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| Redcar pair jailed for burying dog alive with nail in head | Redcar pair jailed for burying dog alive with nail in head |
| (1 day later) | |
| Two men who buried a dog alive after hammering a nail into its skull have been jailed. | Two men who buried a dog alive after hammering a nail into its skull have been jailed. |
| Michael Heathcock, 59 and Richard Finch, 60, had tried to kill the 16-year-old terrier called Scamp, claiming vet fees were too expensive. | Michael Heathcock, 59 and Richard Finch, 60, had tried to kill the 16-year-old terrier called Scamp, claiming vet fees were too expensive. |
| At Teesside Crown Court the pair were sentenced to four months in prison and banned from keeping animals for life. | At Teesside Crown Court the pair were sentenced to four months in prison and banned from keeping animals for life. |
| The men, both from Redcar, had previously pleaded guilty to animal welfare offences. | The men, both from Redcar, had previously pleaded guilty to animal welfare offences. |
| There was a large police presence outside the court as the sentences were passed, where about 40 members of the Save Our Strays charity mounted a demonstration. | There was a large police presence outside the court as the sentences were passed, where about 40 members of the Save Our Strays charity mounted a demonstration. |
| The court heard Heathcock had owned the dog for about 15 years and had no previous issues with the animal. | |
| A couple walking in Kirkleatham Woods, Redcar, in October, heard whimpering and found the dog in a mound of earth. | A couple walking in Kirkleatham Woods, Redcar, in October, heard whimpering and found the dog in a mound of earth. |
| It was taken to a vet, who discovered three other puncture wounds to its head and described it as the worse case of animal cruelty he had ever seen. | It was taken to a vet, who discovered three other puncture wounds to its head and described it as the worse case of animal cruelty he had ever seen. |
| The court heard Heathcock told RSPCA inspectors that "something had to be done" because the dog was starting to go blind, deaf and was incontinent. | The court heard Heathcock told RSPCA inspectors that "something had to be done" because the dog was starting to go blind, deaf and was incontinent. |
| After the hearing, Redcar's Labour MP Anna Turley said the sentences handed down to the pair were "not enough". | After the hearing, Redcar's Labour MP Anna Turley said the sentences handed down to the pair were "not enough". |
| She said: "I am pleased they have received a custodial sentence for what they did, but the punishment is still not enough for the severity of the crime. | She said: "I am pleased they have received a custodial sentence for what they did, but the punishment is still not enough for the severity of the crime. |
| "The judge is limited by current sentencing guidelines and they will probably only be in prison for two months. | "The judge is limited by current sentencing guidelines and they will probably only be in prison for two months. |
| "These cases highlight the inadequacy of the law in the area of animal abuse and why my bill for tougher sentences is so desperately needed. | "These cases highlight the inadequacy of the law in the area of animal abuse and why my bill for tougher sentences is so desperately needed. |
| "I will continue to press for my bill to be heard to increase the maximum sentence from six months to five years." | "I will continue to press for my bill to be heard to increase the maximum sentence from six months to five years." |
| The RSPCA also called for tougher sentences. | The RSPCA also called for tougher sentences. |
| David Bowles, head of external affairs at the RSPCA, said: "Scamp's ordeal was horrific and heartbreaking and the sentence handed out to his killers will upset and anger animal lovers." | David Bowles, head of external affairs at the RSPCA, said: "Scamp's ordeal was horrific and heartbreaking and the sentence handed out to his killers will upset and anger animal lovers." |