CONVICTED (2024) | Matthew Murray, born 6 March 1999, of Bentinck Place, Birkenhead CH41 4DR – caught on CCTV kicking and screaming at a small dog as she yelps in pain.
The footage shows Murray running towards a fence and kicking out at bulldog Bella with his left leg, before kicking her again with his other leg, causing her to yelp out in pain. He is then heard aggressively shouting, “get back in,” before forcefully kicking and swearing at her again.
Bella is seen running back towards the house away from Murray, before yelping out again once she’s inside.
The incident took place at Ashfield Crescent, Bromborough, on Boxing Day 2023 and the RSPCA was alerted.
In a written statement to the court Inspector Anthony Joynes said: “I attended the location and made enquiries with residents which resulted in me seeing some CCTV footage where a young male with long dark hair, wearing a black jacket, blue jeans and black trainers can be heard initially arguing angrily with another person before screaming and shouting angrily that a dog had escaped from the property.
“The dog appears scared and is seen running away from the male along a fence line. The man chases after the dog and then proceeds to violently kick the dog forcefully on at least two occasions. The dog can be heard yelping in response and further yelps can be heard shortly after the man re-enters the address after the dog.”
2018 Merseyside Police mugshot of Matty Murray, who has links to Tranmere, Prenton, Wallasey and Woodchurch.
Following veterinary examination Bella was given pain relief for ongoing hip and spinal conditions which were found on the radiographs. She was then taken to a private boarding establishment to be cared for on behalf of the RSPCA while the investigation was carried out.
Murray, who is no stranger to Merseyside Police, pleaded guilty to animal cruelty, and said he had attacked Bella because he was “feeling stressed”.
Speaking after the conclusion of the case Inspector Joynes said: “Bella had run out of the house and into the street, which of course can be stressful and frustrating. But the violence, aggression and intimidating behaviour that followed was unacceptable, and this can be seen by Bella’s fearful response and her cries of pain.
“She is doing great in our care and will be looking for her new home very soon.”
Sentencing | 18-month community order with 240 hours of unpaid work and 30 days of “rehabilitation”; victim surcharge. Ten-year ban, but may appeal after five years.
CONVICTED (2024) | Brian Thomas, born c. 1980, of Robert Street, Barrow-in-Furness LA14 – kicked and punched a dog.
Thomas pictured with one of his t wo pet dogs.
Thomas admitted attacking the unnamed dog in Barrow on March 28 2024, contrary to sections 4(1) and 32(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
The condition or fate of the dog has not been reported.
Sentencing | 12-month community order with 15 rehabilitation requirement days; £357 in compensation, £80 fine, £114 surcharge. 12-month disqualification order relating to dogs
CONVICTED (2024) | Javel Pilgrim, born 14 November 1999, of Saint Gregory’s Crescent, Gravesend, but with links to the Hackney and Barking areas of London – caught on camera abusing his pet dog.
Pilgram, who according to his LinkedIn profile works as a “program development professional”, admitted the physical abuse and neglect of his pet dog, Tessa, in a case brought by the RSPCA.
The incident, which took place on January 25, 2023, saw Pilgrim, who at the time lived on Maybury Road, Barking, lift Tessa up before hurling her from height onto the ground.
A vet who viewed the video after it was reported to the RSPCA commented: “The person does not drop the dog by accident but throws it with intent and force enough to propel it a considerable distance from him.”
“The clip shows him positioning the dog behind him to enable him to throw the dog effectively. The energy required in my opinion and experience in handling dogs, was very large to throw the dog the distance seen, and the intent was to harm the dog.
“There is no sign … that the dog was trying to bite the person, or that the man was acting in self-defence. He is not seen attending to the dog immediately afterwards, suggesting that he failed to prevent further suffering by not checking for injuries.”
When RSPCA animal rescue officer Bryan Taylor visited Pilgrim, he discovered Tessa living in the garden. She was removed from the property with consent and taken for a veterinary examination on January 26, 2023.
The vet found her to be underweight at 15.9kg, scoring three out of nine on the body condition scale. She had sustained injuries, staining, and calluses on her lower limbs, as well as fractured teeth.
A vet stated: “This injury could have occurred when the owner threw her onto the ground- it is common for injuries to the carpus (wrist) to be caused by falling from a height. The graze on her carpus could have occurred at the same time.”
“The damage to Tessa’s teeth could also have occurred when she was thrown.
“We treated Tessa with a painkiller and a diet plan to help her gain weight.
