MATHEW RUSSELL FROM ABERGAVENNY CONVICTED OF ANIMAL CRUELTY IN GWENT

Mathew Luke Russell, born around 2003 and residing on Underhill Crescent in Abergavenny, has been found guilty of serious animal cruelty offenses following a disturbing series of incidents involving his dogs. The case, which has garnered significant attention, highlights the neglect and abuse inflicted upon two pitbull-type dogs, Brad and Mercy, by Russell, who also operated under the name Loose Leads Abergavenny.

On 23 July 2024, Russell pleaded guilty to one of the charges and was subsequently convicted of another related offense. The allegations against him include causing unnecessary suffering to Brad, a pitbull-type dog, by physically assaulting him, and neglecting Mercy, another pitbull, by failing to provide essential veterinary care for her chronic ear disease. Mercy was found to be suffering from untreated skin conditions and a painful ear infection, conditions that had been left unaddressed for weeks.

The case came to light after a social media video surfaced, showing Russell violently beating Brad. The footage depicts him striking the dog six times with his fist, then pulling Brad by his collar and hitting him a seventh time on the head. The video went viral, prompting police and animal welfare authorities to investigate.

Gwent Police and the RSPCA responded to the incident, with Deputy Chief Inspector Gemma Cooper recounting her visit to Russell’s property on Underhill Crescent on 3 August 2023. During the operation, authorities discovered that Russell’s mother informed them that her son had been absent for several days following the viral video. She also revealed that three of Russell’s dogs had been rehomed by three men who visited the property, leaving only Mercy at the residence.

Inspectors observed that Mercy was in poor health, with patches of missing fur and scabs across her body. Her ears, which had been cropped, showed clear signs of severe infection and self-trauma, with redness, fur loss, and scratching evident. A microchip scan was unsuccessful, indicating she was unregistered. Animal Rescue Officer Sian Burton confirmed that Mercy was found in a shed with no access to food, water, or a comfortable resting area. When given water, Mercy drank voraciously, indicating her extreme thirst.

Mercy was seized by police and taken to the Gwent Police veterinary clinic at Merthyr Tydfil for examination. The attending veterinarian reported that her weight was appropriate for her size but that she had numerous lesions, areas of fur loss, and signs of long-term neglect. Both ears showed evidence of self-trauma, with thickened canal linings, crusting, and severe inflammation, especially in the left ear, which was almost completely blocked. The veterinarian emphasized that these conditions had persisted for at least four weeks, during which Mercy suffered unnecessarily due to Russell’s failure to seek veterinary treatment.

In court, a veterinary expert testified that Brad had endured physical pain and mental distress as a direct result of Russell’s violent actions. Similarly, Mercy’s suffering was attributed to Russell’s neglect in failing to address her ongoing ear infections for an extended period. The court was told that these conditions could have been alleviated with proper care, but Russell’s neglect prolonged her suffering.

Following the case, Deputy Chief Inspector Cooper expressed gratitude to Gwent Police and the witnesses who provided the social media footage, acknowledging the distress caused by the case. The investigation also revealed that Russell has a history of animal abuse, as he is related to Josh Heard, a convicted animal abuser.

In June 2024, Russell, who previously lived in Golwg Y Castell, Cardigan, admitted to three offenses under the Dangerous Dogs Act involving Brad, Mercy, and a third dog named Rambo. His sentencing included a 26-week custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months, along with 20 days of rehabilitation activity, 180 hours of unpaid work, and a fine of £650 plus a £154 victim surcharge. Additionally, Russell received a 10-year ban on owning or caring for any animals, which will expire in July 2034.