ADELINE AND CHRIS STOPHER FROM MOSTON AND HARPURHEY SENTENCED FOR CRUELTY TO DOG WILSON

Adeline Anne Stopher, born on August 27, 1962, residing on Attleboro Road in Moston, Manchester, along with her son Chris James Stopher, born on April 12, 1988, of Church Lane in Harpurhey, Manchester, faced justice after a tragic case of animal neglect came to light. The two individuals were found guilty of allowing their pet dog, a six-year-old female named Wilson, to suffer a slow and agonizing death due to starvation.

Their neglect was uncovered when a Manchester Dogs’ Home driver arrived at their residence to collect Wilson for cremation. Upon inspection, the driver was horrified by the dog’s condition, describing her as 'totally emaciated.' Disturbed by the sight, he immediately contacted the RSPCA to investigate further. Animal welfare officers responded swiftly, leading to the arrest of both Adeline and Chris Stopher.

Veterinary examinations revealed the full extent of Wilson’s suffering. The dog was found to weigh less than half of her normal weight, having endured weeks of severe hunger. Evidence indicated that she had resorted to eating cloths in an attempt to satisfy her hunger. Additionally, a large tumour was discovered in her chest, suggesting prolonged suffering. Experts estimated that Wilson may have endured her ordeal for six weeks or longer before finally succumbing to starvation.

During court proceedings, prosecutor David McCormick stated, “Both defendants accepted responsibility for the dog and admitted that she died slowly from hunger. They acknowledged that they should have taken her to a veterinarian but made no effort to do so.” He further explained that Chris Stopher claimed he had no money on his phone, while Adeline Stopher expressed a preference for Wilson to die at home rather than be euthanized by a vet. McCormick highlighted the disturbing evidence of Wilson ingesting foreign materials, such as cloth, which indicated her desperate attempt to quell her hunger. The court was told that the couple had no explanation for neglecting Wilson for several weeks, despite being aware of her deteriorating condition.

Judge Wallace Johnson sentenced the pair to six months in jail, emphasizing the severity of their neglect. He stated, “Reports show you both have mental health factors, but these are not linked to your offending behavior. This dog died a slow and painful death as a direct result of your neglect.” The court also imposed a ban on them owning animals for ten years, although this restriction expired in January 2023.

In their defense, Alexandra Patison, representing the defendants, expressed remorse and explained that both Adeline and Chris Stopher had troubled backgrounds. She emphasized that their actions were not driven by malice but by a lack of understanding and a tendency to handle problems themselves without seeking help. She described them as deeply sorry for what happened.

Additional context about Chris Stopher’s criminal record was provided, revealing that in August 2019, he received a suspended prison sentence after sending indecent messages to an underage schoolgirl. He was also ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work, participate in a sex offender program, and undertake 25 days of rehabilitation activities. This information underscores a pattern of concerning behavior beyond the case of Wilson’s neglect.