ANTHONY ALLAN'S HORRIFIC CRUELTY IN HAMILTON AND PAISLEY REVEALED

Anthony Peter Allan, born on August 3, 1993, originally from Paisley, has a disturbing history of animal cruelty that has garnered significant attention. Most recently, he was residing at Kelvin Gardens in Hamilton, with the address listed as ML3 9NR. As of February 2020, Allan was serving a prison sentence for a brutal murder, but his past acts of violence extend beyond that incident.

In a particularly heinous case, Allan was found guilty of repeatedly assaulting a young Staffordshire bull terrier puppy while sharing a flat in Mossvale, Paisley, with his partner, Lauren McMaster. The court heard harrowing details of his treatment of the defenseless animal, which was owned by Miss McMaster. The depute fiscal, Lauren McGonigal, provided a detailed account of the abuse, stating, “The dog belonged to Lauren McMaster. It was a young pup.”

She further explained that as tensions between Allan and Miss McMaster escalated, his anger was often directed at the puppy. “Miss McMaster described that, as the arguments between her and the accused worsened, he was taking his anger out on the dog. He would repeatedly kick and punch the dog,” she said. Witnesses and neighbors corroborated these claims, with one neighbor recounting hearing Allan shouting at the dog and hearing sounds of the animal being chased around the flat. Between January and April, neighbors could hear the dog yelping in pain and the sounds of it being hit, often lasting around 15 minutes each time, particularly when Miss McMaster was not present.

The court was told that Allan’s violent episodes towards the puppy occurred when his partner left the flat, suggesting a pattern of abuse linked to his emotional state. The police were eventually called on April 27, 2014, after Allan behaved in a threatening and abusive manner towards Miss McMaster, shouting, swearing, and even threatening to kill himself. During police interviews, Allan admitted to hitting the dog, acknowledging his actions.

He pleaded guilty to charges of repeatedly punching and kicking the puppy, causing it unnecessary suffering and distress. Additionally, Allan admitted to a second charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner that was likely to cause fear and alarm, which involved shouting, swearing, and uttering threats.

When the case proceeded to sentencing, Allan’s solicitor advocate, Chris McKenna, highlighted his troubled background, explaining that Allan’s parents had failed to recognize or accept his mental health issues. Allan described his life during that period as “a life of torture,” emphasizing the emotional and psychological toll he endured.

Sheriff Colin Pettigrew delivered the sentence, condemning Allan’s actions. He stated, “This utterly defenceless dog was the butt of your anger and suffered misery over a three-month period.” The sheriff acknowledged the seriousness of the offense, noting that he could have imposed a custodial sentence but chose a community-based punishment instead. Allan was sentenced to a two-year community payback order, which included 270 hours of unpaid work over 12 months. Furthermore, he was disqualified from owning or keeping a dog for life.

In addition to the animal cruelty case, it was revealed that Allan had a history of violent behavior. In February 2020, he was sentenced to a minimum of 18 years in prison after beating a man to death with a baseball bat over a drug debt, a crime that further underscores his pattern of violence and aggression.