CONVICTED (2021) | Richard Anthony Armstrong, born 9 July 1974, of Maybury Road, Plaistow, London E13 8RZ – left two dogs to roast to death in a vehicle.
Self-employed security dog handler Richard Armstrong was found guilty of one charge of causing unnecessary suffering.
His conviction follows police finding one dog dead and a second Belgian Malinois collapsed but still breathing on April 20, 2019.
Video footage shows Armstrong explaining to officers how dogs Hector and Yardie had been in the back of his Vauxhall Astra estate in crates with the boot open and a fan running.
He said there was an air conditioning system in the vehicle which worked from a separate battery. He told the RSPCA he left the boot door open but the dogs tended to “jump up and down when they heard any noise” and this must have caused it to close, trapping them in the heat. He also claimed the fan stopped.
Armstrong said he had received complaints at home about the dogs barking so had left them in the car.
Police contacted the RSPCA which launched an investigation while a police officer rushed with Yardie to a vet’s in Ilford.
Insp Kate Ford from the RSPCA said: “She was in a very bad condition and it was looking likely that euthanasia was to be recommended.
“These dogs had been left in the vehicle for possibly in excess of two hours and the temperature was around 24 degrees.”
Insp Ford recalled peering into the boot. One cage was empty with diarrhoea towards the back while Hector was in the other already dead.
“The kennel was just about large enough for the dog to stand in but there would not have been room for him to move.
“There was no evidence of water in either kennel,” Insp Ford recalled.
Camera footage shows Yardie being rushed to the vets where she was given oxygen and fluids in a desperate bid to save her.
She was suffering hypothermia, muscle tremors, an irregular heart rate and a body temperature of 40.3 degrees.
A sedative and pain relief were given, but she began to vomit and twitch. Vets felt she would not recover and sought permission from Armstrong to put her to sleep.
Sentencing: 12-month community order with 120 hours of unpaid work; total of £840 in costs and charges.
Additional Information
In addition to his security work, Armstrong is a DJ with digital radio station Centreforce 883, where he is known as DJ Freckles.
He now lives on a campsite in Loughton.
Despite his conviction, Armstrong continues to be employed by Britannia K9 Security Limited.
You think he would have known better.
Especially being A Dog Security Handler.
So Sad, absolutely heart breaking.
And he still has 2 dogs that are being kicked and not looked after. Plus he’s a Radio DJ. Plus still working for the same security company. Plus also working on a camping site.
Could you send me more information – by email if you prefer. What security firm does he work for and what radio station? What’s the name of the campsite. Also, is he on FB or do you know where I can obtain a mugshot of him?
This sounds very similar to a guy who used a communal car park in Loughton where I live to keep two “security” dogs. He had a white Renault van with “Dog Unit” signs on the front hood and rear door. The registration was HY66 YRP. Keep an eye out for this scum.
He’s working in loughton now on a camping site. He social media is DJ Freckles.
This is so helpful. I have his profile and a mugshot. I will update and share this to FB.
Spread the message he is a bully I also found a Facebook page where he was exposed for stealing dogs in romford
Can you send me link plz?
This guy is a real nasty person he stole my freinds laptop from her house and gave it to one of his many kids , when she told him to stay away he would park outside her house night after night refusing to leave thankfully she has moved away from Reading .
How long ago was this?
Hey hun, I’m one of his kids he never gave any of us the laptop he doesn’t even pay for his kids let alone give us a present. He probably took it for himself.
I am also his child
I don’t know him even now I’m glad