BURNLEY ANIMAL CRUELTY: RYAN HANCOCK, MARCUS LEVERETT AND ZAK OLDFIELD COMMIT HORRIFIC ACTS

In a disturbing series of events that have shocked the community of Burnley, three young men—Ryan Hancock, Marcus Leverett, and Zak Oldfield—have been found guilty of heinous acts of animal cruelty, including dog fighting, killing cats, badgers, deer, rabbits, and birds, and sharing graphic footage of these atrocities on social media platform TikTok.

Ryan Hancock, born on July 1, 2003, residing at 2 Prestwich Street, Burnley BB11 4NZ, was at the center of these disturbing incidents. The court heard how Hancock, along with Leverett and Oldfield, targeted animals on the Stoops Estate and the surrounding areas in Burnley, engaging in brutal attacks that involved both domestic pets and wildlife.

One of the most tragic cases involved the family pet, Gatsby, a beloved cat. On March 17, 2021, witnesses saw Hancock and an unnamed youth encouraging a dog to attack Gatsby in a field behind Melrose Avenue. A member of the public captured the horrifying scene from a bedroom window, showing a lurcher dog leaping out of a backyard and chasing the cat. The footage clearly depicted Hancock and the youth inciting the attack, with one of them filming the assault on his mobile phone. Despite efforts by Gatsby’s owner to intervene, the cat was severely injured and died en route to the veterinarian. The owner’s screams and her husband's attempt to rescue Gatsby underscored the distress caused by this brutal act.

Following the attack, the owner handed Gatsby over to her husband, and tragically, the cat succumbed before reaching the vet. The incident was reported to Lancashire Police, who responded swiftly. In April 2021, police executed warrants at four properties in Burnley under the Animal Welfare Act. During these searches, authorities seized mobile phones belonging to the defendants, revealing a disturbing collection of 182 videos depicting graphic cruelty to animals. Many of these videos had been edited and set to music for sharing on TikTok.

One particularly gruesome video showed two lurchers dragging a badger from a wooden crate and attacking it. Over an eight-minute duration, the footage displayed one dog repeatedly kicking the badger while it was held by the neck and hind leg. The suffering animal was heard squealing as it was driven into woodland, where it was ultimately killed by the dogs. The footage also revealed injuries sustained by a dog named Cassie, who was attacked during the same incident but did not receive veterinary treatment.

Ryan Hancock pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal—Gatsby the cat—by encouraging a dog to attack it, failing to prevent the attack, and causing suffering to other animals such as rabbits and badgers. He also admitted to attempting to kill a badger, possessing a live badger, and organizing animal fights involving dogs and wildlife. For his crimes, Hancock was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison.

Marcus Leverett, also known as Marcus Tomlinson, admitted to causing suffering to an unnamed grey tabby cat by encouraging a dog to attack it, which resulted in the cat’s death. He also failed to provide veterinary care for a dog named Storm, suffering injuries from the fights. Leverett received a suspended sentence of 12 weeks for his involvement.

Zak Oldfield, born on March 9, 2005, and residing with his grandparents Gordon and Alison Renton at 2 Melrose Avenue, Burnley, pleaded guilty to causing suffering to Gatsby, possessing a live badger, and participating in animal fights. As a juvenile, Oldfield was given a youth referral order.

Following sentencing, RSPCA officer Jason Bowles emphasized the severity of these crimes, stating, “This group of lads was targeting animals on the council estate they lived on as well as wildlife in the surrounding area. We found awful footage on their mobile phones that showed extreme cruelty to animals. Many of the photos and videos had been set to music and edited for sharing online.”

He further warned the public to be vigilant, urging anyone who notices injuries on dogs, such as cuts or wounds around the face, to report their concerns to the police or RSPCA.

PC Matt Hartup, part of the Lancashire Police Rural Task Force, highlighted the collaborative efforts in tackling such crimes through Operation Ratchet. He condemned the glamorization of animal violence, describing it as barbaric and harmful to the community and animals alike.

In terms of sentencing, Ryan Hancock was jailed for 18 weeks after admitting 11 offences, including animal cruelty and illegal possession of a badger. Marcus Leverett received a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, while Zak Oldfield was given a 12-month youth referral order. All three offenders were banned from keeping animals for ten years, and Hancock and Leverett were ordered to pay £1,000 in costs.

Additional background information revealed that in February 2022, Ryan Hancock was also sentenced to a two-year community order, including 150 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation days, after pleading guilty to assault charges involving a young father. Oldfield currently resides with his grandparents, and Leverett lives with his grandparents, Angela and Sam Leverett, indicating ongoing family connections in Burnley.

This case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and animal welfare organizations to combat cruelty and protect vulnerable animals from such barbaric acts in Burnley and beyond.