KIRSTY YOXALL FROM GRIMETHORPE SENTENCED FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY INVOLVING EMACIATED STAFFY IN BARNSEY

Kirsty Yoxall, born on July 22, 1990, and residing at 37 Hastings Street in Grimethorpe, Barnsley, has been convicted of neglecting her pet dog, leading to severe suffering and emaciation. The case drew significant attention after the distressing discovery of her six-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier, named Tommy, in a critically malnourished state.

Tommy was found in a deplorable condition at the home Yoxall shared with her boyfriend, Luke Leslie Stanbridge, who was born on September 16, 1990, and originally hails from Rochester, Kent. The RSPCA was alerted to the situation following an intervention by police officers who had initially visited the property on an unrelated matter. During the inspection, a neighbour was seen holding the dog, wrapped in a blanket, indicating concern for the animal’s health.

RSPCA inspector Tamsin Drysdale described the scene: “The dog was being held by a neighbour on the street who had wrapped the dog in a blanket. I would describe the dog as a male brindle Staffy who was in an emaciated condition, as the ribs, hips and spine were prominent.” She further explained that the dog had been confined in a bedroom cluttered with “multiple piles of faeces,” suggesting neglect and poor living conditions. A veterinarian who examined Tommy estimated that he had been suffering from malnutrition for at least three months.

Details emerged during the court proceedings that Yoxall struggled with drug problems, which were considered to have contributed to the neglect, though the court noted that her actions were unintentional. Social media reports from around November 2020, when Tommy was rescued, revealed the disturbing discovery of the decomposing remains of a second dog, named Jess, which had been found in a carrier bag discarded near a pub. It was reported that Jess was microchipped to Yoxall’s former partner. However, Yoxall faced no charges related to Jess, and Stanbridge was not prosecuted for cruelty towards either dog.

In sentencing, Yoxall received a 12-week prison sentence, which was suspended for 12 months. She was also ordered to pay £548 in compensation and was handed a lifetime ban from owning animals. The case highlights ongoing concerns about animal welfare and the importance of accountability for neglectful treatment of pets in the Barnsley area.