James Andrew pleaded guilty to animal welfare offenses after picking up a terrier named Boomer by the head and throwing him over a six-foot fence. The incident, which occurred on September 5, was captured on camera by neighbors who alerted the police and the RSPCA.
During the court proceedings, solicitor Kevin Withey, representing the RSPCA, stated that Andrew showed no interest in the dog's well-being after the act. Boomer was later found to have crust around his eyes, scabs on his ears, and was underweight. A subsequent inspection of the home revealed multiple animals sleeping in crates without bedding, and the garden was covered in waste.
Andrew initially claimed he handled the dog in a manner consistent with his experience in military police, but Withey countered that Boomer was a "tiny terrier" and not a military dog. The court heard that Boomer was thrown in a "callous manner," causing him pain and fear.
Andrew and his partner, Claire Yvonne Malik, 42, both admitted to an animal welfare offense. Andrew also admitted to a second charge of throwing an animal and not protecting it from harm. The couple, who have five children, had owned Boomer for three years, stating he was their daughter's dog and was fearful of men.
Boomer has since been rehomed and gained weight, increasing from two to three and a half kilograms in under a month. In mitigation, Vanessa Popple described the incident as "isolated," noting that the couple, who have no prior convictions, had since cleaned their home. She stated that Malik had not witnessed Andrew's actions until the video was played in court and was "appalled" by what she saw.
The couple, who do not work and are on benefits, no longer own animals. Malik was ordered to pay a £568 fine and was disqualified from keeping dogs for five years. Andrew was fined £680 and disqualified from keeping any animals for 10 years.