CONVICTED | Josh Sullivan, born 15 February 2001, and Levi Williams, born c. 2004, both of the notorious Gurnos Estate, Merthyr Tydfil – coaxed an elderly family cat named Sully out from under a car and watched as their dog mauled him to death.
The disturbing attack, which showed Josh Sullivan and Levi Williams – well-known members of a local gang known as the Merthyr Bullies – parading Sully’s dead body around afterwards, was caught on CCTV on 9 May 2018.
The sick pair were sentenced after admitting to causing unnecessary suffering to the 13-year-old cat.
The dog involved in the case has also been subjected to a deprivation order and will be taken into RSPCA care until he’s ready for rehoming.
Sully’s owners became concerned after their pet had been missing from their home for a number of days.
They checked their CCTV camera for clues about Sully’s whereabouts and were shocked to witness his shocking ordeal at the hands of cruel teenagers Williams and Sullivan and the dog they had evidently trained to kill other animals.
In the footage Williams is seen hitting Sully with a stick to coax him out from underneath a car. As Sully runs out, Sullivan releases the dog he had been holding by the collar. The dog chases Sully, quickly catches him and mauls him to death.
Sullivan picks up Sully’s limp body and parades it as he walks along the street. Finally he callously tosses the mutilated cat into the bushes.
RSPCA inspector Gemma Cooper said: “The shock and horror I felt when I first witnessed this CCTV footage has remained with me.
“This was a disturbing, harrowing and deeply sinister attack which would have caused immense suffering to poor Sully.
“It is frightening to think two children would set out to do something so deliberately cruel. It appears the dog had been trained to kill like this.
“We know most people across Merthyr and beyond will be disgusted by the treatment of an innocent, defenceless cat in this way.
“This was a premeditated attack, seemingly done for the boys’ fun and pleasure, for which the RSPCA had to seek justice.
“The actions of these individuals has left a family broken and without their beloved pet cat and family member of 13 years.”
Sully’s owner – who wishes to remain anonymous – added: ‘We are absolutely heartbroken.
“Sully was so happy, and was a member of our family. His killing by these cruel people brings shame to Merthyr Tydfil. This was a heinous act.
“He was well-known and popular in the local area – always sitting on the path he’d get petted and fussed by people walking along the lane and regular dog walkers all knew him.
“He’d regularly sneak into a neighboring dental practice, and make friends with patients in the waiting room. Sully was a real character and was loved by all who met him. He was harmless and had never hurt anyone.
“We all miss him so, so much. It was so strange for Sully to be missing. He’d gone to follow family members to the local park and was out and about as usual – but didn’t come home that day.
“We started to get worried, so I checked our CCTV cameras – and saw these boys walking with a dog and that’s when it all happened.
“It was horrifying to watch. I was screaming at the screen for Sully to run for his life but the dog was just too fast for him.
“What I witnessed that day will never leave me – it was like watching one of my children being attacked.
“Sully was 13 years old and was one of our family members who spent every night curled up on our children’s beds and his senseless killing has affected them deeply.
“Telling my wife and children he was dead was so, so hard. I will never forget watching the offenders revel in what they did, and will never forgive them for what they have done to us.
“They threw poor Sully’s body into the bushes like a piece of junk; and I had to go and get the body, and get him cremated, to get some dignity for him.
“It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.”
Sentencing:
12-month referral order to the youth offending team, £300 costs. Disqualified from keeping any animal for 10 years (expires September 2028).
I have 2 beautiful cats and if they were ever subjected to anything like this by idiots like them I can’t express how I would feel right now
Its Not Safe Anymore To Leave Cats Out,
They Didn’t Bank On The CCTV.
Not Everyone Has CCTV.
Makes You Wonder What Else They Been Up To.
Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, what kind of teenagers are created there that are so horrific and cruel, who socially engineered such scum.
The standard ethically normal UK inhabitants are powerless to stop these dreadful people because they are protected by our marvellous societies law and justice system which legally disarms any form of true justice, these boys should have been given a prison sentence not a £300 fine which shall mean nothing as they have no income to pay it with.
The only way to make these boys aware they have done wrong is to make them suffer with a prison sentence, not a fine of £300.
Its interesting that our society considers £300 as the amount that equates to this horrific act? Who can truly consider this justice ?
Rough justice will prevail, not everybody from merthyr is the same, we are as disgusted by this as everybody else, what’s the point in prison? Just to cost the tax payer money that could be spent more wisely, sleep a bit easier knowing that justice will be dealt out swiftly with no mercy
Neil.Loveridge@south-wales.pnn.police.uk
JOSEPH PRICE, Regarding his back ground and what has just recently happened. There was (Joseph Price’s Girlfriends Facebook Profile Posted Together With A Small Toddler Girl Child) Pictured By The Side Of Her.
HE IS NOT SAFE WITH THIS CHILD Do you have any Idea Who This Girl Friend Of His Is, If So You Need To Pass The Details On To Social Services.
As I Have Already Informed Social Services Merthyr Tydfil By Email.
M. Davies
Andrew.Price2@south-wales.pnn.police.uk
JOSEPH PRICE, Regarding his back ground and what has just recently happened. There was (Joseph Price’s Girlfriends Facebook Profile Posted Together With A Small Toddler Girl Child) Pictured By The Side Of Her.
