#MostEvil | Peter Dunn aka Peter James, born 06/03/2002, of Lord Nelson House, 170 High Street, Swansea SA1 1NE – beat up a French bulldog puppy on at least two occasions causing her to suffer multiple broken bones
Eighteen-year-old Peter Dunn and, Betty, the puppy he subjected to repeated violent attacks
The trauma inflicted on the 10-month-old dog, who is now known as Betty, was so severe that she would not even look at her fosterer for three weeks after being temporarily rehomed by the RSPCA.
Dunn injured the puppy by “doing an act, namely the infliction of blunt force trauma and physical violence”.
He also “knew or ought reasonably to have known that that act would have the effect of causing unnecessary suffering or be likely to do so”.
Dunn with Betty
The acts of violence occurred over two separate dates in 2019, on July 30 and September 24, and veterinary checks on the puppy revealed that her injuries were non-accidental.
Betty had suffered a swollen face, a fractured humerus, a fractured ulna and radius and a fractured femoral head.
The injuries were inflicted at a time when Dunn was the only person to have been alone with the dog.
Betty continues to recover from her ordeal and recently underwent an operation to remove wires from her leg. She has undergone several operations, and her care has cost the RSPCA around £8,000.
Her fosterer has described the little dog as a “bundle of joy” after at first being reticent in their company.
The fosterer said: “When she first came to me in October she had shut down and she wouldn’t look at me for three weeks. But now she is a beautiful bundle of joy. She is just amazing and she loves everybody and she is great with other dogs.”
The RSPCA are hoping that a ‘forever home’ will soon be found for Betty.
“I would very much like to thank the member of the public who alerted us to what was going on so we could promptly remove the puppy and give her the veterinary treatment she desperately needed,” said RSPCA Cymru inspector Gemma Cooper.
“I am so thankful she has recovered and is doing really well with one of our fantastic fosterers.”
Dunn pleaded guilty to two animal welfare offences and was given a nine-month referral order. He was told to pay costs and charges totalling £321. He was banned from keeping any animals for five years.
CONVICTED (2019) | Ashden Jack King, born 24 February 2002, of Sunningdale Drive, Hubberston, Milford Haven SA73 3SA, and Jakob Goffin, born c. 2003, of Woodbine Way, Milford Haven SA73 3HQ – stole a tame pet chicken from her owner and tortured her to death.
Jakob Goffin (left) and Ashden King filmed themselves torturing a pet chicken to death
Chicken Daisy was subjected to a prolonged and brutal attack at the hands of sadistic savages Jakob Goffin and Ashden King and others, during which she was chased, set alight and had her neck hacked at with garden shears. She was finally killed with a pitchfork.
The pet’s agonising ordeal was filmed for Snapchat and shared with other feral yobs in the group for their sick entertainment.
Daisy’s ordeal took place at the home of a third youth who was investigated but not charged.
In court a veterinary surgeon described the youths’ actions as “gratuitous torture”.
Victim Daisy
Daisy’s owner Michelle Owen wrote a victim impact statement which was read to the court.
“When I discovered Daisy was gone I blamed myself, I thought I hadn’t secured the coop. My youngest two children were devastated when Daisy had gone, they were crying over her,” she said.
“Daisy was very tame and friendly, it’s not the same going to the coop. I always thought my garden was safe and secure, now I don’t leave my dogs out in case they disappear.
“When I think about what happened that night and the way Daisy suffered, it goes beyond cruelty.
“She was a part of the family, more than just a chicken.”
Defending the youths in court, Mike Kelleher said that the pair were facing the consequence of their “reprehensible” actions.
He said: “This was a cruel and nasty horrible incident. However it started it went horribly, horribly wrong. They are here today to face the consequences.”
RSPCA Cymru has described the incident as “horrifying” and expressed concern at the age of those responsible.
“This poor chicken was subject to the most horrendous treatment – taken, beaten, stabbed and set alight,” said RSPCA inspector Keith Hogben.
“I shudder to think what the poor animal went through.
“The offences were horrifying, and it is always deeply worrying when young people commit such crimes. They will now be subject to our Breaking the Chain programme – which highlights the impact acts like this have on animals and their welfare standards.
