CALLUM RICHARDSON AND ELLEN SYMON FROM DAREWEN SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC ANIMAL CRUELTY IN BLACKBURN AND DARWEN

Callum Richardson, born on June 14, 1999, residing at 111 Heatley Close, Blackburn BB2 2LR, and Ellen Jayne Symon, born on May 17, 2000, of Hazel Avenue, Darwen BB3 3AJ, have been officially banned from keeping animals for life following a series of heinous acts of cruelty that resulted in the death and severe injuries of multiple cats under their care.

Both individuals pleaded guilty to charges of causing unnecessary suffering to three cats, which included a black and white male cat named Lucifer, a female grey and white kitten called Coco, and a female tabby and white cat named Ellie. The court heard disturbing details of their abuse, including the tragic death of Coco, who was found dead in Heatley Close, Blackburn, after suffering blunt force trauma. Evidence indicated she had been thrown against a wall, leading to her fatal injuries.

Lucifer was discovered with 13 fractured ribs, a fractured leg, and a fractured cheekbone, injuries consistent with severe physical abuse. Ellie was found unable to walk due to a broken leg, which the couple later claimed was caused during a domestic argument when Ellie was struck with a sweeping brush. Despite medical intervention, Ellie required a leg amputation but eventually recovered. However, tests failed to determine the cause of the neurological issues that affected the other two cats, raising concerns about ongoing abuse.

The RSPCA was alerted after a local cat charity reported that they had taken in five cats from the couple’s residence at their request. Several of these cats exhibited injuries suggesting deliberate harm. Inspector Danni Jennings collected the animals on November 4, 2020, and transported them to the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital for urgent veterinary care. Two cats struggled to walk, and Ellie was found with a broken front leg. The couple admitted that Ellie’s injury resulted from being hit with a sweeping brush during a domestic dispute.

Veterinary assessments revealed that two of the cats had to be euthanized due to their injuries, which included multiple fractures and severe trauma. The remaining cats received treatment for fleas and worms and were later returned to good health. The investigation continued, and on January 26, 2021, authorities found Coco’s body in a shoe box at the Heatley Close residence. Both Richardson and Symon accused each other of killing the kitten by throwing her against a wall, with a post-mortem confirming blunt force trauma as the likely cause of death, suggesting multiple instances of abuse.

Further disturbing developments occurred in August 2021 when the RSPCA responded to reports of Lucifer, who was found severely injured and in pain. The one-year-old cat was taken to the veterinary hospital, where it was discovered that he had a fractured right hind leg, multiple old fractures of the cheekbone, and 13 fractured ribs. Lucifer was treated with a pin in his leg and required two months of cage rest to recover. An independent veterinary expert testified that Lucifer’s injuries were consistent with repeated physical abuse, causing him significant suffering through fear, distress, and pain on multiple occasions.

In court, the expert also confirmed that Ellie’s injuries were consistent with being struck with a sweeping brush, and Coco’s injuries indicated more than one blunt force trauma, suggesting repeated abuse rather than a single incident. Both Ellie and Lucifer have since been rehomed by the RSPCA and are now in safe, caring environments.

Sentencing for Richardson and Symon included 18-week prison sentences, suspended for two years, along with 20 days of rehabilitation activity and a fine of £350 each. Additionally, they received lifetime bans from owning or caring for animals, reflecting the severity of their crimes. The case has garnered significant attention from local and national media outlets, highlighting the importance of animal welfare and the consequences of cruelty in Darwen and Blackburn.