#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).
CONVICTED (2007) | Matthew Alex Corfield, born 05/11/1988, of Garden Village, Highley, Bridgnorth, Shropshire WV16 6HN and Alex John Lister, born 22/09/1989, of Bickford Lane, Teignmouth TA14 8QT – attacked a horse with a meat cleaver, leaving her so badly injured she had to be put down.
Recent (2019) photos of horse killers Matthew Corfield (left) and Alex Lister
On Friday 13th April 2007, a 19-year-old piebald mare, known as Maggie, was attacked at Essington Hall Farm, Essington, South Staffordshire, by drunken youths Matthew Corfield and Alex Lister then of Wednesfield, Wolverhampton. A third youth – Anthony Ronald Hinsley, born 07/09/1988, of Fryer Close, Wolverhampton WV11 3JD, was also initially charged, but the case against him was later dropped.
Charges against Anthony Ronald Hinsley were dropped
The trio, who had been drinking in local woods with two other youths, went into Maggie’s field and startled her. As she fled, Corfield and Lister proceeded to chase her with the former repeatedly hurling a meat cleaver at her.
The court heard Corfield laughed as he inspected the 12-inch by five-inch blade for blood.
Victim Maggie with her owner
Maggie was found the following day lying in a pool of blood. She had suffered a five-inch-deep cut to her neck, a three-and-a-half-inch cut on her shoulder and her right leg was broken. The tendon of one of her rear legs was severed by a blow that cut to the bone. Her injuries were so severe that she had to be put to sleep on humane grounds.
Corfield, Lister and Hinsley were arrested after locals raised £1,500 for information leading to the conviction of those responsible.
Remorseless Matthew Corfield and accomplice Alex Lister (inset) pictured outside court in 2007
Paul Jenkins, defending Corfield, said he did not accept he was “solely or exclusively” to blame.
Jenkins said it was not a premeditated attack and that Corfield had taken the cleaver with him to chop wood to make a fire for the five friends who were camping in Black Cat Wood.
Ian Hodnett, for Lister, said he had tried but failed to film Corfield and another friend chasing the horse on his mobile phone.
He said Lister’s only other involvement was to chase Maggie around the paddock.
Corfield and Lister both admitted causing unnecessary suffering to Maggie. Corfield was given five months in a young offenders institution but was released after just eight weeks. His father, Peter Corfield, told a local newspaper that he believed his son “had definitely paid his debt to society”. He added that his son had been rehired by his employer, a building company.
Sentencing: Corfield – five months in a young offenders institution. Ordered to do 180 hours of community work.
Lister – 12-month community order and 180 hours’ community service.
CONVICTED (2007) | David ‘Dave’ Smith, born c. 1949, of Adam and Eve Cottage, Northdene Avenue, Seaham SR7 7BH – killed thousands of ex-racing greyhounds with a bolt gun and buried them at his home
Dave Smith from Seaham is said to have killed thousands of former racing greyhounds with a bolt gun. Despite this, he was never charged with animal cruelty.
The prosecution of Dave Smith was brought by the Environment Agency after police ruled that the ‘Seaham Slaughterer’ as he came to be known would not face criminal charges in relation to the destruction of the dogs.
It had been claimed that Smith had shot about 10,000 dogs, but magistrates were told the figure was nowhere near that. It was conceded that he had put down two dogs a week for two years at a cost of £10 a time.
The shocking footage shows Smith returning moments later with the bodies of the same two dogs in a wheelbarrow
While Smith was questioned by police, it was confirmed the bolt gun used to kill the retired greyhounds was held legitimately.
There are unconfirmed reports that Smith also disposed of dogs for the police and local authority.
Enquiries by the RSPCA concluded that there was no indication animal cruelty laws had been broken.
A spokeswoman for the charity said if used properly a bolt gun was a humane method of killing dogs and there had been no evidence that Smith had killed the greyhounds inhumanely.
Following a six-month investigation, the Environment Agency prosecuted him under legislation used to restrict the dumping of waste.
Smith admitted a single charge under the Pollution Prevention and Control (England and Wales) Regulations that, on 12 July 2006 he disposed of waste – the bodies of deceased dogs – on land without a permit.
Greyhound protection group Greyhound Action (now defunct) held a protest outside the court and said it was disgraceful that the dog racing industry itself was not in the dock.
