Sponsored by
Dog cruelty couple win appeal against jail sentence
VICTORY ... Kim Cairns and David Richardson succesfully appealed a four-month prison sentence for failing to look after their dog.
A CRUEL couple whose dog was put down because they didn’t get its hair cut for five years, yesterday won an appeal against a jail sentence.
Kim Cairns and David Richardson were sentenced to 16 weeks in prison at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court in January, after pleading guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to their springer spaniel, Jerry, and failing to look after the welfare of their other two pets, a Jack Russell and a cockatiel.
But their solicitor, Christopher Brown, appealed against the sentence, and the couple were released on bail pending an appeal at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday in front of Mr Recorder Kelbrick.
Cairns, 30, and Richardson, 38, appeared yesterday when their prison sentences were both suspended for 12-months with a 12-month supervision order.
The couple were also ordered to pay £282 each in court costs.
Speaking after the appeal was upheld, RSPCA inspector Helen Bestwick said: “This was an extremely serious case which led to one dog being put down.
“I accept that the couple have some problems, but they chose not to get any help. The sentence was a tough one, but it reflected the seriousness of the harm done.”
He added: “I hope they now realise that they are responsible for looking after any pets, and anyone who doesn’t will be prosecuted accordingly.”
The court heard the couple of Oxford Avenue, South Shields, let their pets live in a filthy house, full of old food, rubbish and dog dirt.
Jerry’s hair was so long it had formed into dreadlocks, making it difficult for him to walk.
RSPCA investigators also found the couple’s Jack Russell, Tilly, eating out of a basket with empty drink bottles and food bowls inside, while their cockatiel’s cage was filled with mouldy faeces. Because of the prolonged suffering they caused the springer spaniel, magistrates decided to jail them.
RSPCA inspectors first went to Cairns and Richardson’s house in August 2010 after an anonymous tip-off about the state of their pets.
Over the next year, the RSPCA tried to speak to Cairns and Richardson a number of times but the couple did not answer their door.
Eventually, with support from the police, the RSPCA got inside the house.
When they were arrested, the couple said they were too ashamed to take Jerry to get his hair cut.
The couple said they knew they should have taken the dog to be groomed but were ashamed of his condition.
Twitter: @ShieldsGazCrime
Email to a friend
Print this page- Transfer Rumours May 22: Newcastle United, Sunderland, Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Barcelona, Wigan, QPR, West Ham and Blackpool
- Transfer Rumours May 12: Sunderland, Newcastle, Chelsea, West Ham, Liverpool, Blackpool, Reading, Tottenham, West Brom
- Newcastle United weigh up bids for defensive duo
- Transfer Rumours update May 22: Sunderland, Newcastle United, Liverpool, West Ham United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham and QPR.
- Transfer Rumours May 12: Sunderland, Newcastle, Chelsea, West Ham, Liverpool, Blackpool, Reading
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Jarrow
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North east
