Cruel County Durham couple killed and burned puppy as part of horrific animal abuse crimes

A cruel couple who committed horrific animal abuse crimes have been banned from keeping animals for 15 years.

John Cameron Lindop, 23, and Lucy Elizabeth Melrose, 23, committed a series of sickening offences, including setting a dog on a chicken, riding a small lame pony, beating another dog, and killing and burning the remains of a puppy. The pair appeared at Durham Crown Court on Friday and were given suspended prison sentences.

The crimes came to light following an RSPCA investigation led by Inspector Clare Wilson, which spanned two years and involved multiple animals. The charity was first alerted to the issues in February 2022 when a member of the public contacted the RSPCA after bringing Max, a lurcher they had recently rehomed, into the PDSA Gateshead with injuries to his abdomen, and blood in his his urine.