CONVICTED (2021) | Deon Ellis, born c. 1989, said to be of no fixed abode but with a last known address of Fallowfield, Luton LU3 and with links to Corby, Northants – stole a puppy before stabbing him and deliberately running him over with his van.

Deon Ellis savagely attacked ‘XL bully’ dog Hugo, who was just four months old at the time, leaving him for dead in the road.

Hugo was later found with serious injuries and knife wounds by volunteers who had searched through the night for him following a social media appeal. The young dog had to have life-saving surgery which was paid for by public donations.

The court heard Ellis had been involved in a dispute with Hugo’s family and stole the dog in ‘revenge’ while he was being walked.

Witnesses reported Ellis grabbing and lifting the dog by his collar before leaving the scene.

Hugo was then taken more than 60 miles away to Corby where a woman heard a dog cry out in pain and Ellis driving towards him. He was then seen swerving the van to make sure he hit the animal.

The puppy was later found and taken to a vet with lacerations which were consistent with stab wounds. Blood splatters which were linked to Hugo’s DNA were found in the back of the van which was recovered in the town.

The court heard Ellis, who appeared over video-link from HMP Peterborough, callously refused to give Hugo’s owner details of what he had done to the dog.

The court heard that Ellis’ previous convictions included possession of a firearm in 2015.

Ellis was convicted by a jury of theft of a dog and criminal damage to a dog.

Recorder George Keightley told Ellis it was a “cruel, targeted and planned act” which was “motivated by revenge”.

He added: “You attempted, in my view, to either seriously injure or kill this puppy and in effect left it for dead in the street.”

Sentencing: Ellis was jailed for a total of two years and four months and will serve up to half before being released on licence.

Northamptonshire Telegraph
Luton Today