CONVICTED (2021) | Thomas Lee Trinkl, born 7 March 1993, of Sealand Court, Sealand Avenue, Garden City, Deeside CH5 2HL – attacked his dog and left the pet with untreated rib fractures and wounds to his face and paw.
Trinkl was given an 18-week suspended prison sentence and banned from keeping animals for 10 years after a court heard he threw his pet dog over a fence because he was frustrated with training him.
The dog, a Sharpei named Teddy, suffered serious rib fractures and wounds on his face and paw, which were not discovered until weeks later.
Teddy was taken to the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital for treatment where vets found he had three historic rib fractures that had also been left untreated.
Speaking at his trial, Trinkl said Teddy’s broken ribs could have been caused when he was out on a walk or left unaccompanied in the street.
However, the court heard that an RSPCA officer had visited Bridge View in Deeside in 2020, following reports from members of the public who had seen Teddy being hit and thrown over a fence.
Passers-by reported that Teddy was extremely nervous and appeared scared by any sudden movements.
Trinkl, who has a history of violence, later admitted throwing the pooch over the fence but said this was because he was frustrated with training the animal.
RSPCA inspector Jenny Anderton said: “Tommy Trinkl said he got frustrated with the dog sometimes and that the previous day, the dog had “tipped him over the edge” and that he had thrown it over the wall as it was “the only way out”.
“I asked him whether he would like to sign the dog over if he wasn’t managing with its behaviour. He said he would think about it. He said the dog had been toileting in the house and that he lost his rag with the dog sometimes but he didn’t want to give up on it like his family had given up on him.”
The court was told that Teddy would show signs of fear when Trinkl became agitated and would shake, urinate and defecate in the house.
He said he hadn’t noticed his dog was in pain because of the rib fractures and said Teddy was “always having little accidents” and might do things like “run into a door.”
The vet who first treated Teddy told the court: “It requires considerable force to disrupt the structure of a bone and cause it to break or fracture. The owner’s explanation of how Teddy’s injuries could have occurred do not match the severity of the injuries.
“It is my opinion that Teddy was allowed to suffer due to a failure of his owner to present the dog for veterinary assessment and treatment of multiple rib fractures.
“It is also my opinion that there is a significant probability that the injuries identified in Teddy were non-accidental in nature and that the owner, Thomas Lee Trinkl, was the most likely person to have assaulted Teddy.”
A second veterinary surgeon who examined and took X-rays of Teddy, said: “The fractures will have resulted in unnecessary pain and suffering to Teddy which in my opinion has occurred on multiple occasions.”
Teddy has made good progress in the care of the RSPCA and will be looking for a new home.
Sentencing: 18-week suspended prison sentence; 240 hours of unpaid work; victim surcharge of £128. 10-year ban from owning animals (expires October 2031).
Update | March 2023
Thomas Lee Trinkl, now of East Parade, in Rhyl was found guilty of after trial of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The court heard that Trink’s attack on his autistic neighbour left the man “covered in blood”.
Gary Harvey, defending, said Trinkl had made significant changes in his life and outlook since the offence, telling the court his client had significant mental health difficulties of his own.
He explained: “I’ve seen a remarkable change in him from where he was a couple of years ago.
“He’s on post-sentence supervision at the moment and turns 30 next week
[…]
“Clearly he was suffering at the time, but there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation – a custodial sentence would be such a backward step.”
The court heard how Trinkl had been engaging well with probation services on his post sentence supervision, and that he now works with community mental health services on a regular basis.
Trinkl was handed a six month custodial sentence, but it was suspended for two years given his engagement with probation and mental health issues. He was ordered to pay £500 compensation to the victim, as well as £320 in prosecution costs. A two year restraining order was put in place to protect the victim.
