CONVICTED (2015) | career crook Paul David Rush, born 15/01/1979, formerly of Wooler Avenue, North Shields NE29 and as at September 2019 of Railway Terrace, North Shields NE29 6RP – left his dog in a comatose state and suffering from a fractured spine after viciously attacking him at a party.
Rush left cross breed Scoobie comatose on the floor of his North Shields home.
The pet had been badly beaten up during a house party and was left unconscious in the kitchen.
Scoobie was badly beaten and left to die
And when police attended Rush’s address and found Scoobie, he was just hours away from death.
Rush pleaded guilty to one count of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
Police were initially called to Rush’s home in the early hours of September 2, 2014, after neighbours reported hearing a woman scream.
In the kitchen, they found Scoobie lying in his own faeces, unable to stand and unconscious. Rush denied there was anything wrong with the dog and attempted to make him stand.
The RSPCA were then called and took Scoobie to the vets. A CT scan revealed he had a fracture at the top of his spine, a broken right cheekbone and numerous broken ribs.
The spine fracture could have easily paralysed Scoobie or caused him to suffocate.
Abuse victim Scoobie after being nursed back to health
Thankfully the brave little dog began to respond to treatment. He underwent surgery and subsequently made a “miraculous recovery” with the only residual impairment being “a slighly wobbly walk”.
After the sentencing, RSPCA Inspector Trevor Walker said he was relieved that Rush had been banned from keeping animals.
“I feel the sentence fits the crime,” he said. “There had been a substantial and repeated trauma to this dog.
“From my point of view it is one of the worst cases of injuries caused to a dog I have seen.
“It’s unbelievable he’s survived, but he did and he’s now been rehomed.”
Sentence: jailed for 18 weeks and banned from keeping pets for life.
2019: Rush was sent to jail for eight weeks after assaulting two shop workers. He was living in Whitley Bay but is now back in North Shields.
2021: Rush back before the courts to face shoplifting charges. By now he had racked up 116 criminal convictions. The address given in the newspaper report was Stanley Street West, in North Shields.
CONVICTED (2014) | Amie Elizabeth Smith (aka Amy Blackler), born 14/07/1991, as of April 2020 of Norbury Grove, Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne NE6 2TA – left a dog to starve to death in squalor.
Smith had locked the starving animal – a white Staffy named Rocky – in a filthy kitchen, without access to food or water, where he was surrounded by mounds of rubbish and faeces.
Rocky was locked in a filthy kitchen and denied food and water
His emaciated body was found near an empty water bowl and tin cans which he had attempted to eat in his desperate state.
When his body was examined by a vet, he was found to be just over half the weight he should have been.
The abandoned dog was so hungry that he chewed tins of dog food on the floor
Smith pleaded guilty to one count of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal between February 5 and March 26 2014.
Prosecutor Denise Jackman said: ‘The officer found a deceased, white Staffordshire bull terrier lying on the kitchen floor among a vast amount of rubbish. The body of the dog was emaciated and had ribs protruding.
‘There were faeces all over the floor. There was an empty water bowl and tins of food with dints in, as if the dog had attempted to open the tin with his teeth.
‘The RSPCA inspector said there was an over-powering smell and that the kitchen was extremely cluttered.
‘She noticed the tins of dog meat, which had been chewed.
‘The vet said the unnecessary suffering of starvation would have caused immense stress. The hunger would have caused loss of consciousness before death occurred.’
When interviewed, Smith said she asked a friend to look after the dog while she went away to Blackpool between February 5 and March 26, 2014.
David Parish, speaking in her defence, said Smith suffers from mental health issues and was ashamed of her actions.
He said: ‘This is a lady with significant difficulties and significant mental health problems.
‘She was the victim of domestic violence, which occurred where the dog was found. She was not able to cope and felt she couldn’t return to the property.
‘She is deeply sorry, deeply upset and deeply ashamed at what has happened.’
