United Kingdom: Family speak of horror after beloved puppy was drowned in bathtub full of water by burglars

UNITED KINGDOM -- A family returned home to find their house had been ransacked by burglars who had drowned their seven-month-old puppy in a bathtub.

The heartbreaking discovery of Benji, the cockapoo, was found at the Great Yarmouth home of mother-of-two Susan Walker on Wednesday afternoon.

Benji, who had been with the family for five months, was found drowned in a bath at the home in Cobholm Close and is believed to have been killed by burglars, who stole a laptop, iPad, an ID card and allergy medication.

Miss Walker, 33, came home to find her home ransacked and Benji missing, then contacted her brother Gareth Deacon-Walker and partner Mark Phillips, 40.

After searching upstairs and having to kick the locked bathroom door down to get inside, Mr Deacon-Walker then found Benji's body, drowned in the bathtub.

He said: “Everything we lost is immaterial. The fact we lost the puppy is the most devastating thing.”

“I came straight down and told Mark to not go upstairs. That sight will haunt for the rest of my life.”

Miss Walker has yet to break the heartbreaking news to her children, Holly, six and Ethen, two.

She said: “I will never be able to go into that bathroom again. Benji was really playful and part of the family. I have not told the children what has happened. We have told them he has gone missing and police are helping us find him.

“Prison would be too good for the people whoever did this. I want them to feel the same suffering they have made us feel.

“There are no words to describe what I am feeling.”

She added that a police officer with 30 years service told her had never seen anything like it and added: “I am scared to be in the house on my own now and I am scared for my children.”

Mr Phillips said that after seeing Benji dead in the bath “he sat on the stairs and cried”.

The family contacted the police who have launched an inquiry into the burglary that led to the death of Benji, who was a cross between a cocker spaniel and a poodle.

Miss Walker had been visiting her mother at the time of the burglary.

Mr Phillips added: “All anyone can do to help is please give the police any information you have.”

Detective Sergeant Richard Wallis said: “This is particularly cruel crime and I would urge anyone who may have seen any suspicious behavior in the area at around the time of the burglary to come forward.”

Anyone with information should contact Great Yarmouth CID on 101.

Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

(greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk - April 6, 2017)