CONVICTED (2017) | Richard Ridley, born 28 August 1987, last known address Braid Crescent, Billingham TS23 – subjected a dog to violence during a campaign of abuse against his then partner; ripped the head off a pigeon in a rage In June 2017 paranoid violent drug taker Richard Ridley was sentenced to a total of 13-and-a-half years for domestic abuse, including nine-and-a-half in prison. The jail term was cut to eight years in March 2018. Ridley’s ex-partner Gemma Willis was subjected to regular attacks by him, during which he punched her, smashed her head through glass windows and dragged her up flights of stairs by her hair. Dusty was subjected to sadistic cruelty by Richard Ridley Gemma’s pet dog, Rottweiler/German Shepherd cross Dusty, was also targeted by Ridley, who once ripped the head off a live pigeon in a fit of rage. Gemma described how the thug “kicked and threw shovels and hammers at [Dusty]. He was choked, hit with planks of wood and shot with BB guns”. 2022 image of lifelong headcase Richard Ridley Although Gemma was desperate to escape, she knew she couldn’t leave Dusty behind but was unable to find a refuge able to take pets. In the end, she received support from the Dogs Trust under their Freedom Project. This provides temporary foster care for dogs belonging to families fleeing domestic violence. The service runs in London and the Home Counties, Yorkshire, the North East, North West and Scotland. Daily Mail Teesside Live Mirror