Barry Man Fined £500 For Firing At Two Dogs With A Catapult

A man has been fined £500 after he was caught on CCTV firing at two dogs with a catapult. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Stephen Charles Hammond (d.o.b 01/06/1955) of Picketston Lane, Picketston, Barry, appeared at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 5 April at 10am and pleaded guilty to one animal welfare offence. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The court heard that Hammond, entered a Picketston Lane garden last September and fired a catapult at a tan and white Jack Russell terrier, called Coco, and a tri coloured Jack Russell terrier, called Alfie. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

RSPCA inspector Simon Evans said: “Luckily there were no injures to the dogs, but there was certainly intent here to injure even though there weren’t physically harmed. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The footage is shocking to see someone just fire at these dogs with a catapult, who from the footage look understandably frightened.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Magistrates fined Hammond £500 and he was ordered to pay £300 court costs and a £60 victim surcharge. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​