OFFENDER JAILED OVER ARMED RAID TO RECOVER PET DOG IN PETERHEAD
A man named Michael Thompson, aged 27, was involved in a violent incident aimed at retrieving his pet Pug called Coco.The dispute stemmed from a bitter feud over the ownership of the dog following their breakup, with Thompson having a contentious relationship with his ex-lover Alexandria Ackers.
On June 29, 2020, Thompson and two accomplices stormed Alexandria's flat in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, masked and armed with various weapons including poles, crowbars, a knife, and what was believed to be a blow torch.
Alexandria, fearing for her safety and that of Coco, managed to lock the dog in the bathroom and defended herself with a frying pan during the attack, which resulted in her being injured when she was struck with a knife.
Despite her efforts and some neighbors hearing the commotion, the assailants fled the scene.
One of the raiders later remarked to police, "All this for a f***ing dog.
It is only a Pug, not a real breed." The incident was part of ongoing conflict, with the night before the raid, Michael Thompson had returned Coco to a friend’s house, and during the attack, Alexandria was recognized despite Thompson wearing a balaclava.
Thompson, along with Michael Poynter and John Gallagher, all have previous criminal records, including a 12-year sentence for robbery in Poynter’s case.
They were caught later while traveling in a taxi to Aberdeen and subsequently appeared in court.
Thompson was sentenced to four years in prison, Poynter received three years and seven months, and Gallagher was jailed for 21 months.
The court highlighted the triviality of the crime, noting that Thompson's concern was primarily for the well-being of Coco, which resulted in the violent assault over a pet.,
