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A convicted killer jailed for torturing a defenceless hedgehog has been imprisoned for a second time after admitting doing it again.

Richard Coyle, 56, of no fixed abode but who is originally from Blackwood, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court earlier this month where he admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, cruelty to a wild mammal, and breaching a disqualification order.

RSPCA inspector Simon Evans and animal rescue officer Sian Burton went to an address in Greenmeadow Drive, Crosskeys, on September 29 last year. They were told by Gwent Police that Coyle had earlier been found in the property and had been arrested with police discovering an injured hedgehog in the room.

Coyle was jailed for 18 months and was also banned from keeping any animal for 20 years. In mitigation the court heard that Coyle had mental health issues and drug and alcohol abuse.

Inspector Evans said he found the hedgehog inside a small drawer which was partially under the bed.

He said: “I could see that the base of the drawer looked to be covered in blood. Inside the drawer was a juvenile hedgehog which was clearly still alive as it moved slightly when I lifted up the drawer.

“I attempted to lift the hedgehog out to examine it but I could feel the animal was wet with blood and I could see that my gloves were also blood soaked.”

Inspector Evans also noted that underneath the bed was a hard, semi-clear sheet of plastic which was covered in blood. He also found a cardboard box containing various correspondence and also some plastic carrier bags covered in blood.

The hedgehog was handed to RSPCA officer Burton who took it to a nearby vet for an examination.

At the vets, it was confirmed the hedgehog had been suffering and sadly due to its injuries was put to sleep on welfare grounds.

The vet found injury to three of the hedghog’s nails and a cut to its abdomen with its intestines were trailing out.

Sentencing, Judge Rhys Rowlands said: “This was a deliberate and sadistic infliction of pain on a defenceless animal…an appalling act at your hands from which you seemed to take pleasure.

“It wasn’t just cruel; it was the torturing of a defenceless animal. This was about as cruel a case as can be imagined.”

Second jail term for hedgehog cruelty

This is the second time ex-boxer Coyle has been jailed for torturing a hedgehog.

In November 2020 he was jailed for six months after being found guilty of two animal cruelty charges.

At the time, Newport Magistrates’ Court was told how Coyle had cut the hedgehog’s legs off, burned the animal and covered its head and eyes with hot candle wax in August 2020.

Coyle has also served time for manslaughter after he was convicted of the killing of his flatmate in 2006.