Sentencing: £2,000 fine for environmental breaches
Dave Smith still runs a building supplies business Dave Smith Builders Merchants & DIY (website here) based in Lord Street, Seaham SR7 7JH. At the time of his prosecution, many local people came forward to support Smith, claiming that he was only meeting a demand from the greyhound industry.
In June 2019 a documentary on animal cruelty within the greyhound industry by Irish TV channel RTE entitled RTÉ Investigates: Greyhounds Running for Their Lives highlighted the Smith case and made the shocking discovery that many Irish knackeries, including Larry Earle Ltd of Camolin, Co. Wexford, and John Styles & Son Ltd in Kyletalesha Townland, Co. Laois , will willingly provide a similar service today.
CONVICTED (2006) | US Airforce serviceman Dustin Matthew Yandell, born 13 October 1984, at the time of offence of Mill Reef Close, Newmarket, Suffolk, and as at November 2019 of Edison in Georgia, USA – ripped his golden retriever’s throat apart with a military knife
Dog killer Dustin Yandell was discharged from the American Airforce after slashing his golden retriever’s throat with a military knife.
Yandell, from RAF Lakenheath, put his golden retriever, Goldie, in the bathtub before slitting her throat from one side to the other, causing the animal to suffer “severe pain and distress” in the moments leading up to her death.
RSPCA Chief Inspector Mark Thompson said it was one of the worst cases of animal abuse he had ever seen.
“This was a very, very serious act of premeditated, wanton cruelty,” he said.
“Mr Yandell knew what he was going to do. He took the dog upstairs on a lead, put it into the bath, sat with it for a moment and then slashed its throat.
“The animal’s suffering would have been untold in the few minutes while it was dying.”
Yandell, who served in the Iraq war as a combat medic, initially denied the offence, but later admitted killing the animal at his home in Mill Reef Close, Newmarket, in March 2005.
He said in a police interview: “I do not know what was going through my mind at the time. I put the knife in the dog’s throat, and it went from right to left.
“The next thing I remember was cleaning the bath and putting the dog in the trash bin.”
The bin containing the golden retriever was found by a Forest Heath District Council refuse collector, who was left “extremely upset and distressed” by the gruesome discovery.
Yandell admitted the killing could possibly have been carried out to get back at his wife, who had called him from America to say she would not be returning home and that he would not see their son again.
Defence solicitor, Jeremy Kendall, told the court Yandell had suffered a number of traumas, including the stillbirth of his second child in April last year.
“This was a one-off offence,” he said. “He is still a very young man who has out-of-the-blue committed this savage act.”
Mr Kendall said Yandell would undoubtedly be discharged from the USAF as a result of his conviction.
Chairman of the bench, Colin Reeve, said: “We are dealing with one very serious matter of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
“We consider this matter is so serious that no other sentencing is appropriate.”
Sentencing: 18 weeks in prison. Banned from keeping animals for life.
In January 2007 Yandell was discharged from the US Airforce. Originally from Clinton, Maryland, USA, he is currently living in Edison in Georgia and, according to his Facebook profile, is employed as a technician with Southern Plastics. He appears to have at least one dog.
#MostEvil | Shaun Andrew Furgusson, born 26/04/1981, as of December 2020 living in Spring Bank, Hull HU3 – stole a dog and tortured her over three days. Mongrel Chrissie died from her horrific injuries. Went on to steal another dog who was never found.
Shaun Furgusson and his victim, Chrissie, as found
Shaun Furgusson launched a motiveless attack on mongrel Chrissie, causing her to suffer brain damage, a punctured lung, five broken ribs and broken teeth. Part of her ear was cut off. Tragically she died shortly after being found by her owner.
During a horrific three-day ordeal Furgusson threw Chrissie at a television then kicked her, smashing five of her ribs. He went on to break one of her legs and bound it with wire. He then cut off one of her ears and attacked her with a hammer, smashing her teeth and shattering her skull.
Furgusson’s kitchen was said to resemble a slaughterhouse with blood everywhere.
2018 photo of Hull dog killer Shaun Furgusson
Furgusson denied having seen the dog when asked by her owner, but later called her to say he had found Chrissie in the garden of a derelict house nearby. Poignantly, the dog was still breathing when her devastated owner discovered her next to a blood-stained flag but it was too late to save her and Chrissie died in her arms.
