CONVICTED (2023) | Keith Williams, born 26 May 1963, of 15 Westmorland Road, Linthorpe, Middlesbrough TS5 6DG – caught whipping and kicking Labrador on Ring doorbell.
The shocking footage showed Williams, who owns identical black Labradors named Scooby and Rambo, threatening to kill one of them after the dog had gone to the toilet in the street. He was also seen kicking the animal with force and hitting him with the end of a lead five times.
The court heard how footage from separate incidents on March 10 and March 17, 2023, was passed to the RSPCA., who prosecuted Williams under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
RSPCA inspector Clare Wilson visited Williams’ Linthorpe home, on March 27 after viewing the footage showing him shouting, kicking and hitting the dog identified by the defendant as Scooby.
“We all went into the rear living room of the property. I observed the man who gave his name as Keith Williams,” said inspector Wilson. “He matched the description given by the witness and the male seen in the footage.
“I could see a black Labrador type dog in the small rear yard of the property, through the window. Mr Williams said the dog was called Scooby but he appeared to pause and think before saying this name.
“I told Mr Williams that I was investigating an incident that had been captured on CCTV relating to him and his dog, which was a suspected criminal offence.”
Scooby, who seemed to respond more to the name Rambo, was seized as evidence by the police and taken by the inspector for a veterinary examination before being placed in a private boarding establishment. At that point Williams declined to sign his dog over into the care of the charity and said he wanted him back.
The video footage was passed to a vet who also provided evidence in the case. He said it was his opinion that the defendant had handled the dog inappropriately and caused him to suffer.
“The actions of the owner have caused the dog suffering via pain and fear, even if only for a transient period,” he said. “The owner also did not protect the dog from injury.
“Examination by a veterinary surgeon 10 days later did not reveal any signs of lameness, bruising or injury to the dog, but these findings do not indicate an absence of injury. Blunt force trauma to a dog can result in pain, bruising and injury which may resolve within three to five days. Therefore an examination would not necessarily identify injury and bruising that had occurred 10 days earlier.”
Speaking after the conclusion of the case, inspector Wilson said: “The defendant’s behaviour towards his pet was totally unnecessary and unacceptable. Scooby could neither escape nor defend himself from being assaulted and we’re grateful to the person that alerted us and enabled Mr Williams to be held accountable for his actions”.
Scooby was later signed over into the care of the RSPCA. He made a full recovery and was transferred to one of the charity’s animal centres to be rehomed.
Sentencing | 12 month community order with 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement; costs of £2,214. A 10 year ban on keeping dogs.
Evil fat scumbags😡😡😡