Category Archives: Worst of the Worst

The most heinous UK animal cruelty cases of recent times. The names of these truly evil men and women must NEVER be forgotten.

Animal Abandonment, Dogs, Equine Abuse, horses and ponies, Multiple Species, Serial Animal Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent: Kyla Martin

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CONVICTED (2022) | serial offender Kyla Martin, born 20 November 1990, and now of 11 Bycars Road, Burslem, Stoke on Trent ST6 1BY – left an emaciated lurcher to suffer with multiple skin lesions and an excruciating abscess.

Serial animal abuser Kyla Jade Martin from Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire

Persistent animal abuser Martin, who was given a three-year ban in 2017 after leaving a horse to die in a water-logged field, eventually took three-year-old Poppy to the vet after the dog collapsed, and asked that she be euthanised.

Lurcher-whippet cross Poppy was so underweight that a vet who examined her said she had a body condition score of only one out of nine.

Martin, who shares two other dogs with partner Andrew Dutton, told the vet she could not afford for a blood profile to be done and would prefer Poppy to be put down. But the dog was sent to a rehoming centre and is now in a healthy state.

RSPCA prosecutor Jayne Skeates aid the defendant took Poppy to Goldenhill Vets4Pets on January 12, 2022.

Poppy was covered in painful lesions and had a large abscess on her back.

Miss Skeates said: “There were signs of multiple skin lesions and a large abscess on her back. The vet reported she was emaciated and a body score of one out of nine. Her skin was fragile, there were multiple areas of hair loss, including her feet and tail, and evidence of tail biting.

“The vet formed the opinion Poppy was experiencing signs of discomfort because of the abscess. The defendant was upset the dog was in her state. She said she was unable to afford for a blood profile to be taken and would prefer she was euthanised. She signed the dog over for veterinary care so they could continue looking after her.”

Poppy was sent to a rehoming centre and was examined by another vet. He assessed the body score as one out of nine.

Miss Skeates said: “She was bright and alert. The dog was offered a full clinical examination. There was no aggressiveness. There was poor muscle mass, the skin was lacerated and the top of her tail was missing. The bony element of the tail was exposed. There was a large abscess on the back of the spine.

“In his clinical opinion the dog was suffering from experiencing hunger, a lack of protection from danger and a lack of veterinary care. There were no underlying health issues.”

It is thought three-year-old Poppy could have eaten the tip of her tail due to extreme hunger. She has been restored to health in the care of Alsager Animals in Need, however, and will be rehomed.

Martin said Poppy had started to lose weight about a week before going to the vets. She went to skin and bone and started to bite her legs and tail. She had changed her food and the dog had suffered from diarrhea. She said she noticed the sore on her back two weeks before.

Poppy has now put on considerable weight. Her tail was amputated and the wound on her back was treated.

Sentencing | 12-month community order of unpaid work and rehabilitation activity. She was banned from owning or keeping an animal for a further three years (expires July 2025).

Stoke Sentinel
Metro
Stoke Sentinel 14 July 2022

Additional Information

After Poppy was removed from her, Kyla Martin lied to friends that the had been put to sleep because she had cancer. One friend took to social media to post a screenshot of a conversation she had had with Martin.

Kyla Martin runs a nail business.

She lives with Andrew Dutton, born 1 March 1981, of whom one Facebook user wrote that “he sits on his arse drinking and eating and threatening women.”

The pair of them have a baby daughter named Crystal-Grace.

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Glenrothes, Fife: John Haxton

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#MostEvil | John Wilson Haxton aka John Falconer, born 9 August 1992, previously of Murrayburn Green, Edinburgh and at time of publication living in Glenrothes, Fife – beat his dog so badly she had to be put to sleep to end her suffering.

Dog killer John Haxton and victim Roxy.
Haxton beat Roxy so severely the retinas of both eyes became detached.

Haxton was found to have abused his Staffordshire bull terrier dog, Roxy, leaving her blind with severe swelling.

Haxton first came to the attention of the Scottish SPCA in 2018 after reports had been made to its animal helpline of people having witnessed him kicking or abusing Roxy in public or hearing noises suggesting he was beating the dog inside his home.

The animal charity investigated, but at the time there was no evidence to support the reports and he was only issued warnings.

However, in 2020 members of the public intervened after he was seen to be badly beating Roxy in public.

