NATHAN THOMPSON'S BRUTAL CRUELTY IN WEST CUMBRIA: DOG BEATEN TO DEATH AND SET ON FIRE

Nathan Thompson, a resident of Melbreak Avenue in Cleator Moor, West Cumbria, was convicted in 2023 for a heinous series of acts of animal cruelty that culminated in the death of a young border collie named Daisy. The disturbing case, heard at Carlisle Crown Court, revealed a pattern of systematic abuse that lasted for weeks, with neighbors witnessing and hearing the distressing events unfold.

According to court reports, Thompson had brought Daisy into his home shortly after moving into his terraced property in 2022. Over the course of the late summer months, neighbors repeatedly heard unsettling sounds emanating from his residence. These included loud banging, shouting, and the unmistakable yelping and crying of a dog in pain. Witnesses described hearing thuds and crashes followed by the agonized cries of Daisy, which persisted night after night, causing significant distress among those living nearby.

Neighbors recounted their emotional reactions to the ongoing abuse. One woman, overwhelmed by the constant noise and suffering, was seen sitting on her back doorstep crying as she listened to Daisy being beaten. The court heard that Thompson’s mistreatment of the puppy was severe and frequent. He was observed grabbing Daisy by the scruff of her neck, dragging her, and forcefully pushing her head into the grass. There were also reports of him hosing her down while she was tied up, further illustrating the extent of his cruelty.

Prosecutor Andrew Evans detailed the escalating violence, stating, “It is the Crown’s case that the defendant, in rage and anger, repeatedly beat Daisy over the final few months of her life, and that the beatings she received, either with punches, kicks, or the use of the metal cage door, caused the puppy distress and injury.” The court was told that the frequency of these assaults increased as her life drew to a close, with most days marked by a “bang and a yelp.”

Tragically, Daisy died sometime on September 5, 2022, though the exact time of her death remains unknown. The court heard that later that same day, Thompson disposed of her body by placing it into a large metal bin in his backyard. In an attempt to cover up the crime, he then set a fierce fire using an unknown accelerant, which destroyed the remains to such an extent that a veterinary post-mortem could not determine the precise cause of death. It was only two days later that neighbors discovered the charred remains and alerted the police.

Thompson admitted to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, but he initially claimed that Daisy had escaped and was unharmed. This version of events was dismissed by the judge after hearing evidence, including harrowing accounts from neighbors who had tried to intervene and stop the abuse.

Recorder Julian Shaw sentenced Thompson to 27 months in prison, describing his actions as “cruelty” and “sadistic,” emphasizing the use of “significant force.” The judge questioned the severity of the harm inflicted, asking, “What greater harm could there be to that animal than you killed it?” He also condemned Thompson’s awareness of his actions, stating, “You must have known, day after day after day, what you were doing was grotesque.”

In addition to the custodial sentence, Thompson received a lifetime ban related to animal cruelty. The case has drawn significant attention in West Cumbria, highlighting the importance of animal welfare and the consequences of such brutal conduct.