JOHN DONALDSON'S HORRIFIC CRUELTY IN HARTLEPOOL: DOGS LEFT TO STARVE TO DEATH

In a deeply disturbing case that has shocked the Hartlepool community, John Donaldson, a resident of Oak Grove, was found guilty of neglecting and causing unnecessary suffering to two dogs, which ultimately led to their tragic deaths. The incident came to light on May 23, 2017, when the landlord of the property in Straker Street, Hartlepool, discovered the lifeless bodies of the animals, revealing a heartbreaking scene of neglect and cruelty.

According to reports from RSPCA inspector Lucy Hoehne, the conditions inside the house were appalling. The inspector described the overwhelming stench that filled the space, along with the presence of faeces, urine, and fragments of chewed-up foam from a sofa scattered across the floor. The two dogs, a female white and black terrier-type named Bess and a male black terrier called Whiskey, were found in the upstairs back bedroom, curled up together on a duvet on the floor. The scene was described as utterly heartbreaking, with the dogs appearing to be sleeping at first glance, but closer inspection revealed they had been dead for some time.

It was determined that the dogs had succumbed to starvation and dehydration, and their bodies were covered in maggots, indicating they had been dead for a prolonged period. The landlord, who rented the house to Donaldson, stated that he had previously lived there but had left the dogs behind when he moved to another address. The court heard that it was impossible to establish exactly how long the dogs had been dead, but the condition of the animals suggested neglect over an extended period.

Prosecutor John Elwood explained during an earlier hearing that the neglect must have been ongoing, as the state of the dogs was consistent with a lengthy period of suffering. Donaldson, however, refused to cooperate with the RSPCA investigation, complicating efforts to gather further evidence. He was subsequently convicted in his absence of two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, covering the period between April and May 2017. The authorities issued a third warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear in court, leading to his eventual detention.

Inspector Hoehne expressed her horror at the case, stating, “What these dogs went through before they died doesn’t bear thinking about.” In sentencing, Donaldson received a 24-week prison term, along with a total of £415 in costs and charges. Additionally, he was handed a lifetime ban on keeping animals, a measure aimed at preventing similar cruelty in the future.

It is noteworthy that this case is part of a broader criminal history for Donaldson. In October 2021, he was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to a robbery incident where he threatened a shop assistant with a screwdriver and stole £280 from a cash register. Donaldson, who now resides on Miers Avenue in Hartlepool, has a long history of criminal activity, including 68 prior court appearances mainly related to theft and burglaries. His lawyer, Stephen Littlewood, revealed that Donaldson has struggled with a severe heroin addiction since the age of 15 and owed approximately £1,400 to drug dealers, who had threatened his life. The court ordered that Donaldson serve up to half of his sentence before being eligible for release on licence, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by the convicted individual.