During his trial Furgusson, who at this point had a prior conviction for robbery, absconded from court but was re-captured. An additional two months was added to his four-month jail sentence for the animal cruelty offence.
In November 2007 Furgusson, one of four brothers, started what was described as a “wild west brawl” at a family wedding to which he wasn’t invited. His mother, Teresa ‘Dolly’ Furgusson – an education worker with East Riding – thought her son should be forgiven for torturing a dog to death, but other family members didn’t see it quite the same way. The brawl resulted in Furgusson and his mother being arrested and the bridesmaid and bride’s brother ending up in hospital.
In June 2010 a family with young children pleaded with Furgusson when the 14-year-old dog they’d had as a puppy disappeared after he burgled their home. The dog, named Bruno, was never found.
For the burglary offence Furgusson was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment at Hull Crown Court.
2021 police mugshot of Furgusson.
In December 2011 sad case Furgusson attacked his ex-partner from whom he had a restraining order. He turned up at the woman’s address armed with a knife and meat cleaver. He held the meat cleaver to his neck and threatened to harm himself. Fortunately he was stopped from doing the world a favour. For this offence he received an 18-month community order.
As at 2017, father-of-one Furgusson was living at a bail hostel in Hull but later moved into a property in Hutt Street, Hull, where neighbours report seeing him in a constant state of drunkenness and singing to himself.
Sentence for killing Chrissie: just four months in prison.
Furgusson’s family home was in St John’s Grove, Hull HU9, and his parents, Steve and Teresa Furgusson, lived there until quite recently. They are now believed to be in Canister Close HU9 3BU.
Furgusson has three brothers – Steven, Stuart and Seb – and a sister named Natasha. He has a teenage daughter.
While believed estranged from his family for several years (although his mother has always reportedly stood by him) recent social media photographs indicate that Furgusson has been welcomed back into the family fold.
Updates
December 2021: the Hull Daily Mail reported that Furgusson (incorrectly referred to as ‘Fergusson’ in the article) was jailed for three-and-a-half years after allowing a Liverpool county lines drug-dealing gang to use his home as a base for supplying heroin and crack cocaine.
The court heard that Furgusson, who started injecting amphetamine at the age of just 14, was spending £100 a day on drugs.
Furgusson, now with 58 previous convictions to his name, admitted being concerned in supplying heroin and crack cocaine and permitting his premises to be used for supplying crack cocaine.
He said that a group of Liverpool men moved into his home and told him that they would “feed him” drugs. He did not gain anything financially.
CONVICTED (2006) | James David Nicholson, born 22/04/1984, at the time of conviction of Station Road, Colwyn Bay, but as at March 2020 living at 67 Pocket Nook Street, St Helens WA9 1NQ – repeatedly beat his dog and hung him from a lamp-post
Nicholson, who works as a part-time DJ under the name N-Tyce, was caught on camera hanging Jack Russell terrier Sweep from a lamp-post as he waited for a takeaway.
Magistrates watched CCTV footage showing Sweep cowering as his owner repeatedly beat him. Nicholson then hung the terrified dog from a lamp-post, before flinging him across a pavement.
Nicholson, who sobbed as he watched the footage in court, was told the attack had caused Sweep “physiological trauma”.
He admitted causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
Chris Dawson, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said: “He left the dog hanging off the windowsill. When asked why he had done that, he said ‘He kept barking.’
“He said he’d had a bad night, but he hadn’t meant to take it out on the dog.”
Nicholson cried heavily while the footage was played to magistrates, and often shielded his eyes away from the screen.
Magistrates’ chairman Howie Roberts told Nicholson: “Quite frankly, we were disgusted by what we saw on the video.
“We hope you show a lot more respect for the animals in your care.”
Nicholson, a part-time DJ from Station Road, was caught on film outside the Bay Grill takeaway on Seaview Road, Colwyn Bay, just after midnight on 4 September 2005.
He was told he could not take the dog into the shop, but became increasingly angry at the pet barking while he was waiting outside. It was then the brown and white dog’s ordeal started.
The CCTV footage shows the pet being whipped with the handle of the lead several times, flinching at every sudden blow.
Sweep tried to flee the attack, but was stopped from running away because of his lead.
Nicholson then lifted up the dog by the lead, with the Jack Russell hanging in mid-air. His owner tied the top of the lead to a lamppost, and hung the pet there for a few seconds.
