Bradley Gavin Knoeson avoids jail after drowning, bashing dog in WA

A 31-year-old British backpacker is likely to be deported after avoiding an immediate prison sentence over the “protracted” killing and “torture” of a pet kelpie in Western Australia’s Goldfields.

This article includes graphic details some readers may find distressing.

Bradley Gavin Knoesen has been in custody in Kalgoorlie since the September 23 incident, which has been described as one of the worst animal cruelty cases seen in WA.

Described as a “dog lover” by his lawyer, Knoesen appeared in the Kalgoorlie Magistrate’s Court on Thursday via video link from Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison.

The court heard the 31-year-old had consumed an “extreme amount of alcohol” with his cousin when he picked up the one-year-old kelpie, named Faith, and repeatedly submerged her in water.

The dog lost consciousness and was briefly revived before being bludgeoned to death with a glass bottle by Knoesen, the court heard.

He then tied the kelpie to the back of his motorbike and dragged the body through bushland on the outskirts of Kalgoorlie.

Knoesen pleaded guilty to a charge of causing an animal unnecessary harm and was sentenced to a 12-month suspended jail term.

He did not speak during the hearing.

‘Shocking behaviour’ by a ‘dog lover’

The court heard Knoesen arrived in Australia in April on a working holiday visa and was employed in the mining industry as an underground truck driver when the incident occurred.

He had been living in Kalgoorlie with his aunt and cousin.

Defence lawyer Anthony Eyers said Knoesen was a “dog lover” and that his behaviour was “out of character” for the university graduate, who has a computer science degree.

Mr Eyres noted that Knoesen was likely to be deported from Australia.

Police prosecutor Amy Southall asked the court for an immediate prison term.

“It was absolutely gratuitous and unnecessary … shocking behaviour,” she said.

“Not the actions of a dog lover.”

The court had heard Knoesen repeatedly invited his cousin to join in and that the cousin asked him to stop and wept uncontrollably while the attack unfolded.

The prosecutor said that Knoessen told his cousin: “I want [the dog’s owner] to see what happened to his precious dog.”

Knoesen’s connection to the dog owner, who was not his cousin, was unclear in court.

‘Torture beyond comprehension’

During sentencing Magistrate Donna Webb said the crime had outraged the public and was comparable to the worst cases of animal cruelty seen in the state.

She described the animal’s death as a “protracted” act of cruelty.

“When I hear these facts, it strikes me more as torture … beyond comprehension,” she said.

“His intoxication doesn’t give any sort of explanation.

“Your client appeared to be incredibly determined to kill this animal.”

Prosecutors argued for an immediate term of imprisonment, but Magistrate Webb gave Knoesen a 12-month suspended sentence, pointing to Supreme Court decisions in other animal cruelty cases.

The sentencing follows a separate case of animal cruelty last week in Perth, where a puppy farmer who kept more than 100 dogs in appalling conditions was sent to prison.

The case also comes just weeks after the RSPCA revealed animal cruelty reports from the Goldfields-Esperance region had jumped by 24 per cent last financial year to 256.

Most reports originated in the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, which had 121, representing a 20 per cent increase on the previous year.

The RSPCA said 90 per cent of reports involved welfare concerns for dogs or puppies with insufficient care, inadequate food, water or shelter.

The RSPCA and the Department of Home Affairs have been contacted for comment.