HE IS NOT SAFE WITH THIS CHILD Do you have any Idea Who This Girl Friend Of His Is, If So You Need To Pass The Details On To Social Services.
As I Have Already Informed Social Services Merthyr Tydfil By Email.
M. Davies
customer.care@merthyr.gov.uk
(SOCIAL SERVICES)
JOSEPH PRICE, Of Guernos, Merthyr Tydfil. Regarding his back ground and what has just recently happened. There was (Joseph Price’s Girlfriends Facebook Profile Posted Together With A Small Toddler Girl Child) Pictured By The Side Of Her.
HE IS NOT SAFE WITH THIS CHILD Do you have any Idea Who This Girl Friend Of His Is, If So You Need To Pass The Details On To Social Services.
As I Have Already Informed Social Services Merthyr Tydfil By Email.
M. Davies
Personal Attention Of The Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates Direct.
Merthyr Magistrates
The Law Courts
Glebeland Place,
Merthyr Tydfil,
CF47 8BH
26/09 2018
(Magistrates Of Merthyr Tydfil)
I am a Middle Aged Lady and Reside and Keep a Cat Rescue at the above Address since 2001.
I am Appalled and Disgusted, of the Very Light Sentence Handed Out to the 2 Boys In Question. Considering they (Set Out Deliberately To Do What They Did)
I Cannot Even Repeat It.
Especially with this amount of evidence, as well as the CCTV. There is also a Witness in a Car, with the Number Plate Blanked Out, who has obviously Stopped and Said Something To One of them. There is also another Part Witness on a Push Bike, who came along.
It is also my understanding that (17 Year Old Is Also An Adult In The Eyes Of The Law).
These Two Scum should have At Least Got A (Custodial Sentence For That Deliberate Act Of What They Did).
It Is Not Surprising That People Take The Law In To Their Own Hands.
Especially When You Hand Out Sentences Such As This.
You Are Supposed To Be The Law, (To Protect And Set An Example), And Not Let Scum Off / In This Way.
(SHAME ON YOU).
(COPY ALSO FORWARDED TO MERTHYR TYDFIL MP.)
Maria I watched this and am totally appalled and could not have responded to this in an eloquent way like you have. I applaud you and hope these inadequates get the comeuppance that they truly deserve.
Regarding JOSEPH PRICE Of Mertyr Tydfil and the Safety Of His Girl Friends Toddler Child
I Am Wondering Does He Have A ShotGun Licensed Or Unlicensed, How The Hell Does He Kill Deer.
I am Raising This Point With The Merthyr Police & Social Services
& Merthyr Magistrates Court Also.
M. Davies
There is no excuse for this behaviour. People can apportion the blame on the “poor children” having “nothing to do”. They can also try and pardon that behaviour by blaming the government for the lack of facilities that young people have to “keep them busy”. When I was younger during 80s/90s we weren’t awash with entertainment and youth clubs. There were no skate parks or drop in centres where we could spend our time “keeping busy”. But what we did have was respect. That respect was born out of fear and nothing else. If, back then we acted in this manner we would have expected and probably got a severe and much deserved beating from the pets owners, the locals and more importantly our parents. Respect does not play a part in the lives of a high majority of teens and young adults in 2018. So who is to blame? The parents who allow the behaviour, demand no respect and protect/defend the actions of thier offspring. These aren’t two six year old boys who have smashed a window with a football. They are borderline adults who know the difference between right and wrong. They have killed a pet cat for a 30 second thrill? I’m not sure if they have some sort of birth defect/condition? In fairness the photos would lead me to believe they have? But that aside they should and do know better. So what to do? Custodial and perhaps sectioning under the mental health act would be a good start? This type of behaviour is alarming and would bring me no surprises if thier next victim was two legged? And before people start using the Gurnos out of context with unhelpful labels such as “notorious”, please be mindful that 99% of people in the Gurnos are actually very decent people with great ethics and morals. It is no different to any other housing estate in the UK. I live in another part of Wales but have worked with residents from there and have also spent many weeks going door to door when working in utility sales. Lovely place indeed. So an idea for all parents out there. Make sure your children respect you, other people and other peoples property and pets. Simple! My dad beat the living daylights out of me when, at 9 years old I told him to “f#ck off” I am so thankful he did. I still love him and respect him and haven’t become mentally unstable as a result. Bring them up to be respectful with a robust work ethic. That’s where the current bad parents are making the monsters. You decided to have children, dont allow your choices to ruin the lives of others. Spend some time with your children and show at least some interest in them. It will help.
Two examples of how our soft touch justice system fails. These need a good birching not a slap on the wrist.
If punishment of these dispicable crimes against animals was the exact same done to the abusers i gaurantee animal abuse would eventually cease.. These ignorant thugs need to be taught a lesson…
Find them. Smash them.
It Is Obvious They Are Mentally Disturbed.
They have also left some Little Child Heart Broken.
Even if The Courts and The Legal System Of This Country lets us down. At least their (Faces Are Now Out There). Let this be a clear message we will Not Forget This.