Tyler Steele (28), of Berryhill in Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced to 18 weeks of prison time on Monday (10 June) at North Staffordshire Justice Centre after pleading guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
Steele’s first count relates to an incident that took place on 2 May 2023. CCTV footage captured the abuser throwing a dog from the window of a parked car in Berryhill, Stoke-on-Trent.
Steele’s second count relates to an incident that took place on 7 July 2023. Doorbell footage captured Steele slapping an XL bully repeatedly outside an address on Proudlock Avenue in Hanley. Steele was also captured saying “I do not want it no more. He can **** off”.
Prosecutor Joanne Fox stated: “These were not slaps. These were punches. You can hear the dog yelping and crying.”
Both videos went viral and sparked nationwide outrage. The videos also caught the RSPCA’s attention who welcomed Steele’s sentence.
A spokesperson for the RSPCA stated: “This was a very upsetting case and we were glad to be of assistance to Staffordshire Police”
In addition to his prison time, Steele has been banned from keeping, owning, or participating in keeping animals for five years. He has also been disqualified from being in control or able to influence the way animals are kept.
Experienced writer and journalist James McKean leads the daily editorial output at StaffsLive. To contact him, email news@staffslive.co.uk
