JOHN MARTELL OF PENDLETON SENTENCED FOR CRUELTY TO DOG IN SALFORD

On November 7, 2008, John Martell, a resident of Mulberry Court in Pendleton, Salford, was sentenced to a 12-week prison term and received a lifetime ban from owning any animals. This severe punishment followed his conviction for inflicting cruelty upon his pet dog, Madison, an 18-month-old Staffordshire bull terrier-type. The incident that led to his arrest and subsequent sentencing was captured on CCTV footage, which showed Martell launching a brutal assault on Madison inside an elevator at his Salford residence.

According to court records, the attack occurred on April 22, 2008, after Madison urinated in the lift following an earlier accident in the flat. In a fit of rage, Martell kicked Madison four times, punched him three times, and stamped on his back five times. The violence was witnessed by a security guard present in the building, who recorded the assault on CCTV and promptly contacted the RSPCA for help.

The following day, on April 23, RSPCA inspectors, accompanied by officers from Greater Manchester Police, visited Martell’s home. They removed Madison from the premises and took him to a nearby veterinary clinic. The veterinarian examined Madison and found that he had swollen, puffy eyes, indicating he had suffered significant trauma during the attack. The incident was brought before the magistrates, who heard that Martell was unemployed and struggling with alcohol problems. It was also revealed that he had argued with his girlfriend immediately prior to the assault.

During the court proceedings, the chair of the bench, John Connor, described the attack as “a deliberate and sustained assault against a defenseless animal.” The RSPCA’s chief inspector, Cathy Hyde, expressed her outrage, stating, “This was one of the worst attacks on an animal that I’ve ever seen. There’s no excusing what this man did. It was a shocking, wanton act of cruelty carried out without provocation. The sentence reflects the callous and cruel nature of this case.”

Fortunately, Madison made a full recovery from his injuries and was later made available for rehoming. The court’s sentencing reflected the severity of the crime, with Martell receiving a 12-week custodial sentence and a lifetime ban on keeping animals, emphasizing the seriousness with which animal cruelty cases are treated in the region of Salford and Pendleton.