Two women have been sentenced to 25 months in jail at Carlisle Crown Court for the heinous torture and killing of an African grey parrot named Sparky, belonging to ex-soldier Paul Crooks. Nicola Bradley, 35, and Tracy Dixon, 47, were found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to the protected animal after a night of heavy drinking.
During the trial, the court heard that Bradley and Dixon subjected Sparky to a series of brutal acts, including dousing her in cleaning products, covering her in gloss paint, shaving foam, and Mr Muscle polish, before placing her in a switched-on tumble drier. The final act involved one of the women, identified as Bradley, snapping the parrot's neck. The prosecution described the incident as a sadistic act of cruelty that left Sparky unrecognizable.
Mr. Crooks, who had shared his home with Sparky for five years, was devastated by the loss of his beloved pet. Sparky was known for entertaining Mr. Crooks with renditions of the national anthem and the Coronation Street theme tune. The court learned that the perpetrators callously informed Mr. Crooks, as they left his house, that they had been "wetting themselves with laughter," without providing any explanation for their actions.
Addressing the defendants, Judge Richard Archer expressed his shock at the level of cruelty inflicted upon the innocent animal. He stated, "You together sadistically tortured and essentially killed Sparky." The judge outlined the horrifying details of the abuse, including spraying the parrot with cleaning products, daubing paint on her, hitting her with a tea towel, and placing her in a tumble drier before ultimately ringing her neck.
Despite the severity of their actions, the defendants made no effort to explain their motives and instead attempted to shift blame onto each other. The judge emphasized that such behavior was beyond comprehension and highlighted Dixon's previous involvement in caring for rescue animals, making the cruelty even more inexplicable.
During the sentencing, Jack Troupe, representing Bradley, stated that she maintained her denial of wrongdoing. Anthony Parkinson, representing Dixon, referred to character references indicating her previous kindness toward animals but acknowledged her acceptance of the magistrates' court verdict.
Mr. Crooks, who described Sparky as a cherished gift from a former partner, has suffered panic attacks and sleepless nights since the incident. He recounted Sparky's ability to sing various tunes and her popularity among his friends during video calls.
The judge concluded that the severity of the crime warranted an immediate custodial sentence, stating, "If an immediate prison sentence were not warranted or required for the deliberate, sadistic torture to death of an animal, then one cannot imagine a case where it would be appropriate to impose an immediate custodial sentence." The case serves as a chilling reminder of the importance of protecting animals from acts of cruelty and the need for appropriate legal consequences for such offenses.
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