FRANKIE WILLIAMS FROM ST HELEN AUCKLAND CONVICTED FOR CRUELTY TO PET LURCHER IN BISHOP AUCKLAND

Frankie Williams, a resident of Melrose Drive in St Helen Auckland, located near Bishop Auckland, was officially convicted in 2018 for acts of cruelty towards his pet lurcher named Rocky. The case drew significant attention due to the severity of the neglect and the subsequent rescue efforts that highlighted the importance of animal welfare laws in the region.

Williams was found guilty of failing to provide Rocky with the necessary nutrition to meet his basic needs, a violation of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The charges stemmed from an incident where Williams placed an online advertisement offering Rocky, a male lurcher with a white and tan coat, for free, claiming he was seeking a good home for the dog. However, concerns arose when a member of the public viewed the advertisement and noticed the dog’s emaciated condition in the accompanying picture.

Disturbed by the apparent neglect, the concerned individual took immediate action by collecting Rocky and contacting the RSPCA. The animal welfare organization responded swiftly, bringing Rocky to the Happier Days for Strays shelter in Sunderland for urgent care. When Rocky was rescued, he was found to be in a dire state of malnutrition, with his skeletal frame clearly visible beneath his skin. The dog was severely underweight, weighing only 14.15 kilograms, whereas a typical male lurcher of his age and size would normally weigh between 25 and 28 kilograms.

Veterinary examinations and blood tests confirmed that Rocky’s poor condition was not due to any underlying medical illness but was solely the result of neglect. The inspector from the RSPCA, Stephanie Baines, described Rocky’s condition as shocking, noting that he was extremely thin, with pressure sores on all four legs and on his shoulder blades. Rocky exhibited signs of weakness, lethargy, and trembling when standing, and he was unsteady on his feet when walking. Fortunately, after receiving proper care and nutrition at the shelter, Rocky gradually began to recover.

Since his rescue, Rocky has been adopted into a new, caring home, where he is now receiving the love and attention he was denied under Williams’s care. The court proceedings resulted in Williams receiving a 12-month conditional discharge, along with orders to pay £700 in costs and a £20 victim surcharge. Notably, there was no ban imposed on Williams from owning animals in the future.

Additional details about Frankie Williams reveal that he describes himself on Instagram as an “MMA fighter full time and reptile breeder in my spare time,” which adds a layer of complexity to his profile. The case underscores the ongoing importance of animal welfare enforcement in the North East region, particularly in areas like Bishop Auckland and St Helen Auckland, where community members remain vigilant about the treatment of animals.