CONVICTED (2024) | drug addict Niall O’Kane, born 21 January 1987, of Altinure Road, Claudy, Londonderry BT47 4DG – punched a dog repeatedly, bit her then tried to strangle her during domestic violence incident.
Junkie O’Kane, who has a string of criminal convictions dating back 14 years, also attacked his sister in bed and set fire to her bedroom door while she was inside.
The court was told that on July 10, 2023, O’Kane returned to the home he shared with his mother and sister in a state of intoxication.
He asked his sister, who was in bed, if he could borrow her phone, but she refused.
O’Kane then became “violent, aggressive and threatening” and turned his attention to his sister’s dog,.
The court heard he “punched the dog a number of times, bit the dog and then grabbed it by the neck as if trying to strangle it”.
As his sister grappled with him to protect her pet, O’Kane “grabbed her by the back of the head and bit her on the cheek” before he staggered from the bedroom.
A short time later, the sister noticed flames at her door and rang some friends to come to her aid.
When they arrived at the property, O’Kane, who was slumped on the sofa, told them to “f*** off”.
They ignored him and extinguished the fire, which he had started by piling clothes against the door and setting them alight.
O’Kane was unfit to be interviewed by police until the following day. He said he recalled nothing of the previous evening because he had been on a drink and drug binge. He denied attacking the dog, however, and claimed to have a good relationship with his sister.
Ultimately O’Kane, who has links to Limavady, County Londonderry, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to an animal alongside assault, criminal damage and arson.
The court heard that Kane had amassed 51 previous convictions — half of them related to his drug habit.
Sentencing | one-year custodial of which half will be spent on licence. No mention of a ban on keeping animals.
CONVICTED (2024) | Leah Mae O’Connor, born 23 June 1999, of Summerfield Road, Todmorden OL14 – left two dogs to starve to death in an abandoned property.
Leah O’Connor left two dogs to starve to death in a filthy house
Bulldog Doris and Rottweiler puppy Rox were left behind when single mother Leah O’Connor moved out of a house on Melrose Street, Halifax, in February 2023.
The RSPCA were alerted after the property’s landlord discovered the abandoned pets.
Emaciated bulldog, Doris, had eaten plastic in desperation for food. Tragically she didn’t survive after her condition deteriorated
In written evidence to the court, Inspector Demi Hodby said: “The property itself was full of faeces and urine.
“Where there wasn’t faeces there was rubbish and other hazards on the floor and it was difficult to move around.
“It smelt strongly of urine and faeces and it was difficult to stay inside.
“The smell caused my eyes and nose to burn.”
The remains of Rottweiler puppy Rox were found in this cage
There was a dog cage covered with a blue blanket in the house and inside was the body of Rox.
Inspector Hodby said: “There was no food or water inside the cage and it looked as though the dog had been trying for some time to get out.”
She added: “The dog itself was in an emaciated condition.
“One of its legs was poked through the cage and wrapped around the bars.
“It was absolutely heartbreaking to think what this dog has gone through leading up to its death.”
Doris was barely alive – emaciated, shivering, and lethargic, the court heard.
She was rushed for veterinary treatment and found to be severely dehydrated, covered in fleas, and had to be carried into the room because “she was too weak to stand”.
It was found she had eaten plastic to survive.
The bulldog was there for more than a week but her condition deteriorated and she had to be put down.
The court heard O’Connor had “spun a web of lies” to neighbours and family members, telling them Doris and Rox had been rehomed to someone on a farm.
She told Inspector Hodby in an interview she had done this after leaving the address and claimed someone must have broken in, as she was not aware the dogs were there.
O’Connor had concealed the dog’s suffering and the state of the property, which she wouldn’t allow anyone to enter, before finally leaving the house and abandoning the dogs to die inside.
In mitigation, the court was told O’Connor had been diagnosed with low maturity.
She also struggled with alcohol and drug issues – which she was getting help for – as well as depression and anxiety.
