Luna had been abused a number of occasions beginning when she was only a 10-week-old puppy, the RSPCA stated
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A person who was caught on a doorbell digicam dragging his XL bully-type canine alongside whereas using an electrical scooter has been jailed, for repeatedly assaulting her from the time she was a puppy.
Lucas Slim-Fitzpatrick has been sentenced to 19 months imprisonment on the Bristol Crown Court, after he was convicted of inflicting severe accidents to his 10-month old canine, referred to as Luna, and has been banned from protecting pets for 20 years. The 27-year-old, from Weston-super-Mare in Somerset, earlier pleaded responsible to a few offences below the Animal Welfare Act, for assaulting and neglecting the canine between June and December 2022.
At the sentencing, a decide stated Slim-Fitzpatrick had proven little regret for his actions. “This was prolonged, lengthy violence towards an animal in your care who should have been protected by you rather than becoming your punchbag.”
A vet who examined Luna stated she had suffered blunt power trauma accidents in no less than three separate incidents. Ring Doorbell footage, which captured Slim-Fitzpatrick on his electrical scooter instantly earlier than one of many assaults, helped the RSPCA to launch the prosecution.
The footage confirmed the defendant using his e-scooter alongside a service street within the Mutley district of Plymouth, whereas holding Luna’s lead as she tried to observe alongside, on 30 November final yr. A witness who contacted the police stated he heard an animal in misery behind Slim-Fitzpatrick’s former tackle in Greenbank Road in Plymouth minutes later.
The court docket was instructed the witness noticed the defendant “staggering around” on the scooter, speaking aggressively to the canine earlier than selecting her up with each fingers and throwing her six ft within the path of a wall. Slim-Fitzpatrick was later arrested and Luna, who was discovered limping and unable to bear weight on one in all her again legs, was taken to a vet, the place an examination discovered her left hip and pelvis have been damaged. She had suffered fractures to her jaw and cheek bone in addition to her ankles, and likewise had three damaged ribs, three damaged enamel and a badly bloodshot eye.
When he was interviewed by police in December 2022, the defendant claimed Luna’s accidents have been brought on by being struck by a automotive, kicked by a horse, and attacked by a Jack Russell canine. But RSPCA prosecutor Gregory Gordon instructed the court docket: “Expert veterinary evidence disproved the defendant’s various claims of accidental injury to Luna. For example, if she had been struck by a vehicle, there would have been evidence of skin abrasions or lacerations, and grit or oil in her hair.
“Radiographs indicated Luna’s different fractures were at different stages of healing, meaning that the injuries occurred on different dates,” he continued. “It has not been possible to identify the number of separate incidents from the injuries alone, but records indicate that injuries were sustained by Luna on at least three separate occasions, including June 29 and August 2 last year.”
While Slim-Fitzpatrick had been involved with vets on each of the sooner events, he declined suggestions for Luna to endure surgical procedure in June – citing prices. After failing to attend follow-up appointments, the canine was finally signed over to the RSPCA in July. Speaking after the sentencing, RSPCA inspector Miranda Albison instructed SWNS: “The assaults carried out by this defendant on this poor dog started when she was a 10-week old puppy and continued until she was 10 months old. It was absolutely horrific as she was repeatedly beaten and suffered many fractures.
“Luna had surgery on her femoral head and that saved her back leg as the other option was amputation. Happily she is now doing very well and we have been able to rehome her,” she continued. “Without being provided with the Ring Doorbell footage by a member of the public we wouldn’t have been able to prosecute the defendant, as he denied being in that area of Plymouth at the time of the assault allegation.”
