
“This caused a heated argument between the couple which evolved into other accusations being made, with Tavares suggesting that Mr Barros leave the home and end their relationship,” said Mr Hollingsworth.
Tavares began stabbing the dog and pointed the knife at Mr Barros, threatening to kill him, he added.
She was arrested and the dog was taken to the vets for treatment.
Matt Harbinson, for Tavares, said that she had been the victim of abuse and a degree of controlling behaviour from Mr Barros and was also suffering from post-natal depression following the birth of her third baby.
“She describes this episode as a complete breakdown,” said Mr Harbinson.
“She was studying for a business degree, had a part-time job and was looking after three children while also being the victim of domestic abuse.
“This was a day when excessive pressure was brought to bear over the dog’s behaviour and she then reacted in the way she did.”
Judge Ian Lawrie KC told Ms Taveras the way the animal suffered was “unforgiveable” but accepted that Tavares’ offending was “completely out of character”.
Sentencing | 12 months in jail suspended for 18 months; 60 hours of unpaid work; 12 months of mental health treatment. Banned from keeping protected animals for just five years (expires December 2028).
*Alternative address is Harrowgate House, Cassland Road, Hackney, London E9 BY.
Additional Information
Following Erica Tavares’ conviction for animal cruelty, a neighbour of hers took to Facebook and alleged the following:
The media have most of this information wrong. She kicked the dog out in the street the night before and when confronted said they don’t have a dog.
Police then took the dog and her partner claimed it back when he returned from London.
She stabbed the dog because her partner paid more attention to the dog than herself,. He was a lovely dog.
She was not a domestic violence victim. In fact it’s the complete opposite. Her partner was getting the children out the house to safety while she was doing this.
Luckily the children are no longer in her care.
There was no history of domestic violence from her partner. This was just to help her case, as was the mental health defence.
It’s been hell. We’re a quiet close, with families, pets ,etc. She’s been intimidating people constantly. She takes photos of us including children.
No one in [Constance Close, Stroud] wants her here, but she’s being protected.
CONVICTED (2023) | Lee T Preston, born c. 1986, of Grove Avenue, Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 3BA – caught on a video doorbell kicking a puppy he had bought in an attempt to win back his girlfriend.
Lee Preston bought a dog in an attempt to rekindle the relationship with his ex-girlfriend – but then she saw him kick the puppy, causing the animal to yelp in pain
Preston had been dumped by his partner due to his poor behaviour towards her. In a foolish attempt to rekindle the relationship, he purchased a dog and took him to her house. But she saw him assault the puppy by kicking him, causing him to yelp in pain.
Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard in another incident, he went to her house and attacked her door. When she went outside, he slammed her against a wall and bit her on her neck.
Now Preston, a chartered accountant, has been jailed for 16 months.
Prosecutor Omar Majid said Preston had been in a relationship with his victim after meeting her at their mutual workplace: Dunelm. But she found him increasingly volatile, physical and controlling and called quits on their relationship.
On September 28, 2022, she was at home when Preston turned up unannounced. Mr Majid said: “He started to kick her front door and caused damage to the bottom corner of the door meaning it did not lock properly.”
Preston bought a puppy for his victim in an attempt to win her back but on November 22 she received a notification from her doorbell footage.
Mr Majid said: “When she opened it she saw Preston kick the dog and it could be heard yelping in pain. It was clearly a sadistic attack.”
The fate/current whereabouts of the puppy were not reported.
Preston turned up at his victim’s home on December 18 and was aggressive and verbally abusive. Mr Majid said: “He started to kick the front door and pull the doorbell off the wall.
“She decided to go out and look at the door. When she went out the argument continued and she told him to leave. He grabbed her by her hair and dragged her and during the fight he bit her on her neck having slammed her against the wall of the garage.
“She kept telling him to leave but he refused. He picked up a flower pot and threw it at the door.”
A neighbour who witnessed the incident said it was ‘horrific’ to watch.
The victim said Preston’s behaviour impacted on her mental health.
Preston pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm; two charges of criminal damage; and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
Barry White, mitigating, said his client had spent four weeks on remand after his arrest and did not fit into the prison environment at all.
But Recorder Robert Smith said the offending was so serious only an immediate jail sentence could be justified. He told Preston: “I completely reject your profound remorse. I find you jealous, controlling and an arrogant man. I find you pose a risk of causing serious harm to partners.”
