These are some of the most shocking animal abuse cases from across Merseyside in recent years.
From pets who were starved to death to innocent dogs who were battered by their owners- each of the cases left ECHO readers angered and upset. Two of the offenders brought to justice by the RSPCA and police were a man and woman who punched, kicked and stamped on a dog before stuffing it into a suitcase and throwing it away.
One of the most upsetting neglect cases was a couple from Wirral who left their dog to starve to death in an empty flat in Birkenhead.
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Here are the faces of 12 sick animal abusers from Merseyside who have been sentenced for their cruelty.
Chantelle Duvall-Gregory and Christy Carl-Hewitt
Liverpool Magistrates Court heard Chantelle Duvall-Gregory, 20, and Christy Carl-Hewitt, 21, had punched, kicked and stamped on two year old Belgian Shepherd Snoop, who was found dead inside a bright pink locked suitcase by a dog walker near the Speke and Garston Nature Reserve on January 11, 2022. Pete Mitchell, prosecuting, said Snoop had “extensive bruising and fractures to the ribs”, two fractured canines, and it was clear the injuries sustained were “non-accidental”. The rib fractures were determined to be 6/8 weeks old as they had begun to heal.
Snoop was also punched to the face, causing damage to his canine teeth, but it was not possible to determine exactly which of the pair caused which injury. A youth witness previously stated she saw Duvall-Gregory, who is now a mother, once hit Snoop so hard with a wooden spoon it broke.
The court heard it was determined Snoop had died of hemorrhagic gastroenteritis after eating a granola bar with raisins given to it by Duvall-Gregory. The torrent of abuse took place between April 1 and December 22, 2021 at the couple's former home on Winfield Road, Garston.
The suitcase was linked to Duvall-Gregory after her name was found on it. Duvall-Gregory, of no fixed address, and Carl-Hewitt, 21, of Parkfield Road, Aigburth, both pleaded guilty to four counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal on November 28, 2022.
The pair pleaded guilty to inflicting blunt force trauma, physical violence and abusive behaviour on the Belgian Shepherd, to failing to provide an adequate diet, and to failing to take him to a vet when necessary. They also pleaded guilty to one count of breaching their duties as people responsible for ensuring the welfare of an animal.
Judge Hatton sentenced Duvall-Gregory to 22 weeks imprisonment suspended for 18 months, ordered her to pay a £128 victim surcharge and £450 prosecution costs. Carl-Hewitt was sentenced to 22 weeks imprisonment and was immediately remanded into custody. Both were handed a ten year disqualification from owning an animal, and cannot apply to appeal this for five years.
Calum Turner
Calum Turner, 25, of Antonio Street, Bootle was sentenced on Thursday, October 21 last year at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a dog called Mochi after kicking and beating him. The shocking two-minute CCTV video shows Turner wrestling and kicking out at something that is moving around on the ground, but is obscured by the angle of the camera.
Turner then removes a handle from a push toy and uses this to strike down multiple times before stamping down and kicking in the same direction. The 25-year-old then stands up and as he does a Staffordshire Bull Terrier dog, Mochi, emerges from the area and runs across the garden.
The two dogs, five-year-old Mochi and 12-week-old Mitzee were then taken to a vet to be assessed where they were found to be bright and alert and without injuries. However, the court heard how the vet report stated that Mochi had been caused to suffer.
Turner was sentenced to a 12-month community order and ordered to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £500 costs and a victim surcharge of £95.
Leanne and Jonathan Brookshaw
Married couple Leanne and Jonathan Brookshaw owned a bulldog, named Coco, who was found dead at an empty flat by a police officer. The RSPCA was called to the flat at Dorset Gardens, Birkenhead, and found the property covered in faeces and flies, along with the decomposing body of the 4.6kg puppy.
Liverpool Magistrates Court heard the newly married couple moved out of Dorset Gardens to their current property in Bebington Road, Birkenhead, last year, but did not bring the eight month old puppy as they claimed it would be attacked by their other dog, Molly. Leanne Brookshaw said she had visited Dorset Gardens since moving, and saw water and biscuits but agreed the “place was a s***hole”.
A court heard that the mum of three said she thought her brother, Kyle Stephen Moore was caring for Coco, but agreed last time she checked on the animal, she was skinnier and had lost weight. She described the animal as having access to water but no food, and acting lethargic and weaker than usual.
The RSPCA confirmed that Coco had been suffering from hunger and starvation for a period of several months prior to her death.
Jonathan Brookshaw, 36, Leanne Brookshaw, 32, and Kyle Moore, 19, of Oldfield Road, Ellesmere Port, all pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, and to not taking steps to ensure its welfare needs were met.
Leanne Brookshaw and Jonathan Brookshaw were sentenced to 18 weeks imprisonment each, suspended for 12 months. They were ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work each, and rehabilitation activity days. Both were told to pay £500 in prosecution costs, plus a victim surcharge of £128, and were disqualified from owning an animal for five years.
Moore was charged and pleaded guilty to the same charges, but will not be sentenced until March 2023 at Wirral Magistrates Court.
Joseph Alan Smith
joseph Alan Smith, 37, told the RSPCA his Staffordshire bull terrier Tia had been put to sleep weeks before she was found starved to death in a flat on Stanley Road in Kirkdale. The body of the canine, who was around 13 years old, was found covered in maggots and faeces by the landlord of the property, who contacted the RSPCA.
The RSPCA had visited Smith's flat months before the dog died and told him to take her to a vet because she was underweight. But the animal charity were unable to get hold of Smith on follow up visits, until he eventually lied to an officer over the phone and said Tia had been put to sleep.
