Two dogs, Lola and Reggie, were found in an emaciated state after prolonged neglect by Kieran Dunkley, 21, of Hockley, Birmingham. The RSPCA became involved after a vet raised concerns when Dunkley’s partner’s mother brought the dogs in for emergency assessment.
Lola, nine months old, collapsed from starvation. She was so severely emaciated that vets had no choice but to put her to sleep.
Lola, a nine‑month‑old Labrador cross, had collapsed by the time she reached the vet in January 2025. Her condition was so severe that she had to be euthanised.
Reggie, a two‑year‑old bull cross, was also extremely underweight and suffering from a painful, untreated ear infection. He had pressure sores on his hocks, indicating long‑term lack of proper bedding and an unsuitable living environment.
Reggie, two years old, found emaciated with a painful untreated ear infection and pressure sores. Now fully recovered and rehomed.
A veterinary report stated that both dogs had not had their needs met, with clear failures to provide adequate nutrition, veterinary care, and protection from pain, suffering, injury, and disease. The vet noted that any reasonable owner would have recognised the visible inflammation, discharge, and weight loss, and sought treatment.
Dunkley admitted two counts of causing unnecessary suffering between December 2024 and January 2025, and one count of failing to meet an animal’s needs. He was already serving a prison sentence at HMP Brinsford for unrelated offences at the time of sentencing.
Reggie was signed over to the RSPCA and has since been rehomed.
Sentence
Court: Birmingham Magistrates’ Court
Penalty:
Six months’ additional imprisonment
£350 fine
10‑year ban on keeping animals (no appeal for five years)
Offender Status: Already serving a custodial sentence at HMP Brinsford for unrelated matters.
RSPCA Statement
Inspector Laura Brewerton said: “It is heartbreaking that Lola and Reggie suffered in this way. Pet owners have a legal responsibility to ensure that the welfare needs of their animals are met, including protecting them from pain, suffering, injury and disease.”
Farmer Richard Goode shot two German Shepherd dogs in Malvern and then attempted to cover his tracks by staging a false shooting scene in a nearby field. After killing the dogs, he moved their bodies to make it appear as though the shooting had been lawful and justified.
The offences took place in April 2025.
Goodelater admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and criminal damage. At a further hearing, he also pleaded guilty to committing an act with intent to pervert the course of justice.
Goode appeared at Worcester Crown Court on October 8, 2026, where the judge heard how he had deliberately manipulated the scene to mislead investigators. His actions were described as a calculated attempt to justify the shooting after the fact.
West Mercia Police confirmed they were unable to provide a custody photo of Goode.
Polish national Bartosz Poklek was convicted in London for running an international monkey‑torture network.
Bartosz Poklek, a 30‑year‑old Polish national living in Bexley, south‑east London, was convicted at Woolwich Crown Court after admitting to running a large‑scale international monkey‑torture network between June 2023 and September 2025.
He pleaded guilty to commissioning, scripting and distributing videos depicting the torture and killing of baby monkeys in South‑East Asia, as well as publishing obscene videos for gain, possessing indecent images of children, and possessing ketamine.
Judge Christopher Grout described the case as the worst example of animal abuse he had encountered and imposed a sentence of three years and three months, of which Poklek will serve roughly one third under the Sentencing Act 2026.
Bartosz Poklek was not an outlier but a central node in the Global Monkey Torture Network — a sprawling, transnational web of online zoosadists whose appetite for cruelty has pulled in offenders from Scotland, England, and the United States.
Police mugshot of Peter Stanley alongside a social‑media photograph of Natalie Herron. Both have convictons related to the global monkey‑torture network.Police mugshots of Holly Le Gresley (left) and Adriana Orme (right), both convicted for their roles in the global monkey‑torture network.
Poklek’s role was unusually active. Operating from a rented room in Bexley, he commissioned, scripted, distributed and profited from videos depicting the torture and killing of infant monkeys in South‑East Asia. He was not merely a consumer but a facilitator — a man who wrote instructions for how the animals should be harmed, who liaised with perpetrators abroad, and who curated a vast personal archive of abuse.
