ANDREW WEST'S HORRIFIC CRUELTY IN SHEFFIELD: PET RABBIT MILO MURDERED IN SHOCKING CASE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Sheffield, Andrew West, born on July 12, 1994, and residing at 38 Adrian Crescent, Southey Green, was found guilty in 2024 of causing the death of a pet rabbit named Milo through brutal and inhumane treatment.

West was caught on a hidden camera engaging in acts of cruelty against Milo, a grey lop-eared rabbit he was temporarily caring for on behalf of a friend. The footage revealed West grabbing the rabbit by the neck with force and violently throwing him onto the floor of a house located in Adrian Crescent, Southey Green. The distressing images were captured from a bedroom within the residence and subsequently handed over to the RSPCA, which took legal action against West.

During the court proceedings, West pleaded guilty to an offence under the Animal Welfare Act, acknowledging his actions. The footage showed him searching for Milo, who was hiding beneath a wooden structure on the floor, before roughly seizing him by the neck. In one of the clips, West is heard telling the rabbit, “You’re never going to hurt me again, do you understand?”

Further disturbing footage depicted West flinging Milo onto the ground, after which the rabbit was seen thrashing on his side. Tragically, Milo was found dead shortly afterward. A veterinarian, who reviewed the footage and provided written evidence for the case, described the incident as “one of the most disturbing cases of violence towards a helpless animal that I have had the misfortune to witness.” The vet added that West’s callous actions caused significant pain, stress, fear, and unnecessary suffering to the rabbit.

In addition to Milo, West had other small pets, including rabbits, hamsters, and gerbils. During the investigation, he signed over ownership of these animals, which were subsequently rehomed by the charity involved. A post-mortem examination revealed that Milo had been suffering from E. cuniculi, a common brain infection in rabbits. While often mild or asymptomatic, this infection can sometimes cause severe neurological damage, seizures, or death, which was likely a contributing factor in Milo’s demise.

On August 31, 2023, RSPCA officers and police visited West’s residence. During questioning, West admitted to throwing Milo onto the floor multiple times and lifting him by his ears. When asked about a comment he made in the footage, saying, “oh yeah you’re going to get it,” West explained that he intended to hurt Milo out of anger because the rabbit had bitten him, but insisted he did not mean to kill him. He acknowledged that his actions were meant to cause pain and that Milo would have been frightened.

It was also revealed that West suffers from severe ADHD and was not on medication at the time of the incident. Despite this, two references attested to his generally kind personality and his love for animals.

Following sentencing, RSPCA Inspector Jack Taylor expressed his condemnation of West’s actions, stating, “The videos of the physical violence that was inflicted on Milo are extremely hard to watch. There is never any excuse for treating animals in this cruel and deplorable way, and we’re pleased the person responsible was held accountable for their actions.”

West was sentenced to an 18-week prison term, suspended for 12 months. Additionally, he was ordered to complete 15 days of Rehabilitation Activity Requirements, perform 150 hours of unpaid work, and pay costs of £400. A ten-year ban on owning or caring for any animals was also imposed, reflecting the severity of the cruelty involved.