Sentencing | 16-month custodial for animal and domestic abuse. No mention of a ban.
CONVICTED (2023) | Kyle McGailey, born 20 December 1998, of Peninsula Road, Winchester SO22 4PA – threw a cat down a flight of stairs.
McGailey, a violent career criminal, wept in the dock as he was given 20 weeks in prison for the shocking incident, which took place in Fair Oak, Eastleigh in June 2022.
Southampton Magistrates Court heard how McGailey had bought the cat Nala for his partner in April 2022.
On June 22, 2022, the woman heard the cat meowing and screeching and found McGailey trying to get her from under the sofa with a baseball bat.
When he eventually got Nala out, he picked her up – at which point, she urinated on the sofa.
He then “stormed” over to the top of the stairs and threw her over the bannister whilst shouting “why did I get her for you”, the court heard.
Prosecuting, Sarah Wheadon told the court how the animal was left “motionless and floppy” at the bottom of the stairs.
She was found with blood around her right paw and when police and the RSPCA arrived, she was rushed to the vets.
The feline was found to have a fracture to her tooth below the gum line, tissue swelling and a skin tear to her paw.
When interviewed, McGailey said her paw was not like that when he saw her, denying ever harming the animal.
But Ms Wheadon added that his story was not consistent with the RSPCA’s findings.
Delivering his sentence, District Judge Peter Greenfield said the cat “must have been pretty distressed”.
“Clearly the cat could have been killed. [It was] just unnecessary.”
But mitigating, Will Day said his client accepted the injuries caused to Nala adding that he is “someone that struggled with anger and emotions”.
“[He is] very motivated to move forward and not commit further offences”, he said.
Mr Day added that McGailey “lost his temper” but that the cat only had discomfort for “three or four hours” and did not suffer long-lasting injuries.
McGailey admitted one charge of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
Sentencing | 20-week custodial. Banned from possessing an animal for life.
CONVICTED (2023) | Simon Wallace, born c. 1996, from Morningside, Edinburgh but with links to the Gorgie area of the city – booted his partner’s dog in the ribs during an argument in the street.
Wallace kicked the unnamed sharpei so hard the pet was flipped onto her side.
The attack, which took place on Balcarres Street in the Morningside area of Edinburgh on June 24, 2023, was witnessed by members of the public who called police.
Wallace appeared from custody at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday 25 Jul and pleaded guilty to causing an animal unnecessary suffering.
Sheriff John Cook jailed Wallace for 96 days after noting he had an “appalling record” for domestic offending.
The sheriff banned Wallace from owning any animals for five years.
According to reports, the unnamed dog was not physically injured.
CONVICTED (2023) | Lewis Hudson, born 9 June 2000, of Crispin Road, Netherley, Liverpool L27 7BE – tortured his girlfriend’s kitten over eight months by shooting her, scalding her in the shower and covering her in bleach before beating her to death.
Lewis Hudson shot a kitten with a BB gun, stamped on her with steel toe cap boots and covered her in bleach. He even hit her with a shovel.
During an eight-month campaign of terror, Lewis Hudson subjected the kitten, known as Binx to multiple sadistic attacks, culminating in her horrific death in August 2022.
The appalling catalogue of abuse began not long after Hudson had moved into a flat in Prescot with his now ex partner, Summer – who owned Binx – in August 2021.
In the months that followed Summer noticed several injuries on the cat. Hudson initially denied all knowledge, but soon began openly abusing Binx.
On one occasion he punched the kitten after she had scratched the furniture.
He also left her in the shower with the water running for long periods of time. Her owner found the distressed animal in the the bathroom, which was full of steam. She was crying and panting and her skin was hot to the touch.
In June 2022, Summer was watching funny cat videos on her phone when Hudson told her he had a funny video to show her. He then showed her a video of him stamping on Binx in steel toe cap boots. The cat was screaming and Hudson told her he would continue to do so if she did not do as she was told.
On another occasion Summer found Binx lying motionless and matted with blood in the bath after she had been hit with a shovel in the shower. This had been done with such force, the young animal’s teeth had been broken
Hudson would also shoot the cat with pellets from his BB gun. He even soaked them in cleaning fluids before firing them – and also hit Binx with a mop soaked in bleach “in the hope it would kill her”.
Summer tried to make arrangements for the cat to be rehomed but Hudson refused to allow this because he feared the injuries would be traced back to him and he wanted a dog.
