West Yorkshire woman given sentence and life animal ban over horrific dog abuse

Sasha the Staffy was found with both hips dislocated, three rib fractures and scarring on her head consistent with cigarette burns.

Her owner, 21-year-old Victoria Louise Chamberlain, of Moor Road, Featherstone, Pontefract was convicted in her absence of two offences on Friday, November 22.

She was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to Sasha by failing to provide vet treatment and one of causing unnecessary suffering to her by failing to protect her from her then-boyfriend Joe Bucktrout.

Bucktrout, of Lumley Avenue, Castleford pleaded guilty to two offences at the same hearing and was jailed and disqualified from keeping all animals for life.

The 21-year-old was found to have repeatedly and intentionally attacked Sasha - and neither Chamberlain or Bucktrout provided her with veterinary treatment for her injuries while they lived at a shared address on Mickle Court in Castleford.

The RSPCA gained a number of recordings over a four-day period where Bucktrout can be heard shouting at Sasha, followed by loud bangs and Sasha is heard screaming.

Chamberlain's voice could also be heard.

RSPCA inspector Vanessa Reid said: "Sasha had sustained a number of severe injuries over several months including the dislocation of both hips - her left hip was out when we rescued her, which hadn’t had any veterinary attention, and she was operated on in RSPCA care.

“She also had three fractured ribs that were in the process of healing and severe and obvious scarring to her head, consistent, according to the veterinary expert, with burns most likely caused by cigarettes.

“Chamberlain maintained what was said by both parties in interview, which was that the first hip dislocation was due to an accident in the garden where a mattress had fallen on Sasha.

"The second dislocation was explained as thought to have happened when Sasha was recovering from an operation to repair the first and fell down the stairs.

"However, the veterinary expert said that couldn’t be true and concluded that he believed the injuries were caused by intentional and repeated violence against her, which Bucktrout went on to admit in court.”

Chamberlain was sentenced to 10 weeks custodial suspended for 12 months, a 12 month community order with 15 RAR days and ordered to pay £1,000 costs.

Sasha was signed over to the RSPCA earlier on in the process and has now been rehomed.

Inspector Reid said: “I’m so happy for her. She’s such a wonderful, loving dog who just craves affection despite all that has happened to her.”