Saving Mini: Inside the global network torturing baby monkeys – BBC World Service
Within the online groups he frequented, he was treated with reverence and known by titles such as “The General” and “The Boss”, a status that seemed to compensate for the reality of his life: an isolated, drug‑dependent loner living in an HMO.
The footage he collected and circulated was sold for hundreds of pounds to members of Telegram and Discord groups that numbered in the hundreds.
These groups were not fringe corners of the internet but thriving, international communities whose members discussed torture with chilling casualness. Investigators described conversations in which participants moved seamlessly from planning abuse to chatting about gardening or family errands. One British woman ended a discussion about torture by announcing she needed to pick up her grandchildren.
Poklek’s offending was uncovered after he attempted to obtain court documents from a related monkey‑torture case in the United States — a move that drew the attention of Homeland Security Investigations and triggered a joint operation involving the National Wildlife Crime Unit, the Metropolitan Police, West Mercia Police, and US federal agencies. When officers examined his devices, they found around 3,000 videos of extreme physical abuse, alongside indecent images of children.
Judge Christopher Grout, sentencing him at Woolwich Crown Court, described the case as the worst example of animal abuse he had encountered in his career. He noted that Poklek would serve only around a third of his three‑year‑three‑month sentence under the Sentencing Act 2026 and stated plainly that the statutory maximum for animal cruelty — currently five years — is “too low”.
The CPS called Poklek a “key cog in a vile trade” and emphasised the need to root out the enablers of online animal torture wherever they are found.
Poklek may be deported to Poland after release. Even that feels insufficient. His crimes were not impulsive acts of cruelty but sustained, organised, deliberate sadism.
The monkeys he targeted were babies: intelligent, social, sensitive animals whose suffering was turned into a commodity for an international audience of zoosadists. Poklek revelled in their pain. The law, as it stands, barely registers it.
Metadata
Full Name: Bartosz Poklek
Born: circa 1996
Address: Bexley, South‑East London
Case Location: London, England
Conviction Date: October 2026
Court: Woolwich Crown Court
Offence: Commissioning, scripting, distributing and profiting from videos depicting the torture and killing of baby monkeys; publishing obscene videos for gain; possession of indecent images of children; possession of ketamine
Animal(s): Baby monkeys (primates)
Outcome For Animals: Tortured and killed in commissioned videos
Investigating Bodies: National Wildlife Crime Unit; Metropolitan Police; West Mercia Police; US Homeland Security Investigations; US Fish and Wildlife Service
Sentence: 3 years 3 months imprisonment; eligible for release after serving approximately one third
Previous Convictions: Not publicly reported
Additional Notes: Revered within the monkey‑torture community; known as “The General” and “The Boss”; possessed approximately 3,000 videos of extreme abuse; attempted to obtain US court documents relating to a connected case; part of the same organised network as UKACF‑documented offenders Natalie Herron, Holly Le Gresley, Adriana Orme and Peter Stanley
Reporting Gaps: Exact number of animals harmed; identities of overseas perpetrators; full extent of Poklek’s communications with other UK‑based offenders
Read turned up to court in a Canada Goose jacket — a brand notorious for using real fur — which feels grimly appropriate for someone who treats animals as disposable.
On 31 July 2024, Axel Shane Read, 24, broke into the back garden of neighbour Laice Cleough in Upperby, Carlisle, and stole her two rescue ferrets, Pumpkin and Latte, from their enclosure.
Rescue ferrets Pumpkin and Latte were stolen from their enclosure and later found dead after being used as bait for dogs.
CCTV captured Read and another man at around 6:30pm shining a light into the cage before Read opened the door, reached inside, and removed both animals. The ferrets were among 25 kept by Cleough, who also cared for other rescued animals.
Both ferrets were later found dead — one dumped in a black bin, the other under a hedge. They had bite marks, body trauma, and head injuries, consistent with being used as bait for dogs.
A video shown in court depicted Read holding one of the ferrets and “trying to get one of his dogs to have a go at it”.
Judge Fanning described the act as “an act of execution and an act of sadism”, noting that the animals would have expressed a stress odour and “died in fear”.
