Tag Archives: convicted in absence

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Plymouth: Kieran Mitchell

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CONVICTED (2020) | Kieran John Jerome Mitchell, born 27/05/1995, of Keswick Crescent, Plymouth PL6 – punched and slapped his pet dog 36 times causing him to suffer wounds to his head and ears

Dog abuser Kieran Mitchell from Plymouth and his victim, Hugo
Kieran Mitchell beat and taunted his pet dog, Hugo

Convicted cannabis dealer Mitchell, formerly of Penrose Street, Stonehouse, Plymouth, was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to the bull terrier Hugo in November 2017. He was convicted in his absence back in July 2018 and a warrant issued for his arrest the following month.

Mitchell surrendered to custody in March 2020. He was released on bail but failed to turn up at the next hearing. Justice was eventually served in September 2020 when he returned to court to face charges of drug dealing.

Dog abuser Kieran Mitchell from Plymouth, Devon, UK

The RSPCA, which brought the case, said concerns were raised about the welfare of Hugo, after they were sent an anonymous audio recording of him being beaten and taunted by Mitchell.

Dog abuser Kieran Mitchell from Plymouth, Devon, UK

RSPCA prosecutor Lindi Meyer told the court it was a “nasty sustained attack” with a total of 36 hits, punches or slaps heard on the recording.

As Mitchell attacked the dog he can be overheard goading him, asking him: “Are you crying now? Whimpering?”

Dog abuser Kieran Mitchell from Plymouth, Devon, UK

The RSPCA seized Hugo from Mitchell and took him to a vet for examination. The vet found three lesions on his face, one of which was near an eye. The vet said that the beating would have been a traumatic experience for Hugo, causing him to feel “terror, fear, pain and anxiety”.

Dog abuser Kieran Mitchell from Plymouth, Devon, UK

Mitchell admitted in his interview that he smacked Hugo and would rub his nose in it if he fouled on the floor.

The presiding magistrate told Mitchell: “You acted in anger against an innocent animal.”

Sentencing: 24 weeks in prison. £115 victim surcharge. Banned from owning animals for ten years.

Plymouth Live

Additional Information:

  • Kieran Mitchell has links to Barnstaple and Ilfracombe.
  • He has lived in Wilton Street, Plymouth PL1 5LT.
  • We understand that Hugo was very sadly put to sleep by police for being a banned breed.
dog fighting, Dogs, Organised Animal Crime, Pet Profiteering, Worst of the Worst

Sleaford, Lincolnshire: Kimberleigh Steele

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CONVICTED (2019) | Kimberleigh Joanne Steele (aka Kim Donaghy), born 24 February 1989, currently of Castleland, Tulsk, County Roscommon, Ireland, and previously of Polyanthus Drive, Sleaford NG34 7HS and with links to Plymouth in Devon – bred dogs for fighting.

Kimberleigh Steele, now based in County Roscommon in Ireland, is a key member of a dog-fighting ring led by partner John Knibbs
Kimberleigh Steele, now based in County Roscommon in Ireland, is a key member of a dog-fighting ring led by partner John Knibbs

Steele was part of a dog fighting ring which was headed up by her partner, John Herbert Knibbs.

Knibbs has failed to attend numerous hearings and a warrant is out for his arrest after he was convicted of dog fighting, ear cropping and causing unnecessary suffering.

Steele travelled from Ireland for a trial at Lincoln Magistrates Court on Monday, 8 April 2019.

Steele's partner in life and in animal crime John Knibbs remains at large
Steele’s partner in life and in animal crime John Knibbs remains at large

Before moving to Ireland Steele lived in Sleaford with Knibbs and has also stayed at two different addresses in Plymouth: Downfield Walk PL7 2DT and Durban Road PL3

In court she was sentenced for aiding and abetting Knibbs as well as possession of a banned pit bull terrier. The court also heard how she had ten animals in total, which were all used in a dog fighting ring. One has since died.

Kimberleigh Steele, now based in County Roscommon Ireland, is a leading member of a dog-fighting ring led by partner John Knibbs

RSPCA prosecutor Hazel Stevens told the court: “At the time of the raid Steele claimed to own all of the dogs.

