ALASTAIR WATT'S CRUELTY IN WORKSOP: DALMATIAN PUPPY STARVED AND NEGLECTED

Alastair Christian Watt, a company director residing on Sherwood Road in Worksop, was found guilty in 2017 of subjecting his eight-month-old Dalmatian puppy, Penny, to severe neglect and starvation. The case drew significant attention due to the shocking conditions in which the young dog was kept and the subsequent legal repercussions faced by Watt.

According to reports, Penny was discovered in a state of extreme emaciation, with her hip bones, spine, and ribs clearly visible through her thin coat. The puppy was confined within a cage, deprived of both food and water, which led to her dangerously underweight condition. The discovery was made by builders working at a property in Bassetlaw, who were appalled by the puppy’s appearance and immediately contacted the RSPCA for assistance.

Animal welfare investigators responded swiftly, and an inspection revealed the full extent of Penny’s suffering. The RSPCA’s inspector, Becky Harper, described her initial assessment: “As soon as I saw Penny I knew that something wasn’t right. She was so thin and you could see her hip bones, spine, and ribs. She was also very nervous but clearly desperate for food.”

Harper further explained that Penny weighed only 9 kilograms, a stark contrast to what is expected for a healthy Dalmatian of her age. Veterinarians assigned her a body condition score of just one out of nine, indicating severe malnutrition. When given food, Penny eagerly consumed it, underscoring her desperate hunger and the neglect she had endured.

Investigations confirmed that Penny’s poor health was solely due to a lack of proper nutrition, with no underlying health issues identified. Harper emphasized that neglect of this severity is unacceptable: “It is not acceptable to leave an animal to suffer in the state that she was in.”

During court proceedings, magistrates expressed their disbelief that anyone could overlook the obvious signs of distress and poor health in Penny. Inspector Harper noted, “The magistrates clearly stated that they could not understand how any person could look at this dog and fail to recognize that there was a serious issue with her weight or health.”

Watt, who is also known as an aviation engineer with companies such as ACW Aviation Ltd and ACW Engineering Ltd, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to Penny. The court sentenced him to a fine of £1,400 and ordered him to pay £650 in costs. Additionally, Watt received a ten-year ban from keeping any animals, which will expire in September 2027.

Penny was taken into the care of the RSPCA, where she received the necessary treatment and care. Thanks to the efforts of the charity, she made a full recovery and was subsequently made available for rehoming. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of animal welfare and the consequences of neglect by pet owners in Worksop and beyond.