KRISTEN AND TODD COOPER BRUTALIZE ANIMALS AND ATTACK IN BRANSGORE

Kristen Christopher Cooper, born on May 2, 1999, and Todd James Edward Cooper, born around 1994, both residents of 24 Westbury Close in Bransgore, Christchurch BH23 8AZ, have been convicted of heinous acts involving the torture and mutilation of wild animals. The brothers, known to have a criminal history and identified as gypsies, engaged in a series of disturbing videos that depicted the suffering of hares and deer, showcasing their sadistic tendencies.

These videos, filmed during 2021 and 2022, revealed a level of cruelty that shocked even seasoned investigators. In one particularly gruesome incident, the brothers mutilated a deer’s genitalia to such an extent that officials could no longer distinguish whether the animal was male or female. In another disturbing act, they stabbed a deer in the eye on camera, inflicting extreme pain and suffering. The footage captured the deer in agony, highlighting the brothers’ blatant disregard for animal welfare.

Further footage showed a hare being held by its head while a dog was encouraged to bite it, a scene that exemplified their cruelty. A veterinarian, who reviewed the videos as part of the investigation, described the material as the “worst case of animal abuse” he had encountered in his 24-year career. He remarked, “These images will stay with me forever,” emphasizing the severity of the crimes.

Additional videos depicted deer being dragged by their antlers, with some appearing to have spinal injuries, possibly caused by being hit by a vehicle. One particularly disturbing clip showed a man raising a wooden object above a helpless deer’s head, as if preparing to strike it. The police uncovered these videos after seizing a phone belonging to Kristen and Todd Cooper, which contained the shocking footage.

Kristen Cooper faced seven charges of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, while Todd Cooper was charged with one count. The brothers appeared at Crown Court to answer these charges, and after being released on bail, they were re-arrested just days later. Their second arrest followed an attack on a mother and her son outside a Co-Op store on Betsy Lane in Bransgore on March 4, 2023.

In court, a video was shown depicting the brothers alongside an unidentified third man, ramming another vehicle before exiting and attacking it with a catapult, a crowbar, and a baseball bat. The victims, including the mother, testified that they believed the attackers intended to kill them during the assault. The court heard that the attack was violent and frightening, with the victims genuinely fearing for their lives.

Prosecutor Stuart Ellacott described the brothers’ animal abuse as “sadistic,” emphasizing that the animals were in “distress and suffering” during the footage. Kristen Cooper, who has a criminal record with eight convictions for ten offences, was defended by lawyer Aleks Lloyd, who stated that this was the first time his client had been in custody and that he was “getting his head down and getting on with it.” Todd Cooper, with 24 convictions for 52 offences, was represented by Ruba Huleihel, who explained that her client has ADHD and was exposed to violence from a very young age.

Judge Peter Henry sentenced both men for multiple offences committed in the New Forest and Dorset, including actual bodily harm, criminal damage, and threatening behavior with offensive weapons. The judge expressed disappointment that, despite their upbringing in the New Forest, they showed no respect for defenseless creatures. He remarked, “It was being filmed, other people were present, and others seemed to find it all very amusing.”

As part of their sentences, both men received restraining orders prohibiting any contact with the mother and son they attacked. The case also included evidence of hare coursing, a cruel sport involving testing dogs’ ability to chase and catch hares, which the brothers participated in along with an unidentified accomplice.

Police Constable Sebastian Haggett of Dorset Police’s Rural Crime Team, who led the investigation alongside Hampshire police, described the case as “without doubt some of the most horrifying offences I have ever investigated.” Senior Crown Prosecutor Angharad Thomas from CPS Wessex stated, “The level of cruelty displayed in this case is beyond comprehension. The brothers showed an inexplicable disregard for the welfare of these animals living peacefully in the wild. An expert witness described Kristen and Todd Cooper’s actions as the worst case of animal abuse they had ever encountered in their 24-year veterinary careers.”

Kristen Cooper was sentenced to five years in prison and received a 10-year criminal behavior order, along with a ban from owning a dog for ten years. Todd Cooper was sentenced to three years and eight months behind bars. Both were also subjected to bans on contacting the victims and restrictions related to their criminal conduct. The case has garnered significant attention from local and national media, highlighting the severity of their crimes and the ongoing efforts to combat animal cruelty and violent behavior in the region.