27 jail term and life ban for Merseyside man who abused his partner's kitten

A man who inflicted appalling levels of physical violence and psychological suffering on his partner's kitten has been sent to Prison for 27 months.

The jail term given to Lewis Hudson at Liverpool Crown Court on:- 26 July 2023, is believed to be 1 of the longest ever handed down for offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

The RSPCA worked in partnership with the Police to prosecute 23 year old Hudson, who pleaded guilty to 2 animal welfare offences in relation to Binx. He also admitted an offence of putting a person in fear of violence by harassment as part of the case that was brought to Court by the CPS.

The Court heard how the appalling catalogue of abuse began in the months after Hudson had moved into a flat in Prescot with his now ex partner; who owned Binx; in August 2021. Incidents included leaving the 11 month old kitten in the shower with the hot water running for long periods of time, shooting her with pellets he had soaked in household cleaner from his BB gun and hitting her with a mop soaked in bleach. He had also filmed himself stamping on the kitten wearing steel toe cap boots.

The abuse continued for about 8 months and on 1 occasion Binx was later found by her distraught owner lying motionless and matted with blood in the bath where she had been hit with a shovel in the shower on:- 20 July 2023. This has been done with such force that some of the young animal's teeth had been broken.

Then on 15 August 2023, in a disturbing series of text messages sent to his partner, Hudson told her:- "if ye don't get home now am gonna kill it." She returned home to find the kitten dead; her body covered in blood.

The Police were called and Hudson was arrested. Binx's body was later collected by RSPCA inspector Anthony Joynes, who led the investigation on behalf of the animal welfare charity.

In his witness statement the inspector said:- "Binx was wrapped in a bag, covered with a towel and contained within a cardboard box. I saw she had a number of fresh looking wounds around her nasal area and chin. I noted there were no obvious signs that might suggest Binx had been involved in a road traffic accident and her claws did not appear scuffed. The inside of her mouth was bloodied and I noted that both upper canines were broken. When handling Binx I noted a crisp packet type sound coming from the chest area which can be a sign of subcutaneous emphysema and indicative of chest trauma."

A post mortem examination was arranged by inspector Joynes and was paid for by the RSPCA. It showed that Binx's body was covered with cuts and bruises and she had suffered fractured ribs and a lung puncture, the latter which had led to her death.

"Faeces and blood were reportedly seen in multiple areas of the premises, indicative that the cat was injured and mobile for a period of time immediately prior to death. The most likely cause of death in this animal, otherwise healthy, was a traumatic and non-accidental pneumothorax. It is clear that the animal suffered multiple, different, blunt traumas and that the animal was conscious when this occurred. Furthermore, the healing fractured rib and the 'aged' bleeding, support the existence of a previous traumatic event to the chest, many days ahead of the fatal set of injuries listed above." said a report by an independent veterinary expert.

Speaking after yesterday's sentencing hearing, inspector Joynes said:- "This case involved stomach churning and sadistic levels of cruelty over a prolonged period. The extreme suffering Binx endured at the hands of Hudson was used to hurt and punish Binx's owner; who was obviously devastated by what happened to her beloved pet. This is 1 of the most extreme examples of physical and psychological suffering inflicted on an animal I've seen in 14 years with the RSPCA. This case involved nothing short of torture and is exactly why the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) bill was introduced in 2021 to increase sentencing powers for the most extreme cases of animal cruelty."

Hudson, of Netherley, had admitted 2 charges of causing unnecessary suffering to Binx, contrary to Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Sentencing him to 27 months in Prison and banning him for keeping any animals for the rest of his life, Honour Judge Brian Cummings described Hudson's actions as a:- "sickening catalogue of cruelty to a defenceless animal."

He was given 2 years and 3 months in relation, to both offences against Binx and a 5 month sentence for the harassment offence; to run concurrently, and a 10 year restraining order. He was also given a life ban on keeping all animals.

