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.
Update | October 2023
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.”