Lincoln woman sentenced for assault and animal cruelty

A 57-year-old woman has been sentenced for animal cruelty and assault.

Ketija Bilinksa, of Cannon Street in Lincoln, appeared at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 12 February where she was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and assault by beating.

Bilinska has been sentenced to 10 weeks for the assault and 8 weeks for causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.*

At around 8.30pm on Friday 8 November 2024, we received reports of an assault at the Dog and Bone Public House on John Street.

A woman was reported to have been abusing a dog by hitting it, and also assaulted four people who tried to intervene. Thankfully no one sustained serious injuries, and Bilinksa was swiftly arrested and then later charged.

During her court hearing, Bilinska was given a lifetime disqualification order under Section 34 of the Animal Welfare Act and has been banned from owning, keeping or controlling an animal. Her Chinese crested dog was also subject to a deprivation order and will be rehomed and Bilinska has also been ordered to pay compensation of £100 to the victims.

Dog legislation officer DC Gemma Oxby said: “This case is a demonstration of how members of our community will not tolerate cruelty to animals, when they sought to intervene in an aggressive situation to protect this vulnerable dog from its owner. The court have made it clear that such disgusting behaviour will not be overlooked.”

*Bilinska received a 26-week suspended prison having been sentenced for ABH in March 2024. This latest offence was committed during the 12-month period of suspension and has since been activated. This means that Bilinska will serve the original 26-week sentence as well as the 18-week sentence following this incident for a total of 44 weeks in prison.