jerome starkey Animal Abuser

CONVICTED (2014) | Jerome Felix Starkey, born 15 September 1992, most recently of Longacre Road, Ashford TN23 5FR* – left his dog in such a terrible state he chewed off his own tail and had to be put to sleep.

Jamaican national Starkey, sole director of JP Industrial Clean Ltd, was banned from keeping animals for 10 years after his four-year-old brindle Staffordshire bull terrier Gunner was discovered weak from hunger, flea-ridden, lame, covered in blood and with his tail half missing.

RSPCA officers who entered the house in January 2013 rushed Gunner straight to a vet but were advised the kindest option would be to put him down and end his suffering.

The saddest of endings: Gunner was immediately put to sleep on humane grounds Inspector Caroline Doe of the animal charity said: “We walked in to find blood all over the floor and the poor dog standing there on three legs as he was completely lame on his rear right leg.

“Gunner was emaciated, covered with fleas and had chewed off most of his tail.

It was outright awful – chewed right down to the bone and he must have been in so much pain.

“There were behavioural issues, which may have caused him to do this, but mainly I think he was driven to distraction by the fleas and had just nibbled and nibbled away until half the tail was missing.

“So much suffering had been caused, and the owner admitted it had been going on for quite some time with no veterinary treatment being sought.” Starkey was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and in addition to the ban was made to pay £2,000 costs and do 280 hours of unpaid work.

On May 25 2013 Starkey posted a picture on his Facebook page that appeared to show Gunner in a healthy state.

Sentencing: unpaid work; costs; 10-year ban on keeping animals (expired March 2024).

KentOnline Update | June 2024 Starkey now lives at 49 Douglas Close, Wallington, London Borough of Sutton SM6 9JS.

In October 2023 he formed a company called JP Industrial Clean Ltd, which trades under the name JP Industrial Cleaning Services.