LINDSEY STONEHAM OF BETTWS BRIDGEND SENTENCED FOR CRUELTY TO DOG TOM

Lindsey Stoneham, born on 28 April 1962 and residing in Llwyncelyn, Bettws, Bridgend CF32 8RU, has been convicted of a heinous act of animal cruelty involving his pet Jack Russell terrier, Tom. The incident, which took place in the South Wales town of Bettws, shocked the local community and drew significant attention from animal welfare authorities.

Stoneham’s actions culminated in a brutal assault on Tom, which resulted in fatal injuries. The dog was subjected to a violent blow to the head, causing extensive trauma that ultimately led to his suffering and necessitated euthanasia. The case was thoroughly investigated after the RSPCA received reports and conducted an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Tom’s injuries.

According to reports, Stoneham had initially contacted a veterinary practice in Bridgend on 14 March 2018, claiming that his dog was suffering from behavioral problems. He requested that the veterinary staff put Tom to sleep, but when presented with a quote of £130 for the procedure, he refused to pay and stated that he would instead take the dog to a farmer. This refusal raised suspicions among the veterinary staff.

Less than three weeks later, on 31 March, Stoneham returned to the same veterinary practice with Tom, claiming that the dog had been hit by several cars. However, upon examination, the veterinary team found Tom to be in remarkably good condition, aside from a single wound on his head. The injury was a hole that was bleeding and appeared to be inflicted by a blunt force rather than a traffic accident. The dog was found to be covered in blood, with his eyes flickering, indicating he was in severe pain.

Due to the severity of the head wound, the veterinary staff made the decision to euthanize Tom immediately to prevent further suffering. Post-mortem examinations confirmed that the injuries were inconsistent with a road traffic accident and instead pointed to deliberate violence. The autopsy revealed that Tom had been struck with a blunt instrument, causing significant trauma to his skull. Bruising around the injury site suggested that fingers had been used to hold the dog’s head still during the attack.

RSPCA inspector Gemma Cooper expressed her outrage over the case, stating, “The treatment of poor Tom and the horrific suffering he endured is so upsetting. It was claimed that Tom had been involved in a car accident – but the injuries were found to be wholly inconsistent with such a chain of events. Tom, instead, was found to have been subjected to blunt force trauma to the head. Sadly, the dog was clearly in immense pain when taken to a veterinary practice with blood all over his body – and he had to be put to sleep immediately. This was a lengthy and complex case, but at least we were able to ensure some justice for Tom, who sadly paid such a high price for the mistreatment he faced.”

In court, Lindsey Stoneham received a sentence of 12 weeks in prison, suspended for one year. He was also ordered to pay a total of £2,150 in costs and charges. Additionally, he was handed a four-year ban on keeping any animals, which will expire in August 2023, and a deprivation order was issued for two shire horses he owned. The case has brought to light the importance of animal welfare and the need for strict enforcement of cruelty laws in Wales, particularly in the Bettws area of Bridgend.