NICOLA BRADLEY AND TRACY DIXON FROM HARRABY SENTENCED FOR SADISTIC TORTURE AND MURDER OF PARROT IN CARLISLE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, Nicola Bradley, born around 1988 and residing on Welsh Road in Upperby, Carlisle, along with Tracy Dixon, born approximately in 1976 and living on Warnell Drive in Harraby, Carlisle, have been convicted of heinously torturing and killing a beloved pet parrot named Sparky. The incident unfolded in the early hours of July 30, 2022, and has since garnered significant media attention due to the cruelty involved.

According to court reports, the two women were picked up from a night out by Paul Crooks, who took them to his home at approximately 5:30 am. As the morning progressed, the women continued drinking alcohol while Mr. Crooks went to bed. He later woke at around 8:30 am to discover that his pet parrot, Sparky, had been subjected to a series of malicious acts. He found that the cage had been tampered with, with shaving foam spilled over it, and the bird itself was unresponsive and unrecognizable. The scene was distressing: Sparky’s head was hanging limply out of the cage, and the bird appeared to be in a state of severe distress.

Mr. Crooks confronted the women, who then revealed that they had inflicted the injuries on Sparky using various household items. They had covered the bird with Mr Muscle cleaner, Brasso, furniture polish, and even daubed it with gloss paint. Additionally, the women admitted to hitting Sparky with a tea towel. Shockingly, they also attempted to feed the injured bird to Mr. Crooks’ dog, and in a further act of cruelty, they placed Sparky into a tumble dryer, which was subsequently turned on. Witnesses reported that Bradley had snapped Sparky’s neck, while Dixon claimed the bird was “gasping” when removed from the dryer.

Following these events, police were called, and both women were interviewed. During questioning, they attempted to shift blame onto each other for the brutal acts committed against the defenseless animal. The case went to trial in July 2023, where both Bradley and Dixon denied causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal. However, magistrates found them guilty of the charges.

During the trial, Paul Crooks testified about Sparky’s popularity among his friends, highlighting that the parrot was known for singing the national anthem and theme tunes from popular soap operas like Coronation Street and Emmerdale. The court was told that the cruelty inflicted upon Sparky was beyond comprehension and deeply disturbing.

Judge Richard Archer delivered the sentence, condemning the women’s actions as “sadistic torture” that essentially led to Sparky’s death. He emphasized the gravity of their cruelty, stating, “It is frankly beyond comprehension how anyone could treat an animal in his way.” Both Nicola Bradley and Tracy Dixon were sentenced to 25 months in prison. Furthermore, they were banned from owning or keeping any animals indefinitely, a measure intended to prevent further acts of cruelty in the future.

This case has left a lasting impact on the community and serves as a stark reminder of the importance of animal welfare and the consequences of cruelty. The incident has been widely reported by local and national media outlets, including Cumbria Crack, Daily Mail, and BBC News, highlighting the severity of the crime and the justice served.