CONVICTED (2015) | Craige Slater, born c. 1972, from Headington, Oxford – battered a pensioner’s dog during a burglary causing unsurvivable injuries.

Slater admitted burglary and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

He was jailed for four years after burgling “vulnerable” neighbour 71-year-old Edna Nelson who once had taken in his washing and cooked for him.

But her acts of kindness were repaid with being struck about the head and leaving her pet spaniel Dasher with injuries too severe for treatment.

Sentencing, Judge Peter Ross said: “This is a dreadful offence of burglary. It involved the targeting of a vulnerable elderly lady. It involved violence to her in her home and it has resulted in the death of her companion.”

Prosecutor Angus Robertson told the court Ms Nelson was returning home after taking Dasher for a walk when she noticed someone with their hood up following her.

He said the victim opened her front door and stepped inside her home when she was pushed from behind and fell to the floor.

Mr Robertson said Slater hit Ms Nelson, who recognised the defendant, a number of times to the head.

The prosecutor said Slater then went into the living room, where he stole about £100 from her purse.

He said Ms Nelson was “frightened” as she remained on the floor and called for an ambulance after Slater left her home.

Mr Robertson said she suffered a cut to her lower leg and had her toenail ripped off but did not need hospital treatment.

It is not known if the dog was protecting his owner, but Dasher ended up seriously injured in the incident Ms Nelson couldn’t afford the cost of having the pet’s injuries treated and instead opted to have him put to sleep.

Mr Robertson said Ms Nelson also had to pay a £400 vet’s bill and £45 worth of taxi fares.

He added: “She is scared now to go out and walk around. She feels that every man she sees in black will attack her.

“She has helped the defendant in the past by washing his clothes and cooking him food and giving him shelter at her home. She is scared of the defendant.

“She simply does not feel confident or safe opening her own front door.”

Mr Robertson said Dasher’s death had a “considerable” impact on Ms Nelson, who now has a new dog.

He said the defendant, who has been in court 22 times for 34 offences, was arrested later the same day and gave a no-comment interview.

Defence barrister Peter Du Feu said Slater was using crack cocaine at the time and added: “He had not intended for it to escalate to pushing her to the floor or the dog being injured.”

Speaking via video link from Bullingdon Prison, Slater told the court he felt “sick with shame” because of his actions.

He added: “The victim did not deserve what I did and I’m sorry. Drugs took control of my emotions and my lifestyle.”

Judge Ross added: “You knew her well, you knew her dog well. She had been someone who’d been kind to you.

“You went out that day looking for some means to obtain money to buy crack cocaine. You deprived her of a companion.”

Slater was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge and a criminal courts charge, as well as take part in a restorative justice scheme.

Oxford Mail