Joshua Sharpe: Winnersh pet-killer abused puppy, owner says

Joshua Sharpe, of Delane Drive, was last week spared prison after being found guilty of killing the Dachshund and a Sphynx kitten in December 2020 and January 2021.

And now Kirsty Fredericks, who was dating Sharpe, 25, around the time of the first incident, has spoken out to say she thinks his sentence should have been harsher.

Joshua Sharpe killed a pet Daschund and a pet Sphynx kitten in 2020 and 2021. Images via Kirsty Fredericks

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Explaining the circumstances around the killing of her pet dachshund, Stark, Kirsty, 26, said: “Every time stark was left alone with Josh In the same room he would whimper or yelp, so I was suspicious but he then told me it was Stark having separation problems.

“The night Stark went into the vets he had been left alone in the room with Joshua, I left the room to change, heard Stark yelp and walked back in to find him laid on his side struggling to breathe and dry retching.

Joshua Sharpe killed a pet Daschund and a pet Sphynx kitten in 2020 and 2021. Images via Kirsty Fredericks

“After three days in the vets Stark passed, Joshua advised me to not have a post-mortem done, so I buried him.

“I cut all contact with Joshua following this.”

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However, this was not the end of Kirsty’s woes after she was contacted by a woman who told her Sharpe had allegedly killed another pet.

This time it was a Sphynx kitten called Peppa.

The owner of the cat reportedly told Kirsty that she was digging up her beloved pet in order to have a post-mortem carried out.

Joshua Sharpe killed a pet Daschund and a pet Sphynx kitten in 2020 and 2021. Images via Kirsty Fredericks

According to Kirstie, the results came back indicating Peppa had been beaten before she died.

Kirsty added: “This was deeply upsetting and depressing for both families having to go through this.

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“We have struggled to come to terms with the fact our tiny innocent pets had been taken away from us in such a brutal and disgusting way!”

Appearing at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Friday, March 4, Sharpe was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison suspended for 22 months.

He will also have to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work and take part in up 40 days of rehabilitation activities.

As well as this, he was ordered to pay £500 to both victims and £1,000 in court costs.

Sharpe is banned from owning or being left alone with an animal for ten years.

Joshua Sharpe killed a pet Daschund and a pet Sphynx kitten in 2020 and 2021. Images via Kirsty Fredericks

Kirsty concluded: “We do all feel as if the sentence should be a lot harsher.

“Although saying this, we are happy we have some kind of justice and we can now put our pets to rest.”