A CHARITY is being launched this week in memory of a dog that was beaten to death last December

Six women from Chepstow have banded together to launch Diesel’s Army this week, named after the Staffordshire bull terrier of the same name that was killed by its owner.

Construction firm owner Benjamin Matthews, aged 37, was jailed for 17 weeks on December 20 after a court heard he kicked the dog up to 100 times after a drinking session at his home near Shirenewton.

Following Diesel’s death, Chepstow resident Carolyn Taylor launched a group of local animal lovers to raise funds for animal charities and to campaign for heavier sentences for those convicted of animal cruelty.

Carolyn said: “After Diesel’s death, there was an outpouring of grief, and like many others I needed to channel my emotions.

“Out of something so cruel had to come goodness and kindness, so I contacted others who expressed their feelings and suggested getting together.”

Currently the maximum sentence for anyone convicted of animal cruelty offences, apart from those effecting service animals under ‘Finns law’, is five years in prison.

Now the group, which collected more than 20,000 signatures on a petition, is hoping to extend Finn’s Law to other animals, increasing the maximum jail term from six months.

Group member Natalie Le Provest said: “We are focusing on raising funds for local animal charities and are fighting so that people convicted of abusing animals will receive greater sentences.”

For more information about the charity, go to the group’s Facebook page justicefordieselchepstow