“RSPCA Cymru wants to inspire a future generation of animal ambassadors – who share our compassion and empathy for our fellow living creatures. Hopefully, this prosecution sets a clear statement that behaviours like this are totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”
David Allen, head of education at RSPCA , said: “Clearly, these were disgusting offences and it is particularly worrying that young people are committing such acts. Fortunately, we know most young people will be horrified by what happened in Milford Haven.
“Our new Generation Kind scheme brings together a series of initiatives – including those in the classroom, support for teachers, programmes to support vulnerable looked-after and disadvantaged young people, and those targeted at youth offenders.
“It is hoped that Generation Kind will help create a generation of individuals who are kind, compassionate and caring towards animals.”
The youths pleaded guilty to an Animal Welfare Act offence, namely causing the chicken to suffer unnecessarily.
Sentencing: 12-month referral order, which includes the RSPCA intervention initiative mentioned above. The older youth was ordered to pay £380 in compensation, costs and charges and the younger one was ordered to pay courts and charges totalling £400. They were both banned from keeping any animal for a period of 12 months.
CONVICTED | Josh Sullivan, born 15 February 2001, and Levi Williams, born c. 2004, both of the notorious Gurnos Estate, Merthyr Tydfil – coaxed an elderly family cat named Sully out from under a car and watched as their dog mauled him to death.
Cat killers Josh Sullivan (left) and Levi Williams, both of Merthyr Tydfil, Wales
The disturbing attack, which showed Josh Sullivan and Levi Williams – well-known members of a local gang known as the Merthyr Bullies – parading Sully’s dead body around afterwards, was caught on CCTV on 9 May 2018.
The sick pair were sentenced after admitting to causing unnecessary suffering to the 13-year-old cat.
The dog involved in the case has also been subjected to a deprivation order and will be taken into RSPCA care until he’s ready for rehoming.
Sully’s owners became concerned after their pet had been missing from their home for a number of days.
They checked their CCTV camera for clues about Sully’s whereabouts and were shocked to witness his shocking ordeal at the hands of cruel teenagers Williams and Sullivan and the dog they had evidently trained to kill other animals.
In the footage Williams is seen hitting Sully with a stick to coax him out from underneath a car. As Sully runs out, Sullivan releases the dog he had been holding by the collar. The dog chases Sully, quickly catches him and mauls him to death.
Josh Sullivan’s dog is believed to be the one he and his cruel sidekick, Levi Williams, set on a helpless elderly cat
Sullivan picks up Sully’s limp body and parades it as he walks along the street. Finally he callously tosses the mutilated cat into the bushes.
RSPCA inspector Gemma Cooper said: “The shock and horror I felt when I first witnessed this CCTV footage has remained with me.
“This was a disturbing, harrowing and deeply sinister attack which would have caused immense suffering to poor Sully.
“It is frightening to think two children would set out to do something so deliberately cruel. It appears the dog had been trained to kill like this.
“We know most people across Merthyr and beyond will be disgusted by the treatment of an innocent, defenceless cat in this way.
“This was a premeditated attack, seemingly done for the boys’ fun and pleasure, for which the RSPCA had to seek justice.
“The actions of these individuals has left a family broken and without their beloved pet cat and family member of 13 years.”
The youths’ identities were not officially disclosed due to their ages, but the pair were quickly outed on social media
Sully’s owner – who wishes to remain anonymous – added: ‘We are absolutely heartbroken.
“Sully was so happy, and was a member of our family. His killing by these cruel people brings shame to Merthyr Tydfil. This was a heinous act.
“He was well-known and popular in the local area – always sitting on the path he’d get petted and fussed by people walking along the lane and regular dog walkers all knew him.
“He’d regularly sneak into a neighboring dental practice, and make friends with patients in the waiting room. Sully was a real character and was loved by all who met him. He was harmless and had never hurt anyone.
“We all miss him so, so much. It was so strange for Sully to be missing. He’d gone to follow family members to the local park and was out and about as usual – but didn’t come home that day.
“We started to get worried, so I checked our CCTV cameras – and saw these boys walking with a dog and that’s when it all happened.
“It was horrifying to watch. I was screaming at the screen for Sully to run for his life but the dog was just too fast for him.
“What I witnessed that day will never leave me – it was like watching one of my children being attacked.
“Sully was 13 years old and was one of our family members who spent every night curled up on our children’s beds and his senseless killing has affected them deeply.
“Telling my wife and children he was dead was so, so hard. I will never forget watching the offenders revel in what they did, and will never forgive them for what they have done to us.
