CONVICTED (2016) | Ryan Thomas Edwards (aka Ryan Halbert), born 18 January 1996 and of Slackeys Lane, Southport PR9 8HN – dragged a terrified dog by her collar and hurled her at a wall.
Career crook Edwards snapped when the female Staffordshire Bull Terrier, named Marley, refused to go over to him when he called her.
The thug dragged the dog by the collar before picking her up by the head and throwing her four feet against a wall.
Edwards had denied causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, but changed his plea to guilty at the last minute.
The court heard Zoe Edwards, the defendant’s sister, was in her bedroom with Marley at the family’s former home in Southport , on November 6, 2015.
Bernice Campbell, prosecuting, said: “The defendant came into the bedroom and called the dog over. It very reluctantly came towards him, but was shaking and clearly scared.”
Ms Campbell said the defendant went outside with Marley and returned to the bedroom a short time later.
She told the court: “Marley went back to sit by Zoe. The defendant called her back over but the dog refused to go.
“He then grabbed her collar, dragged her towards him and grabbed her by the head, and threw her four feet into a wall. The dog was stunned and froze.”
Zoe confronted her brother, who then attacked her.
Ms Campbell said: “The defendant launched himself towards Zoe and punched her to the face, grabbed her by the hair and punched her to the ribs.
“Zoe’s mum came to help and the defendant released his grip, before grabbing her by the throat.”
The attack left Zoe with hair missing and a sore head.
The court heard Edwards had already been convicted of common assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm for the attack on his sister, and had been sentenced to six months in prison the previous month.
Sentencing: 28 days in prison to run concurrently with six-month jail term for assault. 10-year ban on keeping animals.
Update August 2019: breached ban
Edwards has racked up numerous criminal convictions in the years since his attack on Marley. In February 2019 he was fined after it was discovered he had a dog in breach of his banning order.
Update August 2021: jailed for drug dealing
Edwards – a member of the High Parkers organised crime group – was convicted for his role in a drug supply operation based in the Sefton area of Liverpool. Edwards, whose address was given in court as Alexandra Road, Southport, was sentenced to four years and eight months in jail after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.