Shrewsbury man jailed for killing pet dog

A man has been jailed for killing his landlady’s beloved Pomeranian pet dog in Shrewsbury.

Richard Forbes, of no fixed abode, pled guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, intentional strangulation, possession of a class A substance and failing to provide a specimen of breath.

On June 29, 2024, the 46-year-old had been out drinking before returning home and assaulting his 64-year-old landlady, who fled into a neighbouring address. Police were contacted and Forbes was quickly arrested at the scene whilst attempting to drive away in the victim’s car.

Upon being taken into custody, Forbes boasted of having also harmed her pet dog, Comet. The victim, accompanied by officers, returned to the address where the assault had taken place and discovered the 22-year-old dog with multiple stab wounds and wrapped in a blanket.

Comet was found to have sustained a broken neck and jaw and was raced to an emergency veterinarian, who sadly had no alternative but to euthanise the animal.

Forbes was later charged and went on to plead guilty at Shrewsbury Crown Court in July 2024.

On Friday 31 January Forbes was sentenced for the charges relating to the incident on June 29, 2024, as well as grevious bodily harm for a separate incident that took place in Shrewsbury on July 28, 2023, where he assaulted several people, leaving one man with serious injuries.

The judge handed Forbes a seven-and-half-year custodial sentence for all the offences, an order banning him from owning animals for 30 years, a 10-year restraining order against his landlady and was he was disqualified from driving for six years.

Detective Constable Geoff Anslow, from Shrewsbury CID, said: “This is a horrendous case, involving a sickening act of cruelty towards a defenceless animal and a much-loved pet.

"The actions of Forbes were wicked beyond belief and have had a devastating impact upon the victim.

“I welcome the sentence handed to Forbes and hope that justice has now been achieved for the victim and Comet, whom the victim described as the sweetest little dog in the whole world.”