Sentence: suspended six-month prison sentence, three-month curfew; £700 costs. Lifelong disqualification from owning an animal.
PROSECUTED | William Crotty, born November 1981, and Ricky Crotty, born March 1990, both of Royston – charged with killing a badger alongside Scott Brown of Boldon Colliery, Tyne and Wear, Kevin Barry Cowell and Gabrielle Freeney, both of Enfield, London and David Fox of Ongar, Essex.
L-R Billy Crotty, Ricky Crotty, Scott Brown (top) and Kevin Cowell
The men denied three charges each in total – interfering with badger setts, digging for badgers and wilfully killing a badger – and were cleared by a jury.
They were charged after they were caught with spades and a lurcher-type dog in a field near Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire on November 6, 2011.
“Innocent” Scott Brown from Boldon Colliery. Image: Facebook
The court had viewed a video filmed from the police helicopter, showing five men with spades and a lurcher-type dog standing around a hole in a field which Pc Timothy Gawler said “had the appearance of a grave shape”.
Pc Gawler, who spotted the group from the helicopter at 1.55pm, said the men then started to fill the hole in.
Three of the men left the scene in a red truck with a sixth man, the driver, while another two left the scene on foot, and all were later arrested.
Despite the evidence, the men were found not guilty.
Speaking after the verdict, boxing promoter Billy and tree surgeon Ricky, who are members of the travelling fraternity, complained that their businesses and families’ lives had been affected by the case.
“We’ve even had the animal rights people on our backs”, he said bitterly.
Billy denied that the group were badger baiting “as we are aware that it is illegal”. Instead, he said that they were pursuing foxes and had been given permission by a local farmer to be on the land.
He added that he and his brother “do voluntary pest control for a number of farmers”.
CONVICTED (2012) | violent career criminal Alan Smith, born 26/03/1981, previously of Hebburn, South Tyneside, but as of 2020 living at 43 The Avenue, Hetton-le-Hole DH5 9DQ – abandoned two dogs to starve to death in atrocious conditions
When bailiffs forced their way into Alan Smith’s flat to serve an eviction notice, they found his mastiff Sam lying dead in a living room surrounded by dog dirt and rubbish.
They also found an emaciated Staffordshire bull terrier called Lily in the room, who had only survived by eating flesh from the dead dog.
The bailiffs called in the RSPCA who took the surviving dog to a vet and had a post-mortem examination carried out on the mastiff. This revealed both dogs had been starved of food and water for about a month.
The floor of Alan Smith’s Hebburn flat was encrusted with faeces, waste littered the furniture and the corpse of a dog named Sam lay rotting in the doorway.
Smith appeared by videolink as he was already serving a three-year prison sentence for an unrelated crime.
No charges were brought regarding Lily, after Smith told magistrates she belonged to his girlfriend.
Denise Jackman, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, said: “When the bailiff opened the door to the living room, a small dog ran out and went to the toilet to drink water.
“A large emaciated dog was dead in the corner of the room. The smaller dog had been living off the corpse, as half of its face was missing.
“The room was strewn with faeces, empty beer cans and other rubbish. Both dogs were almost skeletal.”
Staffy Lily survived by feeding on the carcass of her starved mate
Speaking about the case after sentencing, RSPCA inspector Claire Hunt said: “This was an extremely shocking case that upset everyone who dealt with it.”
“This dog died an awful death, deprived of the most basic of things, food and water, for up to a month. The fact that the other dog survived such a horrendous ordeal is a miracle.
“The room they were in was covered in faeces and urine, beer cans and other rubbish and there was a chewed up sofa. She was literally living off the flesh of her mate. When the bailiffs opened the door she shot out of the room and started to drink from the toilet.
“Happily, she is now with new owners and having the kind of life she always deserved.”
Sentence: jailed for 17 weeks, banned from looking after animals for 10 years (expired February 2022).
