CONVICTED (2021) | dog thief Craig Anthony Morgan, born 12 August 1985, of Melbury Avenue, Poole BH12
Morgan pleaded guilty to one count of theft and was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.
The court heard how on 23 April 2021 Andrew Smith was waiting outside Tesco Express in Quay Road with German Shepherd puppy Bear when Morgan approached.
The defendant stroked the dog, unclipped him from his leash, told the owner “I have your dog”, before fleeing on a Beryl bike.
Bear was reunited with his owners two weeks later after being traced to an address in Poole.
A victim impact statement from Mr Smith said: “We were so thrilled and happy when we first got Bear, since this awful crime it has taken that away.
“Bear is a member of the family, no person should have the right to take a family member away.”
Recorder Nicholas Haggan QC said: “It was, in every sense of the word, a very mean offence.
“It is right that I should mention the views of the victims in this case. It is perfectly clear that what you did caused enormous distress.
“They now feel uncomfortable when they go out, they no longer enjoy the act of walking their dog which gives pleasure to every dog owner.
“The one thing that saves you from an immediate sentence is the fact you did not make attempts to sell the dog.”
Sentencing: 10-month suspended prison sentence; 200 hours of unpaid work; 20 rehabilitation requirement days.
Additional information
Craig Morgan is originally from Broxtowe in Nottingham and also has links to Sheffield.
In 2003 Morgan, then aged 17, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison for attacking a family’s home and setting their cars on fire. In addition to the jail sentence, Morgan was given an ASBO banning him from setting foot in the area of the estate where the attacks took place – and was also barred for harassing anyone in the whole of Nottingham.
This is a Sad and Disturbed Individual.
I am so glad the family received their Pet back to his home.