CONVICTED (2023) | Edward G Casey, born 14 May 1985, of 21 Ebenezer Street, Ilkeston DE7 8JG – hit a dog so hard he injured his own hand.
Repeat offender: Eddy Casey was already banned from keeping animals for life following a 2015 conviction for horrific cruelty to an elderly King Charles spaniel
Casey was seen viciously kicking the Staffy, Patch, before punching him with such force that he need hospital treatment to his hand. The ill-tempered thug was caught on camera shouting at the dog on two occasions following the attacks in June 2022.
In an upsetting video sent to the RSPCA, Casey was shown screaming at the dog before kicking him under the chin and immediately punching him with his right hand so hard that the defendant was left wincing in pain.
Patch endured regular beatings while in the care of serial animal abuser Eddy Casey
The RSPCA was later told that Casey was hospitalised for tissue damage treatment claiming food cans had fallen on his hand.
Another video showed Patch waiting at a partially opened door and, as Casey told the dog to go to his bed, he was seen to “very forcefully” kick him twice as the poor animal fled the room.
A court heard Casey was already in breach on a previous order not to keep animals when he attacked Patch.
The friendly Staffy was nursed back to health in the RSPCA’s care and has been rehomed
A vet who examined Patch said he was “quiet and nervous” and reluctant to allow a hand to go over his head. She described how, viewing the footage, when Patch was punched he appeared to “know that he can not get away and stays in position”.
She added: “He appears to, in my opinion, expect the act of punishment and waits for it, knowing that whatever he does the outcome will be the same.
“In my professional opinion the person in the video footage is causing unnecessary distress and suffering to the dog by causing him to be fearful and anxious in the first instance.
“I would not expect a normal owner to treat any dog in this manner. It is a fundamental part of dog husbandry that an owner or person responsible for a dog should not hit or beat them or physically punish them in this way.”
Casey admitted causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and was given a 26-week custodial term.
Patch has since been re-homed at Block Fen Animal Centre. Centre manager Sally Jones said: “Patch had been through a terrible ordeal but he was such a happy, friendly and resilient boy.”
Sentencing | jailed for 26 weeks. Casey is already banned for life from keeping animals following a conviction in April 2015 in relation to an elderly King Charles spaniel found crawling with fleas and unable to stand.
#MostEvil | violent career criminal Kelvin McKendry, born 22 November 2001, most recently of Cotmanhay Road, Ilkeston, with previous addresses in Swadlincote and Brailsford in Ashbourne, Derbyshire – beat his pet dog to death and seriously injured a cat in a series of attacks
Evil Kelvin McKendry subjected his British Bulldog, Marley, to a horrific assault which left the pet with traumatic injuries to his head, body and internal organs
McKendry, who has previous convictions for violence, subjected his British Bulldog, Marley, to a horrific assault which left the pet with traumatic injuries to his head, body and internal organs.
Following the incident, which took place at McKendry’s home in Ilkeston on February 13, 2020, the criminal buried him in nearby woodland.
Kelvin McKendry’s victims Marley and Gypsy
When a youth offender worker questioned where Marley was, McKendry claimed he had died the previous night and he had buried him in a field where he used to walk him.
The RSPCA were contacted, but when they went to McKendry’s address in Cotmanhay Road he was not there and they were unable to locate him.
Four days later Derbyshire police received information that led them to where the dog was buried.
A pathologist’s report concluded Marley had suffered “horrific” life threatening injuries caused by multiple blunt force trauma.
McKendry with a previous dog he owned. The fate of the dog, named Bracken is unknown.
The vet report said: “The life-threatening injuries suffered by Marley caused internal bleeding and shock, from which he ultimately died.”
In the meantime McKendry had left the Ilkeston area and was only found when the RSPCA were called to reports of an injured cat in Rose Hill, Woodville, near Swadlincote, on July 21, last year.
When inspector Rachel Leafe, along with police, went to investigate what had happened they found a cat called Gypsy had been thrown against a wall, leaving her with a broken pelvis.
