Hunt for man who stabbed and whipped dog in M&S car park

A man who stabbed and whipped a dog in a Marks & Spencer (M&S) car park is on the run from police. Lewis Simmons, aged 31 and from Bath, admitted the offence and was due to appear at Plymouth Crown Court last Friday (November 1).

However, he failed to show up at court and police are now on the hunt for him. Simmons, of Paragon in Bath, was accused of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

He attacked the dog, a large Cane Corso, in the M&S car park in Cornwall Street, Plymouth, on October 8 last year. The court heard how he "stamped, hit, kicked, stabbed and whipped" the animal, as reported by Devon Live.

He pleaded guilty at Plymouth Magistrates' Court on August 6 this year and the case was adjourned to the Crown Court for sentencing, following the preparation of a pre-sentence report. Simmons was granted conditional bail by the courts but failed to attend the sentencing hearing.

Following a submission from the prosecutor, Judge Robert Linford issued a bench warrant for Simmons who will be brought to court once he has been detained by police.

Cane Corsos are a very large mastiff type breed of dog, thought to have originally descended from a Roman war dog. When war was over they were used as successful hunters and worked on farms, protecting, guarding and rounding up livestock. Their name comes from the Latin 'Cohors' which means 'guardian' or 'protector'.

Unfortunately because of their imposing, handsome good looks some Cane Corsos have fallen victim to tail docking and ear cropping. Tail docking in the Cane Corso breed is illegal in the UK and must be reported to RSPCA. Ear cropping is also illegal in the UK and needs to be reported to RSPCA if discovered.