CONVICTED (2024) | Jamie Hillman, born c. 1979, and Chantelle Marie Platt, born 9 April 1995, of Burton Crescent, Heath Town, Wolverhampton WV10 0EF – starved their pet dog to death.

The lifeless body of the Staffordshire bull terrier, who went by the names Socks and Diesel, was discovered on the sofa by police after officers forced entry into the couple’s disgusting home. He was emaciated and riddled with fleas.

Officers later arrested the dog’s owner, drug-addicted career criminal Jamie Hillman. During interview Hillman was unable to explain why he hadn’t taken the dog to a vet when the animal had clearly been suffering for several weeks.

When questioned, Hillman’s girlfriend Chantelle Platt, who was said to be “infatuated” with him, said the Staffy was not chipped in her name and not her responsibility.

In April 2022 Diesel was found straying and was taken to a council kennels in a ‘skinny’ condition. Hillman reclaimed the dog who was ultimately found dead at the abandoned address on July 5, 2022.

An RSPCA inspector visited the property a day before and saw the Staffy lying on the sofa through the window but could not tell if he was moving. Tape seals were applied to the doors which were still intact 24 hours later when they returned and requested the police to force entry.

Prosecutor Sarah Pratt said: “It was extremely dirty with items strewn about. Photos show the very poor state of the address. Diesel was found dead lying on the cluttered sofa covered in fleas. There was no food or water for him.”

Further tape seals were applied to the doors to see if anyone returned to the property afterwards but they were undisturbed for ten days. A post-mortem examination was carried out on Diesel.

Ms Pratt said he had a ‘massive flea infestation’ and added: “It’s highly likely Diesel experienced significant suffering for an extended time, a month or likely much longer due to hunger, pain and weakness.”

After being arrested Platt denied responsibility for the dog. She said she had been ‘back and forth’ to the address due to mental health issues and claimed she was scared to stay there alone due to issues with neighbours.

Platt also alleged Diesel ‘went downhill’ after being brought back from the kennels, adding he had become aggressive and bitten her on the arm.

Hillman said he had had the dog for six years but stopped feeding him regularly because he ‘had his own problems’. He also claimed he had given a homeless man money to buy the dog food.

Tariq Shakoor, defending Hillman, said he had suffered childhood trauma causing mental health issues and explained that most of his offending was drug-related.

He said: “He has described the custodial environment as being easy for him but it’s in comparison to life in the community because that’s where he faces all of the challenges and difficulties he will have to face at some point upon his release.”

Tim Duggan, for Platt, said she had a previously clean record and had had her own dog for 17 years without issue. He added: “This is somebody who is not a risk to animals that she owns moving forward.”

Passing sentence Judge Dean Kershaw criticised Hillman for shaking his head at the facts of the case. He said: “It’s true, you starved that dog to death. A dog you apparently liked and cared for.

“I’m uninterested in you shaking your head. That poor animal was left in your care and you left it in that house flea-bitten, emaciated, dying eventually to its absolute death.”

He told Platt she too ‘let the dog suffer’ because she was ‘infatuated’ with Hillman.

The couple, who have a son together but have now separated, lived at Smestow Street, Wolverhampton.

Sentencing |
Platt: three-year community order with 120 hours of unpaid work and 30 days of rehabilitation activity; five-year animal ban (expires May 2029)
Hillman: three years and eight months for animal welfare offences and burglary. Banned from having animals for 15 years.

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