CONVICTED (2020) | David Morton, born c. 1992, of Jane Street, Stanley DH9 7BH – left his husky dog to suffer with a broken leg for more than four weeks Serial headcase David Morton was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal for failing to get veterinary treatment for his pet husky’s broken leg. The cause of the dog’s injury was unexplained. Morton, who is no stranger to the courts, told magistrates he didn’t “give a monkeys’after being convicted for leaving his pet dog to suffer in agony with a broken leg Morton, who was recently given community service after sending human faeces to a police officer, told magistrates that he “didn’t give a monkey’s” what they said and would have two dogs by the weekend. Husky Sendi who was mistreated and neglected by her uncaring owner David Morton Kevin Campbell, prosecuting on behalf of RSPCA, said the charity became involved after a veterinary surgeon contacted them to raise concerns about Morton’s dog, a female husky named Sendi. He said: “On the 22nd July [2019] the dog was seen by a vet who conceded that the dog had a fracture to her leg and the injury was four to six weeks old. The dog had either been untreated or treated inadequately. “She concluded that the dog was clearly suffering as a result of the failure to give it any proper treatment.” The dog had a broken femur and was unable to walk when she was seen by a vet. Mr Campbell added: “When inspectors attended the address they could see the dog was unable to stand on its hind leg. “A male answered the door and said he was the defendant, the inspector asked him about the dog in question and he was uncooperative – referring to him as a donkey. “The defendant told him to f*** off, he was not allowed to enter the property and police had to be called to help him.” Paul Donohue, mitigating, said the 28-year-old had not set out to harm his own dog. He said: “The actual injury has not been caused on purpose. It was caused accidentally and the complaint is that the dog did not have the proper treatment. He accepts that the dog did not have an operation but that wasn’t for lack of trying. “Like many people he does not have insurance so if anything happens it would fall to him to pay for it. “If he had £5,000 there and then he would have spent it on the dog. “He didn’t want the dog to suffer but he just has not got the money.” Sendi was treated by the RSPCA and remains in their care. Sentencing: ordered to pay £480 costs. Banned from keeping animals for five years (expires January 2025). Morton is already serving a community order for a previous offence. Northern Echo Update August 2022 Morton was back behind bars after intimidating a prison officer by driving threateningly in his direction outside HMP Durham. He was also accused of assaulting the officer, by spitting at him, in an incident said to have taken place in the segregation unit at Durham Prison, where the defendant was being held in January 2022. Morton admitted a charge of intimidation and was sentenced to nine months in prison. The court heard the case involving the original spitting allegation is due to take place later in 2022. Northern Echo