LEICESTER MAN LUKE KEEBER CONVICTED OF ANIMAL CRUELTY AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN LEICESTER

Luke Keeber, born on November 3, 1991, and residing at Fairburn House, Aikman Avenue, Leicester LE3 9JT, was involved in a disturbing incident that led to his conviction for animal cruelty. The events unfolded on June 20, 2017, at his ex-girlfriend’s residence located on Biddle Road in the New Parks area of Leicester. During this incident, Keeber was accused of violently assaulting a seven-month-old puppy, an act that drew the attention of local residents and ultimately resulted in police intervention.

According to reports, a neighbor named Josephine Sutton, who was in her back garden at the time, heard distressing sounds coming from Keeber’s ex-girlfriend’s property. She described the noise as a dog “screaming,” which prompted her to contact the police. When officers arrived at the scene, they found and recovered a young female Bull Mastiff puppy named Mercy, who was visibly injured and in a state of distress.

During the court proceedings held at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on January 8, 2018, Mrs. Sutton recounted her experience: “I was at home in the back garden and I heard Luke shouting at the dog. I heard the dog screaming and yelping. I heard thudding as though the dog was being kicked at the fence or thrown into it.”

PC Michael Coulter, who responded to the incident at Keeber’s ex-partner’s home, provided a detailed account of Mercy’s condition. In a statement read aloud in court, he described the dog as shaking, soaking wet, and non-aggressive. He observed that Mercy’s eyes were bloodshot and swollen, and that the dog was unsteady on its legs. Coulter noted that Mercy was cowering from Keeber and sought comfort by pawing at Coulter’s legs, indicating fear and distress.

It was established that the dog belonged to Keeber but was living with his ex-girlfriend, Candice Gail Wolverson, and their three young children. Wolverson, born February 7, 1988, and also residing on Biddle Road, was initially charged with causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. However, during the trial, magistrates determined there was insufficient evidence to proceed with her case, leading to the charges against her being dropped.

In a subsequent statement, Keeber admitted to police that he had witnessed his two-year-old son pulling Mercy’s tail. He claimed that Mercy was growling and attempting to nip at his son, which prompted him to react by slapping the dog once in the face and then spraying her with a hose as a form of punishment. During his testimony, Keeber stated, “She was trying to jump round and snap at him. I run at her and punched her straight in the face. I did want to hurt her because I was extremely emotional. I hosed her down.”

He further justified his actions by saying, “I feel like a scumbag for hosing her down but I protected my child from a dog bite.” Despite his explanations, the court found that Mercy’s injuries did not align with Keeber’s account. The dog was found to have suffered multiple injuries, including hemorrhages in both eyes, swelling to her temple, crush injuries to one paw, grazes, soreness under one leg, lesions, and bruises. The magistrates concluded that the extent and nature of Mercy’s injuries were inconsistent with Keeber’s version of events.

As a result, Keeber was convicted of animal cruelty. His sentence included 120 hours of unpaid work, a fine totaling £335 to cover costs and charges, and a five-year ban from owning a dog, which expired in January 2023.

In August 2023, Keeber, now residing at Great Arler Road, Knighton, Leicester, appeared before the courts again, this time facing charges related to domestic violence. The court revealed that he had accumulated 23 previous convictions, including common assault, threatening behavior, and animal cruelty. This time, Keeber admitted to causing grievous bodily harm to his partner. The incident involved him smashing her in the face, resulting in a broken jaw and leaving her in severe pain and crying out in agony.

The court heard that during an argument at their home on Biddle Road, Leicester, Keeber threatened to “bury” his partner in front of their 11-year-old daughter. The altercation was partly recorded on a video clip, which captured the sound of the punch to her jaw followed by her cries. Recorder David Richards commented on the case, stating, “There is anguished cry – similar to the cry of that puppy you abused in 2018.”

Following the assault on February 21, 2023, the victim required reconstructive surgery, which involved the insertion of a metal plate to hold her jaw together. Although her treatment concluded in May, she continues to experience numbness and swelling. Keeber’s legal representative, Paul Prior, informed the court that Keeber still maintains contact with his children and provides financial support. He requested that the court suspend his sentence to allow Keeber to continue supporting his family, as he owns a plastering business.

In delivering his sentence, Recorder Richards expressed concern about the impact on the children but ultimately decided to suspend the two-year sentence for 18 months. Keeber was also ordered to complete 10 days of probation, attend the Building Better Relationships course, and perform 200 hours of unpaid work. The judge’s decision underscored the seriousness of his actions but also acknowledged the importance of his role as a father, despite his criminal history.