LYNDAY NETHERTON'S BRUTAL ANIMAL CRUELTY IN BLYTH: DRUNKEN OUTBURST IN NORTHUMBERLAND

Lyndsay Netherton, born around 1981 and residing at 7 Merton Square in Blyth, Northumberland, was involved in a disturbing incident that drew the attention of local authorities and animal welfare advocates alike. The incident unfolded in Blyth Market Place, a central location in the town, where witnesses observed her engaging in violent and reckless behavior towards her pet dogs.

According to reports, the events took place on July 2 of the previous year, around 4:15 pm. A concerned bystander, who was present at the scene, called the police after witnessing Netherton's alarming conduct. The police responded promptly, arriving at the scene to find her in a highly intoxicated state. Her behavior was captured on a body-worn camera worn by an officer, revealing her to be barely able to speak or stand. She was shouting, swearing, and exhibiting signs of severe intoxication, including foaming at the mouth, dilated pupils, and slurred speech.

During the court proceedings, it was detailed that Netherton was visibly irate, holding a bottle of vodka and drinking from it openly. The witness described how she bent down and used her open hand to strike one of her dogs. The witness recounted seeing her push the dog down onto the concrete floor repeatedly, with her gritting her teeth as she did so. The dog's head was pressed against the ground multiple times in an aggressive manner, and the witness observed her kicking both dogs during the incident. The distressing scene culminated when one of the animals managed to break free and ran towards the witness, seemingly seeking protection. The witness noted scars all over the dog's face, indicating prior injuries, and observed that the dog remained close to her despite Netherton calling it back.

Further details revealed that Netherton attempted to stand but lost her balance, falling face-first onto the ground. She had to support herself by holding onto a nearby tree. When officers arrived, they found her in a state of extreme intoxication, with her behavior and physical condition indicating a serious level of drunkenness. She was observed to be wetting herself, and her condition was deemed to be quite severe.

Despite her claims of innocence regarding the animal cruelty charges, Netherton was convicted after a trial. She faced two counts of animal cruelty, which she denied, but the evidence presented was compelling enough for a conviction. Prosecutor Niamh Reading described the witness's account, emphasizing the aggressive and violent manner in which Netherton treated her dogs. The court was shown photographs and evidence of the injuries sustained by the animals, highlighting the severity of the abuse.

In her defense, Graham Crouth, representing Netherton, argued that she still denied attacking her pets and announced her intention to appeal the conviction. He also stated that she does not have a drinking problem or an alcohol dependency, suggesting that her intoxication was an isolated incident triggered by a specific event that day.

As for sentencing, magistrates handed down a 12-month community order, requiring her to complete 100 hours of unpaid work. She was also ordered to pay £715 in costs and charges. The chairing magistrate, Iain McCourt, explicitly stated that banning her from owning animals would be