Man handed community order for cruelty

An Aylesbury man has been sentenced by the courts after he admitted causing unnecessary mental and physical suffering to five dogs (WARNING - this report contains detals that some people may find distressing).

Evan Carr (DOB 14/05/1988) now of Adkins Close had admitted five counts of animal cruelty related to hitting and kicking five dogs. He was sentenced at High Wycombe Magistrates' Court on August 20.

Carr was given a 12-month Community Order with 22 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days; as well as an alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement for 120 days, and was ordered to pay £400 costs and a victim surcharge of £114.

He was disqualified from keeping all animals for three years. 

The court heard the RSPCA was provided with a number of videos which showed the defendant harming the dogs on different occasions.

In the videos the defendant was seen harming each of the dogs either through kicking, hitting, punching or stamping.

Two of the dogs were no longer kept by Carr but three were still in his possession.

RSPCA Inspector Lauren Bailey reviewed the footage and showed it to a vet who confirmed the dogs had suffered. The officer requested police assistance in order to seize the remaining three dogs from Carr.

In January this year, Police attended the address where Carr was staying and removed Nala, Blue and Marley who were all taken into their possession and placed in RSPCA care.

The court heard the footage had shown repeated incidents of cruelty, use of significant force and a deliberate disregard for the welfare of the animal and there would have been a substantial level of pain and suffering caused. 

A vet who examined the video footage and three of the dogs, said in their report: "All five animals were suffering when they were living with the suspect seen in the video.

"They would have experienced pain when they were being kicked, punched, hit and stamped on and would have had mental suffering at times in between with fear of the physical abuse events and not knowing when they will next occur.

"The videos provided covered a period of five days where physical suffering would have been occurring from 5th-10th December 2024.

"The fear of suffering would have continued for these dogs while in the presence of the man until they were no longer living with him."

Speaking after the case Inspector Bailey said: "It was incredibly disturbing watching the videos and I was deeply concerned for the welfare of the dogs Marley, Nala and Blue who were at that time still in the defendant's care.

"I am just pleased we were able to get these dogs to safety. Most have already been rehomed - with Marley due to be available for rehoming soon. Zena and Phantom were rehomed prior to the RSPCA investigation. 

"All dogs were just the sweetest and I am so pleased that after all they have been through they will all have loving families of their own."

In mitigation the defendant said he no longer drinks or takes drugs and expressed remorse for his actions.