Gwynedd man choked puppy to death after 'novelty' of owning dog wore off

A man choked a puppy to death after the novelty of owning the pet wore off. Aled Roberts, 32, of High Street, Tywyn, Gwynedd, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a black collie called Twm, at Pwllheli, by inflicting blunt force trauma and violence including strangulation.

He also pleaded guilty to cruelty between November 2022 and April last year. Jailing him for 18 months today Judge Timothy Petts at Caernarfon crown court banned him for life from owning any animal.

The judge told Roberts that after acquiring the puppy "you clearly had no idea how to look after him properly. The novelty had worn off. "You went from neglect to being cruel and violent towards him," Judge Petts added.

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Eventually Twm had been strangled with a chain. "The suffering he sustained must have been considerable," the judge said. A post-mortem examination showed internal injuries to the "defenceless" puppy including fractured ribs.

Judge Petts said Roberts had a personality disorder and had reported the dog's death to the police which led to the prosecution. He added :"This is a bad example leading to Twm's death. It has to be an immediate prison sentence."

Prosecuting counsel Gareth Bellis said Roberts was described by a friend as having a history of failing to care properly for animals. He would leave them in cages and forget about them at his dirty and grubby flat. Roberts didn't know a hamster was dead in a cage.

He had also allegedly smacked his cats. Mr Bellis said, during a video call with a woman last April, Roberts had complained about the behaviour of his five-month-old border collie. "The dog was crying in its crate," the prosecutor said.

The defendant appeared to hit the dog forcefully with his hand. He'd also been witnessed kicking and punching the dog.

The same morning the friend had received another call and grinning Roberts said the dog was dead. Twm's body was taken to a vets' where Roberts told a receptionist he didn't know how the pet had died.

Roberts had previously attempted to choke a cat with a headphone lead and screamed at a budgie and refused to feed it, the court heard. Thomas McLoughlin, defending, said: "This case clearly is one of grave seriousness." But Roberts had accepted his guilt and had rung 999 to confess to police.

His mental health problems had led to the sad situation. There were no previous convictions. Counsel urged the judge to consider a suspended sentence.

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