Tougher sentence call for East Lancashire animal abusers after only 31convictions from 5000 complaints last year

Figures from the RSPCA revealed the number of complaints investigated in Lancashire in 2016 was 5,124, but just 31 were people convicted of offences under the animal welfare act 2006.

Cases of animal abuse in East Lancashire include stray cat Rufus who was found in Accrington after being shot in the head by an air rifle.

He was cared for by the Friends of the Cats charity and rehomed.

This came less than two weeks after cat Jasper was shot six times in Oswaldtwistle.

Following the incidents, Andy Richards from the cat charity said: “It’s a terrible thing, I was so shocked when I found out it had been shot. How could someone be so sad and monstrous”

Nationally the RSPCA found just 7.7 per cent of defendants taken to court by the charity received a prison sentence in 2016.

In total in 2016, 744 defendants were convicted in court of offences in cases brought by the RSPCA.

Out of these 57 received a prison sentence, 41 of which were more than three months and just 15 were more than four months.

RSPCA interim chief executive, Michael Ward, said: “The maximum sentence for offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 is six months in prison and/or an unlimited fine.

“The reality is that this rarely happens and while the RSPCA is seeing unbelievably shocking and distressing cases go before the courts, only a tiny proportion of animal abusers actually receive an immediate custodial sentence.

“We believe the punishment should fit the crime, particularly when it comes to serious, organised animal cruelty.”

The RSPCA investigated almost 150,000 complaints of cruelty last year, but less than one per cent of them resulted in a prosecution.

Polling by the RSPCA has shown that seven out of 10 people would like to see sentencing for animal welfare offences toughened up.

It comes as the Centre for Crime Prevention released a report exposing the worrying links between animal cruelty and other crimes.