Tag Archives: London Borough of Islington

Animal Abandonment, Dogs, Lifers, Worst of the Worst

Pooles Park, Islington, London: Darren Hughes

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CONVICTED (2024) | Darren Hughes, born c. 1975, of Millfield, Six Acres Estate, Pooles Park, London N4 3PB – left his pet shih tzu to be eaten alive by fleas.

RSPCA prosecution of dog killer Darren Hughes from Islington, London. Image: Darren Hughes / Facebook

Hughes was convicted of animal cruelty in relation to the dog, Chewie after leaving him abandoned and suffering for several months at his home.

RSPCA prosecution of dog killer Darren Hughes from Islington, London. Image of victim Chewie: RSPCA

A member of the public found the dog collapsed and took him to the vet, where he was diagnosed with a heavy flea burden and iron deficiency.

The vet was forced to put Chewie to sleep to end his suffering.

RSPCA prosecution of dog killer Darren Hughes from Islington, London. Image of victim Chewie: RSPCA

In evidence, the vet wrote: “Chewie was suffering for an extended length of time, as the initial mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was very low, and with chronic anaemia and ongoing blood loss, one or more months are required before the MCV and MCHC decrease below reference intervals.

“This patient’s mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) wasn’t even registered by our laboratory, which is likely to mean red blood cells do not have enough haemoglobin. It also shows thrombocytosis (increased platelets), which is often present in animals with iron deficiency anaemia.

“The biochemistry blood test results show that he had low creatine, which was likely related to muscle loss, and increased urea, which is likely related to dehydration. He was diagnosed with severe anaemia due to his infestation with fleas.”

RSPCA prosecution of dog killer Darren Hughes from Islington, London. Image: Darren Hughes / Facebook

A cat was also removed from Hughes and will now be rehomed.

In mitigation, he said an alcohol addiction resulted in failing to provide Chewie with veterinary treatment.

RSPCA prosecution of dog killer Darren Hughes from Islington, London. Image of victim Chewie: RSPCA

After sentencing, Inspector Shahnaz Ahmad said: “This was a distressing case, poor Chewie had been left on his own for large periods of time while he was riddled with fleas, they were literally eating him alive.

“It’s thanks to a member of the public alerting us to the condition of this dog that he was punished for his actions. Sadly it was too late to save Chewie, but it does mean this individual will never be able to neglect pets in this way again.”

Sentencing | 18-week custodial, suspended for 18 months; victim surcharge of £154. Banned indefinitely from keeping all animals.

Independent
My London
Metro

Dogs, Lifers, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Tottenham, North London: Tiago Da Silva

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CONVICTED (2023) | Tiago Da Silva, born c. 1995, of Steele Road, Tottenham, London N7 – battered a bull mastiff puppy to death and lied that she had drowned in the shower.

Brazilian national Tiago Da Silva was banned from owning pets indefinitely after an RSPCA investigation revealed his eight-month-old dog, Diva, had died from horrifying injuries.

Da Silva, previously of Seven Sisters Road, Islington, had claimed the puppy must have fallen and blocked the drain – but a post mortem revealed she died of internal bleeding from a blow to the liver, with other bruising and bleeding on her body.

The thug was found guilty at Willesden Magistrates Court on December 5, 2023, of failing to protect Diva from injury, despite his denials.

Diva’s limp body was taken to a vet on January 24, but she died despite attempts to resuscitate her.

Da Silva told vets he had put her in the shower after she defecated in his house and he thought she must have fallen and blocked the drain.

But assessments revealed bruising in her left ear, signs of recent haemorrhaging around the left eye, and marks on her lips.

The vet called the RSPCA.

Inspector Shahnaz Ahmad led the investigation and asked an expert vet to examine Diva’s body and decide if she had suffered.

The vet’s report said a post mortem found Diva had died as a consequence of “significant blood loss” into the abdominal cavity as a result of physical damage to the liver.

This was consistent with “blunt force trauma”, with further evidence of blows at the back of the skull and the chest.

It added: “The post mortem findings do not support death by drowning and it is difficult to explain how a dog may have sustained multiple blunt force trauma injuries while in the home environment accidentally while being showered by her owner.

“The suspicion of non-accidental injury (physical abuse) is raised.”

The report concluded that Da Silva had not protected Diva from injury, and that she may have suffered pain and distress as a result of trauma to her abdomen.

In mitigation, Da Silva said his failure to meet welfare needs was not intended and he denied that the injuries were caused by blunt force trauma.

Following sentencing, Inspector Shahnaz Ahmad said: “We are grateful to the vet for reporting this incident to us. If they hadn’t we would have never found out that an offence had been committed.

