A devastated dog owner who begged for the safe return of her stolen puppy has finally learned the devastating truth – after a judge sensationally unmasked the likely culprit as her ex-partner.
For nearly seven months, Ewa Hunt, 56, has lived in torment after her nine-month-old Shepadoodle puppy, Bruno, was snatched in a brazen burglary caught on CCTV, at her home in Featherstone, West Yorks.
But the dog-kidnapping became a key point during a family court hearing between Ms Hunt and her ex, Allan Towell, in which she sought, and was granted, a non-molestation order against him.
Bruno’s mother, Molly, was also taken during the burglary in February, but found six days later – 25 miles away in Goole, East Yorkshire.
Bruno, heartbreakingly, vanished without trace.
The Daily Mail previously published security camera footage of the carefully-executed pet theft in in an attempt to help locate the missing dog and identify the thief.
Now, in an extraordinary ruling, Ms Hunt’s ex-partner has been named as the man likely to have been behind the theft – carried out as an act of revenge.
Towell, a car salesman with a criminal past, meticulously planned the burglary after blaming the puppies for the breakdown of the couple’s 21-month relationship, Wakefield Family Court heard.
Ewa Hunt, 56, (pictured) lived in torment for nearly seven months after her nine-month-old Shepadoodle puppy Bruno
Ms Hunt’s ex-partner Allan Towell has been named as the man behind the pet theft
The car salesman with a criminal past planned the burglary after blaming the puppies for the breakdown of the couple’s 21-month relationship
District Judge Jonathan James named the 49-year-old as responsible ‘on the balance of probabilities’ – and said it was unlike anything he had seen in three decades of family law.
He passed a transparency order enabling the Mail to name Towell for the first time, despite an objection from his solicitor.
In a scathing judgment, Judge James said: ‘This was a planned, disgraceful home invasion and burglary seeking to punish somebody and intended to hurt, and it has succeeded in that aim.’
The motivation seems to me to be the resentment [Mr Towell] has towards the dogs and the resentment of [Ms Hunt] for prioritising the dogs over him.’
CCTV footage revealed the moment a hooded man crept through a back door of Ms Hunt’s property just after 8.45pm on February 13.
He was filmed leaving less than two minutes later with both dogs trotting obediently in tow.
In one clip, the hooded figure could be heard saying Molly’s name.Ms Hunt’s barrister Roger Bickerdike told the court: ‘It all hangs together very securely. There’s a very compelling case that the person who took these dogs is Mr Towell.’
Even if he didn’t have the past he has, even if he didn’t carry an air of nastiness about him, it would be compelling.’
Moment a hooded figure is filmed leaving her property with the two dogs
Bruno’s mother, Molly, (pictured) was also taken during the burglary in February, but found six days later – 25 miles away in Goole, East Yorkshire
But it is overwhelming on the evidence that the person who took the dogs was Allan Towell.’
He added: ‘He had an axe to grind. And he has quite a record of behaving in an intimidating and nasty fashion in the aftermath of relationship breakdowns – this was in the near immediate aftermath.’It’s telling my client felt the need to get some protection in the form of CCTV.’
He didn’t know she had done it. Five days after it was installed, there he was stealing her dogs.’
Reaching his decision that Mr Towell was likely to be responsible, Judge James said the intruder must have been ‘familiar’ with the dogs because they did not bark upon his entry into Ms Hunt’s kitchen.
He also noted how the suspect had quickly fitted each dog’s correct lead and specialist harness, known as a Halti, before leaving.
Judge James said his own experience as a dog owner had enabled him to realise that putting on the harness was not a simple operation.
He said: ‘This judge has the life experience of walking a dog with a Halti.
‘This judge is able to say that, first of all, you need to know how to put a Halti on a dog. It’s not immediately obvious and of course you need to know that these dogs could do with a Halti.’
District Judge Jonathan James named the 49-year-old as responsible ‘on the balance of probabilities’ – and said it was unlike anything he had seen in three decades of family law (Pictured: Allan Towell, with Molly and his dog Alfie)
Judge James said a key was also used to enter Ms Hunt’s premises while she was out at a cabaret show – another detail which pointed the finger at Mr Towell
Pictured: Molly and Allan’s dog Alfie in front of a white bus
This man who took the dogs knew to use the correct leads, knew to put Halti’s on, knew to put the correct Halti on the correct dog and knew how to be able to do it.
