CONVICTED (2017) | Tyler Perkins, born 13 October 1998, of Wherstead Road, Ipswich IP2 – stabbed a hedgehog to death
Twisted Tyler Perkins stabbed a defenceless hedgehog to death
A support worker saw Perkins stab the hedgehog three times in his back garden in the early hours of September 9, 2016.
At 2am Perkins went outside for a cigarette with his support worker but a rustling noise caused by the hedgehog disturbed him.
He went back inside and grabbed something from the kitchen work surface before running into the garden again.
The worker said she then saw Perkins stab the hedgehog once with a knife, before stabbing it twice more with a frenzied action.
He then attempted to throw the hedgehog over his neighbour’s fence.
The teenager, who had been drinking, had become angry with the animal after he saw it going near his bike.
RSPCA inspector Jason Finch, who was called to Perkins’ flat after the attack, said when he saw what had happened he was horrified.
“The hedgehog would have suffered horrendously before it died,” he said.
“Hedgehogs are in decline and acts like this do not help”.
Sentence: 18-month community order with a 15 day rehabilitation activity requirement; total £385 costs and charges; banned from keeping animals for 10 years (expires January 2027).
CONVICTED (2016) | Adam Hoar, born 22 May 1992, of Malvern Crescent, Seaham SR7 8BJ and brother Christopher Hoar, born 16 September 1985, of Woods Terrace, Murton, Seaham SR7 – kicked a hedgehog to death
“Horrible” brothers Christopher Hoar (left) and Adam Hoar.
The evil brothers were caught on camera repeatedly kicking the tiny creature like a football shortly after midnight on July 7, 2016, at Dalton Park retail centre at Murton, County Durham.
The pair admitted inflicting unnecessary suffering contrary to the Wild Mammals Protection Act.
Adam Hoar
Denise Jackman, for the RSPCA, said Adam Hoar initially claimed under caution that they had thought the hedgehog was a football, before admitting the truth.
District Judge Kristina Harrison said: “I cannot see how anybody their size was doing anything other than torturing the hedgehog by kicking it around the place, using it as a football.”
Sentencing the brothers, who hung their heads, she told them: “This is a horrible case where you have tortured an animal who has hurt absolutely nobody and whose numbers in the wild are rapidly dwindling.
“If people feel horrified by the case, quite frankly they are absolutely right to do so.”
Outside court, RSPCA Inspector Helen Nedley who investigated the case said the sentence sent out a message.
She said: “This was a horrible case of cruelty to a completely defenceless animal who did nothing but have the misfortune to cross paths with these brothers.
“The hedgehog was kicked about five times by each man. At one point it was kicked with such force it was propelled into the air and one of the men’s shoes flew off.
“The injuries sustained by this poor creature were horrendous including broken ribs, a broken pelvis and ruptured liver, and it died in the hand of one of the witnesses.
“This kind of cruelty is abhorrent and I am glad that this was taken so seriously by the court today.”
Sentence: jailed for six weeks and ordered to pay £250 each in compensation.
CONVICTED (2014) | Suzanna ‘Sue’ Falconer, born 29 June 1973, and Raymond Spires, born c. 1990, of Albert Avenue, West Hull HU3, for neglecting banned breed dog; dog put to sleep on BSL grounds; Falconer in breach of animal ban for starving 13 pet rats to death.
Sue Falconer and Raymond Spires
Tia had to be put to sleep after RSPCA inspectors found her at the home where Suzanna Falconer lived with her partner Raymond Spires.
The dog was suffering from a skin condition and was later found to be a pit bull, a breed banned in the UK.
Neglected dog Tia was put to sleep under BSL
Falconer, who was banned from keeping animals for five years in 2012 after starving 13 rats to death, pleaded guilty to breaching her disqualification order and failing to meet Tia’s needs.
A spokesman for the RSPCA said: “The RSPCA takes breaches of disqualification orders very seriously.
“Unfortunately, in this case, it is clear that no lessons had been learnt by Falconer, despite a disqualification from keeping animals.
“She not only breached the terms of the court order but sadly went on to fail to give Tia the care she needed.”
Spires also pleaded guilty to failing to meet the needs of Tia and aiding and abetting the breach of Falconer’s disqualification order.
Falconer was originally banned from keeping animals for five years after neglecting a rabbit called Bugsy, three ferrets and 13 rats and for causing unnecessary suffering to a hedgehog at her previous home in Downing Grove, east Hull.
Raymond Spires
The rats were found dead in cages in the shed having been starved to death.
The hedgehog had been kept in captivity and was emaciated.
Falconer had not fed the ferrets properly or protected them from pain, injury, disease and suffering.
Her partner at the time Andrew Gill, was also convicted of the same offences and went on to be banned for a further 20 years after he left his four dogs without food and water or bedding.
2022 image of Sue Falconer
RSPCA inspectors and police raided Gill’s house again in September 2013 where they found 20 fish, a corn snake, two Staffordshire bull terriers called Zane and Patch, two terriers called Dufus and Meg, two cats and six kittens.