But Nicholson seemed to realise the upset he caused Sweep, and took him into his arms. He held the dog close, and peppered him with kisses.
On the walk home, with a petrified Sweep dragging behind on the lead, Nicholson violently yanked the lead, flinging his pet over several feet.
He then kicked Sweep in the side of his body.
An RSPCA report said: “The persistent nature of the behaviour has caused the dog unnecessary suffering, primarily physiological trauma.”
It adds: “The body language of the dog clearly showed that the dog was afraid and repeatedly tried to get away, but was restricted by the lead.”
Gwyndaf Pari, defending, said: “It was a one-off offence, one at the lower end of the scale, perhaps one that was impulsive and one after which he has shown genuine remorse.
“Since then, he has looked after the dog well.
“It is an animal clearly loved by Mr Nicholson.
“He has certainly learned his lesson since, and was dealing with the stress a relatively new job brought. It is something that worried him.”
Sentencing: fined £250 with £262 court costs. He was not banned from keeping animals and was allowed to keep Sweep.
CONVICTED (2004) | Andrew Brian Gough, born 05/03/1976, formerly of Tiryberth Street, Tiryberth, near Caerphilly, and as of late 2019 of Lloyd Street, Newport NP19 0JN – used a captive bolt pistol to shoot a former racing greyhound in the skull, cut off the dog’s ears, and dumped him, still alive, on a footpath
Andrew Gough
Andrew Gough was paid £10 by John Hurley and Mark Emmett, owner and trainer respectively of injured greyhound Rusty, also known as Last Hope.
Gough used a captive bolt pistol to shoot Rusty in the skull. This left a gaping hole but failed to kill him. He then cut off Rusty’s ears to prevent identification and dumped him, still alive, by a footpath on Fochriw Mountain, near Merthyr Tydfil.
A woman out walking her dog heard whimpering and discovered the stricken greyhound. Despite his appalling injuries, Rusty managed to wag his tail for the person who had come to his aid. He was taken to a vet but had to be put down immediately because he was so distressed.
Rusty had a distinctive white blaze on his chest and people came forward to identify him.
In December 2004 Gough was convicted of cruelty and jailed for six months. He was also banned from keeping animals for life.
Rusty’s former owner and trainer did not face any charges despite signing the dog’s death warrant since it is not illegal for a person to arrange to have their own dog shot.
CONVICTED (2004) | Stephen William Ruane, born 20/04/1961, of 56 Castlemilk Crescent, Castlemilk, Glasgow G45 5PH – stabbed his pregnant dog to death and buried her body in woods
Ruane admitted carrying out the attack on the collie bitch after losing his temper in a row with friends.
Although he buried the dog’s body in woodland, he was caught after his girlfriend reported the incident to the animal welfare charity SSPCA.
Sheriff William Holligan said it was a “most barbaric thing to do” and told Ruane that prison was “unavoidable”.
He added: “In my opinion, there is no reasoning for putting an animal in such great distress.”
Glasgow Sheriff Court had heard Ruane had gone with his dog to his partner’s flat in January 2004.
The couple, along with a friend who was also in the house, later became involved in a heated argument.
Ruane then stormed off to the kitchen, where his two-and-a-half-year-old pet was lying on the ground.
Suddenly he grabbed a kitchen knife and plunged the blade up to seven times into the defenceless animal.
The court was told it was very apparent the dog, who was expecting six pups, was in great distress.
Keith O’Malley, prosecuting, said: “The animal was yelping and was in pain from what had happened. It was not long after that it stopped breathing.”
Ruane then grabbed the dog and raced off to nearby woods to bury it.
He later claimed he had been “disgusted” at his behaviour and that it was “disgraceful and inexplicable”.
His legal team appealed for an alternative to jail and that a social work recommendation of anger management classes should be followed.
Sheriff Holligan dismissed the plea and also banned Ruane from owning an animal for the next 10 years.
Doreen Graham, spokeswoman for the Scottish SPCA, said: “We are so pleased that the sheriff has taken this seriously.
“For a first offender, the severity of sentence reflects the severity of the crime.
“Whether you like animals or not, people need to take on board that in domestic violence situations, it is very often the animal that is the first victim.
“This really is an issue that needs to be taken seriously.”
Sentencing: three-month custodial sentence. Banned from keeping animals for ten years (expired July 2014).
