SIMON HANCOCK HORRIFICALLY SHOOTS DOG IN HEDGE END AND LEAVES HIM FOR DEAD

In a disturbing case that shocked the local community of Hedge End, Simon James Hancock, born on April 20, 1982, and residing at Terrier Close in Hedge End, Southampton, was convicted of a brutal animal cruelty incident that took place on July 11, 2018. The court heard how Hancock deliberately shot his former partner’s 15-month-old dog, Jet, four times in the head using an air rifle, an act of violence that inflicted unimaginable suffering on the young animal.

Following the shooting, Hancock callously abandoned Jet in a nearby wooded area close to his home in Hedge End. The dog was left to endure the pain and injuries alone for five agonizing days. During this period, Jet was found to be in a severely compromised state, having collapsed in the undergrowth and become infested with thousands of fly eggs around the pellet entry points. The discovery of the injured dog prompted an investigation by animal welfare authorities, who identified him through his microchip as belonging to Hancock’s former partner.

Authorities recovered an air rifle from Hancock’s residence, which forensic analysis confirmed was the weapon used in the attack. Hancock, however, claimed that the rifle had been left on his doorstep the morning police executed a search warrant, a statement that was not accepted by the court. The investigation revealed the extent of Jet’s injuries and the cruelty inflicted upon him.

Jet’s road to recovery was slow and arduous. The injuries he sustained resulted in lasting damage, including impaired hearing and vision. The court was told that a significant amount of money—more than £5,000—was spent on veterinary care to save him. Despite the trauma, Jet has shown remarkable resilience and now enjoys a happy, friendly demeanor, thriving in his new home. Veterinarians had to remove an ear canal due to the extent of the damage, leading to his hearing loss, and his vision has also been affected by the injuries.

Hancock’s account of events included claims that a friend named Paul, whom he said he could not trace and did not know the surname of, had given Jet to his ex-partner after the dog allegedly bit her daughter. However, the court did not believe Hancock’s version of events. In May 2019, he was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

Animal welfare inspector Graham Hammond described the case as a shocking example of cruelty. He stated, “Jet was treated in a shockingly brutal manner, being shot in the head four times, then dumped while still alive but horrendously injured. You cannot begin to imagine the suffering this dog went through during the five days he was left alone and injured.”

Hammond added that Jet’s recovery has been a testament to his resilience and that he now displays a joyful and friendly nature. The court sentenced Hancock to 200 hours of community service, ordered him to pay £1,600 in costs, and imposed a ban on keeping animals for ten years, which will expire in June 2029.