CONVICTED (2024) | Samuel Bodington, born 22 May 1990, of Aire Street, Goole DN14 5QE – strangled a chihuahua and attacked his girlfriend in a drug-fuelled rage.
Bodington’s girlfriend was looking after the female dog, known as Luna, because she had been cruelly mistreated by a previous owner. Following the vicious attack by junkie Bodington, the tiny pet was left with her tongue hanging out and became “very shaken and jumpy”.
Sentencing was originally imposed in July 2023 after Bodington admitted the intentional strangulation of his girlfriend and causing unnecessary suffering to her pet dog. He was given a 16-month suspended prison sentence but this was activated in late March 2024 after he repeatedly failed to attend appointments with the probation service.
Michael Forrest, prosecuting, told the original hearing that Bodington’s girlfriend had been looking after Luna.
Bodington arrived at her home in Goole at 7.30pm on April 21, 2023, for a party where everyone was drinking. He and his girlfriend took Pregabalin tablets obtained from a drug dealer.
“The defendant’s behaviour changed like a switch had been flipped,” said Mr Forrest.
Bodington became agitated and he was hallucinating and being loud and aggressive, causing the woman to become scared.
“She told him to leave but he didn’t leave,” said Mr Forrest.
Bodington began calling her names. She was lying on a sofa with the dog when Bodington launched himself at her and dragged them both to the floor. While they were on the floor, he took hold of her throat and the neck of the dog.
He squeezed the woman’s neck, causing her to gasp for air, and he held on to the dog’s neck, causing her tongue to hang out of her mouth.
The woman forced Bodington to release his grip. She alerted the police and Bodington was arrested.
“Luna was very shaken and jumpy,” said Mr Forrest. The woman later said that Bodington’s attack on her was unprovoked.
During the original hearing Judge John Thackray KC told Bodingonn: “Your behaviour on the evening in question was appalling. Your victim must have been terrified. The dog must have been terrified.
“This could have been so much more serious. Sometimes it only takes a few seconds from when someone is strangled to them losing consciousness.”
Sentencing | 16-month immediate custodial (previously suspended), Banned from keeping animals for just two years (expires July 2025).