JOHN BUNTING FROM PRESTON SHAMES ANIMAL IN LYTHAM ST ANNES WITH BRUTAL BEATING VIDEO

John Christian Joshua Bunting, born on 24 March 1995, has been convicted of animal cruelty after a disturbing incident involving his pet dog, Disco, which took place in Preston and Lytham St Annes. Bunting, who previously resided on Garstang Road North in Preston and later moved to Sherwood Road, Lytham St Annes, was caught on camera inflicting severe abuse on his dog, leading to his guilty plea under the Animal Welfare Act.

The case came to light after police contacted the RSPCA on 8 September 2018, following Bunting's arrest and the seizure of Disco. The dog was taken to a veterinary practice for assessment. RSPCA inspector Alison Fletcher described her distress upon meeting Disco, noting that the dog was extremely frightened and showed no visible injuries but was highly distressed when touched. She recounted her efforts to calm Disco and place him in a kennel, which took about 20 minutes of patient reassurance.

The evidence against Bunting included graphic video footage captured at his residence. The first clip shows Bunting entering the rear garden of a property on Garstang Road North in Wesham, walking across a grassy area that is partially out of view. A dog’s cry is audible as Bunting appears at the corner of the house, holding Disco by the scruff of his neck. Bunting then strikes the dog multiple times with his right hand while carrying him into the house, causing Disco to cry out repeatedly.

The second video clip reveals shadowy figures behind a frosted glass door of the house. Sounds of slapping and the dog vocalizing are heard. When the door opens, a male voice shouts “Get out,” and Disco runs out into the garden, chased by Bunting. The dog then sits with his back to the garden wall, facing the house, and remains there as Bunting re-enters the house.

The third clip depicts Bunting standing over Disco before grabbing him by the neck and carrying him to a brick-built outhouse. Inside, Bunting is seen repeatedly hitting something with a long piece of polystyrene, though it is unclear whether he is striking Disco. Bunting admitted in an interview that he was hitting the dog, claiming he was trying to move Disco from behind a door to clean the floor after the dog urinated and defecated inside the house. The court heard that Bunting’s handling of Disco was driven by the dog’s reluctance to go outside and his urination and defecation habits, which Bunting found inconvenient.

Veterinary experts testified that Disco’s behavior suggested he had been subjected to shouting or violence during his bathroom routines, leading to anxiety associated with both the garden and the house. This anxiety was believed to have been caused by the punishment and rough handling, which created a traumatic environment for the dog. Inspector Fletcher described Disco’s condition as being in turmoil, suffering both physically and mentally. However, she expressed optimism about his recovery, noting that with love, patience, and proper care at the RSPCA Southport, Ormskirk and District Branch Animal Centre, Disco was beginning to show signs of improvement and was expected to find a new home soon.

In sentencing, the court imposed an 18-month community order, including 15 days of rehabilitation activities, 300 hours of unpaid work, and ordered Bunting to pay £500 in costs along with an £85 victim surcharge. Additionally, Bunting was disqualified from keeping animals for four years, a period that expired in June 2023. This case highlights the serious consequences of animal cruelty and the importance of animal welfare laws in protecting vulnerable creatures from abuse.