Further footage showed Read disposing of one of the dead ferrets while saying it “stinks”, and celebrating the dogs’ involvement by telling one it was a “good boy”.
The judge said Read’s dogs were trained to kill by applying pressure to the neck. He rejected suspending the sentence, stating that doing so might lead “other young lads” to think such behaviour was acceptable.
Read denied involvement, telling the owner: “I don’t have your stinky ferrets. If I had taken your ferrets, I would have skinned them and left them outside your front door.” He also threatened to destroy her car and home. Cleough said the incident left her paranoid, scared to live in her own home, and fearful of seeing Read, whom she described as unpredictable.
Read was unanimously convicted by a jury of five on multiple counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, including causing a ferret to be destroyed by a dog and causing a ferret to be taken from its protected enclosure, resulting in its death.
Sentence
Court: Carlisle Crown Court Date: 6 October 2026 Penalty: 15 months’ imprisonment Ban: None reported Restraining Order: 3 years — no contact with victim; barred from entering a residential Carlisle road Mitigation: None reported
At a Glance
Offender: Axel Read
Born: circa 2002
Age at Conviction: 24
Address: Marks Avenue, Belle Vue, Carlisle CA2
Occupation: Roofer
Previous Convictions: Not reported
Additional Information: Read is known locally as a wildlife persecutor; his social media accounts contain numerous images of dead animals and birds, including hunting with dogs and with a firearm
Animal Victims: Pumpkin & Latte (ferrets)
Victim Fate: Both found dead with bite wounds, body trauma, and head injuries
Evidence: CCTV of theft; CCTV of baiting; physical injuries; owner statement
Case Type: Theft; fatal animal abuse; baiting; dog‑related cruelty
The killing of Pumpkin and Latte was not a moment of panic or a reckless mistake — it was a deliberate, sustained act of cruelty. The CCTV footage and witness accounts show a man who did not simply disregard animal suffering, but actively sought it out, encouraged it, and took pleasure in it. Judge Fanning’s description of the incident as “an act of execution and an act of sadism” is not rhetorical flourish; it is an accurate reflection of the behaviour captured on video.
Read didn’t just steal the ferrets. He handled them in ways clearly intended to maximise fear and distress. He encouraged his dogs to attack them, praised the dogs afterwards, and even mocked the dead animals while disposing of their bodies. This is cruelty carried out with intention, enjoyment, and a complete absence of empathy.
What makes this case even more disturbing is what the court did not do. Despite the sadism, despite the baiting, despite the fatal injuries, despite the clear evidence of deliberate violence, Read was not banned from keeping animals. This means that the man who fed two terrified ferrets to his dogs can legally continue owning dogs — and, crucially, can continue hunting with dogs, something he already does extensively.
His social media accounts, filled with images of dead wildlife, hunting trophies, and animals killed with dogs and firearms, show a long-standing pattern of behaviour. The ferrets were not an isolated incident; they were simply the victims caught on camera. The absence of a ban means that nothing prevents him from continuing the same activities that preceded this offence.
For the owner, the impact has been profound. Her statement describes paranoia, sickness, fear, and a loss of safety in her own home. She was left terrified of seeing Read again — and given his behaviour, her fear is entirely justified. The restraining order offers some protection, but it does not address the core issue: a man who has demonstrated sadistic violence towards animals still has legal access to animals.
This case exposes a serious gap in the system. When an offender demonstrates sadism, enjoyment of suffering, and a pattern of violent behaviour towards animals, a ban should be automatic. The fact that Read can walk out of prison and immediately resume hunting with dogs is not just a failure — it is a risk.
Pumpkin and Latte deserved better. Their deaths should have resulted in a lifetime ban. Instead, the man who killed them retains the legal right to continue the very activities that led to their suffering.
Convicted drug courier Paul Lord was jailed for beating his dog with a pole and spraying him with water while he was tethered and unable to escape.
A distressing RSPCA investigation revealed that Paul Lord, 46, repeatedly beat his mastiff, Ace, with a pole while the dog was tethered in a garden and unable to escape.
Lord approached Ace carrying a pole-like object, took it from behind his back, and struck the dog multiple times with considerable force. Ace can be heard yelping during the blows.
