A GANG of thugs who killed a pet dog by hurling it 130ft to its death from a 12-storey block of flats in Langley, Slough, Berkshire have got away scot-free.

The police investigation has been closed after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) dropped the case against the only suspect ever charged. Thames Valley Police are barred from reopening the case - even if new evidence comes to light.

This means that no-one will be punished by the law for this appalling act of cruelty, which grabbed national headlines after a local newspaper published pictures of the dog's pitiful broken body.

The brindle and white Staffordshire Bull Terrier bitch was thrown from a high up window on the stairwell of the 12th floor of Byron House, in Common Road, on September 14 last year.

About ten minutes before, a security guard watched three youths leading the dog into the building on a blue piece of rope, which police later removed as evidence. A drinks can and a ball of human phlegm were also found at the crime scene.

After local media broke the story, scores of readers offered cash rewards to catch the killers and a brass plaque engraved with the word 'Staffie' was mounted on the wall overlooking the spot where she died.

Five months after the incident, 19-year-old Mason Fleming, of Slough, was arrested and charged with the offence. A second suspect was arrested around the same time but released without charge after producing an alibi.

However, the CPS dropped the charges against Fleming last week, citing 'insufficient evidence.'
As the incident happened more than six months ago, police are now barred from bringing any further charges against any suspects. The CPS declined to comment on the matter.