“On February 2, her weight had increased to 16.7kg. Her cough resolved with this treatment and she is not showing any signs of lameness.”
“We also noted that while Tessa was very well behaved with female members of staff she showed signs of fear aggression (e.g. lunging when cornered) with some of our male staff members- suggesting that her previous mistreatment has made her fearful of men”.
Speaking about the case, RSPCA inspector Shahnaz Ahmad, who was in charge of the investigation for the animal welfare charity, commented: “Pilgrim inflicted appalling and totally unnecessary violence on Tessa. There is never an excuse for treating an animal in this way.”
Sentencing | 12-month community order, with 15 days of “rehabilitation”; £80 fine and £114 victim surcharge. Indefinite ban.
CONVICTED (2024) | Aled Wyn Roberts, born 6 May 1991, most recently of High Street, Tywyn, but originally from Pwlhelli, Caernarfonshire – beat a puppy before choking him to death after the ‘novelty’ of owning a dog wore off.
Roberts admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a black collie called Twm by inflicting blunt force trauma and violence including strangulation.
Prosecuting counsel Gareth Bellis said Roberts was described by a friend as having a history of failing to care properly for animals. He would leave them in cages and forget about them at his dirty and grubby flat. Roberts didn’t know a hamster was dead in a cage.
He had also allegedly smacked his cats.
Details of Aled Roberts’ horrific cruelty towards a defenceless puppy were shared across social media with one animal lover starting a petition to demand justiceSome disturbing allegations were made about both Roberts himself as well as his mother
Mr Bellis said, during a video call with a woman in April 2023, Roberts had complained about the behaviour of his five-month-old border collie.
“The dog was crying in its crate,” the prosecutor said.
The defendant appeared to hit the dog forcefully with his hand. He’d also been witnessed kicking and punching the dog.
The same morning the friend had received another call and grinning Roberts said the dog was dead.
Twm’s body was taken to a vet where Roberts told a receptionist he didn’t know how the pet had died.
Roberts had previously attempted to choke a cat with a headphone lead and screamed at a budgie and refused to feed it, the court heard.
Jailing him for 18 months Judge Timothy Petts at Caernarfon crown court banned him for life from owning any animal.
The judge told Roberts that after acquiring the puppy “you clearly had no idea how to look after him properly. The novelty had worn off.
“You went from neglect to being cruel and violent towards him,” Judge Petts added.
Eventually Twm had been strangled with a chain.
“The suffering he sustained must have been considerable,” the judge said. A post-mortem examination showed internal injuries to the “defenceless” puppy including fractured ribs.
Roberts’ lawyer said his client’s “mental health problems” had led to the sad situation and had urged the judge to consider a suspended sentence.
CONVICTED | Mark Anthony Linford, born October 1977, of Long Lane, Aston End, Stevenage SG2 7HG – broke into a woman’s home and stole her dogs before attacking them, causing fatal injuries to one.
Dog killer Mark ‘Marco’ Linford will be spending the next two-and-a-half years behind bars for his crimes
Linford, a self-employed painter/decorator trading under the name Linford’s Professional Decorating, pleaded guilty to three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal as well as burglary
Essex Police were called to an address in Harlow on the afternoon of 18 September 2023 following reports of a residential burglary, where three chihuahua dogs (pictured) were stolen.
The suspect was quickly identified as Linford. He was located and arrested on suspicion of burglary.
The dogs were located later in the day.
Nacho pictured at the back alongside Lola and Parker
One dog, Nacho, was found next to the railway track at Harlow Mill. Sadly, he had to be put to sleep due to the severity of his injuries.
The other two dogs, Parker and Lola, were found close to the train tracks with serious injuries.
Linford was further arrested on suspicion of three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and later charged.
After pleading guilty to three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and burglary, he was sentenced to a total of two years and six months in prison.
Linford, who uses the first name Marco but may also go by the name Billy or Billie Linford, was also issued with a restraining order against the victim, an Animal Disqualification Order and ordered to pay compensation to the victim.
Following the sentence, the dogs’ owner said the following: “No sentence given to Mark Linford (Marco) will ever do justice for the loss of my little Nacho and the devastation it’s caused the whole family and the other two dogs.
“You never think that something so awful could ever happen to you.
“Our animals are like our children, totally innocent.”
