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22
Apr
Network Rail employee cleared of dog shovel attack accusation on Harrogate train line
Criminal proceedings brought against a man who was accused of striking a dog over the head with a shovel on the Harrogate rail line have been dropped.
Chris Williams, of Rigton Hill in North Rigton, was charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, namely a dog, by hitting it over the head with a shovel at Wescoe Tunnel, near Weeton Station, on July 14, 2024.
The 38-year-old, who works for Network Rail, denied the offence at Leeds Magistrates Court on March 17.
The case was adjourned for trial at Leeds Crown Court, but the charge has since been dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
The Stray Ferret asked the CPS for more information, having followed the case closely since last summer.
A spokesperson said today:
We have a duty to keep all cases under continuous review and after looking at all of the available evidence, we determined there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.
The rail worker tried to end the pain of a dog which had suffered fatal injuries on a train track – and was not trying to cause further suffering.
We take cases of animal cruelty extremely seriously and will not hesitate to bring offenders to justice where possible.
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