“We are looking after the dogs in kennels for £15,700 a year. Some are so dangerous they need to be darted before the staff can go inside.”

Sentencing Steele, the judge told her: “Your partner Knibbs has not attended court and is not that big of a man without his dogs.

“The custody threshold has passed but I am going to suspend it because you have young children.”

Speaking after Steele’s sentencing RSPCA Inspector Kirsty Withnall said: “It is a shame that Knibbs wasn’t here today.

“We are pleased with the district judge’s comments and the sentence he’s handed down. Knibbs isn’t bold enough to be here, we hope he will be sentenced soon.”

Sentencing: suspended custodial sentence of 16 weeks; £615 in fines. Banned from keeping animals for a paltry five years (expires April 2024).

Lincolnshire Live
Grantham Journal

Animal Abandonment, Dogs, Worst of the Worst

Rotherham, South Yorkshire: Tara Louise Bridges

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CONVICTED (2018) | Tara Louise Bridges, born 08/05/1986, of Beaconsfield Road, Rotherham S60 – allowed her two pet dogs to starve to death.

Dog killer: Tara Louise Bridges from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, UK. Pic: Facebook

RSPCA inspectors found the dead bodies of three-year-old Lila and Moxy, aged five, when they visited Bridges’ home on January 30, 2018. Both dogs had died from starvation.

The court heard the dogs had been left dead for so long that Lila was found with maggots in one of her eye sockets. Inspectors noted a strong smell of decay at the property.

It is believed that Lila had died some 10-15 days before Moxy, who had been dead for between three and seven days when inspectors found her.

Lila and Moxy were left to starve to death by Tara Louise Bridges from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, UK. Pic: RSPCA

Their owner, Tara Bridges, told the police during an interview that she had lived alone at the address and was responsible for the dogs.

She said she had them both since they were puppies.

Bridges claimed the dogs were fine just a day before they were found by the RSPCA.

Speaking outside court, RSPCA prosecutor Andrew Vickers said: “The dogs clearly suffered prior to their death.

“She (Bridges) tried to explain that the dogs might have eaten some cannabis they found on the carpet.”

Mr Vickers said that a post-mortem examination found the dogs died as a result of having no food or water.

Bridges was convicted of the charges in her absence after she failed to attend the hearing, prompting magistrates to issue a warrant for her arrest.

Sentencing: 18 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months; £300 costs. Banned from keeping pets for 10 years (expires October 2028). 

Rotherham Advertiser

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent: Christopher Stock

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CONVICTED (2014) | Chris Stock, born around 1990, of Wiltshire Way, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 – for kicking a dog and sending her “flying into a wall”

Animal abuser: Chris Stock from Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Stock  was convicted in his absence of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

The court heard Stock was outside the Guinea Butt pub in Calverley Road on May 14, 2014, when the incident occurred.

A pub employee spotted the crime when he was watching CCTV from the pub’s system. He saw Stock kicking his dog Sandy with enough force she went flying into the wall about a yard away.

Andrew Kirby from the RSPCA visited Stock two days later at his home.

Victim Sandy was kicked with force by Chris Stock from Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Victim Sandy

Prosecuting for the RSPCA, Andrew Wiles, said that Stock told Mr Kirby he was ‘off his head’ and lost his temper, but knew it didn’t excuse him kicking the dog.

Mr Kirby said: “There is no doubt that the defendant caused a lot of unnecessary suffering to this poor dog.

“He kicked her very hard on her side and the force was strong enough to knock the 33kg dog off her feet and send her flying across the floor.

“She visibly flinched and ran off in distress.”

The mastiff was later taken for examination by a local vet, Jason Hadley. He was shown the CCTV footage, and said the animal was ‘clearly kicked hard’.

The court heard Stock had previous convictions including for violence but none involving animals.

Mr Wiles said the RSPCA had put the dog in boarding kennels and that Scott had “declined to relinquish” her.

He also said that when Scott was sentenced there would be a case for a deprivation, meaning Sandy could be rehomed permanently.

Sentence: unknown

Kent Online