Christopher Matthew Griffiths, 34, from Wrexham, denied chopping the ears of Staffie Victor, who was found to have cocaine in his system
A Wrexham man found guilty of cutting his own dog’s ears off has failed in a bid to get his conviction overturned.
Christopher Matthew Griffiths, 34, had denied carrying out the sickening offence on the two-and-a-half year Staffordshire bull terrier in September last year.
But following a trial at Wrexham Magistrates Court in May, which heard the dog, named Victor, had cocaine in his system, he was found guilty of causing unnecessary harm and carrying out a prohibited procedure on an animal.
Griffiths, of Bridge Street, Southsea, Wrexham, appealed the conviction but it was rejected by Recorder Duncan Bould after a three-hour hearing at Mold Crown Court today.
The defendant told the court he was the victim of an attack and claimed the alleged offender must have cut his dog’s ears off while he was unconscious.
The incident happened outside Griffiths’ former property in Crescent Close in Wrexham on September 22 last year.
He contacted the police about the assault and told them the alleged attacker was a man known to him who was after money.
An officer discovered a dog lead, scissors and the ears in the hallway as well as splattered blood on the walls.
Paulinus Barnes, prosecuting on behalf of the RSCPA, called neighbour Mark Owen Jones as a witness.
He told the court that although he did not know Griffiths’ name he knew him to be living at a flat on Crescent Close.
Mr Jones said he saw the defendant with two males in the outside garden area and heard him say: “I need to borrow some pliers”.
He then heard a painful cry and saw Griffiths with what he thought was fabric “flapping in his hands”.
Mr Barnes told the court that Victor tested positive for cocaine which can cause periods of lethargy, making it easier to control a dog.
Giving evidence, Griffths said he was attacked outside his home and when he came around after taking a blow to the head, the alleged offender pointed to Victor and told him he had five days to get him his money.
The defendant also claimed he would have been unable to carry out the offence on Victor as he’d only come out of hospital 10 weeks earlier.
Griffiths, who also had two other dogs, said he had been in a coma for a long period and at the time of the incident had callipers on both legs and no use of his left arm.
He told the court: “I couldn’t get in and out of the bath unaided. I loved my dogs.”
Griffiths said he was “shocked” to discover Victor had cocaine in his system.
Andrew Green, defending, argued that Mr Jones’ evidence was not reliable, given he did not notice Griffiths’ mobility issues or the fact his front window had been smashed.
However, Recorder Duncan Bould decided that Mr Jones had given a “reliable and truthful account” and had accurately identified Griffiths as the offender.
He added: “Following on from that the appeal is not allowed.”
Griffiths will be sentenced at Mold Crown Court on a date to be fixed.
see-http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/matthew-griffiths-wrexham-dogs-ears-11681715
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