‘If these are vociferous dogs with a complete stranger one would expect them to be very vociferous indeed but they are not.
‘This was clearly not a spur of the moment event. It was planned and executed at speed and precision by someone who had a detailed knowledge of these animals.’
Judge James said a key was also used to enter Ms Hunt’s premises while she was out at a cabaret show – another detail which pointed the finger at Mr Towell.
He added that that he believed on balance that a tracking device found on Ms Hunt’s car was placed there by Mr Towell so he could be sure that his ex-partner was not at home.
Molly was discovered 25 miles away in Goole, East Yorkshire, six days after the theft following a tip-off.
She was found in the company of a man named Andy, who worked at a lake where Mr Towell indulged in his hobby of jet-skiing. Mr Towell insisted that was a complete coincidence.
However, Judge James concluded: ‘It’s not a bizarre coincidence that someone known to [Mr Towell] from his hobby activity is the person who has the dog.
Molly was discovered 25 miles away in Goole, East Yorkshire, six days after the theft following a tip-off
‘I’m satisfied on the balance of probabilities…it was Allan who delivered the dog to him.’
While Molly was handed over, Bruno was not and his fate remains unknown.The court heard the motive for the thefts was rooted in deep bitterness after the couple’s breakup the previous month.
Mr Towell, the judge found, resented Ms Hunt for keeping two pups from Molly’s litter, crippling his plans to go on a motorhome adventure across Europe with her.
He said: ‘Both parties accept that the primary reason that their relationship failed was because of puppies Bruno and Elsa, the dog that was not at home that night.
‘It seems to me that it is not unlikely that [Mr Towell] would harbour some resentment.
‘The parties were buying an expensive motorhome together and the whole motorhome project then comes to a crashing end and the finances have to be unwound.
‘It is perfectly apparent to me that has been a distinctly acrimonious business.’
Mr Towell, who denied being the thief, claimed he had an alibi and produced a witness who said she had been staying at his home at the time of the dognapping.
The judge said of pub landlord Nicola O’Leary’s evidence: ‘I don’t think she’s been truthful to me’.
He said Mr Towell had been ‘argumentative’ in the witness box and that aspects of his evidence were ‘woefully unrealistic’.
Despite the damning family court ruling, Mr Towell has not been charged criminally where the threshold of proof is higher.
Judge James added: ‘I find on the balance of probabilities that it is in fact [Mr Towell] who removed these dogs.
‘I would not be able to find that beyond reasonable doubt.’I cannot criticise the police for failing to charge or prosecute. The standard of proof in this court is different.’
Tim Wilton, defending Mr Towell, accused Ms Hunt of using the court process to seek retribution.
He said: ‘The reality has been shaped to fit a certain narrative that this was my client.
‘This is an application borne out of seeking to attack my client.’
While Molly was handed over, Bruno was not and his fate remains unknown (Pictured: Allan Towell)
The court imposed a non-molestation order on Mr Towell banning him from contacting Ms Hunt, entering her home or garden, or enter her street except for driving without stopping.
Ms Hunt said in evidence: ‘I’m frightened of the repercussions of his vengeful tendencies because it’s all about payback.
‘I’ve ‘ruined the relationship’ and ‘ruined all future plans’ by keeping the pups, and its all about payback.
‘I’m frightened that there’s going to be damage to my property, more damage to my car.
‘But I’m not frightened of searching from Bruno, I will keep searching for Bruno.
‘He’s my baby, I will not stop searching for him.’After the hearing, Ms Hunt called on West Yorkshire Police to look again at the theft of Bruno.
She said: ‘My worst fear is that Bruno has been drowned in a lake.
‘I appeal yet again for someone to have the heart, courage and integrity to help end this awful nightmare that should never have begun in the first place.’
Anyone with information about Bruno’s whereabouts is urged to contact West Yorkshire Police on 101, citing the crime reference number: 13250086388.Alternatively, contact CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.
