CONVICTED (2011) | William Sumner Christian Edge, born 23/01/1971, of 33 Beckford Court, Tyldesley M29 8GF – cut a puppy’s throat during a row with his partner.
During a heated argument with his partner, Edge grabbed the young dog and held a knife to his throat.
Edge, a former security guard at the Trafford Centre, claimed that the dog wriggled, causing the blade to pierce his throat. But prosecutors argued that the wound showed that “considerable force” had been used and was consistent with a “stabbing action” rather than an accident.
The dog required emergency surgery to save his life.
Edge admitted assaulting the woman and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
Sentence: 16-week suspended sentence; £350 in costs. Two-year ban on keeping animals.
CONVICTED (2010) | Christopher Gallier, born 26 February 1987, of Canal Street, Oldham OL9 7JR – blasted his pet dog in a shooting spree in his own home
In March 2010 a Sharpei-type dog named Roxy was deliberately shot in the neck with an airgun by her owner Christopher Gallier.
Gallier initially told police that the dog had been injured by glass in his backyard before claiming instead that a pellet had ricocheted and hit Roxy. In the end he admitted that he had deliberately targeted the dog during a shooting spree inside his home.
X-rays revealed a pellet ledged deep in Roxy’s neck muscles – an injury that would have caused her sustained pain over a period of days.
Gallier pleaded guilty to shooting the dog, failing to get her veterinary treatment and failing to keep her and a second dog in a hygienic and hazard free environment.
Roxy survived after an operation and she and another dog were signed over to the RSPCA in August 2010.
Sentencing: Gallier was given a two-month prison sentence, suspended for one year and banned from keeping animals for life.
CONVICTED (2010) | huntsman Alistair Thomas Robinson, born April 1962, of 1 Essendy House, Bampton Grange, Penrith CA10 2QR – flushed a fox from her den and beat her to death with a stick.
Robinson denied using dogs to hunt a fox but was convicted after a trial.
League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) members Ed Shephard and Paul Tillsey showed the court film footage of Robinson’s actions as an Ullswater Foxhounds ‘drag’ hunt passed Hartsop on October 26, 2009. The film showed the defendant take a fox from the ground where his two terriers had been running in tunnels.
The hunt was intended to be a legal ‘drag’, where dogs follow a scent planted by members. Robinson was filmed putting his black terrier into a hole in the area where a fox had been spotted.
Oliver King, prosecuting, said Robinson was seen by LACS members digging with a stick in the area where the fox had run underground, after the hunt moved on.
Robinson later admitted, in interview, he had killed the animal and buried her carcass in a dry stone wall, where LACS members later retrieved it. He claimed he did not intend to use dogs to kill the animal.
A post-mortem examination on the vixen was carried out by Stephen Harris at Bristol University. The examination revealed she had been attacked for ‘a prolonged period’ by dogs and received extensive injuries. The court heard that there were bite wounds to the fox’s face and she had a partially crushed skull.
Stephen Welford, defending, said Robinson had only sent his terrier underground to help track and bring out a four-year-old dog that had accidentally escaped its lead and run in.
When interviewed by Cumbria police, after his arrest, Robinson said: “The fox was in a bit of a state, so I gave it a couple of knocks to finish it off. It wouldn’t have survived.”
Sentencing | fined £250, ordered to pay £900 costs and a £15 surcharge.
CONVICTED (2010) | Keith Doyle, born c. 1975, a convicted wife beater and animal abuser previously from the village of Banks in West Lancashire and more recently (2021) of Hart Street, Southport PR8 6DY
On Guy Fawkes Night 2009 Doyle went berserk, smashing up his home and subjecting his long-term partner to a violent and bloody attack.
Then in an act of unbelievable cruelty Doyle poured scalding hot tea over the cage containing his partner’s beloved African Grey parrot, Jasper, before grabbing the squawking bird and ripping out his feathers, killing him. All of this took place while the couple’s four-year-old son was upstairs.
In April 2010 Doyle pleaded guilty to three counts of actual bodily harm, causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and making threats to kill. He was sentenced to 16 months’ imprisonment, eight months of which was on license. He was banned from keeping pets for five years (expired 2015).
CONVICTED (2010) | internet animal trader Linda Winter (aka Linda Jayne Leaf), born c. 1969, of Wycoller Avenue, Burnley BB10 4LF – kept dogs, cats and guinea pigs in freezing and filthy conditions in a series of stables and a caravan
Linda / Lynda Winter aka Linda Leaf pictured outside court in 2010, and one of the dogs rescued from the miserable conditions in which she kept them
An investigation was launched into the activities of puppy and horse trader Linda Winter by the RSPCA after police found a variety of animals in squalid conditions at a freezing-cold farm near Lennox Street, Worsthorne.
