SCOTT DORAN OF LIVERPOOL CONVICTED OF CRUELTY TO DOG AND LATER SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING IN RUNCORN

Scott Bradley Doran, born around 1988 and most recently residing on Greyhound Farm Road, Speke, Liverpool L24, with connections to Runcorn, Cheshire, was convicted in 2019 of causing unnecessary cruelty to a dog named Coban. Doran, a habitual criminal, was caught on CCTV assaulting the terrified Staffy outside a Costcutter shop on Northwich Road in Brookvale, Runcorn, on March 17, 2016.

During the court hearing at North Cheshire Magistrates' Court, it was revealed that Doran had been seen attacking Coban, prompting an investigation by RSPCA inspector Naomi Norris. CCTV footage showed a sustained and violent assault on the dog.

In the footage, Doran is seen outside the shop with Coban off the lead and uncontrolled. As he walks away, the dog approaches a family, wagging his tail, and this is when Doran begins his attack. The dog cowers on the ground as Doran picks him up and punches him. Doran then holds Coban by the scruff of his neck with his feet suspended off the ground, violently shaking him while walking away from the shop.

The assault continues off-camera, but a witness reported that Doran continued to beat and kick Coban, who was so frightened he defecated during the attack. Doran then held the terrified dog over the railings of a footbridge.

Inspector Naomi Norris stated: "This was a vicious and nasty attack on Coban, who was clearly so terrified he can be seen cowering, and the poor dog even defecated during the beating. Off camera, the witness told how he continued to beat and kick the dog before holding him by the neck over the railings of a footbridge."

Coban was seized the day after the attack and was later re-homed by the RSPCA. Doran, formerly of Cedar Avenue, Sutton Weaver, and Camelot Way, Runcorn, fled and was on the run for two years before being apprehended following a police car chase.

He was sentenced to a 12-month community order, fined with costs totaling £525, required to undertake an anger management course, and was given a rehabilitation requirement. Doran was also banned from keeping dogs for five years, with the ban expiring in February 2024.

In a separate update in April 2024, Doran received a nine-year prison sentence for his role as the leader of an organized crime gang responsible for large-scale drug trafficking in Runcorn. Doran led a group of five men and two women convicted as part of Operation Winkled, an investigation by Cheshire Police into the supply of crack cocaine and heroin into the Murdishaw area over 13 months. All eight suspects pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply these drugs.

This case was covered by the Liverpool Echo, and information was also provided by Cheshire Police News.