Further footage showed Ace being sprayed with water for a prolonged period, leaving him cowering, terrified, and unable to move away due to being tethered.
Ace the mastiff, shown after being rescued from Paul Lord’s violent abuse. Now safely rehomed.
Inspector Richard Carr described both videos as deeply distressing, highlighting Ace’s fear, pain, and inability to flee.
Lord pleaded guilty at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court to causing unnecessary suffering.
Magistrates said the offence was so serious it warranted immediate custody. Lord was already a serving prisoner at the time of sentencing.
Ace was seized, signed over to the RSPCA, and has since been successfully rehomed.
Sentence
Court: Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court Date: 14 September 2026 Penalty: 18 weeks’ imprisonment; 10‑year ban on keeping animals (expires September 2036) Mitigation: None reported Notes: Cannot appeal ban for 7 years
At a Glance
Offender: Paul Lord
Born: 18 June 1980
Age at Conviction: 46
Address: First Avenue, Dursley, Gloucestershire GL11 4NW
Previous Convictions:
In March 2026, Lord was jailed for three years after crashing his Range Rover on the A30 while travelling with his partner and two children, leading police to discover a kilo of cocaine worth £80,000 in the boot. He first claimed it was for personal use before admitting he was a courier, with the judge noting his previous drug convictions and limited role in a wider operation.
Animal Victim: Ace (mastiff)
Victim Fate: Rehomed
Evidence:
Video of Lord beating Ace with a pole
Video of prolonged water‑spraying while Ace cowers
Injuries: Distress, pain; no veterinary report published
Lewis Walker kicked, stabbed and battered a helpless dog, and terrorised his partner for years. Now jailed and banned from owning dogs for 15 years.
Incident Details
Former soldier Walker, who is originally from Speke in Liverpool, subjected his partner and her dog Odie to years of escalating violence, coercion and intimidation.
Odie, the gentle bull‑breed who never stood a chance against the violence he endured.
His behaviour deteriorated sharply from 2021 onwards, with repeated assaults, strangulation, threats to kill, and destruction of property. He poured bleach over his partner’s clothing, smashed a fishbowl, locked her out of their home, and left her with a perforated eardrum.
Walker filmed himself kicking Odie 17 times and sent the footage to his partner.
Lewis Walker kicking and attacking Odie during a prolonged incident of abuse
In autumn 2024, he armed himself with a hammer, warned “watch what happens”, and struck the howling dog with the weapon before stabbing him with the claw end. He told his partner “you’ll be next” and threatened to stab police officers if she called 999. He also threatened to “paint the house red”.
Head injury sustained by Odie during Walker’s hammer attack.
He later telephoned the veterinary practice where his partner worked and falsely claimed he had been attacked by Odie. As a result of this fabricated allegation, Odie was euthanised.
Injury to Odie’s body following the hammer attack carried out by Walker.
The victim has also endured sustained harassment and hostility from Walker’s relatives. Despite the evidence of prolonged abuse, members of his family publicly defended him, dismissed her experiences, and attempted to discredit her.
Walker’s aunt publicly defended him, calling him a “gentle giant” and a “good man” despite the evidence of prolonged abuse.
One aunt laughably described Walker as a “gentle giant” and a “good man”, comments which caused further distress to the victim and minimised the severity of what she had endured.
Judge Garrett Byrne described the case as “one of the worst cases of causing an animal suffering that the court has seen”, adding that Walker had made his partner’s life “a living nightmare”.
Reaction in court
Walker’s relatives continued their hostility during sentencing. As he was led to the cells, supporters shouted abuse across the courtroom. Their behaviour added to the victim’s distress and demonstrated the ongoing intimidation she has faced from those aligned with Walker.
The judge’s condemnation of Walker’s actions stood in stark contrast to the family’s attempts to defend him.
His partner described living in constant fear, stating that no prison sentence could undo the trauma and that she remains deeply affected by the abuse.
Sentence
Walker admitted one count of controlling and coercive behaviour on the day of trial. He was jailed for four‑and‑a‑half years, handed a 15‑year ban on owning dogs, and given an indefinite restraining order preventing contact with his ex‑partner.