The magistrates were told that the “prolonged neglect” and abandonment of the dogs by their owner for a long period of time could not be regarded as anything other than “a deliberate act, perhaps short of sadistic behaviour”.
O’Connor pleaded guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and was ordered to undertake rehabilitation activities.
Speaking after the case, Inspector Hodby said: “The sight of Rox, who had wasted away in that filthy cage, unable to escape, is something that will stay with me, and those who discovered her, for a long time.
“Along with Doris, she’d endured unimaginable suffering over a prolonged period of time, having been abandoned and forgotten about.”
CONVICTED (2024) | Phillip Boyer, born 4 December 2004, of Waterdale Crescent, St Helens WA9 3PD – left an XL Bully to die in a rubbish and faeces-strewn flat.
A 2019 image of alcoholic junkie Phil Boyer, who turned a blind eye to his dog’s suffering and left her to die in pain
Police found the female tan and white XL bully, named Cali, lying dead in the filthy living room of Boyer’s flat in Waterdale Crescent, St Helens, on June 15, 2023. She was very thin and suffering from canine parvovirus which had not been treated.
An RSPCA inspector attending the scene described being met with a pungent overpowering smell of urine, faeces and decomposition, and saw no sign of food or water for the dog.
Boyer, who admitted being reliant on alcohol and drugs, pleaded guilty to three offences contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
He said in an interview that he hadn’t noticed Cali’s weight loss.
The court heard that RSPCA Inspector Leanne Cooper had gone to the property following the police’s request.
In written evidence she said: “Each room I looked in was filthy and littered with rubbish. In the lounge there was a really pungent overpowering smell of urine, faeces and decomposition. I could see what appeared to be smears of faeces all over the floor and up the walls.
“Over towards the television stand in the corner of the room I could see a dead white bull breed dog that looked to be in very thin bodily condition, with her ribs, hips and backbone prominent.
“Cali’s fur looked to be stained brown on her legs and back end. There was also what looked like a brown dried patch of diarrhoea on the floor underneath her rear end. There was a mop bucket nearby that looked thick, brown and dirty with faeces. The floor was littered with rubbish and hazards such as broken glass. I didn’t see any sign of food or water provided for Cali.”
The inspector also took photographs of a shed in the communal garden where Cali was said to have been kept, sometimes for hours at a time. The wooden door and frame appeared to have been chewed and there were splinters all over the floor.
A vet from the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital examined the dog later the same day. She gave Cali a body condition score of two out of nine and said her ribs, lumbar vertebrae and pelvic bones were easily visible and she had no palpable fat.
The result of a faecal sample showed Cali had canine parvovirus, a highly contagious virus that can be fatal to dogs, with puppies and unvaccinated dogs most at risk.
In her evidence to the court, the vet said: “Parvovirus can cause rapid deterioration and suffering if no veterinary intervention is provided. The duration of these failings will be a minimum of several days, the duration of the environmental failings is likely to be for a period of weeks looking at the evidence presented. Regardless of the cause of poor body condition and diarrhoea, the owner should have sought veterinary advice to relieve her suffering.
“Cali will have undoubtedly felt weakness and debilitation having a severe lack of energy, worsened by the haemorrhagic diarrhoea. This will have been uncomfortable and severely impacted her everyday life, ability to move, to obtain food or water and even to play.
“I would expect a responsible owner to seek veterinary attention should their pet become underweight, to a point that they were below point 4 out of 9 on the body condition score, moreover, if their animal became weak or lethargic.”
The court was told that in the weeks that followed Inspector Cooper made repeated attempts to speak to Boyer about potential animal welfare offences, but most of the calls went straight to voicemail or the line would go dead when she said who she was.
With the assistance of police, he was located and finally interviewed in November about what had happened to Cali.
In interview, Boyer said he was reliant on alcohol and drugs and struggled to buy food for himself and Cali. He said he didn’t notice her weight loss, suggesting that she had always been a lean dog, and he hadn’t taken her to the vet as had no money to do so and didn’t have a phone to call the RSPCA for help.