In mitigation, the Court heard Hudson was genuinely remorseful and accepted wrongdoing.

71% of graduates in the North West of England say going to University got them the job they wanted

COMPELLING new data released today by Universities UK (UUK) reveals that 71% of graduates in the North West of England credit going to University with enabling them to find the job they wanted. And, in an ongoing cost of living crisis, 64% say that going to University has improved their job security, while 76% say the support they received at University helped them gain employment.

The research, based on the perspectives of 3,500 UK graduates and 3,500 business leaders (business owners, founders, board members, CEOs, Directors and senior Managers) across the UK, also reveals that 77% of graduates in the North West say going to University enabled them to build skills that have proved professionally valuable. And, for 74% graduates and 83% of business leaders in the North West, going to University helped to build their self-confidence.

65% of graduates and 75% of business leaders in the North West also believe that going to University enables graduates to build vital transferable skills that help them in their career; framing UK universities as an essential training ground for UK industry.

These findings are supported by the insight that 25% of graduates in the North West 1st gained employment through a direct connection to their University or degree course, and 84% of business leaders in the North West say that going to University opened doors into relevant companies for them. These findings highlight the strength of existing ties between universities and the private sector, and their central role in addressing skills gaps for UK industry.

The research from UUK also outlines the broader impacts of going to University on gaining employment in the North West of England. 71% of graduates in the North West say they found their job/ role in under a year. Furthermore, 99% of business leaders in the North West say University graduates reach Managerial positions faster, as a direct result of going to University.

Supporting career development:-

• According to the research, 58% of business leaders in the North West think graduates typically progress faster through the ranks of their business; a finding that could be linked to the insight that 72% also believe that going to University gives graduates good sector and industry knowledge. What's more, where graduates and non-graduates are able to perform the same role in their organisation, 88% of business leaders in the North West of England would expect to see graduate employees earn more than non-graduates after 3 years.
   

• Mature students can also benefit financially from gaining a degree. On average, business leaders in the North West expect previously non-graduate employees who obtain a degree relevant to their role to see an increase of 20% in earnings.

Impact on social mobility:-

• Interestingly, at a national level the research also looked in particular at UK graduates and business leaders who were the 1st in their family to go to University. Of these, 78% of graduates and 71% of business leaders said that going to University opened doors into companies for them. Meanwhile, 73% of business leaders believe that going to University introduces graduates to peers who can help them build their careers, and 77% of graduates said a degree helped them build skills that have been professionally valuable.
   

• The research also suggests that going to University can act as a stimulus to upward social mobility amongst families with no prior history of going to University. Those who were the 1st in their family to go to University had a slightly higher average starting salary than those who were not the 1st to attend:- £30,111 versus £27,754; findings that are compounded by a report from the Institute of Fiscal Studies on behalf of the Department of Education, which found that University graduates who were eligible for free School meals are more likely to enter the top 20% of earnings at age 30 than free School meal students who did not attend University. Nearly 60% of business leaders who were the 1st in their family to go to University said that going to University helped them become senior faster, while 51% said it helped them fast track their career.
   

• Findings from the data and wider evidence show the role of Universities as equalisers across the UK jobs market; enabling all graduates to unlock career opportunities; not just those with strong family connections or a history of higher education.

Vivienne Stern, Chief Executive of Universities UK, commented:- "This new research clearly demonstrates the value that graduates benefit from when they go to University in the UK. The benefits captured by this research are numerous; from job security and career ambitions, to earnings and social mobility. They highlight how highly UK universities are regarded not just by those who attend them, but also by those who hire their graduates and benefit from their skills. It is clear that Universities play a huge role not only in preparing graduates for employment, but also in teaching them crucial, transferable life skills that will serve them throughout their career. Ultimately, what this research demonstrates is that our universities play a powerful role in helping graduates forge successful career paths that can help return the UK economy to growth and continue to power our public services."