McKendry was arrested in connection for other matters, including a one-year long campaign of violence in Ashbourne which saw him injure at least five people in separate incidents.
He was sentenced to a two years in a young offender institution for those offences, and was charged with animal cruelty offences while in prison.
Inspector Leafe said: “According to the pathologist report it is clear poor Marley had suffered from a series of injuries which led to his death.
“Gypsy was also in a suffering state after McKendry threw her against a wall. She had emergency surgery and after weeks of cage rest I was pleased to hear she had made a good recovery at Derby’s Abbey Street Rehoming Centre.
“Now called Aggi she has now been nursed back to health thanks to dedicated staff and has just moved into her forever home in the countryside.”
McKendry pleaded guilty to two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and two charges of failing to take reasonable steps to ensure the needs of an animal for which he was responsible.
Sentencing: jailed for 19 weeks. £121 victim surcharge Lifetime ban on keeping all animals.
CONVICTED | Mark Slonecki, born c. 1984, of Station Road, Ilkeston – attacked his partner with a golf club when she tried to stop him hitting her dog
A danger to women and animals alike: Mark Slonecki
Slonecki, who has a history of violent offending, attacked a helpless dog and then his partner after struggling to contain his anger.
Prosecutor Jonathon Dee said the attack happened at Slonecki’s home in Station Road on October 28, 2019.
He said an argument developed between the defendant and his partner and during it he started to hit the victim’s dog before picking up the golf club and striking her with it.
Mr Dee said: “He started to hit the dog, he had done that in the past to get a reaction from her and she tried to stop him.
“She describes him whacking her (with the golf club) and then punching her several times.
“She was left with a cut above her eye, bruising to her left arm and bruising to her leg.
“The defendant attended the police station the following day and said she had taken his house keys.
“He was arrested, bailed and was due to attend the police station again on December 30, when he was going to be charged, but failed to show up.”
Slonecki denied the offence, taking it to trial at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court where he was found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
He admitted the lesser charge of failing to surrender to custody.
Sending Slonecki to prison for two years, Judge Robert Egbuna said: “The offence you have been convicted of is a very serious offence.
“You have to understand that just as men need to be protected from women who attack them, women also need to be protected from men who do the same.
“You picked up a golf club, it was a wedge to be precise and you used that weapon to cause significant injuries to her.
“You used it with some force on her and you are fortunate that the injuries were not more severe than the ABH for which you were charged.
“This was domestic violence, you picked up a weapon and attacked her in the way that you did.
“And although I bear in mind you have not served a custodial sentence before, this is so serious it can’t be suspended.”
Jo Harvey, mitigating, said his client has a child from a former relationship and on the day of the assault “struggled to contain his anger”.
He said: “She tried to stop him hitting the dog and he reacted. As far as the relationship is concerned he does not want to be in it any more.”
Slonecki did not face charges in relation to the dog and was not therefore banned from keeping animals.
CONVICTED (2019) | Laura Emily Butt (aka Laura Welch), born 23 March 1986 and Timothy Wood, born 27 May 1966 both of Derby Road, Draycott, Derby DE72 3NJ – left their dogs to starve for months and refused to take them to the vet.
Convicted dog abusers Laura Butt and Timothy Wood from Draycott in Derby
Butt and Wood fed their four dogs scraps from takeaway meals and left them to fight at their home in Draycott, Derby.
The charges related to a six-year-old Akita-type dog named Bear, and 14-year-old German Shepherd Molly. Another of the dogs, Roxy, seven, was underweight.
RSPCA inspectors found the animals with protruding bones and ‘deep scratches’ but the couple refused to take them to the vets, claiming they were ‘too busy’.
Butt and Wood pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court.
Butt, who is said to have bipolar disorder, adult ADHD and nervous anxiety, sobbed throughout the hearing.
RSPCA officer Helen Mead visited the property numerous times between December 2018 and May 2019.
