HORRIFIC CRUELTY BY HESSIN FAMILY IN NEWBOLD VERDON LEAVES PUPPIES TO STARVE

The Hessin family, residing in the village of Newbold Verdon, has been at the center of a disturbing case of animal cruelty that shocked the local community and animal welfare authorities alike. The family, consisting of Sam Hessin, born on November 15, 1973, his daughter Hazel Hessin, born on December 8, 1994, and his son Damon Hessin, also known as Damon Taylor, born on July 2, 1991, all lived at different addresses within the region, with the family previously based in Melton Mowbray.

Their heinous actions involved the deliberate confinement and neglect of eight Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppies, which they kept locked inside a room within their home. Over a period of several weeks, the puppies were left to suffer in silence, with their desperate cries for help going unheard by neighbors and passersby. The family’s neglect was so severe that some of the puppies resorted to cannibalism, eating their deceased littermates in a bid to survive. Despite the audible distress signals, no intervention was made until the situation reached a tragic climax.

On May 1, 2013, the RSPCA received a tip-off from the family’s landlady, prompting a raid on the Hessins’ residence. The investigators, upon entering the property, were met with a scene of utter horror. The kitchen was in a state of complete disarray, with thick layers of dog feces covering the floor and a pervasive, putrid smell filling the air. Among the remains of the puppies, the inspectors discovered two skulls, which served as stark evidence of the brutal neglect and starvation that had taken place. The vet’s assessment indicated that the puppies had been approximately six months old at the time of their death, and the condition of their remains was described as advanced decomposition.

Prosecutors, during the court proceedings, described the scene as deeply distressing and shocking, emphasizing the suffering endured by the helpless animals. The case drew widespread condemnation from animal welfare groups and the local community, who expressed outrage at the cruelty inflicted upon these innocent creatures.

In the aftermath of the investigation, the Hessin family faced legal consequences. Despite the severity of their actions, the sentences handed down by Leicester Magistrates’ Court in December 2013 were considered relatively lenient. Damon and Hazel Hessin were both banned from keeping animals for life and received suspended sentences. Their mother, Sam Hessin, was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, she was required to pay an £80 victim surcharge. The court’s decision reflected a complex balance between justice and leniency, but the community’s outrage over the case persisted, highlighting the ongoing concern for animal welfare and the need for stricter enforcement of animal cruelty laws in the region.