CONVICTED (2023) | Dudley Payne, born 27 August 1994, of Braintree Avenue, Penwortham, Preston PR1 9UN – tortured a puppy to death.
On September 1, 2023, Dudley Payne was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to the 11-week-old American bully puppy after a four-day trial at Preston Crown Court.
He was back in court for sentencing on Friday, 20 October.
During the trial, the jury heard that the RSPCA was contacted by a vet after the puppy, known as Rocko, was taken in dead on arrival on February 2, 2022.
A post-mortem examination showed a number of non-accidental injuries including cigarette burns, head trauma and an eyeball prolapsed from the socket.
Rocko had been seen at the vet three days before for his vaccinations and was reported to be bright, alert and responsive.
In a statement read in court, RSPCA inspector Emma Dingley said: “The vet received the post-mortem results back and immediately contacted the RSPCA. He told me on the phone it was the worst post-mortem examination report he had ever read.”
Inspector Dingley contacted Payne, who confirmed he had owned Rocko for six days and bought him from a breeder named George Wilson.
When interviewed by inspector Dingley, Payne answered no comment to all questions.
A vet who gave evidence in court said Rocko’s injuries suggested “intentional harm”.
The puppy had a ruptured liver, head trauma, a partial hip fracture and abrasions consistent with being scratched by fingernails.
He also had cigarette burns to his groin area and injuries to his abdomen, and lacerations to his liver and had inhaled the contents of his stomach.
Rocko’s heart also showed signs of having a massive rush of adrenaline before he died, showing the pup was terrified.
When the vet saw the results of the post mortem, he made a report to the RSPCA, and Payne was charged with causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
In a statement read in court at the trial, RSPCA inspector Emma Dingley said: ‘The vet received the postmortem results back and immediately contacted the RSPCA.
‘He told me on the phone it was the worst postmortem examination report he had ever read.’
Payne denied the offence, claiming Rocko was in poor health when he collected him from Mr Wilson, and needed ‘a bit of love’.
Payne’s defence said in court that Rocko’s injuries were caused by his owner while he was trying to do CPR on him, however this was disproved in court by the vet giving evidence.
The court heard that further enquiries were made with George Wilson, who confirmed he sold the puppy to Payne, adding that he was the biggest of the litter and very healthy when he left.
According to Wilson, Payne told him he had left the puppy alone with his five-year-old son while he went to the shop and thought the child must have injured the puppy.
Handing down a custodial sentencing of two years and nine months, the Honorary Recorder of Preston, Judge Robert Altham, said: ‘The only conclusion I can draw is that you tortured that dog to death. He must have died in agony and terror.
‘You have shown no remorse. I am driven to the appalling conclusion you did it to him because you enjoyed it.’
Speaking after the hearing, inspector Dingley said: ‘I will never be able to comprehend what happened to Rocko and why such a young animal was treated in such a cruel way.
‘This investigation will stay with me forever, but I’m pleased that we were able to get some justice for this little puppy, and I think the long custodial sentence reflects the gravity of this case.’
Sentencing | sent to prison for two years and nine months. Banned from keeping animals for 15 years.