At a glance
Offender: Lewis Walker DOB: 7 October 1992 Age at Conviction: 33 Background: Former soldier Addresses: • Harefield Road, Speke, Liverpool L24 0SB (previous) • Living with partner in Widnes at time of offending • Additional Widnes link: Alexander Drive, Widnes WA8 8DZ (mother’s address) Victims: Odie (dog, euthanised following Walker’s false allegation); former partner Offences: Controlling and coercive behaviour; prolonged domestic abuse; violent attacks on Odie Previous Convictions: • GBH with intent (2012, 3 years) • Robbery & offensive weapon (2014, 4 years) • Common assault (2018, 26 weeks) Sentence: 4.5 years’ imprisonment Animal Ban: 15‑year ban on owning dogs (expires September 2041) Court: Liverpool Crown Court Date: 28 September 2026
Police mugshot of Connor John Bradshaw, taken during the wildlife crime investigation.
Case Summary
Connor John Bradshaw used his dogs to hunt and harm wildlife, sharing images of dead deer and hares on multiple social media platforms. Intelligence supplied by Naturewatch Foundation led to a joint investigation with Cleveland Police, resulting in a prison sentence and a long-term dog ban.
Offender Overview
Name: Connor John Bradshaw Born: 8 October 1998 Age at Conviction: 27 Last Known Address: Roseworth area, Stockton‑on‑Tees TS19 (later HMP Holme House) Occupation: Unknown Previous Convictions: Not reported Additional Information: Habitual wildlife offender; used Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to display dead animals and glorify dog‑led hunting behaviour.
Incident Details
Bradshaw posted photographs and videos showing dead deer and hares, with his dogs standing over the bodies. In one disturbing post, he joked about “playing tug of war with a deer” with his dog.
In February, Cleveland Police received detailed intelligence from Naturewatch Foundation, who had been monitoring Bradshaw’s online activity. This information prompted Stockton’s Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) to question Bradshaw, leading to charges for:
Six counts of hunting a wild mammal with a dog
Causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal
Bradshaw later provided his address as HMP Holme House.
Sentence
Court: Teesside Magistrates’ Court Date: 11 September 2026
Penalty:
12 months’ imprisonment
15‑year disqualification from keeping dogs (expires September 2041)
Ban expiry: Bradshaw cannot appeal for at least 10 years
Mitigation: None reported
Agency Statements
Cleveland Police – NPT Sergeant Mitch Baldwin
Bradshaw showed “a shocking amount of disregard for the welfare of animals” and repeatedly caused “unfathomable suffering to wildlife”.
He praised the “fantastic partnership work” between the neighbourhood team and Naturewatch Foundation, highlighting how vital collaborative investigations are in tackling wildlife crime.
Naturewatch Foundation – Wildlife Crime Campaign Manager Jim Clark
Clark stated that offenders who persecute wildlife “should expect to feel the full force of the law”.
He congratulated the investigating officer for securing a strong result and emphasised the importance of partnership work in protecting wildlife for the future.
Jordan Wood and Ellen Gibson let a dog and cat suffer months of violence, fractures, blindness and agony until both animals died.
Case Summary
Labrador‑type dog Chance and cat Casper suffered months of brutal, repetitive violence at the hands of Jordan Wood, culminating in catastrophic injuries that led to their deaths.
Chance
Wood, aged 25, formerly of Trekenning Tourist Park, Newquay, pleaded guilty to three animal welfare offences following an RSPCA investigation.
His co‑defendant, Ellen Gibson, aged 24, formerly of Cornwall and now living in Kilham, Driffield, also admitted causing or permitting unnecessary suffering.
Casper suffered catastrophic chest trauma, multiple rib fractures across three timelines, severe head injuries, blindness, and organ damage. Both animals died as a result of the violence inflicted upon them.
Jordan Wood inflicted months of violence that left Lab-cross Chance broken, strangled and dying, and left Casper the cat blind, crushed and fighting for breath.
Wood has been jailed for 18 months and banned from keeping animals for life. Gibson will be sentenced separately in September 2026.