Speaking after the case Inspector Cooper said: “Going into the property and finding Cali’s body, lying all alone surrounded by piles of rubbish, was an extremely sad and upsetting sight. She was badly let down by the person who should have been caring for her and suffered over a prolonged period because no veterinary assistance or any other sort of help had been sought.”
Sentencing | 17-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months; 20 days of rehabilitation; 160 hours of unpaid work; victim surcharge of £154. Five-year ban on keeping all animals (expires April 2029).
CONVICTED (2024) | Samuel Bodington, born 22 May 1990, of Aire Street, Goole DN14 5QE – strangled a chihuahua and attacked his girlfriend in a drug-fuelled rage.
Image credit: HullLive
Bodington’s girlfriend was looking after the female dog, known as Luna, because she had been cruelly mistreated by a previous owner. Following the vicious attack by junkie Bodington, the tiny pet was left with her tongue hanging out and became “very shaken and jumpy”.
Sentencing was originally imposed in July 2023 after Bodington admitted the intentional strangulation of his girlfriend and causing unnecessary suffering to her pet dog. He was given a 16-month suspended prison sentence but this was activated in late March 2024 after he repeatedly failed to attend appointments with the probation service.
Michael Forrest, prosecuting, told the original hearing that Bodington’s girlfriend had been looking after Luna.
Bodington arrived at her home in Goole at 7.30pm on April 21, 2023, for a party where everyone was drinking. He and his girlfriend took Pregabalin tablets obtained from a drug dealer.
“The defendant’s behaviour changed like a switch had been flipped,” said Mr Forrest.
Bodington became agitated and he was hallucinating and being loud and aggressive, causing the woman to become scared.
“She told him to leave but he didn’t leave,” said Mr Forrest.
Bodington began calling her names. She was lying on a sofa with the dog when Bodington launched himself at her and dragged them both to the floor. While they were on the floor, he took hold of her throat and the neck of the dog.
He squeezed the woman’s neck, causing her to gasp for air, and he held on to the dog’s neck, causing her tongue to hang out of her mouth.
The woman forced Bodington to release his grip. She alerted the police and Bodington was arrested.
“Luna was very shaken and jumpy,” said Mr Forrest. The woman later said that Bodington’s attack on her was unprovoked.
During the original hearing Judge John Thackray KC told Bodingonn: “Your behaviour on the evening in question was appalling. Your victim must have been terrified. The dog must have been terrified.
“This could have been so much more serious. Sometimes it only takes a few seconds from when someone is strangled to them losing consciousness.”
Sentencing | 16-month immediate custodial (previously suspended), Banned from keeping animals for just two years (expires July 2025).
CONVICTED (2024) | Karl Anthony Draper, born c. 2000, of Jade Close, Kirkby, Liverpool L33 6YH – attacked his girlfriend’s French bulldog puppy more than once during sustained campaign of domestic violence.
MMA fighter Draper had been with Bekah Smith for around three years until their split in September 2023. Ms Smith then told the police that he had subjected her to verbal and physical abuse throughout their time together.
Cheryl Mottram, prosecuting, described how Ms Smith had previously “made excuses for his behaviour” and “stayed with him because she loved him”, but she “kept photographs and recordings” evidencing his numerous assaults.
French bulldog puppy Angel was also targeted by violent headcase Karl Draper
The first such incident came on April 15 2021, when Draper kicked the French bulldog puppy they had bought only a few days earlier in her side, causing the dog, named Angel, to “yelp in pain”. This would be one of many occasions when heavy cannabis user Draper took his frustrations out on the puppy.
Numerous other incidents followed which included Draper repeatedly making threats of self-harm, leaving Ms Smith feeling emotionally blackmailed into continuing with the relationship. She also suffered multiple physical assaults, including throttling, at the hands of Draper even during pregnancy and after the birth of their son.
