Uploaded October 2010 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
A man from Darlington has been jailed for 18 weeks after admitting
causing suffering and death to a dog. He used cable ties and tape to
force the dog's mouth shut before beating him and abandoning him in an
empty property to die.
Paul Hinton (D.O.B 7.11.75) of Pensbury Street pleaded guilty to five
offences last month in a case brought by the RSPCA. He was sentenced at
Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court today (Thursday 7 October). He was
also banned from keeping animals for life with no right of appeal.
RSPCA inspector Garry Palmer said: "What this dog went through is the
stuff of nightmares, thinking about that has caused many a sleepless
night for me since.
"The premeditated nature of what happened here makes it one of the most
shocking cases I've ever dealt with.
"This dog had his mouth forced shut with cable ties and tape, most
likely so he couldn't defend himself or alert anyone to his plight by
making a noise. It was horrific."
The dog was discovered at a property that had been rented by Mr Hinton
on Hargreave Terrace on Thursday 1 April 2010.
A post-mortem found the dog died of cardio vascular failure, a heart
attack, as a result of a traumatic injury coupled with impaired
breathing. He had been either kicked or beaten with a stick or other
implement to the head, lumbar spine and tail, left hind leg and abdomen.
Veterinary evidence states that if the cable ties had then been removed
it is unlikely he would have died.
RSPCA inspector Palmer said: "Mr Hinton beat this dog then left him,
mouth still forced shut, at the property and moved out. He went to an
address just a couple of streets away. It was up to a month before the
dog's body was found."
Mr Hinton admitted (1.) failing to meet the needs of the dog by failing
to provide an appropriate diet and fresh drinking water; (2.) causing
unnecessary suffering to him by tying cable ties and tape around his
muzzle forcing it closed and leaving them there; (3.) causing
unnecessary suffering by inflicting blunt force trauma; (4.) causing
unnecessary suffering by applying and using a home-made pan muzzle and
(5.) causing unnecessary suffering by cruelly ill-treating him.
In mitigation, the court heard that Mr Hinton had taken the dog -- which
had been a stray -- into his home and bound his mouth shut because the
dog was aggressive and he wanted to protect his family and the public.
It heard that he had personal problems at the time and simply forgot he
had left the dog behind.
"There can be no excuses for what happened here, none at all. This was
an act of extreme violence towards an animal that Mr Hinton had ensured
couldn't defend himself. The sentence passed today reflects that," said
inspector Palmer.
An appeal against the sentence has been lodged.
A man from Darlington has been jailed for 18 weeks after admitting
causing suffering and death to a dog. He used cable ties and tape to
force the dog's mouth shut before beating him and abandoning him in an
empty property to die.
Paul Hinton (D.O.B 7.11.75) of Pensbury Street pleaded guilty to five
offences last month in a case brought by the RSPCA. He was sentenced at
Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court today (Thursday 7 October). He was
also banned from keeping animals for life with no right of appeal.
RSPCA inspector Garry Palmer said: "What this dog went through is the
stuff of nightmares, thinking about that has caused many a sleepless
night for me since.
"The premeditated nature of what happened here makes it one of the most
shocking cases I've ever dealt with.
"This dog had his mouth forced shut with cable ties and tape, most
likely so he couldn't defend himself or alert anyone to his plight by
making a noise. It was horrific."
The dog was discovered at a property that had been rented by Mr Hinton
on Hargreave Terrace on Thursday 1 April 2010.
A post-mortem found the dog died of cardio vascular failure, a heart
attack, as a result of a traumatic injury coupled with impaired
breathing. He had been either kicked or beaten with a stick or other
implement to the head, lumbar spine and tail, left hind leg and abdomen.
Veterinary evidence states that if the cable ties had then been removed
it is unlikely he would have died.
RSPCA inspector Palmer said: "Mr Hinton beat this dog then left him,
mouth still forced shut, at the property and moved out. He went to an
address just a couple of streets away. It was up to a month before the
dog's body was found."
Mr Hinton admitted (1.) failing to meet the needs of the dog by failing
to provide an appropriate diet and fresh drinking water; (2.) causing
unnecessary suffering to him by tying cable ties and tape around his
muzzle forcing it closed and leaving them there; (3.) causing
unnecessary suffering by inflicting blunt force trauma; (4.) causing
unnecessary suffering by applying and using a home-made pan muzzle and
(5.) causing unnecessary suffering by cruelly ill-treating him.
In mitigation, the court heard that Mr Hinton had taken the dog -- which
had been a stray -- into his home and bound his mouth shut because the
dog was aggressive and he wanted to protect his family and the public.
It heard that he had personal problems at the time and simply forgot he
had left the dog behind.
"There can be no excuses for what happened here, none at all. This was
an act of extreme violence towards an animal that Mr Hinton had ensured
couldn't defend himself. The sentence passed today reflects that," said
inspector Palmer.
An appeal against the sentence has been lodged.