April 2020: Alan Smith was jailed for nine months after threatening a woman with an axe. Headcase Smith was taken into custody following a three-hour stand-off with armed police. In addition to the prison sentence, Smith was given a five-year restraining order.
#MostEvil | Nicky Collinson, born 8 January 1986, of 28 Tynebank, Blaydon-on-Tyne NE21 4RW – kicked and punched a kitten that had wandered over to her.
2022 photo of Nicky Collinson. Source: Facebook.
Mobile phone footage showed Collinson and an unidentified 16-year-old female accomplice laughing as they repeatedly kick and punch the cat, chasing after him when he attempted to escape.
In October 2007 Collinson was banned from keeping animals for life. She was also given a 12-month supervision order, and a six-month night-time curfew.
The youth involved was disqualified from keeping any animal for five years and given a referral order.
Collinson later sold her story to Take a Break magazine. This is the text of that article.
The video began and I watched the screen as two young women walked along a dimly lit street. They heard a sound and turned to see a black and white kitten wandering up to them. Its tail swished and its ears pricked up to show it wanted affection.
It was a young, trusting animal and allowed itself to be picked up by one of the women. She cradled it in the crook of her left arm, glanced across at her companion and said: “Quick!” The other woman got out her mobile, aimed it at the kitten and began filming with the phone’s camera.
She said: “It’s ready.”
With that, the woman holding the kitten drew back her fist and punched the animal twice, as hard as she could. It slumped forwards as the women laughed loudly.
Next, she threw the animal into the air. As the kitten began to descend, she swung her foot and drop-kicked it as if it was a rugby ball.
The kitten spun sideways and landed on the road. When it tried to get up to escape, she kicked it again. That’s where the video ended.
I sat back in shock at what I’d seen because that woman torturing the kitten was me. I didn’t remember it because I’d been drunk. Now it was the following morning and I was sober. I’d stayed over at my friend’s house and she was showing me the video she’d taken. I could clearly see the cruelty I’d inflicted.
“It’s hilarious, don’t you think?” she said.
My face burned scarlet with shame. “No,” I said trembling. “You should have stopped me. I’m disgusting.”
I had turned to alcohol after my nan, who was also my best friend, had passed away. She’s suffered from emphysema, a degenerative lung disease, and in her final months, I’d cared for her. I loved her so much and when she died I felt lost. I became quiet and isolated. I was 16 and didn’t know how to deal with my grief. So I tried drinking. Getting drunk helped me stop thinking about my sadness.
My parents were worried and in the end Dad took me to the doctor, who said: “Nicola, your grandma’s death had a big impact on your life. It would be best if you started taking antidepressants.”
I agreed to take them. Although the medication numbed the pain, it didn’t address how or why I felt so bad. I continued to drink. The combination of drugs and alcohol made me feel detached from myself. I became moody and menacing.
My sister Jennifer said: “You’re nice when you’re sober, but I don’t know who you are when you’re drunk. You’re not the sister I love. You need to sort yourself out.”
“Whatever,” I shrugged. That night, when I kicked the kitten, I had been at a friend’s house and we had drunk a lot. I couldn’t remember anything about what happened.
When my friend showed me the clip on her mobile, I was beside myself. I didn’t even know if the kitten had survived.
“I’ve sent it to our friends,” she said.
“You’ve done what?” I said in horror.
“I thought it was funny,” she replied.
Our friends didn’t agree. One sent it to the RSPCA. Later that afternoon I had a visit from the police. They took me to the station where I was shown the video again and questioned. “Is that you kicking the kitten?” the officer asked.
Breaking down, I said: “Yes, it’s me. I’m so sorry. I was drunk and didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t mean to hurt it.”
Despite my tearful pleas, I was charged with causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. The worst thing was, I loved animals. I had two dogs who I looked after on my own. We’d had Perry, a crossbreed Yorkshire terrier, for 17 years. I had also rescued a six-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier called Sparkle from a dogs’ home.
