CLIFFORD HODGKINS SENTENCED IN PERTHSHIRE FOR DOG THEFT AND ABUSE

Clifford Hodgkins, born on December 6, 1981, of Woodlands Park, Blairgowrie PH10 6UW, originally from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, was convicted in 2022 of dog theft and animal abuse. Hodgkins has a history of criminal behavior and maintains strong ties to the traveling community in Stourport.

In October 2020, Hodgkins stole four dogs—three Jack Russells and a Springer spaniel—from properties in the Blairgowrie area. He was caught lifting one dog out of its kennel and bundling it into a car while the owner watched in horror. The three recovered dogs were found over 400 miles away in various parts of the West Midlands; however, the Springer remains missing nearly two years later.

Hodgkins, who has previously served sentences for domestic violence, assault, knife possession, burglary, and racially aggravated harassment, was found guilty at Perth Sheriff Court following a trial. He was convicted of the thefts from two properties in Meikleour and Forneth.

Additionally, Hodgkins was convicted of animal neglect after a 'crying' lurcher-type dog, named Bruce, was seized from a property in Rattray near Blairgowrie. Animal welfare teams, along with police, raided Hodgkins’ residence in MacDonald Crescent, Rattray, and found Bruce tethered in the backyard.

Sheriff Gill described the conditions as dreadful, stating: “The dog was very cold, hunched up, shivering, with a roached back, and tail between its legs—body language indicating distress.” Inspectors found that Bruce was left outside without proper shelter, with a tarp with a slit instead of a door covering the wooden shed where he stayed, and a small blanket on the floor that failed to provide warmth.

Inspector Katherine Aitchison from the SSPCA testified that she visited the property on November 28, 2021, after neighbors complained. She observed the dog trembling and in poor physical condition, noting cracks on his paws, an infected claw, and facial scars. She also witnessed Hodgkins shouting at the dog and throwing gravel at it, an act corroborated by a witness who called police.

Hodgkins claimed he bought Bruce for £400 after seeing the dog advertised online, stating he wanted a pet for countryside walks. He denied neglecting Bruce and argued that the shed was wind-proof, dry, and insulated. Hodgkins also rejected neighbor claims of aggressive behavior, insisting that the dog was merely distressed by the new environment.

Despite his explanations, Sheriff Gill found the evidence credible and that the dog was clearly in distress. Hodgkins was convicted of animal neglect and given a sentence of 90 days in jail, alongside a fine of £500. He was also fined another £400 for the neglect charge. Furthermore, he received a two-year disqualification order from owning or caring for animals, which expired in June 2024.

In a broader criminal context, Hodgkins was later sentenced in May 2024 to nine years in prison after being convicted of severe sexual assault and domestic abuse in Perthshire. The High Court in Edinburgh detailed how he subjected his victim to a 19-month-long abuse, including rape, physical assault, and threatening her with a screwdriver.

Hodgkins has previous convictions for assault, including a 2006 conviction for choking his girlfriend during an argument, as well as for attacking her mother, with whom he broke four teeth. In 2018, he received a two-year sentence for shaving his partner’s head during a jealous outburst. He also has a conviction for stalking, and his criminal record includes knife possession and racially aggravated harassment. Following his recent incarceration, Hodgkins will be under three years of supervision after his release and will remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life.