SIMON THOMAS OF HACKNEY CONVICTED FOR BRUTAL DOG BEATING IN LONDON

On Wednesday, November 8, 2023, a disturbing incident unfolded in the rear garden of a block of flats in Hackney, London, where a man identified as Simon Thomas was caught on camera repeatedly assaulting a young XL Bully dog with a shovel. The footage, captured by a concerned resident, showed Thomas striking the defenseless animal, later named Zeus by rescuers, multiple times in the head with the large tool, revealing a shocking level of cruelty.

Zeus, an approximately 8-month-old puppy, was severely injured during the attack. The injuries included significant trauma to the head, bleeding in the brain, shattered teeth, and fractured ribs. The severity of his condition prompted immediate intervention from animal rescue volunteers from XL Bully Rescue and Foundation, who responded swiftly to the scene. Police officers also arrived to assist in the rescue efforts.

Following the attack, police took Zeus to an animal hospital for urgent medical treatment. Despite the efforts of veterinary staff, the extent of his injuries was devastating. Due to the breed's legal status and the severity of his injuries, police made the difficult decision to euthanize Zeus. The dog was initially held in police kennels while investigations continued, but ultimately, the decision was made to put him to sleep to prevent further suffering.

Simon Thomas later surrendered himself to the police station, where he was formally charged with animal cruelty. During the court proceedings, Thomas pleaded not guilty, claiming that he was not identifiable in the video footage. However, after a brief trial, he was convicted of the charges. His sentencing was scheduled for February 2, 2024.

Despite widespread public outrage over the cruelty inflicted upon Zeus and a petition from Lady Freethinker urging the justice system to impose a harsher sentence, Thomas was released with minimal punishment. His sentence included a contribution towards costs and a one-year ban on owning dogs, which is set to expire in February 2025.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said, “After a viral video of a man beating a dog, Ace, with a shovel, Status Dogs Unit officers arrested and charged a male. He was remanded and pleaded not guilty. At trial, the charge was altered to a Section 4 (2) offence for allowing suffering, as he claimed it wasn’t him hitting the dog. He admitted that the dog was his.”

Animal rescue volunteers described the attack on Zeus as one of the most horrific they had ever witnessed. They highlighted that the abuse and abandonment of XL Bullies had surged following the UK Government’s ban on the breed, announced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in September 2023. One volunteer remarked, “Because [XL Bullies] are on the banned list, people are getting rid of them, and this is where they’re ending up. There are loads more like him out there.”

The group further explained that the government’s ban had led to an increase in the number of these dogs being abandoned or given away for free, often ending up in the wrong hands. They expressed concern over the rising number of suffering XL Bullies, many of whom are being seized, neglected, or euthanized. One volunteer, visibly emotional, recounted recent cases, including a dog seized from police last Monday after being chained and beaten, and two others abandoned after being thrown from a car.

Rescue organizations are overwhelmed, with no available kennels to accommodate the increasing number of dogs in need. The volunteer lamented, “We are full. No kennels are taking them now. Where do these animals go? There are hundreds and hundreds of XL Bullies suffering, being put to sleep, or abandoned. If nothing changes, we will see much more of this. This is absolute animal brutality.”

She emphasized that the problem lies with the owners, not the dogs themselves. “These are dogs that are being beaten, severely abused, and when we take them in, they are completely different dogs after just a few days. They show no aggression; they just want to be loved,” she said.

In conclusion, the case underscores the ongoing issues surrounding the breed ban and the rise in animal cruelty cases linked to illegal and irresponsible ownership. Simon Thomas’s conviction, coupled with the minimal sentence, has sparked debate about the adequacy of current penalties and the need for stricter enforcement to prevent such tragedies in the future.