WAYNE LUMSDON AND CONNOR PATTERSON HORRIFIC ANIMAL CRUELTY IN HEXHAM AND MORPETH

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, Wayne Lumsdon and Connor Patterson, both known for their involvement in illegal animal fighting activities, faced justice for their heinous crimes involving the abuse and brutal killing of various animals in the Hexham and Morpeth areas.

Wayne Lumsdon, born on December 8, 1987, and residing at 53 Park Road, Lynemouth, Morpeth NE61 5XJ, along with Connor Charles Patterson, born on June 18, 1987, formerly of The Hope, Whitfield, Hexham, and as of April 2020 living at Little Kenny Farm, Lintrathen, Kirriemuir, Angus DD8 5JD, engaged in barbaric acts that included forcing animals such as badgers, foxes, dogs, cats, and cockerels to fight each other to the death. These disturbing acts were not only committed in secret but also documented and shared on the internet, fueling their twisted entertainment.

The court proceedings revealed that both individuals derived pleasure from witnessing animals tear each other apart. Lumsdon pleaded guilty to deliberately killing a badger and causing two separate animal fights, while Patterson, an apprentice gamekeeper with a diploma in countryside and game management, admitted to causing two animal fights. Their actions led to significant legal consequences, including bans on keeping animals for 15 years for Lumsdon and eight years for Patterson.

Evidence presented in court included a series of text messages exchanged between the two, in which Lumsdon boasted about killing a badger with his dog, describing the act as “mint.” The court was also shown graphic footage depicting a badger being attacked by two dogs, along with videos of cocks fighting, with men’s voices encouraging the violence. Investigations traced clothing seen in the videos back to Lumsdon, and a text message from him referenced the use of spurs in cockfighting, further implicating him in illegal activities.

Additional footage displayed a fox that had been snared and attacked by a dog. The video showed a stick being inserted into the fox’s mouth and a boot, later identified as belonging to Patterson, placed around its neck. Men’s voices could be heard laughing and urging the dog to kill the fox. Another disturbing clip showed a fox confined in a cage with a dog, both engaged in a fight while men encouraged the animals and held the fox’s ears through the cage bars.

During interviews, Patterson admitted to having been an apprentice gamekeeper and possessing a national diploma in countryside and game management. He revealed that he had learned how to use snares and traps during his studies, which he later employed in these illegal activities.

In a legal twist, on March 25, 2011, the sentences of Lumsdon and Patterson were reduced due to a technicality. The court found that they had not received proper credit for their earlier guilty pleas, leading to a reduction in their prison terms. Patterson’s sentence was cut to 16 weeks, while Lumsdon’s was reduced from 26 weeks to 21 weeks in separate hearings at Newcastle Crown Court.

Further investigations in November 2012 uncovered additional cruelty committed by Connor Patterson, who, along with his then-wife Caroline Patterson (also known as Caroline Jordan), was found guilty of neglecting and mistreating a total of 55 animals at their property in Whitfield. The animals, including dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, turkeys, ducks, and chickens, were seized by Northumbria Police and RSPCA inspectors. The court heard that many animals were kept without access to fresh water, some were underweight, and others suffered from untreated health issues such as dental disease and lumps. Despite being in breach of his disqualification order, Patterson’s charges were later overturned on appeal, with the court ruling that the animals were under his wife’s responsibility. Caroline Patterson received a conditional discharge and was not banned from keeping animals, highlighting the ongoing concerns about animal welfare violations in the region.