In a disturbing series of text messages sent in August 2022, Hudson told his then partner that the cat was “going to get it” and he was “going to whack her with this shovel”.
He then told her “if you don’t get home now I am going to kill it”.
He finished by telling Summer “everyone in your family thinks I am a soft c because I am polite and quiet to them. I’ll f**** show them the real me if they want.”
She returned home to find Binx lying motionless. Her fur was matted with blood where she had been hit with the shower head.
Her fangs had been cleanly hit out of her mouth due to the force. Summer passed out when she saw the cat’s injuries while her mum called the police.
Hudson was arrested at the scene. When questioned by the police, Hudson claimed he “was all talk” and had kicked the cat away from him causing her to hit the TV stand.
In his witness statement RSPCA Inspector Anthony Joynes, who investigated for the charity, said: “Binx was wrapped in a bag, covered with a towel and contained within a cardboard box. I saw she had a number of fresh looking wounds around her nasal area and chin. I noted there were no obvious signs that might suggest Binx had been involved in a road traffic accident and her claws did not appear scuffed.
“The inside of her mouth was bloodied and I noted that both upper canines were broken. When handling Binx I noted a crisp packet type sound coming from the chest area which can be a sign of subcutaneous emphysema and indicative of chest trauma.”
Inspector Joynes arranged a post mortem examination. It showed that Binx’s body was covered with abrasions and bruises.
Her ribs were fractured and her lung was punctured, which was confirmed to be the cause of death. The court heard the cat had “suffered extensively”.
“Faeces and blood were reportedly seen in multiple areas of the premises, indicative that the cat was injured and mobile for a period of time immediately prior to death,” said a report by an independent veterinary expert.
“The most likely cause of death in this animal, otherwise healthy, was a traumatic and non- accidental pneumothorax. It is clear that the animal suffered multiple, different, blunt traumas and that the animal was conscious when this occurred.
“Furthermore, the healing fractured rib and the “aged” bleeding, support the existence of a previous traumatic event to the chest, many days ahead of the fatal set of injuries listed above.”
In mitigation, the court heard Hudson had experienced “traumatic events in his childhood”. He was supported by his dad in court and it is understood that his mother bakery owner Lisa Hudson and grandmother Marion Hudson are also standing by him..
Honour Judge Brian Cummings KC called the criminality “a sickening catalogue of cruelty to a defenceless animal”. He noted the totality of the offending and the prolonged and “sadistic” nature of the torture. In mitigation he took into account Hudson’s guilty pleas to two counts of animal cruelty and one of harassment relating to the text messages to Summer.
Judge Cummings jailed Hudson for two years and three months. He also imposed a restraining order that stops him contacting Summer for 10 years, as well as disqualifying him from keeping any animal for life.
Speaking after the sentencing hearing, inspector Joynes said: “This case involved stomach-churning and sadistic levels of cruelty over a prolonged period.
“The extreme suffering Binx endured at the hands of Hudson was used to hurt and punish Binx’s owner – who was obviously devastated by what happened to her beloved pet.
“This is one of the most extreme examples of physical and psychological suffering inflicted on an animal I’ve seen in 14 years with the RSPCA. This case involved nothing short of torture and is exactly why the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) bill was introduced in 2021 to increase sentencing powers for the most extreme cases of animal cruelty.”
The RSPCA worked in partnership with the police to bring the charges against Hudson.
Sentencing | two years and three months in jail and a lifetime ban. 10-year restraining order prohibiting him from contacting Summer.
CONVICTED (2023) | serial domestic abuser Casey Bell, born c. 1993, of no fixed abode but with strong links to South Shields and Harrow, South Tyneside – targeted his former partner’s dog during campaign of domestic violence.
Bell was already subject to a restraining order after a previous offence against the woman when he urinated on her bed , telling her: “You are not going to have anyone else sleeping in this bed again”.
As the woman tried to remove the covers, she felt blows raining down on her head. Bell then stood on the bed, held the headboard and started stamping on her head repeatedly, then on her stomach.
A court heard he also hit her dog when he tried to protect her.
He then armed himself with scissors and threw a pint glass at her, which deflected from her arm and smashed against the wall.
The woman feared he was going to kill her.
Bell also smashed her phone then stole £210, her bike and house key.
In a victim impact statement, she said she had been left with bruising to her arms, stomach and all over her body. She added: “It’s getting to the point where I’m really scared for my safety.