Detective Constable Sarah Faircloth, who led the investigation said “Mark Linford made the decision to take the victim’s three defenceless dogs which goes to show what a dangerous individual he is. The anguish and heartache he has caused is irreparable, which no prison sentence will ever compensate.
“I must commend the victim for her courage throughout the investigation, her support and dedication for justice for Nacho, which in my opinion was the main reason Linford had no choice but to admit his guilt.”
Sentencing | two years and six months in prison; animal disqualification order of unspecified duration.
CONVICTED (2024) | serial domestic abuser and dangerous career criminal Arran Swift aka Arran Adey, born c. 1986, originally from Cowdenbeath, Fife but with links to the Lochend and Restalrig areas of Edinburgh and Cumbernauld in Glasgow – killed and mutilated a hamster with a hammer in a sick revenge attack against his partner.
The death of the little hamster, named Timmy, came to light after Swift sent the woman a chilling message, stating “Timmy isn’t going to survive”.
Police found the body of the animal, along with blood splatters where he had been thrown against a wall and a hammer covered in blood and hair.
The court heard that Swift carried out a litany of abuse after entering into a relationship with the woman in 2018 or 2019.
Fiscal depute Ronnie Hay detailed the abuse, including the destruction of the victim’s pet, committed after she took Swift back following a previous split.
He said: “The complainer felt sorry for him and invited him to stay with her.
“The accused’s behaviour did not vary – he began controlling what she was doing.
“He punched and kicked at walls and mirrors.
“They separated in September 2021 and she left her flat, leaving her pet hamster Timmy.
“Between September 6 and 16 telephone records showed 391 communications were made from his phone to her.
“These messages were also threatening – she received one saying ‘Timmy isn’t going to survive. Where are you?….bad move, goodbye’.”
Police went to the property and found evidence Swift was still living there – along with the grim discovery of the pet’s body.
Mr Hay continued: “They observed the deceased hamster, which appeared to have been struck off the wall.
“They contacted the SSPCA and an inspector attended and found the hamster and blood spatters on the wall.
“She saw a hammer with blood and hair on it.”
On an earlier occasion Swift trapped the woman inside her house, tied her hands together and followed her around the house – even watching as she used the toilet – and threatened to stab her.
On another occasion he hit her, resulting in her waking from unconsciousness in the bathroom.
After the woman left Swift initially, she found him inside her house. Swift had taken some important items, including jewellery and photographs, telling her he had taken “things that matter to you”.
He invited her to a Travelodge in Edinburgh with the promise of returning the items.
She texted her mother asking her to call the police as she needed help, only for Swift to beat her with a gin bottle.
Other incidents included stealing a television that had been taken in by a neighbour following delivery, making threats to kill her former partner, sending her photos to suggest he was in her local area and he stated he had put cameras in her home.
Swift, a prisoner at Edinburgh, admitted engaging in a course of conduct abusive of a partner or ex-partner at addresses in Fife, Edinburgh and Cumbernauld between October 2020 and January 2022.
Swift’s heinous crimes were so serious the case was remitted to the High Court in Dundee.
Presiding judge Lord Arthurson ruled that Swift poses a significant threat to the public should he be released from custody.
He said reports showed that Swift had “sadistic” tendencies and scored highly on a test to assess psychopathic behaviour.
He said: “You demonstrated extreme violence, controlling and somewhat sadistic behaviour towards your victim. You have used different aliases in relationships.
“When you are heavily intoxicated and in a state of inebriation you have felt the overwhelming desire to inflict serious pain on others. You have shown a lack of empathy. You have shown no anxiety about the consequences. There is an extremely high likelihood of you committing other offences and you have the capacity to cause lethal harm.
“You scored highly on the assessment for psychopathy. The risk of harm posed by you has been persistent over time. You have been violent against strangers and intimate partners.
“You have found it impossible to take responsibility for your behaviour. You have had eight previous partners and have shown concerning behaviour towards seven of them.
“You have described your own fantasies about harming others in the past. You killed your victim’s pet animal and mutilated the body. You repeatedly threatened to kill your victim and her family and burn down her house. This was sustained, coercive and controlling behaviour over 16 months.”
Lord Arthurson said: “I have concluded that the nature, gravity and pattern of offending are such as to demonstrate that your liberty will endanger the lives of the public at large.”
Swift will initially serve three years and nine months in prison but will be subjected to a lifelong restriction order meaning that only the parole board can decide if Swift can be managed in the community.
Swift was also made subject to a lifelong non-harassment order.
