LUKES HORN, NCHIMUNYA NTEMBE AND COREY DESTRO CRUELTY IN LANCASTER HORROR

A disturbing case of animal cruelty has come to light involving three individuals from Lancaster and nearby Morecambe, whose actions have shocked the local community and animal welfare advocates alike.

Luke Gabriel Horn, born on April 14, 1994, and residing at 170 Kingsway, Heysham, Morecambe LA3 2EG, pleaded guilty to heinous acts of animal cruelty. His offenses included causing unnecessary suffering to a mastiff-type dog named Troy, which involved neglecting to investigate or treat the underlying health issues that led to the dog’s poor physical condition. Troy was found chained to a radiator in a bedroom at Horn’s residence, covered in animal feces, and weighed only 25 kilograms at the time of discovery.

At Horn’s property, authorities identified four dogs, three of which— including Troy—were severely emaciated, indicating prolonged neglect. The conditions of the animals were appalling, with the environment described as filthy and unfit for any living creature. The neglect was compounded by Horn’s failure to provide proper care or a suitable environment for his pets.

In addition to Horn’s crimes, the case revealed further acts of cruelty involving other animals. Two dogs, Faith and Zeus, owned by Nchimunya ‘Chim’ Ntembe—born on March 4, 1994, and residing at 3 Cypress Close, Lancaster LA1 5TR—were found to have suffered severe injuries, including fractured skulls believed to have resulted from blunt force trauma. Ntembe, who was already serving time in prison on drug-related charges, was implicated in these acts of violence against his animals.

Further disturbing evidence emerged involving Ntembe and a third defendant, Corey Lee Destro, born on July 24, 1994, of Brock Close, Lancaster LA1 2NP. Both Ntembe and Destro were convicted of feeding a hamster named Mr Chow cannabis and LSD, acts of cruelty that took place at Horn’s residence. The house was described as being covered in animal feces and reeking of urine, creating a deplorable environment for the animals kept there.

The cruelty was documented through a video seized by police during a raid in May 2016. The footage showed Ntembe and Destro laughing as they administered drugs to the hamster, with audible comments such as “We are going to kill it” and “it is going nuts,” highlighting the malicious intent behind their actions. The hamster was later recovered from a cage inside a cupboard at Horn’s house.

All animals involved in these cases were handed over to the RSPCA and have since been rehomed, ensuring they are no longer subjected to such cruelty. The court proceedings culminated in sentencing that reflected the severity of the offenses. Horn received an 18-month community order, 250 hours of unpaid work, a fine of £380, and a five-year ban from keeping dogs, which expired in January 2022. Destro was initially sentenced to eight weeks in prison and fined £415, along with a ten-year ban on keeping any animals, though this was later reduced to 12 months’ community service, 80 hours of unpaid work, and a two-year ban that expired in January 2019. Ntembe was sentenced to four months in prison and received an eight-year ban on keeping any animals, which remains in effect until February 2025.

These cases underscore the ongoing issues of animal cruelty in Lancaster and the importance of vigilant law enforcement and animal welfare organizations in protecting vulnerable creatures from such heinous acts.