CASEY COOK AND CONNOR PAICE FROM MILE CROSS SENTENCED FOR CRUELTY TO PUPPY IN NORWICH

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, Casey Bernice Cook, born on August 4, 1998, of Bowers Avenue, Norwich, and her partner Connor Andrew Donald Jeffrey Paice, born on September 12, 2001, of Gresham Road, Norwich, were found guilty of causing severe suffering to a young dog. The incident took place in the Mile Cross area, where the pair abandoned a six-month-old Staffy cross named Milo, leaving him in a state of extreme pain and suffering.

According to reports, Milo was discovered with horrific injuries, including a fractured leg and burns that appeared to have been inflicted by boiling water. The injuries were so severe that the dog was suffering from infected, open sores and skin lesions that were both painful and life-threatening. The court proceedings revealed that the injuries were not thoroughly investigated at the time, but the evidence pointed to deliberate cruelty.

On January 12, 2024, RSPCA Inspector Emily Astilberry responded to a veterinary clinic in Norwich after Milo was brought in with suspicious and severe injuries. In her detailed witness statement, Inspector Astilberry described Milo as a friendly yet nervous dog who initially hesitated to approach her. She observed that Milo was underweight, limping on his back right leg, and covered in open, infected sores that emitted a foul smell.

Inspector Astilberry recounted that the sores began at Milo’s left ear, which was crusty, red, and extremely painful, then extended down his neck and along his back, stopping just above the base of his tail. The inspector noted that Milo was clearly in significant pain, struggling to settle, and exhibiting twitching skin. Any attempt to touch him caused him to cry out, highlighting the extent of his suffering.

Veterinary examinations confirmed that Milo was covered in crusted sores filled with pus, and he was markedly underweight and extremely frightened. The vet, who examined Milo, remarked that his injuries resembled those inflicted by boiling water, a comparison drawn from previous cases they had treated in South Africa. The dog had been initially found wandering in the road by a member of the public, who later learned that Milo’s injuries were so severe that they had not been properly treated or looked after.

Further investigation revealed that Milo’s owner was a relative of Casey Cook, who had contacted a friend of the family to seek help for the dog. The person who responded was convinced to take Milo to the vet, but initially lied about his origins, claiming he had found the dog wandering. It was only later that she disclosed the truth to the RSPCA officers.

During court proceedings, it was explained that Milo was the first dog owned by the couple, and they were unable to afford the necessary treatment due to their responsibilities with two young children. The couple agreed to relinquish Milo into the care of the RSPCA, which ensured he received the urgent veterinary treatment he needed. After initial care at a veterinary clinic, Milo was transferred to the RSPCA’s Block Fen Animal Centre in Cambridgeshire, where he began his recovery.

After approximately four months of care and rehabilitation, Milo was adopted by a local couple who already had a Labrador named Molly. Today, Milo is thriving in his new home, far from the cruelty he endured.

In sentencing, both Casey Cook and Connor Paice received 16-week prison sentences, suspended for 18 months. They were also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £154. Additionally, they face a ten-year ban from keeping animals, which will expire in October 2034. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness of animal cruelty and the community’s commitment to protecting vulnerable creatures from such abuse.