#MostEvil | Matthew West, also known as Matthew Ryan, born 06/02/1990, a career criminal originally of Embankment Road, Plymouth PL4 9HX, but with links to Camborne, Cornwall – kicked and dragged a Staffordshire bull terrier; the dog’s leg had to be amputated and she lost the sight of one eye
West kicked and dragged five-month-old Staffy Tia so severely that one of her hind legs was badly broken and later had to be amputated. The court heard that Tia was also found to be blind in one eye, had symptoms of mild concussion and had grazes over her body.
A passer-by saw West kicking and dragging the puppy down the street and alerted police.
West gave evidence to say that the dog was already injured when he bought her for £250 a few days before. He denied kicking or dragging the dog and said he was just trying to get her to walk.
West’s lawyer said his client had a history of psychiatric problems.
West was found guilty and sentenced to 12 weeks in jail for the animal cruelty offence and banned from keeping animals for 25 years. He was given a further four weeks for a public order offence in which he had threatened a female housing officer and said he would ‘burn the place down’.
Sentence: 12-week prison sentence; 25-year ban on keeping animals (expires September 2036).
Update 2018
In May 2018 West was jailed for 4 years for his part in an armed raid on a convenience store.