#MostEvil | Thomas Robert Fowler, born c. 1993, of Periwinkle Close, Swindon SN2 2QH – inflicted horrific injuries on two cats and a puppy during repeated attacks, while his partner, Claire Louise Willis of the same address, turned a blind eye to the cruelty.

British Army soldier Tom Fowler was jailed for animal cruelty after inflicting “cruel” and “horrific” injuries on two cats and a puppy that later died or had to be put down.

Fowler owned cats Jessie and Shadow as well as 10-week-old pup Rolo, who all suffered multiple injuries while he cared for them alone when his partner was at work– including several rib fractures on all three pets.

District judge Joanna Dickens described the violence suffered by Rolo, Shadow and Jessie before they died as the most serious she had seen, adding that it was “gratuitous and horrific” as well as “cruel and sustained”.

Despite initial denials, Fowler later admitted the offences and said he couldn’t say why he had acted the way he had.

Concerned vets raised the alarm in August 2020 after noticing suspicious injuries on the animals during frequent visits from Fowler and his partner Claire Louise Willis.

Fowler took female black cat Shadow to the vets on March 11 2020 when she was lethargic with a scratched head and a fractured tooth.
She returned the next day disorientated and with laboured breathing and was then sent to hospital after medics noticed a neck wound, chest bruises, multiple rib fractures and a bruised lung.

Shadow left hospital on March 15 but was back with different injuries on May 7, this time a lame left hindleg and swelling.

She received pain relief medication and returned to her owner’s care – but was dead when the vets saw her again the next day.

Fowler’s partner adopted another cat, Jessie, on May 31 and it was not long before the new pet had to receive medical attention. Less than two weeks later, she would be dead.

On June 12, a different vet to Shadow’s examined Jessie because the poor cat had not drunk anything for 36 hours and was not eating properly.

An x-ray revealed six recently-fractured ribs – five on one side and one on the other – so vets placed her in an oxygen tent to assist her breathing and had to feed her via a tube. Sadly, Jessie failed to respond to treatment and to be humanely euthanised.

Unfortunately, the campaign of cruelty continued with another pet on August 3, when 10-week-old male Lurcher pup Rolo had laboured breathing and bruised eyes.

Fowler claimed Rolo had been playing with a toy, banged his head on the coffee table and then landed on the floor with his neck twisted.

Radiographs revealed Rolo had air abnormally surrounding his right lung on the right side as well as a bruise on the right side of the chest and swelling to his face.

He received pain relief, with intravenous fluid therapy and a chest drain removing the air from the pneumothorax.

After three days in hospital, Rolo returned to his owners but received fresh injuries within the eight hours before his owners brought him back again to the vets.

This time, he showed signs of physical trauma including a fractured rib as well as swollen red eyes that vets suspected had been caused by strangulation and also a fractured rib.

After these injuries were treated, Rolo suffered more trauma from which he could not recover.

Fowler and Willis returned to the vets on August 11 and 12 with Rolo sporting new injuries. A scan revealed fractures to the left side of his jaw as well as to his right cheekbone, both shoulder blades, two vertebrae and both hips, plus a total of 15 rib fractures, nine on one side and six on the other side of his chest.

Sadly, Rolo did not recover from his injuries and, after failing to respond to treatment, had to be put to sleep by a vet.

Sentencing Fowler, Judge Dickens added that she could not sentence him to more than 20 weeks’ custody even if she wanted to do so, because the law caps the prison term for animal welfare offences at 26 weeks’ custody.

She went on to explain that Fowler was entitled in law to have a reduction in his sentence because he had pleaded guilty to the offences.

She imposed a lifetime disqualification in relation to all animals which he cannot apply for this to be lifted for 10 years, and ordered he pay a £122 victim surcharge.

Fowler had served in the British Army for the past nine years and was supported in court by a representative from the armed forces. It was said he would be leaving the military as a result of these convictions and sentence.

Willis was sentenced for three charges having failed to exercise reasonable care and supervision in respect of protecting the animals from harm. She received a one-year community order and 10-year ban.

In mitigation, it was said that Willis was remorseful and that she had buried her head in the sand about what Fowler had been doing and continued to bring more animals into the home which were then abused by her partner.

RSPCA inspector Miranda Albinson, who investigated for the animal welfare charity, said: “The facts of this case are about as serious a case of cruelty as can be imagined and the extent of the injuries caused to these pets is heartbreaking.

“The animals in Fowler’s care suffered repeated violence as reflected in the horrendous extensive nature of their injuries and in the case of Rolo he was beaten within an inch of his life.

“It is heartbreaking to find this level of physical violence being inflicted upon so many animals in such a short space of time – and no sooner was Rolo brought home from the vet having treatment- he was further attacked.”

Sentencing:

Tom Fowler: 20 weeks in custody; £122 victim surcharge. Lifetime disqualification in relation to all animals but can appeal after 10 years.

Claire Willis: one-year community order with 120 hours of unpaid work and 12 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days; £195 costs. 10-year disqualification order but can appeal after five years.

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