ANDREW FEENEY CONVICTED IN REDCAR FOR HIT AND RUN INVOLVING A PUPPY

Andrew Feeney, born on July 9, 1971, and residing on Haweswater Road in Redcar TS10 1LP, was convicted in 2019 for a hit-and-run incident involving a dog. Feeney, employed by Redcar-based Elite Taxis, collided with a 12-month-old Bedlington terrier/spaniel cross named Bear on Sandsend Road. CCTV footage showed the young dog pinned to the front of Feeney's taxi following the impact.

The footage revealed that after the pup fell to the ground, Feeney drove off without stopping, leaving the injured animal lying on his back and kicking his legs as bystanders rushed to help. Bear was taken to a veterinarian but suffered injuries so severe that he had to be euthanized. The vet stated that Bear could likely have survived if the taxi had halted immediately after the collision.

Prosecutor Ann Mitchell explained that Bear's owner was mowing the lawn shortly after 11 am on Tuesday, September 25, 2018, when the dog managed to climb over the garden wall. The owner saw Bear run down Runswick Avenue and onto Sandsend Road, but as he went to retrieve him, he saw the dog pinned to the front of Feeney's taxi. A Royal Mail postal worker nearby heard a loud bang, observed the taxi speeding up, and later saw the dog laid in the road with its legs in the air, noting that the taxi had not slowed and appeared to have sped up.

The owner described the incident as having a 'massive' emotional impact on their family, particularly criticizing Feeney for not stopping and for allowing the dog to be outside alone. The loss of Bear caused his partner to struggle emotionally, leading to their separation. The partner stated, 'I not only lost my beloved dog but my partner and the mother of my six children.'

Feeney denied failing to stop and report the accident, claiming he did not hit the dog. He acknowledged driving on Sandsend Road but only became aware of the incident after seeing accusations on Facebook. Hours later, he took his Skoda Octavia for repairs, telling the mechanic that the damage was caused by hitting a cat. However, the mechanic, with 18 years of experience, disputed this, suggesting the damage was unlikely to have come from a cat.

During the trial, the defense argued that the investigating officer should have inspected other similar taxis. Nonetheless, the court noted that Feeney’s taxi bore five distinctive stickers clearly visible in the footage, making it unlikely any other vehicle was responsible. The magistrates concluded that it was 'inconceivable' that another person caused the accident.

Feeney was sentenced to a fine of £962, with additional costs and charges totaling £489. He also received eight penalty points on his license. As of late September 2021, Andrew Feeney, whose full name is Thomas Andrew Feeney, became the sole director of Budget Tyres (Redcar) Limited, trading as Budget Auto Centre. He also owns Lakes Service Centre, both located on Limerick Road, Dormanstown, Redcar.