“They threw poor Sully’s body into the bushes like a piece of junk; and I had to go and get the body, and get him cremated, to get some dignity for him.
“It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.”
Sentencing: 12-month referral order to the youth offending team, £300 costs. Disqualified from keeping any animal for 10 years (expires September 2028).
CONVICTED (2016) | Keane Mitchell Thorpe, Ethan Lewis, Mitch Smith and Seif Naili all of Riddings, near Alfreton, Derbyshire – mutilated the body of a pet cat named Leo supposedly after he had been killed by a dog
Twisted youths from Riddings near Alfreton filmed themselves mutilating the body of much loved family cat Leo
The four cowardly teenagers named above carried out and filmed a disgusting attack on the body of a much-loved family cat in Riddings Park.
Keane Mitchell Thorpe
The boys, who at the time were aged 15, 15, 16 and 17, ‘egged’ each other on as they smashed a rock on the head of the three-year-old cat, hit him with a stick, tied him up with rope before filming and boasting about it on Snapchat.
Mitch Smith
Leo’s badly mutilated body was found on a path by a dog walker at about 2.30pm on August 11, 2016, in the park with multiple injuries and rope tied around its waist.
Seif Naili
A post-mortem examination concluded that Leo was already dead before the attack after bite wounds believed to have been inflicted by a ‘large breed dog’ were found. He had suffered horrific injuries to his abdomen, back, head and chest.
Ethan Lewis
The youths all pleaded guilty to carrying out an act of outraging public decency by behaving in an indecent manner, namely beating a cat. They all appeared in court together with their parents.
The court heard the youths and their families had been subjected to threats after the sickening attack. Windows of their homes had been smashed and they’d been forced to fit panic alarms and live in hotels [gutted for them].
Sentence: The teens each received a 12-month youth referral order and were ordered to pay costs and compensation to the cat’s owner
#MostEvil | Owen Harper, Daniel Brown, Ryan Hollick and Jack Whiting, all born c. 1998, and living in the Thanet district of Kent – tortured a puppy, set him on fire and left him to die at a dump
Sick: These four youths tortured a puppy and left him for dead but only received a 5-year ban on keeping animals
In one of the most disturbing cases of abuse an RSPCA inspector has ever seen, a chihuahua cross named Chunky was stolen, set on fire and dumped at a rubbish tip with a broken neck and leg .
Harper, Brown, Hollick and Whiting all pleaded guilty to torturing the tiny puppy.
Investigations revealed the tiny puppy, who was less than a year old, had been stolen on February 23, 2015.
Chihuahua cross puppy suffered a nightmare ordeal at the hands of four sadistic youths
Three of the youths admitted kicking and punching the pup before breaking his leg and neck, setting him on fire, feeding him drugs and dumping him at a rubbish tip believing him to be dead.
He was not found until the following evening by a passer-by at the rubbish tip in Manston Road, Margate.
After a miraculous recovery Chunky was returned to his owner.
The teenagers pleaded guilty to cruelly ill-treating the animal in a way which they knew would cause him to suffer unnecessarily.
RSPCA inspector Caroline Doe said: “This was the most disturbing case I have ever dealt with – by an absolute mile.
“These youths admitted feeding him drugs, and kicking and punching him, and wringing and breaking his neck before dumping him.
“They also said they set fire to his face and eyes after lighting a deodorant aerosol can.
“The whole thing sends shivers down my spine.
“The defendants may have been young and confessed to being under the influence of drugs but the cruelty they inflicted on this poor dog was extreme, barbaric and inexcusable.
“Chunky was found with a broken leg and neck, and with burns all over his face and eyes.
“This was the most disturbing case I have ever dealt with – by an absolute mile” – RSPCA inspector Caroline Doe
“He must have suffered horrendously for hours as the senseless torture took place for the amusement of these boys.
“What was perhaps even worse was the fact Chunky suffered for days after he was dumped – literally left for dead on his own to wander next to a fast road.
“It is a miracle he survived. I will never forget how terrified and depressed he was when I first saw him.
Miracle dog: the plucky pup recovered from horrific injuries inflicted for kicks by the men
“The injuries were so severe that despite the fantastic veterinary care and medication he was on, the medication was unable to numb all of the pain, and he suffered for at least six days according to veterinary experts.
