UK tourist charged after allegedly drowning, bashing pet dog

UK man on working holiday visa charged with drowning, bashing dog in Western AustraliaPosted Tue 29 Sep 2026 at 5:03pmTue 29 Sep 2026 at 5:03pmKalgoorlie Courthouse, where Bradley Gavin Knoesen appeared accused of drowning and beating a dog. (ABC News: Cason Ho)In short: Bradley Gavin Knoesen, 31, has been refused bail over alleged animal cruelty in Western Australia's Goldfields. Police allege Mr Knoesen, who is in Australia on a working holiday visa, drowned the dog before beating it to death.What's next?Mr Knoesen has not entered a plea to a charge of causing an animal unnecessary harm and is due back in court on October 12. A UK man in Australia on a working holiday visa has been taken into custody after allegedly drowning a pet kelpie, then beating it to death after it was briefly revived.Content warning: This story contains graphic details some readers may find distressing.Bradley Gavin Knoesen was refused bail during a brief court hearing in Kalgoorlie, 600 kilometres east of Perth in Western Australia's Goldfields, on Tuesday morning.Police allege the 31-year-old had consumed an "extreme amount of alcohol" with his cousin in Kalgoorlie on September 23, when he picked up the one-year-old kelpie, named Faith, and repeatedly submerged the dog under water. The Kalgoorlie Magistrates' Court heard he smiled and laughed during the ordeal, which left the dog unresponsive.Prosecutors said the dog tried to swim away from Mr Knoesen, only for the 31-year-old to pull it back under the water.Bradley Gavin Knoesen was refused bail after appearing in the Kalgoorlie Magistrates' Court on Tuesday. (ABC Goldfields: Jarrod Lucas)The witness revived the dog through CPR, the court was told, before police allege Mr Knoesen said the dog was "brain dead" and bashed it with a glass bottle.Police allege he then tied the dog's body to a motorbike and dragged it through bushland on the outskirts of Kalgoorlie.It was unclear in court who owned the dog, but the court heard the witness took police to the dog's body.Working holiday flight riskThe court was told Mr Knoesen is in WA on a six-month working holiday visa from the United Kingdom.Police prosecutor Senior Constable Ian Southall opposed bail on the grounds police believed he would flee the country if released.Mr Knoesen did not enter a plea to a charge of causing an animal unnecessary harm and was refused bail by Magistrate Donna Webb, who cited the nature of the charges for her decision. He is due back in court on October 12.The RSPCA and Department of Home Affairs have been contacted for comment.