On one voice recording, Draper is heard chillingly telling Ms Smith that she would “end up in the morgue”.
Draper also damaged property including a child’s games console during his many violent rages.
After his behaviour was reported to the police, he told officers Ms Smith “was a liar” and said the marks around her throat in photographs had been an “allergic reaction or make up”.
Ultimately, Draper admitted engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour and five counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He was not charged with animal cruelty.
Ken Heckle, defending, told the court that his client suffers from issues including depression, anxiety, ADHD and self harm.
Sentencing, the Honorary Recorder of Liverpool Andrew Menary KC said: “People who use this type of abuse, of putting their hands around the throat, are committing serious offences, and that type of behaviour will always be regarded by the court as a real warning sign – a red flag that something more serious might happen in the future. Anyone who puts their hands around somebody else’s throat and squeezes is to be regarded as a high risk.
“All of this has had a significant and profound effect on Rebecca Smith. I am perfectly satisfied that the consequences of your behaviour towards her have caused her very significant psychological harm.
“Often, people such as you who engage in domestic abuse have two faces – the one presented to the public and the more sinister one which emerges in the context of an intimate relationship. You cannot claim to be someone of good character when your conduct has spanned a period of three years.
“However, I do take into account your immaturity and your struggles with your mental health. I am perfectly satisfied that, despite the mitigation available to you, immediate imprisonment is the only appropriate sentence to represent the serious nature of the abuse committed by you.”
CONVICTED (2024) | Darren Hughes, born c. 1975, of Millfield, Six Acres Estate, Pooles Park, London N4 3PB – left his pet shih tzu to be eaten alive by fleas.
Hughes was convicted of animal cruelty in relation to the dog, Chewie after leaving him abandoned and suffering for several months at his home.
A member of the public found the dog collapsed and took him to the vet, where he was diagnosed with a heavy flea burden and iron deficiency.
The vet was forced to put Chewie to sleep to end his suffering.
In evidence, the vet wrote: “Chewie was suffering for an extended length of time, as the initial mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was very low, and with chronic anaemia and ongoing blood loss, one or more months are required before the MCV and MCHC decrease below reference intervals.
“This patient’s mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) wasn’t even registered by our laboratory, which is likely to mean red blood cells do not have enough haemoglobin. It also shows thrombocytosis (increased platelets), which is often present in animals with iron deficiency anaemia.
“The biochemistry blood test results show that he had low creatine, which was likely related to muscle loss, and increased urea, which is likely related to dehydration. He was diagnosed with severe anaemia due to his infestation with fleas.”
A cat was also removed from Hughes and will now be rehomed.
In mitigation, he said an alcohol addiction resulted in failing to provide Chewie with veterinary treatment.
After sentencing, Inspector Shahnaz Ahmad said: “This was a distressing case, poor Chewie had been left on his own for large periods of time while he was riddled with fleas, they were literally eating him alive.
“It’s thanks to a member of the public alerting us to the condition of this dog that he was punished for his actions. Sadly it was too late to save Chewie, but it does mean this individual will never be able to neglect pets in this way again.”
Sentencing | 18-week custodial, suspended for 18 months; victim surcharge of £154. Banned indefinitely from keeping all animals.
CONVICTED (2024) | serial animal abuser Liam Reece Aiden Swift, born c. 2001, of McCrea Park, Clogher BT76 0AE – killed two dogs and is suspected of the brutal slaying of a third.
Violent career criminal Liam Swift admitted cruelty offences after two dogs were found dead.
He admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a dog on October 5, 2023, then to another dog on November 12, 2023.
Swift was under investigation for the death of a third dog who had been found with “horrific injuries” several months beforehand.
Dungannon Magistrates Court heard how Swift was arrested over a bail breach on November 11 and, because police knew he owned a dog, they attended his home to ensure she had food and water.
Officers found faeces everywhere and, when the dog didn’t appear, they began checking rooms.