Prosecutor Richard Purchase said: ‘There was a worry at that time that two dogs were underweight. Molly, 14, was thin and Roxy, seven, was underweight. Advice was given that the dogs needed cooked pasta into their dog food and should be taken to the vets.’
By March the dogs had not been taken to the vets because Wood said they were ‘very busy’.
Image shows Rio in the condition he was in when rescued (left) and following his recovery
The RSPCA inspector attended their home twice that month but could not gain access.
In May 2019, a police officer attended the property with Ms Mead who had ‘concerns regarding the state of two dogs’. Bear was found lethargic with protruding hip bones and another dog in the home was ‘grumbling’ and ‘had scabs’.
Mr Purchase said: ‘The fear was that it had a fight with one of the other dogs. The scratches were deep and the dog had not had any treatment.
‘Mr Wood said the dogs were fed a lot of food. Ms Mead asked there was any dog food but Mr Wood said no.
‘The concern was that the dogs were not being fed on dog food but scrap food from the local takeaway. It would appear the dogs were so thin because of their diet. All four dogs were seized.’
Wood owned three of the dogs while Butt owned Bear. All four dogs are still with the RSPCA.
Defending Wood, Mark Moore said the couple have become ‘village pariahs’ in Draycott and even the local shop won’t serve them.
The Chair of the Bench said: ‘These cases are always difficult. That said, whilst we fully respect how the RSPCA brought this case, we and they will have seen much worse cases.
‘That is not to minimise the distress you have caused these four dogs. You were incompetent in the care you provided. We also impose a deprivation order for the four dogs.’
Sentencing | total fines, costs and charges of £1,300. Disqualified from keeping any dogs for the next three years (expired October 2022).
CONVICTED (2016) | Christopher Britt, born 25 December 1984, at the time of Wheeldon Close, Ilkeston DE7 8BF – threw a dog up into the air and punched her.
Derbyshire police were called to Bath Street, Ilkeston, on March 11, 2016, following reports that a man was attacking a dog by throwing her up into the air and punching her.
The force said: “Officers arrested Britt at the scene and seized the Staffordshire bull terrier.”
Britt made threats to the officers during the incident.
In court, he pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. He also admitted using threatening or abusive words with the intent to cause fear of violence.
The unnamed dog was rehomed.
Sentencing | fined a total of £200 and ordered to pay £651 costs. Three-year ban on keeping dogs (expired 2019).
#MostEvil | James David Robert Hill, born 22/07/1993, and younger brother Thomas Elliott Hill, born 25/07/1994, originally from Bolsover, Chesterfield – punched and kicked a blind and deaf dog to death.
2020 police mugshots of Bolsover dog killers Thomas Hill (left) and his brother James Hill. The violent pair subjected an elderly deaf and blind dog to a terrifying ordeal, ending in his death from multiple injuries
In 2015 Bolsover brothers and violent career criminals Thomas and James Hill subjected elderly mongrel Tyson to a terrifying ordeal while they were high on the drug MCAT and drunk,
Magistrates heard James Hill used a poker to kill Tyson – after the dog was thrown across a room, and kicked and punched by the pair.
Prosecuting solicitor Rod Chapman said: “Thomas picked up Tyson and threw him across the room.
“As the dog was mid-air, James punched it. Witnesses said this was repeated a second time. James then kicked the dog.
“The witnesses said they were appalled but didn’t intervene because they feared the brothers would turn on them.”
Another criminal conviction, another police mugshot of Thomas Hill. This is from 2017 after Hill was convicted of damaging a vehicle he attempted to steal.
John Wilford, mitigating, said James Hill – who arrived at court almost two hours late – admitted using a poker to kill the animal. A vet’s report concluded the dog died because of blunt trauma to his head. He also suffered a broken jaw and a tooth was knocked out.
Remorseless: James Hill pictured outside court where he was convicted of a heinous animal cruelty offence
The brothers pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal after originally pleading not guilty.
