BRADLEY SIMPSON FROM ST ANDREWS INVOLVED IN HORRIFIC DOG KILLING IN DUNDEE

Bradley Simpson, born on January 3, 1998, and residing on Watson Avenue in St Andrews with connections to Honeygreen Road in Dundee, became the focus of a disturbing animal cruelty case that shocked the local community. Simpson was convicted in 2022 for the brutal killing of his mother’s pet dog, a German Shepherd named Buddy, an act that has left many residents appalled and saddened.

According to court records, Simpson used a screwdriver to repeatedly stab Buddy, resulting in the dog’s death. The incident took place in Dundee, where Simpson’s actions were both violent and callous. After the attack, Simpson did not attempt to seek help or show remorse; instead, he took steps to conceal his crime. He buried Buddy’s burned remains in a shallow grave within a local park, an act that further demonstrated his intent to hide the evidence of his cruelty.

Prior to the discovery, Simpson had been involved in the search for Buddy. He initially participated in the efforts to locate the missing dog, which had gone missing from the family home during the night. The family, concerned and distressed, posted alerts on social media platforms targeting the local community in Dundee. Despite the search, Simpson’s own mother found a disturbing scene at her home: a pool of blood at the doorstep, along with blood splatters inside the living room and kitchen. When she investigated further outside, she saw additional bloodstains on the side of her house.

Simpson’s behavior and comments during questioning raised suspicion. He admitted to killing Buddy and told his mother, “You will never see him again,” confirming his involvement in the dog’s death. The search for Buddy ended tragically when a dog walker in a nearby park discovered a scorched patch of ground near a mound of disturbed soil. Upon further investigation, the mound was scraped back to reveal the charred remains of a dog, which was later confirmed to be Buddy.

The court heard that Simpson was inspired to commit this heinous act after watching a Netflix series centered around rescue dogs, a detail that added a disturbing layer to the case. Simpson later admitted to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, though he pleaded guilty to the act of killing Buddy. He also accepted a charge of burning and dumping the dog’s remains in the park to hide his crime, a plea that the Crown did not contest.

During the trial, Simpson’s solicitor, Theo Finlay, explained that his client had been suffering from drug misuse, which had significantly impacted his mental health. The defense also highlighted that Simpson had previously expressed feeling targeted during a period of remand in prison, suggesting ongoing mental health struggles. Simpson’s criminal history includes convictions for domestic abuse, under-age sex offenses, theft, and assault resulting in permanent disfigurement.

In sentencing, the court imposed a three-year supervision order involving social work intervention. Additionally, Simpson was disqualified from owning or keeping any animals for a period of 33 months, a measure intended to prevent future cruelty. The case has left a lasting scar on the community, raising concerns about animal welfare and the importance of mental health support for offenders involved in such violent acts.