NATHAN SCOTTING FROM INSTONEVILLE SENTENCED FOR CRUELTY TO ANIMALS IN DONCASTER

Nathan Scotting, a resident of Victoria Road in the town of Instoneville, Doncaster DN6, has been convicted of a disturbing act of animal cruelty that took place in his own backyard. Born on February 25, 2002, Scotting was found guilty after a series of events that revealed his involvement in provoking and allowing the suffering of a defenseless duck.

According to court reports, Scotting deliberately goaded three puppies into attacking a duck in his garden. The incident was secretly recorded by a neighbor who witnessed the disturbing scene. The footage, presented during the trial, showed the duck being viciously attacked by the three puppies. The neighbor's recording captured Scotting approaching the scene and shaking the duck in front of the dogs, seemingly to incite them further. The neighbor was forced to stop recording temporarily to answer a work call but later saw Scotting holding the dead duck, which by that point had been killed.

Throughout the proceedings, Scotting claimed that the duck was already dead before the puppies attacked it. However, he later admitted to causing or permitting an animal fight to occur and inflicting unnecessary suffering on the bird. Prosecutor Harry Crowson described the footage as clear evidence of the cruelty involved, emphasizing the disturbing nature of the incident.

Following the incident, authorities from the RSPCA visited Scotting’s residence after a report was filed. During their inspection, they discovered a significant number of animals kept at his property, including numerous dogs, a ferret and its litter, and a hen. The deceased duck was also recovered from his home. All the dogs present at the property were seized by authorities. The court learned that Scotting owned only three of these dogs, including two named Hope and Jet.

In his defense, Francis Edusei, representing Scotting, argued that the puppies involved were still young and had managed to escape into the enclosure where the duck was kept. He explained that the commotion caused by the puppies prompted Scotting to come outside and witness the attack. Edusei admitted that Scotting’s actions in dispatching the duck were inappropriate, but emphasized that he had been a dog owner for most of his adult life and had no prior convictions related to animal cruelty.

Scotting, a father of three, is already serving time for burglary and is scheduled for release in July 2025. The court sentenced him to a 26-week custodial sentence for the recent cruelty conviction. Additionally, he received an indefinite ban on keeping dogs, although he has the option to apply for this ban to be lifted after just one year.

His case has garnered significant attention in the local community, highlighting ongoing concerns about animal welfare and the responsibilities of pet owners in the region of Doncaster.