The dog was discovered dead on a pile of rubbish in a cupboard, a chain tightly wrapped around her neck, cutting into the skin.
Then on November 15 police learned there was a second dead dog hidden in a hedge near Swift’s home.
A search revealed the decomposing body of a small dog wrapped in a blanket and placed in a bag.
Swift’s partner confirmed the small dog was hers and she had brought her to Swift’s home on September 23 while staying with him.
She claimed on October 5 another male arrived at the property and ecstasy tablets were produced, which fell on the floor, with her unnamed dog ingesting them.
The dog “became hyper” then fell asleep. However, she later noticed the dog was very wet and asked Swift if he had thrown water over her, which he denied.
The partner left the house for a time but later received a call from Swift claiming he couldn’t waken the dog and she “was in a bad way”.
On return she found the animal “cold and dead”.
She wrapped the dog in a blanket and the pair went outside to bury her. They had no shovel, however, so left the body in the hedge.
Two weeks after the death of this dog, the defendant purchased another dog, but contacted his partner on November 10 claiming he had run away.
The court heard: “This was the death of two dogs killed inside a month and the third dog within a year.
“There is already a live investigation into the death of another dog he allegedly killed in January 2023. Its injuries were horrific.”
A defence barrister said his client had a troubled and complex background. He said that while Swift had some family support, “that has been significantly displaced, particularly as a result of the visceral reaction from the community to these charges”.
“Those who operate outside the law have indicated to the defendant, in no uncertain terms, that he is not to return to his property in light of the views taken.
“Offending of this type will follow him around for the rest of his life.”
The defence conceded Swift is in breach of two suspended sentences but pointed out that neither relate to animal cruelty.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan remarked: “These dogs died horrible and potentially prolonged deaths. It was extreme cruelty to animals who do not deserve to be treated by anybody like that. Cruelty at its most apparent. It was appalling behaviour.”
The judge concluded: “It is my understanding that I can make the disqualification order banning owning any animal for life and that is what I will do. This man should not be around any animal going forward.”
Sentencing | eight-month custodial for the animal cruelty offences with a further two months added for the previously suspended sentences. Lifetime ban in relation to all animals.
Facebook animal welfare group Northern Ireland’s Voice for the Voiceless were contacted late last year by a Clogher resident after they published details of the Liam Swift’s prosecution. The resident set out in detail the nature of Swift’s cruelty to dogs.
CONVICTED (2024) | Mark Williams, born 13 July 1985, of The Deanes, Tiverton EX16 5GT – kicked his partner’s pet chihuahua and threw him 20 feet across a room.
Williams, who was once hailed as a hero after jumping into a canal to rescue a dog in distress, became so angry that he punched his own television and partially throttled his girlfriend before venting his rage on her tiny dog. The attack took place in the presence of a four-year-old boy.
Nigel Wraith, prosecuting, said Williams had been in a volatile on-off relationship with the woman for some time. She was living at his home on March 31, 2023, when an argument started after he returned home drunk.
Teacup chihuahua Smoothie was severely injured in the drink-fuelled attack but survived
He became jealous, threw her mobile telephone against a wall, punched and broke his television and put one hand around her throat, obstructing her airway and leaving her gasping for breath.
He then kicked her teacup chihuahua, Smoothie, before picking the dog up and throwing her out of the living room and into the kitchen where she hit the oven door and could be heard yelping in pain.
The owner reckoned Williams threw the dog the distance of three small cars parked end to end.
The dog suffered injuries to her jaw and hips.
Williams admitted intentional strangulation and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
Williams’ lawyer Evie Dean said her client was addressing his use of alcohol and seeking help for “mental health issues”.
Sentencing | jailed for 14 months, suspended for two years; 120-day alcohol abstinence tag; relationship course; 120 hours of unpaid community work. No ban.