Back home in Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, I was plagued by images of me kicking the kitten. I’d think about it and cringe.
I told Dad: “I’m so ashamed of what I’ve done. I’m going to change.”
I meant it. I gave up alcohol and when friends called to invite me out, I refused. Instead, I spent time walking my dogs and playing with my nieces and nephews. Whenever I was tempted to have a drink, I forced myself to think back to what I’d done.
In time I heard that RSPCA inspectors had been unable to trace the kitten or its owners to find out if it had survived. Knowing it may have suffered an excruciating death from its injuries made me even more distressed.
Eventually, I appeared at Gosforth Magistrates Court. I pleaded guilty. Clive McKeag, who was prosecuting for the RSPCA, showed the video footage, recorded on the Cowgate estate in Newcastle.
He said: “This is what can only be described as a very wicked case. It was only a kitten and it came looking for affection.”
He described the attack, saying: “It was absolutely deliberate. There can be no suggestion it was accidental. What makes it worse is that someone was making a video on a camera phone. You can hear joking and laughing.”
The solicitor defending me, Kevin Kivlehan, said: “The girl that you see in the video is very different from the young lady you have before you today. She has suffered from emotional difficulties, anxiety and depression throughout her life until fairly recently. She has abused both drugs and alcohol and that has exacerbated the problem. She once rescued a Staffordshire bull terrier from a neglectful home using her own money. That is the true nature of Nicola Collinson.”
The presiding magistrate addressed me, saying:”Having looked at that video of what you did, we seriously considered custody. It is appalling that any human can do such a thing to another animal. It’s unthinkable and no excuses can be accepted. But we are going to ask for reports. We feel you’re desperately in need of help. Hopefully you’ll live to remember what you’ve done to that cat and never do anything like that again.”
I was sentenced to a 12-month community and supervision order and a six-month curfew from 7pm to 7am. I was also banned for life from keeping animals and ordered to pay costs of £420.
The story appeared in the newspapers and local residents commented. One wrote: “You’re the lowest of the low. I wouldn’t chuck a cup of water on you if you were on fire. In fact, why don’t you just drop dead?”
Another wrote: “Typical scum blaming drink….weren’t drunk enough to aim right TWICE, were you? Hope someone gives you the kicking you so deserve. You are trash.
While another said: “I was mortified when I read about the cat in the paper. It looked so calculated.. she shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near animals.”
The comments hurt but I deserved them. Perhaps I should have been kicked in the same way as I had tortured that kitten. I wish I could do more than just say sorry. But I’ll have to live with the fact that I’m an animal beater forever.
Update April 2022 | Breached Lifetime Ban
Newcastle Magistrates Court heard that on January 10, 2022 a chihuahua and a Jack Russell were found living at Collinson’s home after a housing officer tipped off the RSPCA.
Collinson told an RSPCA inspector that she had been caring for the Jack Russell, called Lucy, since her father’s death in November 2020, and that the chihuahua, known as Robbie, had been brought into the house by her partner in August 2021.
Collinson, who the court heard is unemployed and has four children, was dealt with in her absence after failing to attend the hearing to answer a charge of breaching her lifetime disqualification of keeping all animals, which was handed down at Gosforth Magistrates’ in January 2007.
Alex Bousfield, prosecuting for the RSPCA, told the court that since the dogs were found at her home Collinson had been co-operative with the RSPCA. Both Lucy and Robbie were found to be in perfect condition and have since been re-homed.
He said Collinson admitted she had been looking after Lucy for around 26 months, and Robbie for five months. No harm had been caused to either animal.
The presiding magistrate said that in Collinson’s absence she was satisfied that the defendant had been served notice to attend court and that having heard a summary of the evidence that she had kept two dogs she was disqualified from having.
She fined Collinson £120 with a £34 victim surcharge for the breach. The lifetime ban on keeping animals still stands.