“He hit my dog while it was trying to protect me. I’m scared of him, I thought I would be killed during the attack. I wish him no harm, only to be happy and healthy but away from me.”
Bell, who has 74 previous convictions, including breaching the restraining order, was found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, harassment, theft and criminal damage and was jailed for three years.
He was not prosecuted for animal cruelty.
The court heard in mitigation that Bell had a difficult childhood and has poor mental health.
CONVICTED (2023) | persistent domestic abuser Dudley J Stein, born c. 1992, of Coniston Avenue, Headington, Oxford OX3 0AN – threw his ex’s pug out of a first-floor window.
After hurling the dog, Borris, from the window, Stein told his ex the pug was ‘probably dead’ and added: “I wish it were you.”
In a statement, Stein’s ex said he ‘often beats me up’ and said: “I am very afraid for Borris.”
Stein had spent a long weekend from June 16, 2023, at the woman’s home after seeing her in Oxford, despite being subject to a restraining order at the time that banned him from contacting her.
The court heard the weekend had not been a ‘happy time’ and was ‘marred by [Stein’s] lack of patience and anger, particularly towards [Borris]’.
During an argument with his ex, Stein became irritated by Borris’s snoring, and threw him from a first-floor window. Miraculously the tiny dog survived the fall. It’s not known if he suffered injury.
The judge told Stein he accepted this was “an act of sheer rage”
Stein, who threatened to crush his toddler son’s skull in a previous violent outburst, pleaded guilty to four counts of breaching restraining orders and a charge of attempted criminal damage in relation to Borris.
The court heard had five previous convictions, including for false imprisonment and assault.
Sentencing | 14 month custodial with 10 weeks added for breaching a suspended prison sentence.
CONVICTED (2023) | Kayleigh Smee, born c. 1989, of Cambria Avenue, Rochester ME1 3HZ – killed a chihuahua by hurling him 30ft out of third-floor window.
Smee with ex Ryan Doe. She claimed in court that Doe, an alleged domestic abuser, would beat the chihuahua
Mother-of-two Smee, who works as a cleaner, threw the eight-year-old dog, called Prince, from the window of a third-storey flat in Rochester. While Prince initially survived the fall, he was too badly injured to be saved.
Chihuahua Prince broke his neck in the 30ft fall
Jeremy Cave, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, told how Smee and boyfriend Ryan Doe had been out drinking and returned to her flat in Rochester.
A row broke out and Smee claimed her lover was violent and had damaged the door of the flat after she threw him out.
As he stood below her window, Smee began throwing out crockery before throwing out Prince, alleging her lover had often beaten the animal.
Smee initially claimed not to have tossed the canine out of the window, then claimed he may have been thrown out with clothes.
But Mr Cave said none of the eye witnesses saw any clothes on the ground, just the injured dog.
Prince was then taken for treatment by a vet after suffering bleeding and severe spasms but 12 hours later he was put down despite emergency treatment.
Smee pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to Prince.
John Connor, defending, told the court Smee had been “of good character for about the last decade”, and that her previous offending was not animal related.
He said Smee was in an abusive relationship at the time of the incident and had “an awful lot going on in her life”.
Judge Philip Statman told Smee: “Prince, this much loved little Chihuahua, died the most awful death…which was wholly avoidable.
“This was an ugly incident which happened spontaneously but was not done out of revenge.”
He said some people say the way animals are treated is the hallmark of a civilised society.
The judge told her that she had only pleaded guilty days before the trial was due to begin and said he was not convinced her remorse was genuine.
He said she was “thinking about herself” too much, evidenced by her looking around the courtroom throughout the hearing.
Sentencing | 12-month jail sentence suspended for two years; 200 hours of unpaid work; 30 rehabilitation activity days. Banned from owning or keeping a dog for 10 years (expires July 2033).
CONVICTED (2023) | Matthew Stuart Stark aka Matthew Pinfold or Matt Ilett, born March 1981, from Peterborough – killed his partner’s two dogs during a relationship that left his victim ‘living in fear’.
Stark poisoned and strangled German Spitzes Ronnie and Tiki while his partner was out at work.
Ronnie and Tiki
She realised something was wrong when she came home that evening and the animals weren’t waiting at the door to greet her. She found her pets in their beds and covered in faeces.
The dogs were rushed to the vets but nothing could be done to save them and they died as a result of their injuries.
Veterinary reports suggested that the dogs could have been poisoned and there was bruising around the chest and neck of the animals.
