Dogs sexually assaulted
Eton Wick, Berkshire, EN (UK)Incident Date: Tuesday, Mar 10, 2009
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Thomas Fletcher
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
A teenager was caught having sexual intercourse with a pet sheepdog after his parents suspected him of animal cruelty, a court heard today [March 10, 2009].
Thomas Fletcher broke into a bedroom - where two dogs had been locked away for their own safety - and carried out two depraved acts of bestiality.
The stunned jury heard that 18-year-old Fletcher's shocking crimes were discovered by his foster mother, Tina Sharp, who had left a voice-activated Dictaphone in the room with the dogs.
Mrs Sharp had become concerned about the welfare of her sheepdog and her retriever cross collie, because they had begun to "cower" in the presence of Mr Fletcher.
She called the police after listening back to the Dictaphone recording which revealed that the Fletcher had been in the room with both dogs. They were taken away by police for medical tests.
Medical swabs taken from the defendant immediately after his arrest revealed a 100 per cent match with the DNA of both dogs.
Mr Fletcher denies a charge of intercourse with an animal.
Case UpdatesA teenager who had sex with the family dog while another pooch watched had his sentencing adjourned on Friday.
Thomas Fletcher -- whose address was withheld for legal reasons -- was convicted at Reading Crown Court in March of sexually assaulting Rosie the sheepdog.
The jury found Fletcher, 19, a former Henley College pupil, guilty on two counts of bestiality.
The court heard his foster mum Tina Sharp -- suspicious of how Fletcher was treating the dogs including Ralph, a cross-collie who witnessed the assault on Rosie -- hid a tape recorder in Fletcher's room.
On Friday at Reading Crown Court Fletcher's sentencing was adjourned so psychiatric tests could be carried out on him.
He was released on bail with the conditions he does not visit Eton Wick, where the attack took place and his foster family live, or contact the Sharp family.
He will next appear at the same court on Friday, June 5. | Source: Get Reading - May 5, 2009
Update posted on May 5, 2009 - 4:46PM |
Thomas Fletcher was caught violating the poor sheepdog by a hidden voice-activated dictaphone.
A court heard that 19-year-old Fletcher, a former student at posh Henley College, broke into a locked room and had full sex with one pet, while another watched.
The "embarrassing and grotesque" sexual offences were uncovered by the boy's foster mother, Tina Sharp at their home in Eton Wick, Berkshire.
Mrs Sharp had suspicions that her pets were being abused and locked them in a room with a secret recording device.
When she discovered the explicit tape she immediately phoned the cops.
' This is an unsavoury, embarrassing and grotesque pair of allegations. '
Evidence given by vet Miguel Lopes, who examined the dog just hours after the bitch's ordeal, confirmed Mrs Sharp's worst nightmare.
"She was extremely anxious and showed signs of having been abused," said Mr Lopes.
During the case the jury was subjected to the harrowing six-minute recording in which "rhythmic thumping" could be heard at the same time as a dog barking.
Prosecutors explained how the dictaphone recording and a 100 per cent DNA match between Fletcher and the black and white rescue dog was central to the case.
"This is an unsavoury, embarrassing and grotesque pair of allegations," he said.
"The defendant is left alone for about three-and-half hours. We end up with a recording which stops abruptly.
"Something was happening to a dog in that room. Someone was abusing the dog."
The pale-faced defendant, who was working in an up-market gastropub at the time of the assaults, licked his pierced lip throughout proceedings.
A disgusted jury of five men and seven woman came to unanimous verdicts that Fletcher engaged in two acts of bestiality. | Source: The Sun - March 13, 2009
Update posted on May 5, 2009 - 4:46PM |
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