“We always encourage vets to report suspected animal abuse cases to us so that we can investigate and where necessary, pursue a prosecution.”

Sentencing | 20-week suspended jail sentence; 150 hours of unpaid work; victim surcharge of £114. Indefinite ban on owning animals.

This is Local London

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Luton, Bedfordshire / Islington, North London: Ryan Gibson and Ciaran Lambert

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CONVICTED (2022) | Ryan Gibson, born c. 1991, of Farley Hill, Luton, and Ciaran Lambert, born c. 1998, most recently of Pleasant Place, Islington but originally from Flitwick, Bedford – stabbed a dog and his owner and hit them both with a hammer.

Ryan Gibson (left) and Ciaran Lambert stabbed and attacked a man and his dog during a burglary in Flitwick, Bedfordshire.

Gibson and Lambert were jailed after being found guilty of aggravated burglary and grievous bodily harm in connection to the violent attack in May 2019. At least one of the pair was originally charged with causing unnecessary suffering to the dog but this charge appears to have been dropped. Consequently neither was banned from owning an animal.

At around 5.45am, the victim and his dog, Blue (pictured) were stabbed and hit with a hammer at the victim’s Flitwick home.

Blue recovered from his injuries.

Despite sustaining life threatening chest wounds, the injured victim was able to provide officers with the names of his attackers. He also mentioned he believed the attack related to a small debt.

Several neighbours were alerted by the sound of glass smashing, followed by screams and shouts. They found the victim badly injured at the bottom of the stairs to his flat.

They went to his aid, noting the injured man was more concerned for the welfare of his dog, who had sustained two injuries, than his own condition. Several neighbours were able to provide details of the car used by the attackers.

Later that morning, officers identified the car at a property in Farley Hill, Luton. Armed officers entered the property and arrested Gibson and Lambert.

During a subsequent search of the property, a number of bags of cannabis were discovered as well as a balaclava, similar to one the victim said had been worn by one of his attackers.

The victim and his dog meanwhile both received emergency treatment and were able to survive their injuries.

During a two-week trial in May, the jury heard one of the offenders filmed themselves callously bragging about the attack. They had also stolen items from the victim’s home.

Following sentencing, DC Rebecca Crowley, who led the investigation, said: “The neighbours’ swift action in calling the ambulance ultimately saved the life of the victim and his dog.

Sentencing | Gibson was sentenced to 11 years for aggravated burglary, with an extended licence of three years on release. He will also serve a concurrent sentence of nine years for GBH with intent.
Lambert was sentenced to eight years for aggravated burglary, to run concurrent with a six year sentence for GBH with intent.

Bedford Today

Lifers, Primates

Islington, London: Zuriel Hutson

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CONVICTED (2017) | notorious career criminal Zuriel Hutson, born 17/09/1995, of Highbury New Park, London N5 2LH – kept a neglected marmoset monkey in his bedroom

Zuriel Hutson from Islington, London, can now add animal cruelty to his long list of criminal convictions.
Zuriel Hutson from Islington, London, can now add animal cruelty to his long list of criminal convictions.

Hutson, who was jailed in April 2017 for careering down the wrong side of the M11 at 90mph following a phone snatch, was found guilty of failing to ensure the welfare of an animal he was responsible for.

The court heard he kept a baby marmoset monkey in a small bird cage in his one-bed flat in Highbury New Park.

Zuriel Hutson from Islington, London, kept an exotic monkey in a tiny bird cage in his one-bedroom flat
Zuriel Hutson from Islington, London, kept an exotic monkey in a tiny bird cage in his one-bedroom flat

Police said they found the creature while searching his home in October 2016.

“A primate expert attended the address and made it clear that the environment the monkey was being kept in was not suitable,” Scotland Yard said in a statement.

“There were not correct or adequate provisions present to feed or look after the animal.”

Marmoset monkey Amy is now living at the Monkey World sanctuary in Dorset
Marmoset monkey Amy is now living at the Monkey World sanctuary in Dorset

The monkey was seized and a primate expert found she was underweight, “lacking in muscle tone” and suffering from a “dirty, ungroomed coat”.

“The marmoset was experiencing unnecessary suffering, both physically and mentally,” added police.

Zuriel Hutson from Islington, London, can now add animal cruelty to his long list of criminal convictions.

Det Con Ben Jefferd said: “It is obviously very cruel to keep any animal, let alone an exotic monkey, in such poor conditions without the proper training or understanding of its needs. Amy is now safe and enjoying the facilities kindly supplied at Monkey World.”

Sentencing: fined £500 and ordered to pay court costs of £650. Banned from keeping animals indefinitely.

Evening Standard

Update December 2019

Hutson was jailed for 10 years for robbery.