Man cut dog's throat and buried him in Broadway garden

David Betley, 58 of Mill Avenue, Broadway, was sentenced to eight months in prison at Worcester Magistrates’ Court on (Friday, October 11) after admitting to causing 'unnecessary suffering' to his 17-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier, Pincher.

*WARNING- there are graphic images in this article*

He admitted he failed to get veterinary treatment for Pincher, who was suffering from weight loss and osteoarthritis.

He also admitted to killing him by cutting his throat with a knife.

He was sentenced to four months for each count to run consecutively. 

Betley was also disqualified from keeping all animals for life and was ordered to pay costs of £350 and a victim surcharge of £187.

The RSPCA was contacted on February 21 to reports of a dog being attacked in Mill Avenue, Broadway.

Animal Rescue Officer Freya Lamb responded to the call and called police for assistance. 
 

FOUND- Pincher was found buried in the garden. (Image: RSPCA)
In her witness statement, she said: “The police informed me the dog had been buried in the rhubarb patch in the garden… two police officers dug up the body of a deceased tan male Staffordshire bull terrier.
 
“The body was still flacid and had a large jagged wound to the front of the neck which was still wet with blood. 

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"The dog also appeared to be in poor body condition with his hip and rib bones protruding.
 
“There was also an area on the grass next to the gravesite that was wet with blood.”

Animal Rescue Officer Lamb asked Insp Nicola Johnson to take on the case, and she met with police at the station to interview Betley. 

The RSPCA find Pincher (Image: RSPCA) Nearby residents captured Betley cutting Pincher’s throat on video and reported the incident to the RSPCA. 

A vet who viewed the footage said, in her witness statement, that Betley could be seen ‘restraining’ Pincher and using ‘what appeared to be a knife to sever the dog’s throat’. 
 
Magistrates asked that the video not be played in court. 
 
The vet who assessed Pincher's body said he was incredibly underweight and revealed his windpipe had been completely cut.

Betley was unrepresented in court but, in mitigation, magistrates were told he was sorry for what he’d done - but that he reacted after being frightened by Pincher’s behaviour after ‘snarling’ at him.

He told magistrates Pincher was his friend and he knew what he’d done was wrong. 

Speaking outside court, RSPCA Insp Johnson said: “I can only imagine Pincher’s suffering both mentally and physically whilst this unnecessary and shocking act was taking place. 

"Any act that causes unnecessary pain or suffering to any kind of animal is totally unacceptable."