15th July 2025
David Pringle and Lennon Gibbinson have been given suspended sentences.
Two men restrained a deer and recorded videos as it was mauled by dogs in “appalling” acts of cruelty. David Pringle and Lennon Gibbinson were both handed suspended prison sentences after a court heard of their horrific treatment of the restrained animal.
Rachel Butt, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court that their crimes came to light thanks to the actions of the Naturewatch Foundation charity, which passed pictures and videos posted on social media to Northumbria Police.
“Mr Gibbinson was identified from the images and arrested on December 22, 2023,” Ms Butt explained. “He was interviewed that day and replied ‘no comment’. His phone was seized. Mr Pringle was also identified from the footage. He was arrested in April.
“They are distressing videos. The dogs are shown mauling deer that can then be seen crying out in distress.
“One of the people stood on the neck of a deer before a dog lead was put around its neck. A boy was seen to kick the deer in the neck before the boy is seen to drag the deer across the floor.
“In the second video, the deer was held by a man and then the dogs attack that deer.”
The recordings were sent to a vet who identified the animal as a a roe deer. He said the deer would not have recovered.
Ms Butt continued: “He said the actions would have caused the deer to suffer unnecessarily and extremely.”
Gibbinson, 22, of Fifth Avenue in Stobhill Gate, Morpeth, pleaded guilty to two offences of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, namely a roe deer, on December 14 and 21, 2023. Pringle, also 22 and of Second Avenue, Stobhill, admitted the same charges and offences of taking a deer and killing a deer.
Recorder Ian Mallarkey sentenced Gibbinson to 18 months in prison suspended for 18 months and Pringle to 19 months suspended for 18 months.
In passing sentence he told them: “The actions of you two would have caused extreme and unnecessary suffering to the animals. I have watched the videos. They are appalling.
“Plainly you are aware what you are doing is very seriously wrong. In each of your cases, in my judgement, this is offending of the utmost seriousness.”
In mitigation, Shaun Routledge said that Gibbinson had been diagnosed with ADHD and autism and was suffering from mental health issues.
And David Callan, for Pringle, said: “He is a country man, brought up in the country and used to country ways. He’s got a very good work ethic. He left school at 16 and has worked ever since. ”
As well as the suspended sentences they were banned from keeping a type of dog known as sight hounds.
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/northumberland-pair-held-deer-filmed-32064521
SUSPENDED SENTENCE WHY THE HELL????EVIL PARASITES LIKE THESE BASTARDS SHOULD BE IN PRISON FOR A LONG TIME. THESE SUSPENDED SENTENCES AND FINES FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY IS REALLY GETTING ON MY NERVES AND I HAVE EMAILED MY MP SAYING WE WANT MUCH STRONGER LAWS I ALSO SAID I WOULD PERSONALLY LIKE TO SEE HANGING BROUGHT BACK FOR MURDERERS THEN THERE WOULD BE MORE ROOM FOR HUNT FILTH ETC. HOLDING AN ANIMAL WHILE DOGS SAVAGE IT THESE SCUM ARE PURE EVIL AND REALLY NEED TEACHING A LESSON. I CANNOT BELIEVE A JUDGE IS SO STUPID AS TO SUSPEND .THERE SENTENCES
Suspended sentences for these asshats….they should have both been shot dead.