Smith, of Onslow Road, Fairfield, appeared at Liverpool Magistrates' Court on February 16 2023, having pleaded guilty to failing to provide for Tia’s needs and causing unnecessary suffering by not addressing the cause of her weight loss.
RSPCA inspector Lisa Lupson told the court she went to Smith’s flat on April 6 last year after his landlord discovered the dead dog. The body of the brown and white Staffordshire bull terrier was lying on a sofa in the lounge of the unkempt flat, where empty boxes of dog food were found in the kitchen as well as empty water and feeding bowls.
A post-mortem showed that Tia was not suffering from any disease and that her cause of death was likely to be starvation, while there were also a number of plastic pieces of food packaging in her stomach. Smith was jailed for 16 weeks on February 16 and banned from keeping animals for life. He will also have to pay £500 costs and a victim surcharge of £128.
Jade Roberts
Jade Roberts, 26, appeared in court and pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a Staffordshire Bull Terrier called Daisy. The RSPCA began investigating after receiving a call with a concern for the dog's welfare in August 2021.
When Inspector Leanne Cragg attended a home on Botanic Place, Liverpool, she found the dog was already dead. Daisy had last been alive on July 31, 2021, when Roberts went on holiday for 14 days.
Roberts was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days, mental health treatment requirement for six months and a victim surcharge of £128 at Northampton Magistrates' Court on Thursday, April 21. She was also banned from keeping all animals for 10 years and ordered to pay £500 in costs.
She had previously pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering by leaving Daisy unattended without sufficient food and water resulting in her death. In mitigation, Roberts claimed she was unaware Daisy was not being cared for as she had arranged for an undisclosed friend to look after Daisy whilst she was away and expressed genuine remorse for Daisy’s death. Roberts was also dealing with personal issues at the time.
Callum Ruane
Callum Ruane, 21, was seen on multiple occasions punching, kicking and throwing the American Bully dog, called Dice, at his then home in Savannah Place, Great Sankey, Warrington. Disturbing and upsetting mobile phone footage was captured by horrified neighbour Susie Perry who passed it on to the RSPCA.
Liverpool Crown Court heard when inspectors interviewed Ruane at his mum's home, he became tearful and told them he attacked Dice because he had "just completed a cycle of steroids and his head was f*****"."
Ruane, now of Bewsey Road, in Bewsey, Warrington, admitted a charge of cruelty to a protected animal but initially claimed he had only abused Dice on one occasion. The RSPCA rejected his basis of plea and he later admitted the full facts of the prosecution case. He was also charged with cruelty to another dog, Kilo, which he denied, but the prosecution allowed that charge to lie on the file in light of his guilty pleas.
Ruane, now of Bewsey Road, in Bewsey, Warrington, admitted a charge of cruelty to a protected animal but initially claimed he had only abused Dice on one occasion. The RSPCA rejected his basis of plea and he later admitted the full facts of the prosecution case. He was also charged with cruelty to another dog, Kilo, which he denied, but the prosecution allowed that charge to lie on the file in light of his guilty pleas.
Esha Proudlove and Craig Shingler
Esha Proudlove took Maya, a brindle cross breed, to vets on multiple occasions after she suffered injuries including broken ribs, 'severe head trauma' and a swollen thorax. The 20-year-old claimed the puppy had tried to squeeze out of her crate and fallen from the sofa in efforts to cover up the abuse.
Her boyfriend Craig Shingler, 24, also failed to tell vets what had really happened. But neighbours overheard the attacks happening and an RSPCA investigation revealed the extent of the abuse.
Shingler, of Conway Court, Ellesmere Port, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal between October 15, 2020 and November 13, 2020. He also admitted not taking reasonable steps to ensure the needs for an animal in relation to a second dog, Milo, between April 9 and April 13, 2020.
Proudlove, also of Conway Court, admitted two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal between October 15 and November 13, 2020, in relation to Maya and not taking reasonable steps to ensure the needs for an animal in relation to Milo before October 15. They were both banned from keeping pets for 10 years.
Proudlove was handed 12 weeks suspended for one year and ordered to complete 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirements and an eight week curfew to run from 7pm to 7am. Shingler was handed 10 weeks suspended for one year and must complete 10 Rehabilitation Activity Requirements and 150 hours of unpaid work.
Both were ordered to pay £250 in costs and a victim surcharge of £128. They were both sentenced in August 2021.
Leon Robinson
Leon Robinson was filmed going to his ex's mum's house and shouting before walking inside, picking up the dog and throwing it to the floor with force. The 18-year-old breached a non molestation order when he went to the home with an offensive weapon, and was jailed for 22 weeks as a result.
Robinson, of Bell Lane, Sutton Manor, St Helens, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal in a separate court hearing. He was handed a 12 month community order in August 2021 and ordered to pay £200 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.
Robinson was also ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work and banned from keeping animals for 10 years.
James Haydon
James Haydon sold the two Cane Corso dogs for a total of £1,800, but after collecting them their new owners realised they were sick. One puppy was severely underweight, weighing just 1.9 kilograms when it should have weighed between eight and nine kilograms.
The RSPCA later attended the now 22-year-old's home, in Netherton, where officers found 11 dogs and puppies kept in crates where they didn't have access to fresh water. One dog was kept in a crate so small it was unable to even turn around and others were walking in faeces.
Haydon, now of Island Road, Reading, admitted two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal on September 26, 2019, one count of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal between February 1 and February 5, 2020, and two counts of failing to ensure the needs of the animals were met between August 15 and September 26 2019 and on February 5, 2020, respectively.
He was handed a 12 week sentence suspended for one year and was ordered to complete 30 Rehabilitation Activity Requirements and a Thinking Skills Programme in August 2021.
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