Mum wants to change the law after ex killed her dog in house fire

Peggy was considered property and not a sentient being by the law (Picture: Louise Simpson/SWNS)

A mum wants offenders to be punished for killing pets after her dog died in a house fire started by her ex.

Louise Simpson’s ex partner Adrian West, 61, set fire to her home as she slept hours after being released by police for an attack the day before.

Her beloved pet and ‘best friend’ Peggy died in the blaze – but the dog’s death was not considered in West’s six-year jail sentence.

Louise, 53, suffered months of abuse including strangling, punching and kicking from partner West before kicking him out of her home in Crawley, Sussex.

He returned on September 13 and smashed her doorbell camera with a rock.

Officers arrested him on suspicion of criminal damage but he was released following a night in a police cell after Louise declined to sign a witness statement.

Louise’s house was destroyed in the blaze (Picture: Louise Simpson / SWNS)

Louise said of the arrest: ‘I was sobbing, saying: “Whatever happens, I just don’t want him to be able to come near me again”. So he was kept in custody overnight.

‘They called me about 10.45am the next morning and said that he was going to be released with no further action.

‘I said: “Well, what do I do? He’s going to come back.” And they said they can’t do anything unless he does something more.

‘They genuinely seemed to be more worried about how abusive he’d been to the arresting officers the day before.’

Louise and beloved pet Peggy (Picture: Louise Simpson / SWNS)

Terrified that West would return to her home, Louise stockpiled food and blocked the door with a toolbox.

She then woke up from an afternoon nap to discover the house was on fire.

Her ex had come back hours after his release and started a fire in the porch which rapidly engulfed the property.

Louise desperately tried to escape her bedroom as it filled with black smoke, but pet dog Peggy, 3, was too scared to come with her.

The 53-year-old said: ‘If she decided she wasn’t going to move, you could not move her.

‘I was desperately trying, but I couldn’t breathe, so I ran down the stairs.

‘I pulled the toolbox out the way and ran the door, and I thought “somebody will help me”, because I obviously wasn’t realising quite how bad it was at that point.

Adrian West was released by police before returning to Louise’s home (Picture: Sussex Police / SWNS)

‘I ran back upstairs, and I said “I’ve got to get Peggy. Please help me get Peggy.” But my neighbours said: “You’ve got to get out.”

‘I was trying to cover my mouth with my hands and putting my T-shirt over my mouth but because the smoke was so thick I couldn’t breathe.’

The mum was unable to drag Peggy to safety and by the time firefighters were able to get to her it was too late.

Louise stayed with her son Connor, 28, after the fire, and her mum’s ashes among dozens of personal items in the blaze.

She said: ‘I’ve lived in that home for 28 years. I raised my son there. I’ve got good memories there as well.

‘For about four or five days, I couldn’t eat. I just laid on the sofa. I didn’t wash, didn’t brush my teeth. I was just crying non-stop. I couldn’t move off the sofa. I couldn’t take it all in.’

West pleaded guilty at Lewes Crown Court to arson with intent, criminal damage, non-fatal strangulation, common assault and two counts of actual bodily harm on May 2.

Peggy was not considered in Adrian’s sentencing (Picture: Louise Simpson/SWNS)

He was sentenced to six years and three months in prison, but Peggy’s death was not considered during sentencing.

This is because the law sees pets property and not as sentient beings.

Louise is now running a petition for offenders to be punished for killing companion animals like dogs and cats.

She added: ‘Peggy’s life was given as much value as a bookcase.

‘She was my absolute world. What I used to go through with him, she was the one constant that was there by my side; my best friend.’

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: ‘West was arrested on September 13 2024 on suspicion of criminal damage and spent the night in custody.

‘He was released without charge as the victim did not wish to sign a statement at the time.’

The Ministry of Justice says it has no plans to change the law.

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