Two members of the public took Roxy from Haxton and she was bleeding from the eye, had cuts across her body and her neck had significant swelling. She was very distressed and was urinating blood.

Roxy had suffered repeated attacks by her owner sustaining injuries so severe that she had to be euthanised on humane grounds.
Roxy had suffered repeated attacks by her owner sustaining injuries so severe that she had to be euthanised on humane grounds.

The charity intervened again and inspector Fiona Thorburn met the members of the public at the vet where Roxy had been taken for emergency treatment.

The vet found numerous injuries on Roxy which suggested recent trauma including central blindness.

At that time, the vet determined that her vision would likely not return.

Roxy was required to stay at the hospital for 24 hours before she was transferred into the care of the Scottish SPCA.

Further examination found that she also had arthritis and a serious hip injury.

These conditions, as well as her recent injuries and blindness, were causing her immense pain and suffering and the sad decision was made to put her to sleep on welfare grounds.

Inspector Thorburn said: “The post-mortem showed that there had been bleeding to Roxy’s eyes for at least two days. The bleeding is generally associated with trauma to the eye and, in this case, to both of Roxy’s eyes. Her retinae were detached at least three days before her death which supports claims that Roxy was regularly beaten by Haxton.

“The vet concluded that Roxy had been caused severe unnecessary suffering as a result of the beating she received on May 2, 2020 and that the injuries sustained were a result of blunt trauma to her face, head and abdomen. She would have been caused immeasurable physical and mental pain and she was left terrified and anxious of human contact.

“It would have been clear to any responsible owner that Roxy needed emergency veterinary treatment.

“We liaised with the vet Roxy was registered with and found that earlier in 2020, she had been kicked so badly that she suffered a dislocated hip. Surgery to repair the injury was booked in but not taken forward.

“This is a very harrowing case and one that will stay with me and, I’m sure, everyone involved. The level of suffering inflicted on Roxy in Haxton’s care is unimaginable. She was put to sleep as a direct result of Haxton’s actions. We had hoped he would never be allowed to care for an animal ever again.

“We are extremely disappointed given the severity of the injuries Haxton inflicted on Roxy that he did not receive a lengthier ban or custodial sentence. Haxton had opportunities to relinquish ownership of his dog were he not coping but he refused and instead her suffering continued.

“We would like to extend our gratitude to the two members of the public who witnessed Haxton beating Roxy in public and removed her from his care. Her injuries were so severe that who knows what would have happened if they hadn’t intervened. However, we wouldn’t recommend people put themselves in any danger in this sort of situation and to call Police Scotland and the Scottish SPCA should they witness a crime such as this.”

Sentencing | 300-hour community payback order. Five-year ban on owning and keeping animals.

STV News
Edinburgh News

Update September 2022

Haxton is living with a woman named Sarah Falconer at a property in Caskieberran Road, Glenrothes KY6 2NT. It’s rumoured that the pair of them have bought a kitten together despite him being banned from keeping or owning any animal.

Haxton with girlfriend Sarah Falconer, who’s from Glenrothes.
abattoirs / animal slaughter, farms / smallholdings, Food Production, Worst of the Worst

Currock, Carlisle: John Gibson

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CONVICTED (2022) | slaughterman John Gibson, born c. 1981, of Mount Pleasant Road, Currock, Carlisle – caught on CCTV decapitating cattle before they had ‘bled out’.

Gibson, who works at Carlisle Abattoir on Brunthill Road, Kingstown, Carlisle, which is operated by West Scottish Lamb Ltd, pleaded guilty to four breaches of the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (England) Regulations 2015.

Prosecutor Pam Ward said the offences came to light after CCTV footage of the defendant’s workplace was reviewed by a vet.

It showed that the defendant had not abided by the regulation that requires an animal, after it has been stunned, and then had its throat cut, to be bled for at least 30 seconds.

The bleeding regulation applies after the animal has had its carotid or jugular arteries severed by the slaughterman.

Inflicting suffering on helpless animals is also Gibson’s hobby, with his Facebook profile littered with images of him lamping and persecuting wildlife with dogs.

The CCTV review showed that the defendant had flouted the regulation on four separate occasions in 2021: on May 14 and 18 and on May 20 and 21.

From the dock of the court, the defendant said he “got carried away.”

As she passed sentence, presiding magistrate Jill Robinson noted that the defendant was “too engrossed” in his work. As a result of him rushing, animals had suffered, she said.