Offender Overview
Name: Jordan Wood Born: 22 December 2000 Age at Conviction: 25 Last Known Address: Trekenning Tourist Park, Newquay; family home at Hillside Park, Bodmin PL31 2NB Occupation: Unknown Previous Convictions:
Possession of a throwing knife (blade over three inches), Bridlington, Yorkshire — January 2025
Community order
£120 fine
£85 costs
Additional Information:
Defence cited PTSD and depression
Known to have moved between Cornwall and Yorkshire
Offender Overview (Co‑Defendant)
Name: Ellen Gibson Born: 26 June 2002 Age at Conviction: 24 Last Known Address: Ropery Close, Kilham, Driffield YO25 4SZ Occupation: Former dog walker — Happy Hippy Pet Services Previous Convictions: None known
Additional Information:
Responsible for Chance and Casper during periods of injury
Pleaded guilty to causing or permitting unnecessary suffering
Returned to family home in Kilham, Driffield, East Riding of Yorkshire
As of August 2026, she is reportedly employed in a care home where she works with vulnerable adults
Incident Details
Concerns were raised in April 2025 when Chance was taken to a vet with severe injuries.
The RSPCA were alerted and attended Wood’s address. Chance was seized by police and placed into RSPCA care, where further examinations revealed:
Multiple traumatic head injuries
Skull fractures on both sides of the frontal bones
Sagittal crest fracture
Strangulation injuries and altered airway size
Windpipe compression consistent with repeated collar tightening
Spinal fracture from high‑level blunt force
Burned whiskers
Swelling, bruising and abrasions around eyes, ears, face and neck
Chance was euthanised due to complications from his pre‑existing throat fractures.
Ellen Gibson — a former professional dog walker – admitted causing or permitting the violence that left Chance and Casper dead.
In August 2025, Casper was found dead with catastrophic injuries from at least three separate timelines of blunt‑force trauma:
Casper’s cause of death was severe blunt‑force trauma to the chest, resulting in respiratory failure.
Every mark on Chance’s body, including the cigarette burns on his ears, tells the story of the torture he endured.
Veterinary evidence confirmed both animals endured prolonged physical pain and mental torment.
Animal Victims
Chance (Dog)
Male Labrador‑type
Suffered repeated blunt‑force trauma
Skull, throat, spine and facial injuries
Whiskers burned off
Euthanised due to complications from injuries
Chance was joyful. He was trusting. He was failed.
Casper (Cat)
Male
Suffered catastrophic chest trauma
Rib fractures across three timelines
Severe head injuries
Blindness and extensive eye damage (his eye was reportedly gouged out while he was still alive)
Died from lung collapse and respiratory failure
Sentence (Jordan Wood only)
Court: Truro Date: 6 August 2026
Penalty:
18 months; imprisonment
Lifetime ban on keeping animals
Guilty of three animal welfare offences
Mitigation:
Defence cited PTSD, depression, and difficult childhood
RSPCA Statement
RSPCA Inspector Jack Alderson said:
“The cruelty inflicted upon innocent animals like Chance and Casper is an unforgivable betrayal of trust. Every living creature deserves a life free from suffering and filled with compassion.”
Chance was removed from Jordan Wood and Ellen Gibson along with several rats and rabbits. The smaller animals were unharmed.
Chance was immediately placed under the care of the RSPCA Cornwall Branch, where he received repeated health checks, veterinary treatment and daily monitoring. A member of staff fostered him to ensure he had stability, safety and comfort while the investigation progressed.
Despite weeks of dedicated care, Chance had suffered internal injuries that were not initially detectable. Unknown to the team and the attending vets, he had a crushed trachea and fractured hyoid bone caused by strangulation.
While running in the field at the centre, his damaged trachea suddenly collapsed, causing respiratory failure and his death.
His passing occurred despite every possible intervention, and only because of the violence inflicted on him before rescue.
Unbeknownst to the RSPCA, Gibson later acquired another animal — Casper the cat. As soon as this was discovered, a plan was put in place to have him removed. Before this could happen, Gibson posted on social media that Casper had died.