The court was told that Swift was already subject to two other non-harassment orders, had served 19 previous prison terms and was on a community payback order at the time of the latest offence.
Sentencing | three years and nine months in jail. Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR).
CONVICTED (2024) | Samuel Bodington, born 22 May 1990, of Aire Street, Goole DN14 5QE – strangled a chihuahua and attacked his girlfriend in a drug-fuelled rage.
Image credit: HullLive
Bodington’s girlfriend was looking after the female dog, known as Luna, because she had been cruelly mistreated by a previous owner. Following the vicious attack by junkie Bodington, the tiny pet was left with her tongue hanging out and became “very shaken and jumpy”.
Sentencing was originally imposed in July 2023 after Bodington admitted the intentional strangulation of his girlfriend and causing unnecessary suffering to her pet dog. He was given a 16-month suspended prison sentence but this was activated in late March 2024 after he repeatedly failed to attend appointments with the probation service.
Michael Forrest, prosecuting, told the original hearing that Bodington’s girlfriend had been looking after Luna.
Bodington arrived at her home in Goole at 7.30pm on April 21, 2023, for a party where everyone was drinking. He and his girlfriend took Pregabalin tablets obtained from a drug dealer.
“The defendant’s behaviour changed like a switch had been flipped,” said Mr Forrest.
Bodington became agitated and he was hallucinating and being loud and aggressive, causing the woman to become scared.
“She told him to leave but he didn’t leave,” said Mr Forrest.
Bodington began calling her names. She was lying on a sofa with the dog when Bodington launched himself at her and dragged them both to the floor. While they were on the floor, he took hold of her throat and the neck of the dog.
He squeezed the woman’s neck, causing her to gasp for air, and he held on to the dog’s neck, causing her tongue to hang out of her mouth.
The woman forced Bodington to release his grip. She alerted the police and Bodington was arrested.
“Luna was very shaken and jumpy,” said Mr Forrest. The woman later said that Bodington’s attack on her was unprovoked.
During the original hearing Judge John Thackray KC told Bodingonn: “Your behaviour on the evening in question was appalling. Your victim must have been terrified. The dog must have been terrified.
“This could have been so much more serious. Sometimes it only takes a few seconds from when someone is strangled to them losing consciousness.”
Sentencing | 16-month immediate custodial (previously suspended), Banned from keeping animals for just two years (expires July 2025).
CONVICTED (2024) | Sampson Richards, born 18 August 1995, of Liberty, Lestraynes Lane, Penryn TR10 9EL – goaded his dog into chasing and attacking a deer.
Richards pleaded guilty to an offence under the Deer Act 1991 after an RSPCA investigation led to his prosecution.
The animal charity was alerted after video clips showing a dog being encouraged into chasing down and attacking the young deer were shared on a Facebook group.
The footage, which was filmed at night, shows the 13-month-old beige saluki cross lurcher named Butch biting the terrified animal and shaking him vigorously while he screams out in pain. The voice of a male, who captured the footage under torch-light, is heard encouraging the dog throughout the chase and attack.
The video closes with the person filming saying: “It’s good for you to be able to see this”.
A vet, who examined the footage as part of the RSPCA investigation, said in their statement for the court: “The duration of the video was 73 seconds long, however this would not have represented the whole duration of the incident.
“I expect that the footage was started after the person in the video had realised that his dog was in pursuit.
“When the footage ended the deer was clearly still alive. We cannot say how long before the poor creature was put out of its pain, nor what method was used for this. Hence, the incident was probably far longer than the duration of the video.
“This extremely distressful video shows the illegal coursing of a deer by a lurcher. ‘Lamping’ refers to the usage of a specialised torch to enable the pursuit. Such a light was later found at the premises of Sampson Richards.
“The dog was actively encouraged and helped to chase and attack the deer and clearly praised for his activities by the person making the video.
“The deer was terrified and afraid and suffered great pain and distress. At no time did the person try to stop the chase. No attempt was made to pull the dog off the deer whilst the person was standing right over it.
“There was no evidence that the deer was to be swiftly and humanely dispatched, in the likelihood that it was too badly injured to be taken to a vet for first aid treatment.
“We have no idea how long the total chase went on for. We have no idea how long before the deer was euthanased. We have no idea whether the person making the video let the dog kill the dog, presumably by ripping its throat apart, or whether the person shot it or cut its throat himself.
“One thing that we can be sure of is that the deer suffered terribly.
