'Justice for the sweetest little dog in the world' after violent drunk's sickening attack on beloved Pomeranian
Police have welcomed 'justice for Comet' after a violent drunk was jailed for seven years over a string of sickening attacks including on a beloved pet.
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It comes after 49-year-old Richard Forbes, of no fixed abode, was sentenced at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Friday for the offences.
The first on July 28, 2023, saw him attacking several people at the Tumbledown Hotel, opposite Shrewsbury railway station in Castle Foregate.
He pushed a woman sitting at the bar, before a man bravely stepped in to usher him away.
Forbes hit that man in the face, knocking him to the ground, before hitting another man who was attempting to calm the situation.
After leaving the pub, Forbes returned and threw a beer bottle at a barmaid who was calling the police.
One of the men suffered a broken leg in the shocking rampage.
The second distressing incident involved Forbes assaulting his landlady on June 29 last year - and then launching into a horrific attack on her Pomeranian dog Comet.
In the terrifying incident at the property in Meole Brace he attempted to strange the landlady, before she was able to flee the house and run for safety.
But while she was seeking refuge Forbes' attentions turned to Comet. He wrapped the small dog in a blanket, stabbing her twice with a kitchen knife and then stamping on her.
Police said that after being arrested Forbes had "boasted" of what he had done to the dog, with the victim and officers returning to find Comet with severe injuries.
Comet was found to have sustained a broken neck and jaw and was raced to an emergency veterinarian, who sadly had no alternative but to put her to sleep.
At Friday's hearing Judge Richard McConaghy KC sentenced Forbes to seven-and-a-half-years in jail and banned him from owning animals for 30 years.
He was also given a 10-year restraining order against his landlady and he was disqualified from driving for six years.
Welcoming the sentence, Detective Constable Geoff Anslow from Shrewsbury CID said the offences were "wicked beyond belief".
He said: “This is a horrendous case, involving a sickening act of cruelty towards a defenceless animal and a much-loved pet.
"The actions of Forbes were wicked beyond belief and have had a devastating impact upon the victim.
“I welcome the sentence handed to Forbes and hope that justice has now been achieved for the victim and Comet, whom the victim described as the sweetest little dog in the whole world.”
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