TIAGO DA SILVA FROM TOTTENHAM BANNED AFTER HORRIFIC ANIMAL ABUSE IN LONDON

Tiago Da Silva, a man born around 1995 and residing on Steele Road in Tottenham, London N7, has been convicted of a brutal act of animal cruelty that resulted in the death of his eight-month-old puppy, Diva. The incident, which took place in Tottenham, led to a thorough investigation by the RSPCA, revealing the horrifying extent of the injuries inflicted upon the young dog.

Da Silva, who was previously living on Seven Sisters Road in Islington, initially claimed that Diva had fallen into the shower drain after defecating in his home. He insisted that the puppy's death was accidental and that she had drowned in the shower. However, the post-mortem examination conducted by veterinary experts painted a very different picture. The examination revealed that Diva had died from internal bleeding caused by a severe blow to her liver, accompanied by other signs of trauma such as bruising and bleeding on her body.

The case was brought before Willesden Magistrates Court, where Da Silva was found guilty on December 5, 2023, of failing to protect Diva from injury. Despite his denials, the evidence against him was compelling. Diva's limp body was taken to a veterinary clinic on January 24, but sadly, she did not survive despite efforts to resuscitate her. During the veterinary assessment, it was noted that Diva had bruising on her left ear, signs of recent hemorrhaging around her left eye, and marks on her lips, all indicative of physical abuse.

Following the discovery, the RSPCA called in Inspector Shahnaz Ahmad to lead the investigation. An expert vet examined Diva’s body and concluded that her death was due to significant blood loss into her abdomen, resulting from blunt force trauma to her liver. The report detailed that the injuries were consistent with physical violence, including blows to the back of her skull and her chest. The findings strongly suggested that Diva’s injuries were not accidental, especially considering the multiple trauma sites and the nature of the injuries. The report explicitly stated that the injuries could not be explained by an accidental fall or mishap during a shower, raising suspicions of deliberate physical abuse.

In her official statement, Inspector Ahmad emphasized the importance of veterinary reports in uncovering animal cruelty. She expressed gratitude to the vet who reported the injuries, noting that without their intervention, the abuse might never have been discovered. The inspector reiterated the importance of veterinarians reporting suspected cases of animal abuse to authorities so that investigations can be carried out and justice served.

As part of his sentencing, Da Silva received a 20-week jail sentence suspended for a period, along with 150 hours of unpaid community work. Additionally, he was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £114. Most notably, he was given an indefinite ban on owning any animals in the future, effectively preventing him from acquiring pets again. This case underscores the ongoing efforts of animal welfare organizations and law enforcement in London to combat cruelty and protect vulnerable animals within the community of Tottenham and beyond.