“Unlike animals such as dogs, horses, cattle and sheep, deer do not vocalise under normal circumstances, only when they are terrified or in pain or during the mating season. Thankfully it is extremely unusual to hear a deer vocalise. It is without doubt that this deer suffered terribly.”
A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: “We share our space with wildlife and need to show respect and kindness. Animals feel pain, just as we do, and we’re appealing to everyone to show care and consideration to all animals.”
The full charge against Richards read: That on or about November 21, 2022 in the vicinity of Liberty Barn, Lestraynes Lane, Penryn, Cornwall, or elsewhere within the jurisdiction, you did, while on any land, attempt to take, kill or injure any deer without the consent of the owner or occupier of the land or other lawful authority, contrary to Section 1 (2)(a) of the Deer Act 1991.
Butch was signed over into the care of the RSPCA for rehoming.
Sentencing | 12-month community order with 180 hours of unpaid work; £400 costs and £114 surcharge; forfeiture and confiscation of the lamping lamp.
CONVICTED (2024) | Robert Manton aka Rob Philpot, born 1986, and Natasha Butler, born November 1979, of Stonham Avenue, Clacton-on-Sea CO16 7EH – neglected and physically abused their two dogs.
Butler and Manton were banned from keeping animals for life after being captured on video abusing their two dogs.
The RSPCA investigated Manton and Butler after receiving video evidence of their cruelty towards a Staffy called Bruce and Jack Russell-type Snoop. This included footage showing Manton kicking and hitting both dogs.
On January 13, 2023 the charity attended the couple’s home in Clacton with police and removed the dogs.
Bruce (pictured) and Snoop thrived in the RSPCA’s care and have been rehomed
Further evidence was provided of the two dogs fighting outside and running loose in the street and one of the dogs attacking the other. There was no intervention by their owners, thereby facilitating the suffering of the animal being attacked The two dogs were kept together and there was no provision to keep Snoop safe.
Snoop
Both dogs had skin disease and were infested with fleas. They were also being kept in unsuitable conditions.
Manton, who is no stranger to Essex Police, was found guilty in his absence while Butler pleaded guilty to failing to meet the welfare needs of Snoop and Bruce by one or a combination of the following:
Failing to address the skin condition affecting one or both dogs
Failing to adequately control the dogs resulting in the dogs fighting each other
Keeping the dogs in an unsuitable environment containing hazardous items and which was contaminated by urine and faeces
Failing to protect the dogs from stress by punching or kicking them
Exercising the dogs on the highway without the dogs being kept on leads meaning that the dogs were not under control or safe
Failing to provide routine preventative health care such as vaccination and parasitic control.
In mitigation, the court was told Manton was suffering from mental health issues and he had lost a relative to cancer. The dogs were not his, but he was aware of their conditions. In mitigation Butler also said she had been suffering with mental health issues.
Speaking after the case RSPCA inspector Emma Beynon said: “Bruce and Snoop should have been protected and kept safe, but sadly this was not the case. The couple failed them in so many ways.
“Both dogs were taken into RSPCA care and both continued to thrive and they have now been rehomed.
“I would also like to thank the witnesses in this case – which was a difficult one for all involved.
Sentencing | Manton: 17 week prison sentence for the animal welfare offence with one further week added for his failure to surrender. He also activated a previous suspended sentence – which resulted in a further 40 weeks’ imprisonment to run consecutively.
Butler: 12-week prison sentence with additional time added for failure to surrender; 30 days of rehabilitation activity; costs of £600 plus £154 victim surcharge.
Both were disqualified from keeping animals for life.
CONVICTED (2024) | livestock transporter Jonathan Botterill, born c. 1977, of Spellowgate, Driffield YO25 – filmed picking up a pig by her ears and flipping her onto her back.
Botterill, an employee of Chris Waite Transport, pleaded guilty to using violence likely to cause unnecessary fear, injury or suffering and for using prohibited handling techniques when unloading pigs.
He was filmed on CCTV lifting a terrified pig by her ears and flipping her onto her back at Cranswick Country Foods in Preston on August 31, 2023.
The court heard Animal Health Officers from East Riding of Yorkshire Council began investigating following a referral from a vet who worked for the Food Standards Agency.
Botterill was trained in the correct methods of handling pigs and other livestock and had 20 years of experience. During an interview, he admitted it was not an appropriate handling technique and failed to use his pig board or ask for assistance.
Sentencing | ordered to pay a £670 fine, a £268 victim surcharge, and £884.94 costs.