Sentencing: ordered to pay a total of £726.

News and Star
BBC News

Animal Abandonment, Cats, Dogs, Multiple Species, Worst of the Worst

Walton, Liverpool: Leanne McConnell

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CONVICTED (2022) | Leanne McConnell, born 12 September 1990, of Andrew Street, Walton, Liverpool L4 4DT – abandoned starving pets in a house for weeks.

McConnell was prosecuted after the RSPCA discovered one cat eating another’s body after she abandoned them. She had left the cats, who she named ‘Fat Slag’ and ‘Tilly’, alone in her home for so long that one of them died of thirst and starvation.

The other cat and a dog, called ‘Chunks’, were found emaciated and distressed inside the house in Norris Green, Liverpool, in 2021.

A vet said the animals had been allowed to suffer after McConnell left them without enough food or water.

RSPCA animal inspector Anthony Joynes visited McConnell’s house with police after concerns were raised for the animals’ welfare.

When he arrived at the home on Hollingbourne Road a neighbour told him they had not seen her for weeks.

He managed to call McConnell and she came round to the house to let him in.

Inspector Joynes found rubbish and animal faeces littered the home that stunk of urine.

He then found one of McConnell’s cats in a ‘filthy’ downstairs bathroom eating the cat that had died.

Inspector Joynes said: “He also had a marked skin tent and was clearly distressed being found actively feeding on a deceased black and white cat.”

Veterinary surgeon Vanessa Whitfield said the court most likely died of inadequate nutrition or malnutrition, although she said disease within the missing organs could not be ruled out.

Dr Whitfield said: “The two cats and dogs were allowed to suffer due to a lack of accessible, clean and fresh water leading to thirst, dehydration and contributing to the death of one of the cats.”

McConnell admitted three charges of causing unnecessary suffering to protected animals and a fourth charge of failing to meet animal’s needs at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court earlier this year.

The court heard McConnell was suffering with mental health issues when she abandoned the animals and her case was sent to the Complex Case Court for sentencing.

Sentencing | six month jail term suspended for a year; a total of £1047 in fine, costs and a surcharge. Banned for keeping animals for twelve years.

ITV News
Liverpool Echo

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Kingston upon Hull: Jake Atkin

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CONVICTED (2022) | Jake Francis Atkin, born 6 January 1998, of Chestnut Avenue, Queens Road, Hull HU5 2RH – beat a puppy unconscious and threatened to kill him.

Animal abuser Jake Atkin from Hull and his victim, Blaze
Jake Atkin claimed he had no recollection of almost beating a defencess puppy to death.

Atkin, previously of Pitt Street, west Hull, flew into a rage after the eight-week-old whippet named Blaze urinated on his leg, He then subjected the puppy to a savage beating, causing life-threatening injuries.

The steroid-addicted thug had only owned Blaze for four weeks but in that short time had already taken him to the vet twice before: once for “walking into a door” and on another occasion for “accidentally eating chocolate”.

Blaze nearly died after enduring multiple beatings at the hands of Jake Atkin from Hull

Philip Brown, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, outlined the horrific events of November 27, 2021.

He said: “That day a friend of the defendant returned Blaze to him after looking after him for a while. Later she called him and they were talking and then the phone went dead.

Animal abuser Jake Atkin from Hull
Animal abuser Jake Atkin from Hull

“She called him back and he was in an exceptionally agitated state because he said ‘the dog had p****d on his leg. She lost contact again and when she got hold of him again he was still very angry and told her that if she did not collect the puppy he would ‘kill it’.

“She went over to the defendant’s home as quickly as possible. She found the puppy unconscious and he was taken to the PDSA. The vet examined him and found he had life-threatening injuries and he remained unconscious until the next day.

“The injuries included blood to his right eye and extensive swelling to his head. The vet concluded the injuries were not caused accidentally but by blunt force trauma.”

Animal abuser Jake Atkin from Hull

Fortunately, Blaze had made a recovery but due to his very young age it is not clear whether the injuries he sustained will have a long-lasting impact.

Animal abuser Jake Atkin from Hull

Mr Brown said: “Blaze has been rehomed and is recovering from his ordeal. This was a serious situation and he suffered significant pain.

“The defendant said he had a blackout and could not explain how the animal came by its injuries. It is clear he lost all self-control. He suffers from bi-polar and was taking steroids which led to his anger issues.”

