SICK AND TWISTED
Horrifying moment teen thugs set their dogs on other animals before sharing sick clips on TikTok
THIS is the horrifying moment teen thugs set their dogs on other animals before sharing the sick clips on TikTok.
Ryan Hancock, 18, and Marcus Leverett, 19, got their dogs to maul cats, rabbits, deer, badgers and others to death for their entertainment.
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The vicious pair also failed to get their dogs treatment when they suffered their own injuries in the attacks.
Police were called in March to their council estate in Burnley when they were seen encouraging a dog to savage a pet cat called Gatsby.
Gatsby’s owners rushed him to the vets but he died of his injuries en route.
When officers searched the boys’ homes in April, they found pictures and videos of the dogs being used to attack and hunt badgers, deer, rabbits and birds.
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Hancock’s lurcher-type dogs Ace and Cassie were seized along with Leverett’s cross-breed Storm.
They put the horrific clips on TikTok, writing in one that the dogs had “smashed up more than most bull round here”.
In another, which showed a picture of the dog having mauled a fox, they wrote: “first ginger”, with a winky face.
Prosecutors said the abuse was “off the scale”.
PC Matt Hartup said: “The glamorisation of this type of violence is barbaric and serves no purpose in the countryside; it promotes horrendous suffering and abuse of animals – including the lack of concern for the welfare of the dogs used for these crimes."
RSPCA SOU Officer Jason Bowles added: “Not only did the animals they attacked and killed suffer, but their own dogs also suffered from injuries in the confrontations and fights.
“If anyone notices dogs, such as terriers and lurchers, suffering recurring injuries like cuts and wounds around the face, then we’d ask them to contact the police or RSPCA to report their concerns.”
Both lads admitted animal cruelty offences at Blackburn Magistrates' Court this week.
Leverett was sentenced to 12 weeks custody, suspended for 18 months, concurrent on all charges. He was ordered to pay £1,000 in costs and was disqualified from keeping all animals for 10 years.
Hancock received 18 weeks in prison on 10 of the 11 offences - to run concurrently - as well as being disqualified from keeping all animals for 10 years.
A third teen, who cannot be named due to his age, got a 12-month referral order at Blackburn youth court.
He was disqualified from keeping animals for 10 years and his family was ordered to pay £500 costs plus a £22 victim surcharge.
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