A man and a woman have been prosecuted after a malnourished dog was filmed being hurled over a six-foot garden gate in Bristol. James Andrew Marchant, 42, and Clair Yvonne Malik, 42, of Privet Drive, Bristol, admitted guilt following an investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA.
Incident Details
On September 5, 2025, a neighbour reported witnessing Marchant wrestling a terrier to the ground. The neighbour started recording and captured Marchant launching the dog, called Boomer, over the wooden gate onto the paved surface on the other side. The neighbours yelled at him to stop, police were called, and Marchant was taken into custody, according to Bristol Live.
Veterinary Assessment
The vet who examined the footage informed the court that Boomer would have endured pain and distress while being restrained improperly, as well as immediate discomfort from being gripped and held aloft. They added that this would have been followed by terror and anxiety while dropping, and immediate pain upon landing. The vet stated: 'The callous manner in which he threw Boomer over the fence, compounded by the failure to have him then checked by a vet, illustrates that he failed in his duty to protect him from pain, suffering, injury and disease.'
Boomer's Condition
Boomer was also found to be underweight and malnourished, with a body conditioning score of just two out of nine. While in RSPCA care, Boomer gained weight simply through being fed correctly. He arrived weighing 2kg (4.4lb) but reached 3.5kg (7.7lb) by the time the charity rehomed him a month later—a 75% increase.
Sentencing
Marchant pleaded guilty to two animal welfare offences: throwing Boomer over the fence and neglecting to provide an adequate diet. He received a ten-year ban on keeping animals, cannot challenge the disqualification for seven years, and was ordered to pay £400 in costs and an £80 victim surcharge. Malik admitted a single charge of failing to meet Boomer's needs regarding his weight. She was handed a five-year ban on keeping dogs, cannot appeal for three years, and was fined £120 with £400 costs and a £40 victim surcharge. The pair appeared for sentencing at Bristol Magistrates Court on June 24.
RSPCA Statement
RSPCA Inspector Kim Walters, who led the investigation, said: 'Animals feel pain and suffering just like we do and always deserve to be shown kindness and compassion. We're so grateful to everyone who speaks up for animals and grateful to the neighbour for reporting what they'd witnessed. We will always look into reports of animals suffering and we depend on the public to be our eyes and ears and report any concerns to us.'