Several dogs, cats and guinea pigs were found in caravans and a nearby stable block by officers, who were conducting a stakeout as part of an unrelated criminal operation, and the RSPCA was alerted.
The conditions in the caravan were said to be filthy and often the animals had not been given adequate food or water despite the temperature barely being above zero degrees centigrade.
Two rabbits and a guinea pig, left in cages by Winter at the Lennox Street paddock, were found to be dead by police.
2019 social media photo of Linda Winter
Vet Peter O’Hagen was called in to examine the animals and they were removed at the RSPCA’s request.
RSPCA inspector Jason Bowles and Mr O’Hagen also made a video of the caravan and stables noting that, at the time, New Year’s Day, the temperature was zero degrees centigrade.
Mr Bowles told the court said there was a strong smell of urine in the dirty caravan and he could see no food or water left for a Rottweiler puppy and a small Border terrier he found inside.
He then moved to a stable block, where he found the dead rabbits and guinea pig, and a cage containing three cats, which had apparently been left with dry food but no water. The litter tray was full and the cats were sitting in their own filth.
The next stable inspected had three dogs, two Bedlington terriers and a small black spaniel, the court heard.
Mr Bowles said no water had been left for the dogs. The terriers’ coats were matted and the spaniel’s was ‘dirty’.
Finally two Sharpei dogs, with bad skin conditions, were discovered in a third stable.
These dogs had been left water but it had frozen because of the conditions.
Winter, who advertises puppies for sale on the internet, was questioned by PC Mark Jenkinson when she arrived at the scene.
She was alleged to have told PC Jenkinson that the animals at the compound were hers and she was looking after them “because no-one else would”.
Winter was questioned about the discovery and later charged with 18 offences of failing to provide adequate care and diets for 13 animals found by the authorities.
She denied the charges during a two-day trial but was convicted of all the offences.
In her defence, Winter said her car had been impounded and she was unable to attend to care for the animals daily. Her daughter and a family friend had been given the responsibility instead and had not done a good job.
Magistrates banned Winter from keeping dogs and all other animals for six years and to pay costs to the RSPCA of £260.
The court heard that the disqualification may prove difficult to enforce as his client’s 17-year-old daughter had pets of her own.
But the bench told Winter she must make provisions to ensure she complied with the ban or face further court action.
The trial was told that Winter’s details had been found on various trading websites, advertising puppies and ponies for sale.
Following the case RSPCA inspector Jason Bowles, who investigated Winter, said: “She left these animals to live in freezing and squalid conditions and some suffered and others died as a result.
“She was caught out though as the result of a joint operation between the RSPCA and Burnley Police.
“I would like to make a plea to people to be aware when you are buying an animal, without researching its history properly, then you could be funding misery for more animals in future.”
Sentencing: costs of £260. Six-year ban on keeping animals (expired 2016).
CONVICTED (2009) | Michelle ‘Shelly’ Porter, born 22/09/1988, of Heather Bank, Cleator Moor CA25 5HW – let one dog starve to death and left another fighting for his life
Mother of two Shelly Porter was jailed after leaving her dogs to starve
Heroin addict Michelle Porter admitted causing unnecessary suffering to Staffordshire bull terriers Zelda and Diesel.
RSPCA officers found the carcass of five-year-old Zelda, when they went to Porter’s home. Zelda’s son, one-year-old Diesel, was emaciated.
Diesel was skeletal when rescued by the RSPCA. Happily he recovered and was rehomed.
It is believed both dogs had been left to starve for three weeks, despite a large bag of open dog food and six tins of dog food being only two metres away from the cages the dogs were kept in.
Peter Sharp, prosecuting for the RSPCA, told the court that Zelda’s hips, ribs and spine were clearly visible when she was found by an RSPCA inspector and the floor was sodden with urine.
Presiding magistrate David Wilson told Porter the offences were so serious that only custody could be justified.
Diesel recovered and was rehomed.
Sentencing: 120 days in a young offenders institute for each of the four animal cruelty charges, to run concurrently. Banned from keeping animals for life.
CONVICTED (2009) | Jordan Ashley Proctor, born 16 April 1990, of Thorburn Drive, Whitworth, Rochdale OL12 8UJ – stabbed a pug to death
2020 photo of Jordan Proctor
In May 2008 violent career criminal Jordan Proctor stabbed to death an 18-month-old pug named Morgan following an argument in the local pub with the dog’s owner, Eloise Crossley.
During the row Proctor threatened to “do something” to Morgan. He then left, walked to Miss Crossley’s home, entered via the back door and used a kitchen knife to deliver a single stab wound to the defenceless animal.
Morgan was rushed to an emergency vet where she was treated for shock and blood loss, but couldn’t be saved.
