CONVICTED (2019) | Sean Ward, born 17 August 1991, originally from Greenock and more recently of 5 Dougliehill Terrace, Port Glasgow PA14 5DD – kept ‘fighting’ dogs for killing wildlife including badgers, deer and foxes.
Violent career criminal and wildlife persecutor Sean Ward was jailed for seven months after Scottish SPCA investigators uncovered evidence of his appalling animal cruelty. This included text messages in which Ward described setting dogs on a fox as “some buzz” as well as a sick video showing a live deer being restrained by it hind legs as voices urged dogs to attack it.
Photographs of Ward smiling beside the dead animal later emerged.
The habitual thug, who has multiple previous convictions for weapons offences and violence, pleaded guilty to two charges under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act on summary complaint.
Ward was caught after a dog walker spotted him out with an injured dog in Port Glasgow in April 2018.
The black and white Jack Russell terrier was limping, had cuts and blood on her limbs and chest as well as a severe injury to her face.
The dog walker filmed the injured dog and sent footage to the Scottish SPCA.
The court heard police officers and Scottish SPCA investigators carried out a series of raids at Ward’s home after receiving the video from the concerned dog walker.
On one occasion, they found a Patterdale Terrier with scars on her face.
The animal was taken to a Scottish SPCA facility where she was examined by a vet. He found that the injuries were consistent with face-to-face fighting with a badger.
The vet viewed the film taken of the Jack Russell. In his opinion, the dog’s injuries were also consistent with face-to-face fighting with a badger.
A mobile phone seized during a search of Ward’s home was examined and a number of images and video were found.
One of the photographs showed Ward with a dead deer, a white lurcher and a Jack Russell.
A video of three dogs savaging a deer was also found where people were heard urging the dogs to attack.
Sara Shaw, head of the Wildlife and Environmental Crime Unit at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), welcomed the sentence.
She said: “These dogs caused terrible and unnecessary suffering with numerous wounds and scars.
“COPFS will continue to work to ensure those who participate in this barbaric practice are prosecuted and would encourage anyone who may have information on dog fighting to contact the police or Scottish SPCA.”
Sentencing: Jailed for seven months. Banned from keeping animals for 20 years.
Updates
Ward was due to be sentenced in September 2021 after pleading guilty to assaulting and robbing an elderly man to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement. The court heard how Ward hit the retired accountant over the the head with a Buckfast bottle before ransacking his home looking for cash. The victim suffered a fracture to his skull and a number of cuts to his head during the attack.
Details of the sentencing were not reported.
Additional Information
Ward’s partner is Kirsty Best – a backyard breeder of lurcher-type dogs.
There is evidence on Sean Ward’s Facebook profile that he is breaching his ban on keeping dogs:
Horrendously cruel and evil man and so glad he got 7 months and 20 years ban from keeping dogs !
BUT –
If courts can dish out this punishment to him WHY CANT THEY do the same with others who kill , abuse and neglect animals ??
Hope he gets his day in jail
U have dogs and he is done for cruelty to animals and u bother with him ? ! Id let him rot
EXCUSE ME GET FACTS RIGHT AM NOT A BACK YARD BREEDER…. He’s in jail and has been for over 2 years !!!! This is obvs someone putting my pictures on his Facebook while he is jail … get this down or I will take this further to a lawyer !!
I NEVER GAVE YOH PEROMISION TO USE MY PHOTO DATA PROTECTION GET IT DOWN