Teenager, 18, jailed after brutally kicking his girlfriend’s dog to death after a blazing row
Kai Tomlinson launched a frenzied attack on King Charles spaniel Holly which even he admitted was 'f*****g vile'
A TEENAGE thug who brutally kicked his girlfriend’s dog to death following an argument has been jailed.
Kai Tomlinson, 18, launched a frenzied attack on King Charles spaniel Holly which even he admitted was 'f*****g vile'.
The 18-month-old pooch suffered ‘a stomach churning act of cruelty’ and died of head injuries after collapsing when her brain stem detached.
Tomlinson had been arguing with then-girlfriend Jade Connor, 17, at the house they shared in Wallasey, Merseyside, when he attacked tragic Holly.
He broke down in tears as he admitted to police that the blazing row in December last year “had left him full of anger and really p****d off”.
King Charles spaniel Holly was found wrapped in a bin liner and buried in the back garden of their home.
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Aspiring sports coach Tomlinson appeared calm when initially interviewed by Merseyside police following the death, the court heard.
Chris Murphy, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, said the teen claimed that anyone could have 'climbed over the fence and kicked the dog'.
But when he was re-interviewed in March he told officers claimed his actions were 'f*****g vile'.
Wirral Magistrates Court heard the teen admitted full responsibility for the attack and he was sentenced to 22 weeks in prison and banned from owning animals for life.
Mr Murphy said: "The defendant admitted during interview that he had anger issues and the row with his girlfriend had left him full of anger and really p****d off.
"He told police that he was aware that he shouldn't have done it and that what he had done was really 'f*****g vile.
"He became agitated and broke down in tears and said to officers 'I'm f*****d. I'm going down, aren't I?'.”
Holly “suffered significant physical pain and mental terror as she suffered unimaginable injuries” according the pathologist who examined her body.
Zoe Keene, defending, told the court Tomlinson and his family had been the subject of threats since he admitted the attack.
Mrs Keene said: "Standing before you is a man with no previous convictions, who is educated, from a caring family and has been working with local special needs children towards becoming a sports coach.
"These proceedings have also taken their toll on his family, who have faced threats, and he is no longer able to leave the house.
"He clearly has anger management issues and I would ask you to consider this as a momentary loss of temper. My client has accepted that he faces a custodial sentence for this offence."
Judge Michael Abelson the case was ‘one of the worst of its kind that he had ever seen’ and insisted he would have imposed a longer sentence for the callous attack if possible.
Tomlinson, dressed in a light blue long-sleeved shirt with black trousers and shoes, showed no emotion as he was taken into custody.
Members of his family and his ex-girlfriend's family were in tears in the public gallery.
Judge Abelson said: "This is a brutal and unprovoked attack and this example of animal cruelty is one of the worst that I have seen and I have been hearing these cases for many years.
"You have shown remorse since admitting the attack but I would suggest that that remorse is only for yourself.
"Dogs are the most loyal of animals and I have no doubt that Holly was exactly like that so one can't imagine how anyone with any compassion could do this.
"A lot of these kind of cases involve people who can barely look after themselves and so should never be let near animals in the first place, but it is only once in a while that I see a case of such brutality.
"Your behaviour was wholly unacceptable and I have to send a message to young men like you that you will go to jail for offences like this.
"If I had not been limited to six months by law then you would have been going to prison for a lot longer but my hands are tied."
Tomlinson – who had earlier pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal - was also ordered to pay costs and victim surcharges of more than £1,000.
The RSPCA has now called on the government to allow lengthier jail terms for such offences.
After the hearing, RSPCA inspector Anthony Joynes said: "Poor Holly was brutally kicked to death by Tomlinson apparently so that he could get at something close to his girlfriend.
"This dog would have been mentally terrorised and in sheer panic as to the beating it was taking.
"A lot of work has gone into ensuring this case was brought to the courts as it’s massively important that people cannot get away with this sort of abhorrent cruelty.
"However, I have to say it still troubles me greatly that the final moments of poor Holly would have been of terror, it's just so sad.
"I'm grateful to the district judge who sentenced Tomlinson to the maximum that he had at his disposal. Many people will be disgusted that it’s not enough? Do I agree? Absolutely. And so did the courts.
"This may be something that Parliament wants to reconsider."
Mr Joynes added: "The judge said he would have jailed Tomlinson for considerably longer should the law have allowed. Of course people that commit such horrendous, stomach churning acts of cruelty to animals should face lengthy jail terms
"I hope the family and owners of holly can find some closure now knowing that at least we have brought Holly's abuser to court."
After the sentencing Holly's owner Jade said: "I'm happy now he's been sentenced but it still doesn't seem real."
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