Blaze nearly died after enduring multiple beatings at the hands of Jake Atkin from Hull

Ben Hibbert, mitigating, urged magistrates to accept the recommendation of the pre-sentence report which suggested a community sentence. He said his client was not opposed to a ban on owning a dog which he accepted “was too much to take on”.

But Mr Hibbert said his client may want to own a reptile in the future and asked for the ban not to cover all animals. Thankfully, this request was declined.

Sentencing | 12-month community order with six-month mental health treatment requirement; £495 costs and surcharge. Banned from owning any animal for a minimum period of five years.

Hull Live

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Dolphinton, South Lanarkshire: Paul Ritchie

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CONVICTED (2022) | Paul William Maciver Ritchie, born June 1986, of Grange Cottage, Dolphinton, West Linton EH46 7HH – kicked a stranger’s dog causing fatal injuries.

Headcase Paul Ritchie and victim Maya
Violent headcase Paul Ritchie and victim Maya

Ritchie, who runs a property website named Snapr UK, brandished a paintball gun at a woman out walking her dog with four children while screaming abuse. He then kicked the dog – an elderly Staffy named Maya – causing her to fly across the pavement. Tragically, Maya was so badly injured, she had to be put to sleep.

The woman, who has since moved away from Dolphinton, told the court she was convinced Ritchie had a real weapon and couldn’t believe what was happening as she took the youngsters for a Sunday morning stroll with her dog.

The incident sparked a major police armed response and saw Ritchie hauled before the courts, where he admitted culpably and recklessly discharging a paintball gun in the direction of the woman and four children.

He also admitted causing the dog unnecessary suffering and assaulting two police officers.

Thug Ritchie was previously jailed for 12 months in June 2021 for sending what a judge described as “vile” emails to politicians, including threats of shooting and ­decapitation.

His victims included former House of Commons speaker John Bercow, ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, former home secretary Amber Rudd and SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford.

Sheriff Hughes deferred sentence on Ritchie until July 2022 for background reports, including an assessment of his mental health.

Bail was continued.

Daily Record

Bestiality / Zoophilia, Dogs, Paedophiles / Sex Offenders, Worst of the Worst

Cwmbran, South Wales: Dean Beer

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CONVICTED (2022) | Dean Beer, born c. 1965, of Wentloog Close, Cwmbran NP44 3PP – filmed himself having sex with his dog and sent the footage to an unidentified party.

Dean Beer
Sick pervert Dean Beer has returned to Cwmbran, believed to be his town of origin.

Depraved Beer, a father-of-two, recorded himself sexually abusing the dog, before sending the footage to another person via Facebook Messenger.

The disturbing footage was uncovered when the police went to Beer’s home after receiving information from the National Crime Agency about the uploading of an indecent image.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard his phone also contained two inaccessible category C photos of young girls aged between 13 and 15 and extreme pornographic images of women having penetrative sexual activity with dogs and a horse.

The defendant had also searched the term ‘dog porn’ six times.

Beer, formerly of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, was described in court as having an ‘unhealthy and depraved interest in bestiality’.

The fate of the dog is unknown.

Prosecutor Maria Brannan said police received information from the National Crime Agency and officers attended the defendant’s home on July 21, 2020.

Miss Brannan said: ‘A Land Rover mobile phone was recovered. It contained two inaccessible category C images featuring girls aged between 13 and 15; three accessible extreme pornographic images and six still and two moving images of adult females having penetrative sexual activity with dogs and a horse.

‘The search term ‘dog porn’ was used six times. conversation was found on Facebook messenger between the defendant, ‘Taffy Dean’, and a person who has not been arrested.

‘The conversation concerned sexual abuse of the defendant’s dog. The other person encouraged the defendant to film himself performing a penetrative sex act on his dog. The defendant did the act and sent the film to the other person.’

Beer pleaded guilty to possession of indecent images of children; possession of an extreme pornographic image; intercourse with an animal; and publishing an obscene article.

Andrew Molloy, mitigating, said the defendant, who has no previous convictions, has now “lost his good character”. Mr Molloy said: ‘He is quite embarrassed about his conduct. He says it is out of character for him to behave in this way.

‘It is almost two years since and he has not been involved in any trouble. He has self-referred to a mental health institution and is engaging well.’
He said the defendant no longer has the dog and urged Judge David Fletcher to suspend the sentence.