The court heard that Proctor had been using drugs and drink at the time of the attack.
In June 2009 father-of-one Proctor pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and was sent to jail.
Sentencing: jailed for 150 days and banned from keeping animals for five years (expired 2014).
#MostEvil | Christopher Dennis Collyer, born 12/09/1983, with a last-known address of Aldcliffe Court, Morecambe LA4 4TW – strung up an ‘unwanted’ springer spaniel by his lead and left him to slowly choke to death.
Father of multiple children Collyer was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to Charlie by hanging him from a pipe inside a stone bunker in woods in Keighley, West Yorkshire, leaving him to strangle to death.
Dog killer Christopher Collyer’s victim Charlie
Nigel Monaghan, prosecuting for the RSPCA, told the court the vet who examined Charlie after his death confirmed his death would not have been ‘instantaneous’ and said he was also suffering from a chronic skin condition.
Ian and Mandy Collyer now of West Byland, Halifax. Mandy Collyer allegedly told her son to “get rid” of Charlie.
The court heard that Collyer had been given the dog by his parents, Mandy and Ian Collyer, who were moving house and could not take Charlie with them.
The dog was found hanging in a concrete bunker in Hainsworth Woods, Keighley, by a member of the public on June 10 2008.
A prosecution witness had previously placed Collyer there on June 7.
Mr Monaghan said: “This was appalling cruelty. It was a deliberate and what appears to have been a premeditated act by the defendant.
“What followed was what can only be described as a tissue of lies.
“In court he maintained his story that he had taken the dog for a walk, met a woman and given it to her.
“It is difficult to think of a worse example of animal cruelty given the degree of suffering he must have been subjected to.”
Collyer’s parents, Mandy Collyer and Ian Collyer of West Byland, Illingworth, Halifax HX2 9JU admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the animal by failing to provide veterinary care for Charlie’s skin condition.
Mandy Collyer
Speaking about the case, the RSPCA inspector who found Charlie said it was the worst case he had seen in 15 years.
CONVICTED (2008) | John Martell, born c. 1968, of Mulberry Court, Pendleton, Salford M6 – kicked, punched and stamped on his dog because he was having “a really bad day”.
John Martell launched a vicious attack on his dog, Madison (inset).
On November 7, 2008 John Martell was jailed for 12 weeks and banned from keeping all animals for life. His prosecution for animal cruelty came after he was caught on CCTV unleashing a vicious attack against his pet dog in a lift at his Salford home.
Martell pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to his 18-month-old Staffordshire bull terrier-type dog, called Madison, by subjecting him to physical trauma.
The court heard how Martell attacked Madison in a lift at Mulberry Court flats on April 22, 2008, when the dog urinated in the lift after previously messing in the flat.
He kicked the dog four times, punched him three times and stamped on his back five times.
The ordeal was witnessed by a security guard who recorded it on CCTV and contacted the RSPCA.
On April 23 RSPCA inspectors, together with officers from Greater Manchester police, visited Martell’s home and removed Madison.
The dog was taken to a nearby vets, who found he had swollen, puffy eyes and confirmed he had suffered.
Magistrates were told in mitigation that unemployed Martell had been suffering from alcohol problems and had argued with his girlfriend immediately before the attack.
Chair of the bench John Connor described the ordeal as ‘a deliberate and sustained attack against a defenceless animal.’
RSPCA chief inspector Cathy Hyde said: “This was one of the worst attacks on an animal that I’ve ever seen.
“There’s no excusing what this man did.
“It was a shocking, wanton act of cruelty carried out without provocation. The sentence reflects the callous and cruel nature of this case.”
Madison made a full recovery and was made available for rehoming.
#MostEvil | Sean William Clarke (previously Bushell-Clarke), born 4 June 1981, originally from Fazakerley, Liverpool, but as of 2022 living at 134 Cranborne Road, Wavertree, Liverpool L15 2HZ – stabbed a dog to death
Vicious dog killer Sean William Clarke, previously Sean Bushell-Clarke, only received a 5-year ban on owning animals.
In 2008 Clarke, then of Bulford Road in Fazakerley, punched four-month-old Labrador-husky cross, Benji, 10 times before cornering him and stabbing him in the back, killing him. His excuse? He was angry at having been rejected for a job. This anger was directed at his defenceless pet.
Clarke then wrapped Benji in two black bin liners and buried his body in his back garden.
The RSPCA received an anonymous phone call from a concerned member of the public and arrived at Clarke’s home later that day.
Benji’s body was exhumed and taken to a local vet who confirmed the stab wound had killed him
Benji’s body was exhumed and taken to a local vet who confirmed he had died as a result of his injury.
Clarke was jailed for four months after pleading guilty to beating and stabbing Benji. He was also banned from keeping all animals for five years (expired 2013).