CONVICTED (2024) | Michelle Joplin aka Michelle Hines, born 1 August 1972, previously of Ganneys Meadow Road, Birkenhead, Wirral, Merseyside, and now of Marine Road West, Morecambe LA3 1BU – neglected her dog so badly she collapsed and had to be put to sleep.
Joplin caused unnecessary suffering to her three-year-old bully type dog, Daisy between May 24 and June 16, 2023.
Victim Daisy was put to sleep after being found collapsed and in immense pain
A vet found the animal in a state of collapse, with her right side “sodden with urine, and skin inflamed and sore”.
Her nails were overgrown, she was suffering with hair loss.
Attempts to move her resulted in aggression, which the vet said was a sign of pain.
Joplin left the dog to suffer in foul conditions
Joplin admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal by failing to address signs of ill health.
Joplin told the court she had been “in a really bad place”.
Peter Mitchell, representing the RSPCA, said it was clear Daisy had been collapsed “for an extended period” when she was finally seen by a vet. Two other dogs in Joplin’s care – Marge and Skye – were rehomed.
Sentencing | 18-month community order with 150 hours of unpaid work, alcohol treatment requirement and rehabilitation. FIVE-year ban on keeping dogs (expires January 2029).
CONVICTED (2023) | backyard breeder Josh Mark Rowles, born 19 February 1997, of Matthew Street, Dyfatty, Swansea SA1 1PT – punched a young French bulldog puppy to death.
Rowles lost his temper with the puppy, known as Hugo, after the dog bit him while they were ‘nuzzling’ on the bed
A post mortem carried out on Hugo following his death concluded he had been hit with “considerable” force.
Victim Hugo
Jon Tarrant, prosecuting, said the incident happened at Rowles’ home on the morning of April 29, 2023. He said the defendant awoke to find Hugo on his bed, and he and the dog began to “nuzzle”. The pup then bit Rowles on the lip, and Rowles responded by punching the dog.
The court heard the dog’s condition started to deteriorate over the following 10 minutes and he was seen to start panting.
The defendant rang his ex-partner, who told him to take the animal to the PDSA vets – but Hugo had already died before they reached the clinic.
The vet advised Rowles to contact the RSPCA, who collected Hugo’s body and began an investigation.
The pup’s remains were sent to Liverpool University for a post mortem.
In the meantime Rowles was invited to attend a voluntary interview with the RSPCA during which he said he had woken up to find Hugo on his chest and while he and dog were “nuzzling” the puppy had bitten his lip and he gave the animal “a clip”. He later told an officer that after Hugo bit him he carried the pup to his bed and threw him down before punching him to the side of his body.
The prosecutor said based on disclosures made in interview, evidence from the vets, and the results of the post mortem it was concluded there had been a punch to the head and a punch to the ribs of the puppy, and that the defendant “must have used considerable force”.
In court Rowles, a convicted heroin dealer and former member of an organised crime group, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
His last conviction was for a public order matter some three days before the fatal blow to the dog.
2018 police mugshot of Josh Rowles
John Allchurch, for Rowles, said his client and his ex had owned a French bulldog that had a litter of five puppies. After the couple split his client had kept one of the pups namely Hugo. He said the defendant had had Hugo for five or months before the incident in question.
Allchurch said Rowles had co-operated with the RSPCA investigation and been candid during his interview.
The advocate said Rowles had also been candid with the author of his pre-sentence report about needing help to address his consumption of alcohol.
Judge Catherine Richards told Rowles he had committed a “brutal offence” against his dog which had resulted in his death. She said the “easy” thing to do would be to send the defendant to prison to mark society’s disapproval of what he had done but she noted the “genuine” remorse he had expressed in the pre-sentence report and the steps he had already taken to address his issues around anger and alcohol.
The judge said the appropriate sentence on the guidelines was six months in custody – with a one-third discount for his guilty plea.
Sentencing | four months in prison suspended for 12 months; rehabilitation; 90-day alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement. Banned from keeping any animal for the next five years (expires December 2028).
