A man from the Wirral who killed a French bulldog who had been placed in his care has been banned from keeping dogs for life and handed a suspended prison sentence after a prosecution by the RSPCA.

Luke Walker, (D.O.B 25/6/2003), of Oxton Road, Birkenhead, pleaded guilty to 2 offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the defendant also admitted a further charge of criminal damage relating to the dog. He was sentenced yesterday (16) at Liverpool Crown Court and as well as the life-time disqualification, the defendant received a 17-month prison sentence which was suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and undertake 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) days.

The court heard that Walker was left in charge of the 5-year-old bulldog, called Buddy, by a relative, but during the time the dog was in his care he was said to have been repeatedly beaten and strangled. A final attack led to the dog’s death on September 10 last year.

While RSPCA Inspector Anthony Joynes was investigating a separate allegation, Walker admitted to killing Buddy months previously because he defecated and urinated at his home. When the officer visited Walker’s flat on January 12 this year the defendant told him he had beaten Buddy numerous times over a 3-week period.

In a statement presented to the court,  Inspector Joynes said:- “When the defendant returned to his flat he found faeces and urine everywhere and so he beat Buddy and also attempted to suffocate him. He then left the dog on some cushions where he passed away.”

A vet who examined Buddy said there were concerns for the dog’s health in May last year at a time when the canine was living with someone else, but his original owner took him back and placed him temporarily in Walker’s care in June last year.

On 11 September last year Walker telephoned the owner to tell her Buddy had died in his flat, although “he didn’t know how”. Blood was later found on some sheets at the defendant’s home.

Buddy’s owner said that when she saw the dog 2 weeks before his death, she had no concerns over his wellbeing. But when she went around after the dog had died she spotted injuries to his spine and ribs as well as front and back legs. She observed the canine’s left hindlimb was “twisted the wrong way”.

The dog’s owner said Walker told her that on 8 September 2025 he had punched Buddy in the ribs repeatedly then suffocated him. He told her he heard his ribs crack and that he "battered the dog within an inch of life then suffocated him.”

The owner took Buddy to a vets in Birkenhead, although a post mortem examination was not undertaken.

When he was interviewed by the RSPCA Walker claimed that after his mental health deteriorated he started to hit Buddy for soiling his flat and on one occasion he believed he “had gone too far” and Buddy yelped so he stopped.

He said that on 10 September 2025 he’d had an argument with his father and was “losing his head”. When he returned to the flat where there was faeces and urine everywhere, so he attacked Buddy because he was angry, punching him several times to the body and head. He continued to punch the dog when he returned to his bed and kicked him twice. Buddy was injured and unable to walk and Walker placed a pillow over him, but then stopped after the dog struggled.

A vet concluded:- “Buddy suffered to varying degrees throughout the time he was in the defendant’s care from June to 10 September 2025. The final attack caused Buddy’s death and ultimately this was due to the injuries sustained most likely due to a combination of shock, trauma, oxygen deprivation and respiratory distress. The defendant knew Buddy was severely injured, but failed to seek veterinary attention to alleviate his suffering.”

The court heard the defendant had anger issues for which he had not sought any help.

Speaking after the sentencing, Inspector Joynes said:- “This was a truly appalling set of circumstances where this poor dog was placed in the care of this defendant who was clearly unsuited to provide a loving home for Buddy. He took out his anger on the dog because he said he’d had an argument with his father. Buddy suffered a terrible death at the hands of an angry, violent man.”