But the judge said only an immediate jail sentence was appropriate.

Judge Fletcher said: “The exchanges on Facebook were some of the most sickening exchanges I have ever had to read about and deal with. You are someone who had an unhealthy and depraved interest in bestiality. Penetrating your own pet dog with your penis is as shocking as it is depraved.”

Sentencing | nine months in jail; given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for the same period. The judge ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the phone.

Staffordshire Live

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Hartlepool, County Durham: Luke Proffitt

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#MostEvil | Luke Proffitt, born c. 2000, of no fixed abode – stabbed his pet German shepherd 12 times during a “mental health crisis”, causing fatal injuries.

Career criminal Luke Proffitt stabbed GSD Bella (pictured) multiple times and left her to die on the beach.

Proffitt caused a number of wounds to the dog, named Bella, who was found injured and bleeding by a member of the public on Hendon Beach in Sunderland.

The court heard that despite by vets to save the dog, she later passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw said that a worker from the Happier Days For Strays charity received a call notifying them the dog was on Hendon Beach on December 16, 2021.

He told the court that the dog was found to be a healthy weight but had blood coming from her body.

Vets operated in a desperate attempt to save Bella’s life but she died under anaesthetic.

Mr Wardlaw said: “She attended and saw a female dog covered in blood and unable to walk due to the injuries sustained.

“The dog was given pain relief. The intention being the dog would be anaesthetised the following morning and treated.

“There were two 2cm wounds to the left chest resulting in penetrative chest injury.”

The court heard that Bella also suffered multiple wounds to her neck and a further two puncture wounds to her body.

However, despite CPR being administrated, she passed away after going into heart failure whilst under the anaesthetic.

Mr Wardlaw added: “It’s clear that due to the extent of her injuries it was a sustained and prolonged assault and caused suffering which ultimately led to her death.

“At the time it was not known who the dog belonged to. On the 16th of December the defendant had contacted his mental health worker stating he had stabbed his dog.”

After he was arrested by police, Proffit provided no comment in interview but did tell officers “It’s not illegal to kill your dog.”

Proffitt later admitted causing unnecessary suffering to animal. He has 25 previous convictions.

He also committed the offence whilst under the supervision of an unrelated suspended prison sentence.

Judge Edward Bindloss sentenced Proffitt to 18 months behind bars.

The judge said: “She was an adult female three to six years. Up until the day of you injured her she was in good condition.

“You were somebody who had been suffering from emotional and unstable personality disorder and that was exasperated by substance abuse.

“You took Bella outside with a knife and you stabbed her 12 times in a prolonged and sustained attack and went back to your flat.

“I have taken the view it would not be appropriate to suspend the sentence.”

Dog killer Luke Proffit. Picture: Facebook.
Luke Proffitt. Picture: Facebook.

Wildlife Enforcement Officer PC Peter Baker, of Northumbria Police, said: “This is an absolutely horrendous case and I welcome the custodial sentence handed down to Proffit.

“It is without question that the dog was subjected to sustained violence and she was found by members of the public with appalling injuries to her body and neck on Hendon beach.

“Proffitt is one of the first offenders in our Force to be jailed since tougher sentencing guidelines were introduced in courts across the UK last summer for the most heinous animal cruelty crimes.

“We are a nation of animal lovers, and it is always disappointing and upsetting when crimes like this happen. I hope this case sends out a strong message – anyone who hurts or abuses animals will be brought to justice.

“We will continue to work with our fantastic colleagues and partners, including the RSPCA, to educate everyone – including young people in schools across the North East – of the importance of looking after animals.”

Sentencing | jailed for 18 months and banned from owning animals for 18 years.

Chronicle Live

Dogs, Domestic Violence - Animals Targeted, Paedophiles / Sex Offenders, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Eaglescliffe, County Durham: Scott Marshall

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CONVICTED (2022)| Scott Marshall, born c. 1981, of 75 Emsworth Drive, Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees TS16 0NP – beat a Labrador puppy after sexually assaulting her owner.

Pervert Marshall was handed a community order after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a woman and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal. after a night out in Norton in October 2021.

Marshall knew the victim and began chatting to her in a pub before saying he’d walk her home. The prosecution said he then asked if she wanted go back to his flat to see his guitars and she agreed and took her five-month-old Labrador pup.

