BRENDAN OLIVER – HARTLEPOOL

A man from Hartlepool has been jailed after admitting to a violent assault on a woman and a separate incident in which a dog suffered fatal injuries. Brendon Oliver, 36, appeared at Teesside Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and to inflicting grievous bodily harm.

The court heard that the most serious incident occurred on 23 August, when police received multiple calls reporting that a dog had been attacked in an alleyway off Harrow Street. Callers also reported that Oliver might be carrying a knife. When officers arrived, they found Oliver with blood on his hands, and nearby they discovered a severely injured female crossbreed dog lying in the alley.

Prosecutors explained that CCTV captured the sequence of events leading up to the dog’s injuries. The footage showed Oliver striking the animal several times, causing it to yelp, before picking up a glass bottle from a wheelie bin and hitting the dog with it. He then located a large brick and threw it at the dog more than once. A vet concluded that the wounds were so severe that the dog’s skull was visible, and she was humanely euthanised on the scene due to the extent of the injuries.

Recorder Little said in court that the level of violence shown on the CCTV made it clear that the injuries were unsurvivable and that there appeared to have been an intention to inflict extreme harm. The judge also noted that any suggestion that the dog’s injuries were the result of self-defence did not align with the level of force used.

The court was also told about an earlier incident on 16 July, when Oliver’s partner woke up injured. She reported that she had been told Oliver assaulted her, and CCTV from York Road showed Oliver striking her to the head with enough force to knock her unconscious. She fell to the ground, which the judge noted could easily have led to even more serious consequences.

The footage also showed Oliver restraining her, with the prosecution stating that he believed she had possession of a mobile phone containing photos of his mother. Although the prosecution clarified that there was no evidence of strangulation or suffocation, Oliver admitted responsibility for a single punch that caused the head injury.

Oliver was already on bail for this assault at the time of the dog incident. The court also heard that he expressed remorse during the preparation of his pre-sentence report and again in court, acknowledging the harm caused.

Recorder Little described both incidents as extremely serious and noted the risk posed by the defendant’s behaviour, particularly when under the influence of alcohol. The judge emphasised that a custodial sentence was necessary both to punish the offences and to protect the public.

Oliver, of Church Street, Hartlepool, was sentenced to three years and four months in prison. Alongside the custodial term, he received a 15-year ban on owning or keeping animals, with no option to apply for the order to be lifted for at least eight years.