She dragged, kicked and screamed at her dog
A still image from a doorbell camera video that formed the evidence in the prosecution(Image: RSPCA)
A woman has received a suspended prison sentence after shocking abuse she dished out to her two dogs was captured on a neighbour’s doorbell camera.
Lauren Leigh Barker was given a 12-week jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, and also banned from keeping animals for five years after she was found guilty by magistrates of two counts of animal welfare offences.
Barker, 27, told magistrates the dog on the receiving end of the abuse was aggressive and she was acting in self-defence when she shouted, dragged and kicked him, and it is understood she maintains her innocence and plans to appeal against the convictions.
Barker was filmed at a flat in Cheviot Meadow in Portishead, near Bristol, in the autumn of 2023 with two dogs, Iddy and Rocco. The RSPCA began an investigation into her conduct after its inspectors received a series of clips from doorbell camera, showing her with her two dogs.
“The clips of footage includes Baker screaming and swearing at Rocco, slamming doors, dragging him on a lead,” said an RSPCA spokesperson. “Others show her kicking at the dog a number of times before slamming the door after which a dog can be heard to vocalise,” she added.
The vet who viewed the footage said in a report to magistrates as part of the prosecution: “In my opinion Rocco has been caused to suffer due to the person responsible for the welfare of this animal behaving in an aggressive, intimidating and physically abusive manner towards this dog. Suffering will have been experienced by this animal via mechanisms of fear, distress and possibly pain for a period of at least several minutes, possibly longer.”
A still image from a doorbell camera video that formed the evidence in a prosecution of a dog owner for mistreating their pet. Lauren Leigh Barker was convicted of two counts of mistreating a dog called Rocco, after video of kicking, shouting and dragging Rocco outside her flat in Portishead was shared with the RSPCA(Image: RSPCA)
Barker, now of Mantle Close in Clevedon, was charged with two offences. The first was that on or before October 4, 2023, she ‘failed to take such steps…to ensure Rocco and Iddy were… protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease due to the infliction of physical violence, abusive and intimidatory behaviour’.
The second was an offence dated on September 3, 2023, alleging that she ‘caused unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, namely a dog called Rocco, and you knew or ought reasonably to have known that your aggressive and intimidatory behaviour would have that effect or be likely to do so’.
She pleaded not guilty, but after a trial, magistrates found her guilty of both charges, gave her a suspended jail sentence and banned her from keeping animals for five years.
She was also give a requirement to undertake 30 days of rehabilitation activity, and pay £500 in costs.
A still image from a doorbell camera video that formed the evidence in a prosecution of a dog owner for mistreating their pet. Lauren Leigh Barker was convicted of two counts of mistreating a dog called Rocco, after video of kicking, shouting and dragging Rocco outside her flat in Portishead was shared with the RSPCA(Image: RSPCA)
The RSPCA said it challenged Barker’s defence that Rocco was aggressive. “Behavioral assessments were carried out on Rocco while he was being cared for by a team at an RSPCA rescue centre,” a spokesperson said. “He was found to behave favourably in a range of situations, including being tolerant of vets who were able to carry out checks without any issues or the need for additional restraint, making him suitable for rehoming,” she added.
RSPCA Inspector Kim Walters, who investigated for the charity, said they were thankful the doorbell video was sent to them. “We’re extremely grateful when people report animal welfare concerns to us and share any evidence they have that can help our investigations,” she said.