Casper’s body had already been sent for cremation, but the RSPCA were able to intercept it in time.
Both Chance and Casper were sent to a forensic pathologist. The examinations revealed the full extent of the injuries suffered by both animals, confirming prolonged, repeated, non‑accidental trauma.
UKACF Commentary
Jordan Wood’s case is one of the clearest examples of prolonged, escalating violence against companion animals that we’ve seen in recent years. The veterinary findings alone — multiple skull fractures, throat and windpipe compression injuries, spinal trauma, and repeated blunt‑force blows — show a pattern of deliberate harm inflicted over months, not moments. Chance’s injuries were so severe and so varied that they could not be explained by any accidental cause, despite Wood’s claim that the dog “ran into a fence.”
Casper’s post‑mortem findings were even more disturbing: fractures healing at different rates, catastrophic chest trauma, skeletal injuries, and internal organ damage, all pointing to repeated episodes of violence across at least three separate timelines. His cause of death — extensive lung collapse and respiratory failure due to blunt force trauma — reflects sustained suffering rather than a single fatal incident.
The RSPCA’s own inspector described the cruelty as an “unforgivable betrayal of trust,” and it’s difficult to disagree. These animals were not only harmed — they were harmed repeatedly, severely, and in ways that demonstrate intent, force, and a complete disregard for pain, fear, and vulnerability.
The lifetime ban imposed on Wood is both appropriate and necessary. Cases like this highlight why lifetime bans exist: to prevent individuals who have demonstrated a capacity for extreme violence from ever having access to animals again. The 18‑month custodial sentence, while welcome, inevitably feels small compared to the suffering endured by Chance and Casper — a recurring issue in UK sentencing for animal cruelty.
Ellen Gibson’s involvement, while different in nature, still reflects a failure to protect animals in her care. Allowing suffering and failing to seek veterinary treatment are not passive oversights — they are active breaches of duty that enable harm to continue. Her sentencing will determine whether the courts recognise the seriousness of enabling or permitting cruelty, not just inflicting it.
This case is a stark reminder of how vital community vigilance is. It began because a vet recognised that Chance’s injuries did not match the explanation given. Without that intervention, both animals’ suffering might have continued unnoticed. It also underscores the importance of robust enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, particularly Section 4(1), which exists precisely for situations where unnecessary suffering is inflicted or permitted.
For UKACF, this case stands as a deeply troubling example of sustained violence, preventable deaths, and the need for stronger deterrents. Chance and Casper deserved safety, care, and compassion — not months of pain followed by fatal injuries. Their story must be remembered, not only to honour them, but to reinforce why reporting concerns, supporting the RSPCA and Scottish SPCA, and demanding stronger sentencing all matter.
Additional Photos of Jordan Wood and Ellen Gibson
Update | 24 September 2026
Ellen Gibson, 24, has now been sentenced for her role in the prolonged abuse suffered by Chance the dog and Casper the cat. Gibson admitted allowing the violence to continue, failing to protect the animals, and failing to obtain urgent veterinary care for Chance’s catastrophic head injuries.
She received a 23‑week prison sentence, suspended for two years, along with a 15‑year ban on keeping animals, a mental‑health treatment requirement, and £1,154 in costs and surcharges. Magistrates stated that her failure to act contributed directly to the suffering and deaths of both animals.
A smug selfie of Christina Emanuel — the woman who starved one bulldog to death in a shed and left another emaciated inside her home.
Case Summary
A bulldog named Callie starved to death in a shed, while another, Bella, was found severely underweight inside the home of Christina Emanuel, of Cinema Drive, Wavertree (L15).
Mother-of-five Emanuel was sentenced to 26 weeks’ imprisonment, disqualified from keeping animals indefinitely, and ordered to pay £1,452 in costs plus a victim surcharge.
She has been granted bail pending appeal.
Offender Overview
Name: Christina Jane Emanuel
Born: circa 1985
Age at Conviction: 41
Last Known Address: Cinema Drive, Wavertree, Liverpool L15
Occupation: Unknown
Previous Convictions: Assault. Emanuel has a prior conviction for violently assaulting another woman in front of her child during a street confrontation. The victim was punched repeatedly and sustained injuries. Emanuel was convicted of assault and received a community order along with a compensation order. The court criticised her behaviour, noting that the incident occurred in full view of her young child.
