A blood-covered metal vegetable steamer and an axe were found at a home in Harrogate where a dog was beaten and left with wounds, a dislocated hip and multiple bruises.
A father and son from Harrogate received suspended jail sentences and were disqualified from keeping animals for 10 years after being prosecuted by the RSPCA charity for animal cruelty.
Russell Marriner, 56, and William Thomas Marriner, 20, both of St Patrick’s Way, Harrogate, were jailed for 18 weeks, suspended for 18 months. They appeared at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Friday for sentencing.
They had been bailed to attend after they were found guilty in their absence when they failed to turn up at a previous hearing.
The two men faced two animal welfare offences, including inflicting injuries on their dog Ted, a terrier cross type, and failing to ensure he received appropriate veterinary care for his injuries contrary to section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
The RSPCA received a call about a dog being beaten. RSPCA Inspector Nikki Cheetham, who led the investigation for the animal welfare charity, attended with police.
The court heard how they knocked loudly on the door of the house but apart from a single bark there was no response.
They could see a small white terrier type dog huddled behind the door and red patches on the laminate flooring, which looked like blood.
Insp Cheetham said:
“Police finally managed to rouse a man who eventually opened the door and it became immediately apparent that the small dog, called Ted, was severely injured. He was covered in dried blood and he had a significant wound to the top of his head.
“Both the men claimed Ted had attacked them but neither of them were able to show any injuries.”
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The officers found further blood stains throughout the living room including on a blood-covered metal vegetable steamer, on an axe and blood smeared on a cardboard box.
Cowering in his kennel
These items were seized as evidence and Ted was signed over into the RSPCA’s care.
Insp Cheetham said:
“Ted was not able to weight bear on his right hind leg so I picked him up and carried him to my van. When we arrived at the vets I found Ted cowering at the back of the kennel. It took me several minutes to gain his trust.”
During the examination Ted was nervous but not aggressive, despite being in pain and he laid down with his head on the examination table.
Vets found Ted had bruising to his upper lip, a fractured tooth and a wound affecting his gums as well as bruising to his tongue, left eye and pinnae of both ears.
After clipping his fur the vet found small, circular wounds consistent with the pattern of holes on the metal vegetable steamer. Radiographs also revealed Ted had a dislocated hip.
The veterinary report said:
“The injuries sustained are, in my opinion, consistent with assault and severe blunt force trauma.
“It takes a very significant amount of force to dislocate the hip and this is an extremely painful injury that can in some cases require hip surgery and can cause long term complications.
“In addition to physical pain, Ted was suffering from fear. He was nervous around humans and it took my colleagues and I time and care to build trust with him. The injuries sustained were severe, painful and caused a great deal of suffering.”
Re-homed in York
Over the following days Ted was rested to maximise the chance of his hip staying in place and prevent the need for hip surgery. He needed a high level of pain relief before being discharged into the RSPCA’s care to continue his recovery.
Mitigation was given in court that due to their health issues and the fact that neither defendant had any previous convictions a custodial sentence would not be appropriate.
In addition to the decade-long disqualification and suspended prison sentences they were both ordered to attend a six-month alcohol treatment programme.
Russell Marriner was further sentenced to carry out a 40-day rehabilitation activity requirement and William Marriner a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement. Both men were ordered to pay £700 costs and a victim surcharge of £122.
Ted has since been found a new home through the RSPCA’s York Animal Centre.
