September 2023

Man who burned puppy with cigarette found guilty of animal cruelty

A man who burned a puppys genitals with a cigarette and caused its eyeball to prolapse, resulting in the dog’s death six days after buying him from a breeder, has been found guilty of animal cruelty by a jury.

Dudley Payne, 29, of Penwortham, Preston was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to the puppy after a four-day trial at Preston Crown Court.

The puppy called ‘Rocko’ sustained further injuries including a ruptured liver, head trauma, a partial hip fracture and abrasions consistent with being scratched by fingernails. Rocko also had cigarette burns to his groin area and injuries to his abdomen, and lacerations to his liver and had inhaled the contents of his stomach.

Following the verdict, he was remanded in custody, with the judge describing the case which led to the puppy being “tortured to death” as “extremely troubling”.

During the trial, the jury heard that the RSPCA was contacted by a vet after the puppy – an 11-week-old American bully breed named Rocko – was taken in dead on arrival on February 2 last year.

A postmortem examination showed a number of non-accidental injuries including cigarette burns, head trauma and an eyeball prolapsed from the socket.

Rocko had been seen at the vet three days before for his vaccinations and was reported to be bright, alert and responsive.

In a statement read in court, RSPCA inspector Emma Dingley said: “The vet received the postmortem results back and immediately contacted the RSPCA. He told me on the phone it was the worst postmortem examination report he had ever read.”

Inspector Dingley contacted Payne, who confirmed he had owned Rocko for six days and bought him from a breeder. When interviewed by inspector Dingley, Payne answered no comment to all questions.

A vet who gave evidence in court said Rocko’s injuries suggested “intentional harm”.

The puppy had a ruptured liver, head trauma, a partial hip fracture and abrasions consistent with being scratched by fingernails.

Rocko also had cigarette burns to his groin area and injuries to his abdomen, and lacerations to his liver and had inhaled the contents of his stomach.

Payne, of Braintree Avenue, Penwortham, Preston, will be sentenced on October 20