JAMES NICHOLSON'S CRUELTY IN COLWYN BAY AND NORTH WALES: DOG BEATING AND HANGING SHOCKS COURT

James David Nicholson, born on April 22, 1984, has a troubling history of animal cruelty that has recently come to light through court proceedings. At the time of his conviction in 2006, Nicholson was residing on Station Road in Colwyn Bay, North Wales. As of March 2020, he was living at 67 Pocket Nook Street, St Helens, with a disturbing pattern of abusing his pet dog, a Jack Russell terrier named Sweep.

His heinous acts were captured on CCTV footage, which showed Nicholson repeatedly beating the defenseless dog and ultimately hanging him from a lamp-post. The footage was played in court, revealing a distressing scene where Sweep cowered in fear as Nicholson struck him multiple times. The footage also depicted Nicholson hanging the terrified animal from a lamp-post, then flinging him across the pavement in a violent manner. Witnesses and the court were visibly appalled by the cruelty displayed.

During the court session, Nicholson was visibly emotional, sobbing as he watched the footage. He was informed that his actions had caused the dog 'physiological trauma,' a term indicating severe emotional and physical distress. Nicholson admitted to causing unnecessary suffering to the animal, acknowledging the severity of his misconduct.

Chris Dawson, representing the RSPCA, provided details of the incident, stating, “He left the dog hanging off the windowsill. When asked why he had done that, he said ‘He kept barking.’” Dawson further explained that Nicholson claimed to have had a bad night but insisted he did not intend to harm the dog. The court heard that Nicholson’s behavior was not an isolated incident but part of a pattern of cruelty.

On the night of September 4, 2005, Nicholson was seen outside the Bay Grill takeaway on Seaview Road, Colwyn Bay, just after midnight. He was waiting for a takeaway and was told he could not bring the dog inside. As the dog barked persistently, Nicholson’s frustration grew, and he began to physically abuse Sweep. CCTV footage captured Nicholson whipping the dog with the handle of the lead, causing the animal to flinch with each blow. Despite Sweep’s attempts to escape, the lead restricted his movement.

In a particularly disturbing scene, Nicholson lifted the dog by the lead, hanging him in mid-air, then tied the lead to a lamppost, leaving Sweep hanging for several seconds. Recognizing the distress he caused, Nicholson then took the dog into his arms, held him close, and kissed him, seemingly showing a moment of remorse. However, the violence resumed on the walk home, where Nicholson violently yanked the lead, flinging Sweep several feet and kicking him in the side. The RSPCA report described the incident as causing unnecessary suffering and physiological trauma, noting the dog’s body language clearly indicated fear and an attempt to escape, which was thwarted by the lead.

Gwyndaf Pari, defending Nicholson, argued that the incident was a one-off, impulsive act at the lower end of the scale. He claimed Nicholson had shown genuine remorse and that he had been caring for the dog well since the incident. Pari also mentioned that Nicholson was dealing with stress related to a relatively new job, which may have contributed to his behavior.

Ultimately, Nicholson was sentenced to a fine of £250, along with £262 in court costs. The court decided not to ban him from keeping animals, and he was allowed to retain custody of Sweep. The case highlights the importance of animal welfare and the consequences of cruelty, especially in cases involving repeated abuse and severe mistreatment in North Wales and Colwyn Bay.