SHOCKING CRUELTY BY ANDREW SUMMERFIELD IN COLCHESTER: PET DOG BRUTALLY ATTACKED WITH AIR RIFLE AND MEAT CLEAVER

In a disturbing act of animal cruelty that has shocked the community of Colchester, Andrew Summerfield, a resident of Tiptree, was involved in a heinous attack on his pet dog, Barney. The incident unfolded in the vicinity of his home at 8 Elm Close, Tiptree, where Summerfield subjected Barney to a brutal assault involving multiple weapons.

According to police reports, Summerfield shot Barney a total of seventeen times with an air rifle, inflicting severe injuries. The attack did not end there; he also slashed the dog’s head eight times using a meat cleaver, causing catastrophic damage. The injuries sustained by Barney were so severe that a significant portion of the front top of his head, approximately a quarter, was missing. The scene was gruesome, with flies and maggots forming a “blanket” over the head wound, indicating the extent of the injury and the time elapsed since the attack.

Further brutality was inflicted when Summerfield attached a noose around Barney’s neck and abandoned him on a busy road, exposing the helpless animal to further danger. The police, responding swiftly to reports of the injured dog, closed the A12 highway in both directions to prevent Barney from wandering into traffic as he was seen getting up and walking around. Recognizing the severity of the situation, officers arranged for a veterinarian to arrive at the scene and administer a lethal injection to end Barney’s suffering.

The investigation revealed that Summerfield was the registered owner of Barney, as the dog was microchipped. Initially, he claimed to police that he had sold Barney for just £10 the day before the attack. However, evidence quickly emerged linking him to the crime, including an air rifle and meat cleaver found at his residence, which matched the weapons used in the assault.

During legal proceedings, Summerfield’s defense highlighted his mental health issues, stating that he had been diagnosed as bipolar. His lawyer argued that medication for his condition had contributed to violent behavior. Despite these claims, the court sentenced him to 26 weeks in prison. Additionally, a deprivation order was issued, removing any remaining animals from his custody, and the weapons involved in the attack were confiscated and destroyed. Summerfield was also disqualified from keeping animals for the rest of his life, a measure aimed at preventing future cruelty.

This tragic case has once again brought to light the importance of animal welfare and the need for strict enforcement of laws protecting animals from abuse. The community of Colchester and Tiptree is left shaken by the brutality inflicted upon Barney, a helpless pet who suffered immensely at the hands of his owner.