“Thankfully he has now been restored to health and returned to his loving owners, though I fear he will always be timid and nervous as a result of his ordeal, and imagine the owners will never quite be able to come to terms with what was senseless and needlessly inflicted on their beautiful family pet .”
Sentencing: 12-month referral order; costs. Disqualified from keeping all animals for five years (expired November 2020).
CONVICTED (2012) | badger baiting ring Alan ‘Bok’ Alexander, born 03/04/1979, of Bramham Grove, York YO26 5BH, Richard Lee Simpson, born 24/11/1974, of Bramham Grove, York YO26 5BH, Paul Ian Tindall, born 30/03/1978, of Boroughbridge Road, York YO26 6AL, William Edward Anderson, born 29/05/1985, formerly of Hillside Farm in Pickering but as of April 2020 residing at the Jam House, Alne Hills, Great Alne, Alcester, Stratford on Avon B49 6JT, Christopher ‘Tiffa’ Martin Holmes, born 04/03/1983, of Byland Avenue, York YO31 9AY and Malcolm David Warner, born 21/02/1983, of Tedder Road, York YO24 3JD
Scarborough Magistrates’ Court heard how the group of six men and a 17-year-old boy dug out two badgers and laughed as they set a pack of 13 dogs on them. The horrific incident took place on farmland at Howsham, near York, in January 2011.
An RSPCA inspector involved in the case said it was the worst incident of badger baiting he had ever seen.
Sobia Ahmed, prosecuting, told the court that two witnesses, including wildlife photographer Robert Fuller, heard the sound of dogs barking excitedly and a badger squealing in distress and went to investigate. When they reached the scene, they saw two large dogs attacking a badger.
Ms Ahmed said: ‘They had hold of it in their mouths and were shaking it violently. They said the dogs were playing tug of war with the badger.’
Mr Fuller recalled in court how the men ‘laughingly’ encouraged the beasts before they spotted him and fled the scene.
Wildlife photographer Robert Fuller managed to take this picture showing Alan Alexander snatching at a badger in the dog’s mouth
After some time, the badger was shot dead by Anderson and the men, who had become aware of the witnesses and tried to cover their tracks by throwing the dead badger into the undergrowth.
They then buried a second dead badger – a pregnant animal which had been torn to pieces by the dogs – back into the hole from which it had been dug.
Ms Ahmed said witnesses called the police and the men and teenager were arrested a short time later.
Police and RSPCA inspectors who visited the scene found animal intestines and badger foetuses scattered around and areas of congealed blood, believed to be from where the badger had been shot.
When they recovered the two badgers, one was found to have been shot at close range and had a fractured skull and jaw.
Badger baiting ring members Christopher Holmes (left) and Malcolm ‘Mally’ Warner were given suspended prison sentences
The other had part of its abdomen missing and injuries consistent with being attacked by a dog.
Mr Fuller later gave his pictures to the police and RSPCA and they were used to convict the gang.
When they investigated, the authorities established the men had killed three adult badgers and three unborn cubs.
Ms Ahmed said the pregnant badger suffered ‘a sustained attack by a number of dogs that had caused the badger to be torn to pieces and eventually it bled to death’ while the other had a ‘gunshot wound to the head immediately after a severe and sustained attack by a number of dogs’.
Ms Ahmed described the operation as a ‘sophisticated enterprise’ in which the men used equipment to track down the badgers.
Speaking after the sentencing, RSPCA Inspector Geoff Edmond said: “I was there on the day and was responsible for removing a pregnant badger which had been buried in a hole, which had been ripped to bits by dogs.
“That’s horrific, barbaric, and these badgers had been tortured by these dogs on that day.”
Alexander, Simpson, Tindall and Anderson were jailed for 16 weeks after being found guilty of wilfully killing a badger, hunting a mammal with dogs, digging for badgers and interfering with a badger sett.
Alexander and Simpson were also convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
All four men were each ordered to pay £750 costs and £100 compensation.
Alan Alexander
Holmes and Warner were handed 12-week custodial sentences suspended for 12 months after they pleaded guilty to wilfully killing a badger, digging for badgers and interfering with a badger sett. They were told to pay £250 costs and £100 compensation
The 17-year-old boy, who could not be named for legal reasons, was given a youth rehabilitation order.
An eighth person, James Doyle from Westfield Avenue, Knottingley, was acquitted.
#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.
