Suspended term for cutting dogs’ IV lines

A Pilbara man who nearly killed two dogs when he cut their IV lines after breaking into a Karratha vet clinic was high on methamphetamine and thought he was saving the trapped pets from their cages, a court has been told. Christian Flakemore, 28, was handed a suspended prison sentence and fined in Karratha Magistrate’s Court last week, after previously pleading guilty to a string of charges relating to the break-in. A court was told last month Flakemore broke into Karratha Vet Hospital on January 7 and stole a radio and a blanket before cutting the IV lines of a Labrador and a beagle. One of the pups, Alfie, was receiving lifesaving medication for kidney failure but has since recovered, while the other, Toby, escaped during the ordeal and is now on medication because of the distress caused during the incident. Flakemore committed the offences while on a community-based order for a burglary last year at Searipple Village, where he stole a charity tin. Defence lawyer Carly Price told Magistrate Edward De Vries her client had taken methamphetamine on the night and believed he was helping the pair of dogs to escape from the cages. She said he had foetal alcohol spectrum disorder that affected his consequential thinking, while Flakemore being on the drugs at the time also affected his ability to make decisions. Mr De Vries said he found it difficult to accept the reasoning for wanting to let the dogs free but took into account the two months already spent in custody and his early guilty plea, and personal circumstances. Flakemore was given an eight-month prison sentence which will be served as a 12-month conditional suspended term of imprisonment. He was also issued with a 12-month intensive supervision order for two animal cruelty offences and ordered to pay a global fine of $1500. Mr De Vries said the sentencing should send a powerful message to criminals that the community was sick of people committing burglaries in Karratha. Ms Price said Flakemore clearly required structure and support within the community and she hoped the suspended prison term would provide that.