Serial animal abuser Andrew Gill
Dufus and Meg were confined to the kitchen and had been eating out of the bin.
Zane and Patch were found in the rubbish-strewn garden, where there was broken glass jars, rusty metal tins and exposed metal chair springs.
Sentencing | Falconer: eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, £350 costs, £80 victim surcharge. Spires: 80 hours of unpaid work, £350 costs and £60 victim surcharge. Both were banned from keeping animals for seven years (expired November 2021) .
CONVICTED (2013) | repeat offender Andrew Gill, born c. 1964, of Downing Grove, Hull HU9 3SY – left his four dogs without access to food, water or bedding; breached disqualification order.
Andrew Gill celebrates winning The World’s Biggest Knob competition.
Gill was banned, alongside former partner Suzanna Falconer, from keeping animals in 2012 for causing unnecessary suffering to 13 rats, which died of starvation, failing to meet the welfare needs of three ferrets and a rabbit and causing unnecessary suffering to a hedgehog.
RSPCA inspector Hannah Bryer said: “Throughout the duration of the previous proceedings, Mr Gill was given advice, assistance and warning notices to improve the welfare of his remaining animals.
“After he was banned, he failed to follow the court order and continued keeping animals.
“Mr Gill has proved he is unable to care for animals properly, even when given extensive guidance.
“He has shown a complete disregard for the court order and to the wellbeing of his pets.”
RSPCA inspectors and police raided Gill’s home in September 2012. When they entered the property, he said: “You’re not taking my pets, you are not touching the snake or the fish, no way.”
Inside, they found 20 fish, a corn snake, two Staffordshire bull terriers called Zane and Patch, two terriers called Dufus and Meg, two cats and six kittens.
2022 photo of serial animal abuser Andrew Gill
Miss Bryer said Dufus and Meg were confined to the kitchen and had been eating out of the bin. Zane and Patch were in the garden, which was littered with rubbish including broken glass jars, rusty metal tins and exposed metal chair springs.
Gill admitted breaching his disqualification order and failing to meet the welfare needs of the dogs.
In 2007, Gill spoke of of his devastation after an arson attack on his shed killed his 300 rats, two rabbits, two hamsters, two guinea pigs and three hedgehogs.
Sentencing: 12-week prison sentence, suspended for a year, 200 hours of unpaid work, £250 costs. Banned from keeping animals for 20 years (expires April 2033).
CONVICTED (2009) | Ricky Jefferies, born 05/04/1979, previously of Edgeworth in Yate and as of 2020 of Stanshawe Crescent, Yate, Bristol BS37 4EW – kicked a hedgehog repeatedly in the street
The court heard that Jefferies kicked the hedgehog after discovering his fiancee of seven years was having an affair with his best friend.
Police saw Jefferies run towards the hedgehog and kick her six or seven metres, then kick her again.
Jefferies admitted inflicting unnecessary suffering to a wild animal when he appeared before North Avon magistrates on 02/07/2009. He was fined £140, ordered to pay £55 court costs and £15 towards the Victim Support Fund.
CONVICTED (2007) | Gordon Devenish, born c. 1966, of West Blackhall Street, Greenock PA15 1UY and John ‘Johnny’ Cathcart, born c. 1969, of Golf Course Road, Skelmorlie PA17 5BH – kicked a hedgehog to death
Johnny Cathcart (left) and Gordon Devenish used a defenceless hedgehog as a football
Self-employed joiner John Cathcart and his colleague Gordon Devenish kicked a hedgehog to death by using it as a football during a stag weekend. The pair admitted kicking the animal back and forth until it died as a result of its injuries.
Sheriff Robert McCreadie described it as an offensive act of wanton cruelty committed by two grown men.
“You should both be ashamed of yourselves. You are being publicly shamed in the dock today,” he said.
Sheriff McCreadie added: “I have noted that you have paid a sum of money to the SSPCA, possibly in an attempt to salve your conscience.”
Fiscal depute Stuart Richardson told the court that a number of police officers were in the area when they saw Devenish kicking the hedgehog across the road and Cathcart kicking it after him.
“Police then approached both to find out what they were doing,” Mr Richardson said. “The hedgehog was killed.”
Devenish claimed he saw an object lying in the street and decided to use it as a football.
He realised it was a hedgehog but decided to boot it several feet in the air anyway.
Solicitor Mark Alder, defending, said: “Both parties were drinking a large amount of alcohol on the day in question.
“They were out at a friend’s stag party.
“Both now accept responsibility for their actions.”
In his letter pleading guilty to the court, Cathcart said: “I deeply regret what I have done. As an animal lover I feel great remorse.
“I was intoxicated at the time of this offence, although I know this is no excuse for such a stupid and barbaric act.”
Sentencing: Devenish was fined £400 and Cathcart £360.
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We collate data on animal cruelty convictions in the UK
