Shame of owner who bit dog while stoned
MAN, 20, IN COURT TO ADMIT TO CAUSING SUFFERING
Reporter A CRUEL pet owner has finally admitted leaving his dog with horrific injuries by biting him.
As previously reported, Tyler Laverick was convicted in absence earlier this year of sinking his teeth into his eight-month-old Staffordshire bull terrier, Diesel, while high on cannabis.
After failing to show up for a hearing at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court in April, the 20-year-old was brought into the dock a few weeks later having been arrested on a warrant.
He argued that he didn’t know about the initial hearing as the court summons “had been sent to an old address” while he was hospitalised due to mental health difficulties and so had his conviction overturned in order for him to mount a “proper defence”.
Laverick, formerly of Front Street, North Shields, but now of Armstrong Road, Wallsend, denied one charge of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal but changed his plea to guilty on the day the case was listed for trial on June 28.
Now, the dog owner has narrowly avoided an immediate stint behind bars after magistrates in North Tyneside gave him an 11-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.
At the initial hearing in April this year, the court was told that Diesel was seized by police after members of the public reported seeing the dog being assaulted by a male.
Officers attended Laverick’s former home in North Shields on October 19 2017 and found the pet, who had horrific injuries to his face, eyes and ears, inside.
The court that, when asked how he suffered the visible wounds to his head, Laverick responded by saying “I was biting him, I was stoned”.
Judith Curry, prosecuting for the RSPCA at the time, said: “When the constables arrived at the address, a male answered the door. The male was Tyler Laverick. He was asked if he had a dog on the premises.
“He replied he had a staffie that was not OK.
“The constables entered and found a Staffordshire bull terrier with visible facial injuries. Tyler Laverick stated to the officer that he had bitten the dog. He was cautioned and arrested for causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.”
The court heard that Laverick then told officers he had been smoking weed and, when asked about the condition of Diesel, he replied: “Not good, I was biting him, I was stoned”.
Diesel was taken to the vets where a catalogue of injuries were noted, which included: Puncture wounds to his tongue Significant trauma to the nose, which was bleeding and had the whole surface of skin removed Multiple scars to his muzzle Multiple wounds to his muzzle Swelling to the left side of the jaw Bleeding in the whites of his eyes Scratches and puncture wounds on his ears, which were bleeding A small wound to the left foreleg Multiple scars to the left foreleg Ms Curry added: “There was also evidence of previous trauma, which indicates he may have suffered previously, however, due to the nature of the scars, it’s impossible to know how these were caused.”
At the court hearing last week, magistrates said that the offence was so serious and crossed the custody threshold because Diesel had suffered “prolonged and deliberate” abuse.
Stephen Davies, mitigating, said Laverick had substantial mental health difficulties and had previously pleaded not guilty as there were concerns those difficulties meant he didn’t have the intention or knowledge of wrongdoing that constitutes part of a crime.
Laverick was also ordered to pay £750 costs and was banned from keeping animals for 10 years.