Additional Information: Caring for a seven‑year‑old son with severe autism; claimed dogs belonged to cousin who died by suicide earlier in the year.
Incident Details
RSPCA inspectors attended the property following reports of “thin dogs.”
Christina Emanuel pictured outside court during her assault case — the same offender let one bulldog die of starvation and left a second dog severely underweight. Credit: Liverpool Echo.
October (2025): First visit — underweight dog seen; contact card left.
November 4: Second visit — Bella found inside the house, clearly underweight; Callie found dead in the shed.
Post‑mortem confirmed starvation as the likely cause of death; Callie’s stomach was empty.
Bella scored 2/9 on the body condition scale (1 = emaciated).
Emanuel claimed the dogs fought and were “vicious,” saying she fed one dog soup and the other by throwing KFC through a window.
Bella gained 4kg in one month once properly fed and has shown no aggression in her new home.
Animal Victims
Callie (bulldog):
Found deceased in shed
Cause of death: Starvation
Stomach empty; no disease present
Bella (bulldog):
Found severely underweight
Body condition score: 2/9
Recovered rapidly with proper care
Rehomed; no aggression reported
Sentence
Court: Wirral Magistrates’ Court Date: 19 August 2026
Penalty:
26 weeks’ imprisonment
Indefinite ban on keeping animals
£1,452 costs + victim surcharge
Mitigation:
Caring for autistic child
Emotional distress
Claimed dogs belonged to cousin who died by suicide
Claimed fear of dogs and difficulty coping
Additional Notes:
Bail granted pending appeal to Crown Court
Judge stated suffering was “so serious” that only immediate custody was appropriate
Martell Tyrone Dublin was jailed and banned from keeping animals for life after admitting multiple counts of non‑accidental injuries inflicted on his cats. The RSPCA launched an investigation after a vet raised concerns about repeated trauma and unexplained deaths involving five cats owned by him.
Shirley, the surviving cat, pictured resting in a soft round pet bed after being rescued by the RSPCA.
Offender Overview
Name: Martell Tyrone Dublin
Born: 28 June 2001
Age at Conviction: 25
Last Known Address: High Street, Harlesden, London
Screenshot of Dublin’s profile on the All Things Chelsea blog showing his personal interests.
Previous Convictions: None known
Additional Information: Offender has scrubbed social media accounts; believed to have removed identifying photos
Incident Details
The RSPCA investigation began on 17 November 2022 after a vet reported concerns about injuries and unexplained deaths involving Dublin’s cats.
France, Narla, Baby and Milo were all linked to suspicious circumstances, while Shirley was found alive but suffering from multiple fractures.
Veterinary experts concluded that the injuries were non‑accidental and consistent with deliberate physical abuse, with several cats experiencing prolonged pain, fear and distress. Baby also suffered untreated head and spinal injuries which left the cat unable to walk.
Dublin was assessed as posing a serious ongoing risk to animals, given the repeated non‑accidental injuries and multiple unexplained deaths.
Animal Victims
France – repeated injuries; severe scalding; died
Narla – non‑accidental injuries; died
Baby – head and spinal injuries; untreated; died
Milo – unexplained death
Shirley – fractured jaw, cheekbone and ribs; survived
Sentence
Court: Harrow Crown Court Date: 31 July 2026 Conviction: Four counts of animal cruelty (non‑accidental injuries and unnecessary suffering)
Penalty:
28 months’ imprisonment
Lifetime ban on keeping animals (not appealable for 3 years)
Mitigation: The court heard that Dublin was previously of good character, no longer kept animals, and had mental health difficulties, alcohol problems, and significant childhood adversity.
RSPCA Statement
Former RSPCA Inspector Nicole Broster said:
“This was an incredibly challenging and harrowing case, one of the worst I’d seen during my 17 years as part of the Inspectorate… Dublin subjected these beautiful, innocent and affectionate creatures to unimaginable suffering by intentionally harming them.”
