Jailed dog killer sends plea in letter to owner

A man who stabbed a much-loved dog to death has pleaded with the pet's owners for forgiveness from his prison cell – and says he should have been jailed for longer.

Simon Follos, aged 38, has written an open letter to Wayne Bird and his family from Winson Green Prison in Birmingham.

Follos was jailed for 29 months in June after attacking the dog in the street outside his home in Abbey Street, Lower Gornal, while rowing with owner Mr Bird.

The 12-year-old pet, called Tyson, later died from convulsions at a vets' practice.

The two-page letter from Follos, which bears a prison stamp and is handwritten on lined paper, was sent directly to the Express & Star.

It says: "I am so dreadfully sorry for the pain and anguish I have caused by brutally slaying Mr Wayne Bird's dog, Tyson.

"I am deeply saddened and very remorseful for the fact that I only received 29 months for Tyson's death. It was a very serious and terribly wrong thing to have done. Mr Bird and Tyson used to be close friends of mine. I cannot turn back the hands of time to replace Tyson nor can I say that in any way I can repay the deed. I feel as though justice wasn't done."

Follos says he has a "guilty conscience" that will stay with him for the rest of his life and adds: "I can't even sleep properly for the terrible dreams.

"Tyson was a loved and most loveable companion to Mr Bird and his family and I hope you will find it in your heart to print this written apology. I know not the address of Mr Bird nor anyone to contact him and his family and say a real, heartfelt sorry for what I have done."

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that Follos and Mr Bird had been friends but had fallen out in recent years. Flowers were laid outside the nearby Darby & Joan club after the dog's death in February and a plaque has since been erected in its memory.

Mr Bird's aunt, Rose Beedles, today said she believed Follos "deserves a second chance" – but added that Tyson's "horrific" death would never be forgotten.

Mrs Beedles, who has helped look after Mr Bird since he was a child, said: "Life is too short to bear grudges. They can eat you up inside and we have had too much heartache recently to dwell on this. Everyone should be given a second chance and if he is truly sorry then we can accept this and move on. We will never, ever forget Tyson and what happened to him was horrific but we will always have our memories. There are people worse off in the world than us."

Follos had already threatened to stab Mr Bird on February and a row started, which ended in Mr Bird punching Follos in the head, the court was told in June. Later that day the men argued and Follos then stabbed the dog in the ribcage and walked back into his home. Mr Timothy Talbot-Webb, defending, said Follos, who suffers from mental health problems, had not been taking his medication and was drinking a "vast amount" at the time.

In his letter, Follos claims he is now taking anger management classes and "finding out a way of life without pain or sorrow". He adds he hopes "never to drink or smoke drugs again". In court Follos pleaded guilty to possessing a bladed article in public, causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, and a charge of criminal damage by destroying a dog.

Mr Bird has since found a new companion in two-year-old German Shepherd Blade, which he took in from a rescue centre.

The plaque, which was put up in April in Abbey Street, near the spot where Tyson died, was paid for after more than £800 was raised from donations.

It reads: "Tyson Bird – devoted, faithful and much-loved companion to your loving dad Wayne. You will always be remembered by all of your family and friends in Gornal."