James Hill – who at the time had 17 previous convictions – admitted criminal damage and arson and Thomas Hill – who had racked up seven previous convictions – also admitted arson.
The brothers showed no remorse as they were each sentenced to 23 weeks in prison.
In April 2020 James Hill, now homeless and “couch surfing”, was jailed for 66 weeks after attacking a mum-of-two who had offered him shelter. Hill also threatened the victim with a knife before fleeing her address with her mobile phone. The court heard that Hill’s “extensive” previous convictions included burglary, assault, assaulting a police officer, harassment and breaching court orders.
His lawyer told the court his client had a history of drug and alcohol abuse and while in custody has been diagnosed with ADHD “which he thinks played some part in the commission of this offence”.
Hill brothers attend a funeral, Tom Hill is handcuffed to a prison officer. Seen alongside them is Tom Hill’s girlfriend as of May 2022 Lily Robinson.
James Hill was already serving a suspended sentence imposed in September 2018 for assaulting a man. The report on that case said that Hill, whose address was given c/o The Lighthouse Project in Shirebrook, Mansfield, had “27 court appearances for 44 offences to his name”.
In June 2020, Thomas Hill was jailed for one year after forcing his way into a woman’s home and punching her in the face. At the time of the attack Hill, who was armed with a large knife, was living in Matlock, Derbyshire but the press gave his address as White Thorns View, Sheffield.
In November 2020 Thomas Hill, who according to the article now lives in Aston, Birmingham, was jailed for 15 months for a hit and run offence. Hill’s lawyer told the court his client had a life “dogged by problems” adding that he had “a quick temper [and] reacts badly and reacts without any thought of the consequences.”
Thomas Hill and Janet McGovern, the mother two of his children, are no longer together. She remains in Bolsover so he retains links to the area.
James Hill pictured in 2022James Hill with girlfriend (!) Chloe Ashin
In December 2021 James Hill, now of Long Lane, Shirebrook, was jailed for 14 days due to “flagrant disregard for court orders”. He was found guilty of failing to comply with supervision requirements following release from prison.
On 14 August 2022 Derbyshire Constabulary reported on Facebook that James Hill was charged with attempted murder after a teenage boy was stabbed in the neck, suffering “life-changing” injuries. Hill was also charged with:
• Threats to kill • False imprisonment • Possession of a knife in public. • Arson with intent to endanger life • Affray • Two counts of criminal damage • Four counts of common assault of an emergency worker
In December 2022 it was reported that Hill admitted to stabbing the youth before going on to damage both a house and a car – and then assaulting police officers.
The original charge of attempted murder was dropped in favour of a lesser charge of wounding with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm as an alternative.
As well as the wounding with intent charge, the defendant, of Dale Road, Matlock Bath, pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon in public, affray, two counts of criminal damage and two counts of assault of an emergency worker, all relating to the same incident.
He pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder, two counts of false imprisonment, one of arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered, four other counts of assault of an emergency worker and a second count of affray, all of which the prosecution will not proceed with.
Hill was remanded in custody pending a sentencing date of early 2023.
CONVICTED (2010) | Arran Patrick Chaplin, born 05/03/1990, whose family home is at Flamstead Road, Ilkeston DE7 5LS but as of July 2020 he may be living in the vicinity of Watnall, Nottinghamshire – threw two kittens out of a bedroom window to their death
March 2020 image of Arran Chaplin
Manic Arran Chaplin killed the kittens before punching his girlfriend in the face, breaking her jaw. He then attacked her 12-year-old autistic brother who owned the kittens he had just killed.
Chaplin was already on bail for damaging a railway line when he flew into a drug-addled rage at his girlfriend Sarah Bacon ‘s Derbyshire home.
Derby Crown Court heard that Chaplin had gone to Miss Bacon’s home to pick up some belongings when he began trashing his partner’s room, and threw the cats out of the window.
Sentencing Chaplin to 18 months, Judge John Wait described the killing of the two kittens and the subsequent beatings as “appalling”.
