Melton man jailed for throwing his puppy from third-floor flat

Nine-week-old puppy Gypsy shortly after she was rescued EMN-160929-130946001

Wayne Keightley (42), of Rutland Street, was sentenced to 14 weeks in prison - 10 weeks for causing unnecessary suffering to the puppy and four weeks for being in breach of a suspended sentence which was in place at the time.

Keightley had been convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to the female Staffordshire bull terrier - named Gypsy - at Loughborough Magistrates’ Court earlier this month in a prosecution brought by the RSPCA.

He was sentenced yesterday (Wednesday, September 28) at Leicester Magistrates’ Court.

The third floor window in Keightley's flat in Rutland Street where Gypsy was thrown from EMN-160929-131235001

Magistrates had previously heard that on January 20 Keightley smashed the window with a vase and threw the puppy out - she fell 20ft to the ground.

She was taken to a vet after being found on the ground. Gypsy survived the ordeal but she was left with cuts and in pain and in a very distressed state. She has now recovered from her injuries and is in a foster home.

The court heard that after throwing Gypsy out of the window, Keightley jumped out himself minutes later, fracturing his ankle. He was found outside on the floor in a ‘rambling’ state, dragging himself away from the property.

Keightley told the court that seven men had entered his property to steal watches and were stabbing him in the hands with a pole with a spear-head attached whenever he tried to pick up the frightened puppy. He said he threw a vase out of one of the flat’s windows to attract the attention of passers-by and that the puppy jumped out of the window of its own accord.

The prosecution claimed Keightley was high on drink and drugs at the time of the incident which he denied.

Speaking after Keightley’s sentencing RSPCA inspector Andy Bostock, who investigated, said: “When Gypsy was found on the floor, she was obviously in pain and was very distressed.

“She was immediately taken to a vet and was treated for injuries to her face, leg and abdomen. She is a very, very lucky dog to have not been more seriously injured, considering also how young and delicate she was at nine-weeks-old.

“There is absolutely no excuse to throw an animal out of a window like this - Gypsy would have been terrified and in pain from the various injuries she received. She got off lightly and is now thriving in her foster home.”