The pair arrived at 12.40am and the woman said as soon as she arrived she regretted the decision. A statement heard in court read: “Now I think about it his behaviour was a bit weird and I regretted it straight away but didn’t want to be rude.”

The pair sat on the sofa drinking and chatting before he tried to kiss her but she rejected his advances. The court heard he then grabbed her and put one hand on her breast before she pulled back and pushed him away.

The prosecutor told the court: “She said he then asked her to stay over and she said she didn’t want to. She wanted to escape the situation and went onto the balcony for a cigarette. He jumped up and locked the door behind her. The defendant then sat next to the dog and grabbed it by the throat for 30 to 40 seconds.

“The defendant hit the dog three times with an open palm. He kept saying he was going to steal the dog and keep it. He came to the window screaming and shouting saying he was going to push her over the balcony.”

The woman was screaming as he beat her dog alerting a neighbour who called the police and officers arrived shortly after. The witness described being awoken by someone screaming ‘help’ and ‘call the police’.

She said the screams were so loud she thought someone was planning to jump from the balcony. Following arrest, the defendant was interviewed and made no comment but pleaded guilty at the first hearing.

Neil Taylor, mitigating, said Marshall showed clear remorse and said the offences were not pre-planned but what was a ‘pleasant evening became distressing.’

Mr Taylor also said the puppy did not require veterinary treatment.

He said: “He clearly has a problem with alcohol and it got the better of him. He has shown remorse and is working giving something back to the community. The incident was not pre planned and he accepts what happened was wrong and he shouldn’t have done it. He is currently residing with his parents after threats were made at his home address.”

Sentencing | 18-month community order with 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days. He must also complete the horizon programme – an intervention delivered to men who have a sexual conviction; 30 hours of unpaid work; £285. No mention of a ban.

Gazette Live

Update | October 2023

Animal abuser and paedophile Scott Marshall from Eaglescliffe, County Durham

Marshall was sentenced to 14 months in prison after being caught with nearly 2,500 indecent images of children. The defendant pleaded guilty to the offence and will be placed on the Sex Offender Register.

He was initially charged with four counts of making indecent images of children after the Sex Offender Management Unit (SOMU) seized two devices from his home which contained nearly 2,500 indecent images of children.

Speaking of the sentence, investigating officer, Detective Constable Barbara Johnson from SOMU said: “We welcome the sentence handed to Marshall today, he is an individual who has repeatedly committed offences of this nature and he has now been given a prison sentence to pay for his crimes.

“The images located on his devices are real children who have been subject to horrific abuse, and individuals like Scott Marshall who access disturbing images and videos contribute to the ongoing abuse that these children face, and it is unforgiveable.”

TeessideLive

Dogs, Worst of the Worst

Huddersfield, West Yorkshire: Aftab Karim

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CONVICTED (2022) | Aftab Karim, born 30 January 1982, of 3 Albany Drive, Dalton, Huddersfield HD5 9UR – attempted DIY surgery on his dog with a stapler.

Karim claimed he could not afford vet fees when his dog, Belgian Malinois Luna, was bitten by another dog.

The RSPCA was alerted to concerns about the animal, and found Karim had used a non-medical staple gun bought online to close “a substantial degloving injury” on the dog’s leg.

He admitted a charge under the animal welfare act at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court.

Karim took Luna to a veterinary surgery after another dog in his care left her with the “gaping” wound in September 2021.

He was given pain relief for Luna, along with anti-inflammatories and antibiotics.

The RSPCA said it was called to Karim’s home when he failed to bring Luna to a surgical appointment the next day.

Graphic images shared by the charity show the DIY job performed on Luna with 26 staples being used to hold her injury together.

The non-medical staple gun was bought by Karim online, the RSPCA said
When asked by inspectors at the charity, Karim said he could not afford the fees of up to £1,200 quoted.

Luna was examined and given emergency surgery to remove the staples and her wound was professionally treated.

“For a wound as large as the one suffered the dog would have required a full general anaesthetic,” veterinary surgeon James Adams said.

Karim, who admitted his actions were a “ludicrous act”, pleaded guilty to a charge of causing unnecessary suffering by failing to follow veterinary advice.

Both dogs were removed from his address.

Sentencing | 200 hours of unpaid work; £445 in costs and surcharge. Banned from keeping animals for seven years.

BBC News
Yorkshire Post