KIERAN TAYLOR AND MATTHEW DEAN CRUELTY IN CRAWLEY: SHEEP ABUSE SHOCKS COMMUNITY

In a disturbing case that has shocked residents of Crawley, Kieran James Taylor, born on February 4, 1997, and residing on Holbein Road, was found guilty of heinous acts of animal cruelty involving a tame sheep at the Tilgate Nature Centre. The incident, which took place on October 16, 2014, involved the brutal assault and subsequent mutilation of a young Boreray sheep kept in a paddock within the nature reserve.

According to court reports, staff members at the Nature Centre discovered the injured animal in the woods, where it had been savagely attacked and set on fire. Prosecutor Timothy Forster described the injuries inflicted on the sheep as being consistent with the use of a sharp blade, such as a pen knife. He further explained that Taylor was seen entering the sheep’s enclosure and chasing the animal before repeatedly assaulting it while it was still confined in the paddock.

It was confirmed that Taylor admitted to kicking and stabbing the innocent creature, as well as setting its remains ablaze. Despite the severity of the cruelty, Taylor avoided imprisonment but was handed a court order that prohibited him from consuming alcohol. Additionally, he was subjected to a curfew and mandated to attend behaviour therapy sessions. These measures were imposed partly because of Taylor’s prior engagement in sexual activities with underage girls, which was also considered during sentencing.

In terms of legal penalties, Taylor received a sentence of four months in jail for animal cruelty, which was suspended for two years. He also received an additional 11 months for the underage sex offences. The court’s decision included a ban on alcohol consumption, aiming to prevent further misconduct.

Alongside Taylor, another individual named Matthew Dean, born on August 19, 1997, and residing on Whittington Road, was also implicated in the case. Dean was found guilty of participating in the attack, which involved hitting, kicking, and stabbing the sheep, alongside Taylor and an unidentified third person. Dean had initially denied causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal but was ultimately convicted.

On March 22, 2016, Dean was sentenced to 14 weeks in jail, suspended for 12 months. The court also ordered him to complete 90 hours of supervised unpaid work, wear a daily electronic tag from 9 pm to 7 am, and pay a total of £70 in fines and costs, including £50 compensation to the victim and a £20 surcharge. The case has garnered significant attention from the Crawley community and local media, highlighting the severity of animal cruelty and the importance of justice in such cases.