A MAN who stabbed a dog to death in Droitwich before leaving his body to rot for several days has been banned from keeping animals for life but has been spared jail.
Wayne Bishop, 29, who now lives in Weston-Super-Mare, admitted killing his mastiff cross General at the address in Stalls Farm Road when he appeared before Worcester magistrates.
General was found in Bishop’s home by police officers who had gained entry after concerns were raised by neighbours about the stench coming from the property. Officers contacted the RSPCA after finding the dog’s body with a stab wound to his chest.
During an interview with an RSPCA inspector, Bishop admitted that he attacked his dog but claimed he had done so after the dog attacked him.
He initially denied the charge of causing unnecessary suffering under Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 at an earlier court hearing but changed his plea at the beginning of his trial, admitting he had killed his dog in a moment of cruelty.
Then, on June 9 at Worcester Magistrates’ Court, Bishop was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, and given the lifetime disqualification order on all animals. He was also ordered to carry out 250 hours community service and ordered to pay £865 in court costs.
RSPCA inspector Rachel Hayward, who investigated the case, said: “General’s death was an absolutely horrific case of animal cruelty at its worst.
“It’s horrendous to think that he was stabbed to death in such a brutal attack.
“There is simply no excuse for such extreme cruelty.
“Bishop had no injuries so we disputed his claims he had been attacked by General.
“He later admitted he stabbed the dog in anger and said at the time General wasn’t attacking him as he had first claimed.”
