GRAHAM RICHARDSON – WHITLEY BAY

❌GRAHAM RICHARDSON – WHITLEY BAY❌

CONVICTED | Graham Richardson, 63, from Whitley Bay, North Tyneside – drowned his wife’s pet Yorkie then told her ‘dog bites dog dies’

Richardson, who works as an undertaker, took the little dog, Wilma, into the garden during darkness and held her underwater in a pond after she nipped his nose when he startled her.

Prosecutor Rachel Glover said: ‘The defendant leaned in to kiss the dog, who nipped his nose due to being startled and he got a small cut to his nose. He became upset and said ‘She’s bit my f****** nose, she will have to go’.’

At some point during the night, after already having drunk, Richardson woke up, got another bottle of wine and started drinking it in bed.

His wife woke up later and couldn’t find Wilma – later discovering the three-year-old pup’s soaking wet body in a plastic bag outside, at which point she began crying hysterically.

The court heard as she argued with Richardson about what he had done he just repeated: ‘The dog bites, the dog dies,’ while rolling a cigarette. She contacted the police and officers arrived at 3.45 am.

The court heard the couple are now back living together.

Richardson’s employment as an undertaker with the Co-op was terminated earlier this week.

Richardson, who has 14 previous convictions but nothing for animal cruelty, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

Judge Edward Bindloss sentenced him to six months suspended for two years with a mental health treatment requirement. He was also banned from owning or keeping a dog for FIVE years.