Prison sentence for man and an animal ban for life
12.03.25
A man has been sent to prison for 12 months and handed a lifetime ban on keeping all animals for physically abusing his dog - leaving her with many broken bones - and failing to get her vet treatment.
He had pleaded guilty to six animal welfare offences in total: two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog called Mulla by inflicting physical abuse resulting in injury, failing to provide veterinary treatment for the dog's injuries, two counts of failing to protect the dog from injury pain and suffering and failing to meet the dog's welfare needs by one or a combination of failing to provide adequate nutrition for the dog's needs and failing to investigate and address the cause of the animal's poor body condition and weight loss.
He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, disqualified from keeping all animals for life, and ordered to pay a £154 victim surcharge.
Mulla was rescued by a lettings agent on January 9 last year after she had found her locked away inside the bathroom of Lukeman's flat, removed her and took her to a vet for urgent treatment.
She had open fresh cuts on her head and what appeared to be blood dripping from her mouth. Her teats were hanging down and her tail was bent. Her eyes were gunky and red and she struggled to open one - she was also very thin with her ribs visible.
When she was examined by a vet she was found to have a number of injuries consistent with blunt force trauma. Evidence showed she had a severely swollen face, especially on the right side with blood stained saliva dripping from her mouth.
She was then taken to the RSPCA Finsbury Park Animal Hospital for further treatment and x-rays revealed she had several fractured teeth, a fractured skull and fracture of both cheek bones. The skull and cheek bone fractures were found to be recent injuries.
In addition to the recent injuries found around her face and head, a number of other skeletal injuries were noted including: fracture of ribs 8 and 10 on the right side, dislocation of the 8th and 9th tail vertebrae. The skin injuries were biopsied and were found to be consistent with skin damage associated with trauma.
Sadly despite numerous treatments her injured eye could not be saved and it was removed at a later date.
An expert vet who examined all the evidence including the clinical notes said in their report; "It may therefore be concluded that 'Mulla' had sustained repetitive traumatic episodes that had resulted in several skin injuries, fractured teeth, an injury to the right eye and many skeletal fractures and dislocation of her tail.
"The injuries discovered on 9/1/24 were as a result of blunt force trauma to the head and face having occurred on 9/1/24 or very recent to this date (possibly 8/1/24), especially when taking into account Mulla's fresh bleeding, facial swelling and blood found within the bathroom of the flat."
Speaking after the case Inspector Emma Beynon said: "The sheer amount of severe injuries that Mulla sustained are shocking - and the areas of her body affected were from her head to her tail.
"We will never know the full extent of what she had to go through and there was evidence of historic injuries on her body which showed it happened on more than one occasion - her injuries tell a heartbreaking story of a dog who was repeatedly treated in a horrendous way which would have caused her so much pain and suffering.
"We're so very grateful to everyone who was involved in her rescue and aftercare - especially to the lady who managed to persuade Lukeman to hand over Mulla to her.
"Her actions were commended by the judge because if not things could have been much worse.
"She has continued to help Mulla who was rehomed and is now living a wonderful new life with her new owners and is showered with love and attention - she has been renamed Hope.
"I would also like to thank the Finsbury Park Animal Hospital team who have done an incredible job nursing Hope back to full health and my colleague Rebecca Yarrow who went above and beyond in this investigation.
"There were so many people involved in Hope's rescue and we want to thank them all including the police and we're grateful that justice has been served for this wonderful dog.
"This will be a case that haunts me and my colleagues for a very long time - I cannot comprehend how someone could inflict such suffering on such a defenceless animal.
"I hope the sentence sends out a strong message that animal abuse will not be tolerated in our society and if prosecuted, those will face severe punishment."
