A man from Leicester has been disqualified from keeping all animals for life and sentenced to ten months imprisonment after brutally beating his dog.
Vernon Scot West of Tarbat Road was sentenced at Leicester Crown Court on Wednesday, 18 December following an investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA.
West pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing (20.11.24) at Leicester Magistrates Court to four Animal Welfare Act offences – including inflicting blunt force trauma on Star causing a fractured skull.
Magistrates at Leicester Magistrates Court felt West’s offending was so serious that they committed the matter up to the Crown Court for sentencing where sentencing powers are stronger.
The Judge remarked: “The way you treated that dog is absolutely appalling … When she was taken away from you, she weighed 17.9kg (39.5lb), she was extremely thin, her ribs and bones were showing.
“Within a very short time her weight was over 23kg (50.7lb).”
The Judge added: “She had been seriously injured and expert evidence is that she has been injured by blunt force trauma … she had a fracture to her skull and a fracture to her zygomatic arch … it was not just a question of not feeding or starving that dog, it was physically assaulting the dog.”
The Judge also commented that the UK Government’s Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act, passed by Parliament in 2021, intended that there needs to be severe punishment for animal cruelty and that culpability in this case was high – it was a long period of starving a young dog and use of very significant force.
Leicester Police initially received a call from a witness advising he had purchased Star from West and taken her to Leicester PDSA Pet Hospital. The brown/brindle coloured crossbreed dog was found to be in very poor body condition, had swelling to her head and overgrown nails.
Excessive claw growth can occur due to lack of exercise on firm surfaces or mobility issues meaning that dogs’ claws do not get worn down. Star exhibited no signs of mobility issues.
Star was severely underweight and tests by Leicester PDSA found wounds on her head and confirmed blood cells were present in the fluid from the swelling to her head.
Blood test results indicated she was also mildly dehydrated. Star received intravenous fluids by PDSA for two days along with pain relief and anti-inflammatory medicine. She was given routine flea and worm treatment and quickly gained weight after being placed on a feeding plan and receiving routine flea and worming treatment.
Police later requested the RSPCA lead the investigation and happily Star is enjoying her new life with her rescuer.
Following the sentencing hearing, Chief Inspector Sarah Bate said: “Owning an animal is a privilege – pet-owners have a legal responsibility to ensure their animals do not suffer. It’s completely unacceptable to treat any animal in this way and we will always look into reports of animal cruelty and, where necessary, seek justice for that animal.”
