Tag Archives: multiple victims

Walney, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria: Paul Rose

May 19, 2024 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2024) | owl sanctuary owner Paul Allen Rose, born 5 January 1953, of Foxfield Road, Walney, Barrow-in-Furness LA14 3SJ – neglected the needs of birds in the care of his rescue and kept them in poor conditions.

Prosecution of Cumbrian owl sanctuary owner Paul Rose who neglected the needs of the birds in his care.

Paul Rose MBE, founder of The Owl Sanctuary, pleaded guilty on the day of his trial to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and one count of failing to ensure animal welfare, contrary to Section 4 and Section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Prosecutor Joel Wootton told the court that officers from Cumbria Police and the RSPCA conducted inspections at two of the charity’s aviaries on March 8, 2022.

Twenty-six owls were seized from a lockup on Brady’s Yard after they were found to have been crammed into cramped, cluttered cages in an aviary that had no windows.

The owls did not have enough space to open their wings.

A further five owls were seized from the defendant’s property on Foxfield Road, Walney.

Prosecution of Cumbrian owl sanctuary owner Paul Rose who neglected the needs of the birds in his care. Pictured is Ludo who was euthanised after suffering neurological damage. — Pictured is Ludo who was euthanised after suffering neurological damage.

Two of these owls were euthanised within 48 hours due to having serious neurological problems and being unable to stand properly.

One barn owl was found to have suffered a fractured wing.

Another owl was later put to sleep whilst in the care of the RSPCA.

An RSPCA inspector commented that the owls were all ‘suffering to some degree’, the court heard.

Rose also admitted he had displayed an ‘amber listed’ tawny owl named Ludo for commercial purposes without an Article 10 certificate.

The court heard that this was the same owl that was neurologically damaged.

The court was told Rose applied for a exhibition licence to show all of his owls at local schools and other events in 2020, which was later revoked.

He was sentenced on the basis that he cared for every one of his birds, that he did not commit the offences out of any malice, and that he did so as a result of overwhelming demand for his services, his poor health and the COVID-19 pandemic.

In mitigation, Joseph Hart said his client had not been ‘deliberately cruel’.

Mr Hart added: “It is quite clear this defendant was regularly consulting vets about the birds in his care.

“He is besotted with his animals and has devoted himself to them.

“He consulted vets about the two owls that were ultimately destroyed two years before the offending. Having taken them to the vets, they were released back to him.

“He began with the best of intentions but by the time we get to March 8, he had a very large amount of owls in wholly unsatisfactory conditions and he has not sought medical advice.

“This is not a deliberate attempt to cause suffering, but it is arguably a prolonged period of neglect.

“There is no suggestion these animals were being used for commercial gain. He genuinely cared for the animals, perhaps too much as he refused to hand them over.”

The court heard Rose, who served as an RAF reservist for many years and who was awarded an MBE in 2002 for services to the defence industry, was a man of previous good character, save for a previous caution in 2011 for failing to apply for an Article 10 certificate.

Sentencing Rose, Recorder Katie Jones said: “These birds were kept in woefully inadequate conditions in dark, cold and dusty spaces. The biggest enclosure you had was 109cm x 75cm x 69cm which was significantly smaller dimensions than the recommended dimensions.

“You simply failed to discharge your duty to consider their welfare.

“It was not your intention to cause the birds any harm, but you had plenty of warning about what was expected of you.

“You could have asked for help and you should have familiarised yourself with what suitable conditions these animals need.”

Sentencing | 20-week prison sentence suspended for two years; one-month curfew. Disqualified from owning or keeping all birds for five years to give him ‘time to engage in educational work’. The order also prohibits Rose from controlling or influencing the way in which birds are kept.

The Mail

In October 2022 it was reported that the Owl Sanctuary is to be investigated by the Charities Commission after concerns were raised about how a £225,000 legacy and other funds were spent.

BBC News undertook its own investigation into the charity’s affairs and published a detailed report here.

Animal Abandonment, Dogs, Equine Abuse, foxes, horses and ponies, hunting with dogs, hunts, Multiple Species, Wildlife Crime / Bloodsports

Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire: Greg Baker

May 18, 2024 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2024) | huntsman Gregory Edward Baker, born 31 October 1980, of Troedythiw, Rhydcymerau, Llandeilo SA19 7PT – for multiple counts of animal cruelty relating to five equines and one foxhound.

RSPCA prosecution of Carmarthenshire huntsman Greg Baker formerly of the Llandeilo Farmers Fox Hunt for cruelty to five horses and a fox hound

Llanelli Magistrates Court found Greg Baker guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to six animals due to prolonged neglect.

Baker, a huntsman most recently with the now defunct Llandeilo Farmers Hunt, failed to investigate or address the poor bodily conditions of the equines, who were given a body condition score of between 0 and 0.5 out of 5. All were suffering from lice infestations and rain scald – a painful condition caused by prolonged exposure to the elements.

One horse – a little Shetland pony – weighed just 60kg when rescued and rapidly gained 20kg once in the care of the RSPCA.

He also failed to provide veterinary care for a foxhound suffering from paraphimosis with associated ulceration and fracture. The dog was in such pain he had to be given methadone.

The court heard that the neglect was so severe that one horse had to be euthanised.

Baker was found guilty of failing to address the equines’ lameness, skin diseases, and malnutrition, as well as neglecting to provide a suitable environment and diet for the animals.

Baker, who was represented by Matthew Paul – a fellow foxhunter and master of the Emlyn Begles, originally pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Despite the seriousness of the offences, magistrates decided not to disqualify Baker from keeping animals. This decision was influenced by an RSPCA visit in July 2023, which noted improvements in the conditions of the horses. The court also considered Baker’s previous good record in animal keeping, the low risk of reoffending as assessed by probation services, and the disproportionate impact a disqualification would have on his dependants.

Chairman of the bench, Mrs Alison Elizabeth Dorothy Evans, stated that the decision to suspend the sentence was due to the prospect of Baker’s rehabilitation and his role as the primary carer for his dependent children and wife, Gemma Baker.

The case highlights the importance of animal welfare and the legal responsibilities of pet owners to ensure their animals’ health and well-being.

Sentencing | 20 weeks in prison, suspended for 24 months; 12-month community order with 150 hours of unpaid work; £2,719.45 costs and £154 victim surcharge. No ban.

Pembrokeshire Herald
Hunt Saboteurs Association

Cats, Domestic Violence - Animals Targeted, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Lowestoft, East Suffolk: Danny Williams

May 18, 2024 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2024) | violent career criminal Daniel Williams, born c. 1993, of no fixed abode but with links to multiple areas of Suffolk and Norfolk* – killed a pet cat and left another with such serious injuries she had to be put down.

Sadistic cat killer Danny Williams, who has links to various parts of Norfolk and Suffolk

Williams was sentenced to a total of four years and six months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to the following charges:

Two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal – 24 months’ imprisonment to run consecutively and 24 months’ imprisonment to run concurrently.
Intentional suffocation – 14 months’ imprisonment.
Threatening to disclose private sexual photographs and images with intent to cause distress – 2 months’ imprisonment to run concurrently.
Two counts of sending an electronic communication containing a threat – 10 months’ and 6 months’ imprisonment to run consecutively.
Two counts of damaging property – One month’s imprisonment for each count to run concurrently.

Early reports stated that Williams had attacked the cats with a baseball bat.

The crimes were committed during 2022 after Williams entered a property in Lowestoft.

Other incidents included smashing windows of a business in the area as well as sending threatening messages to individuals that included threatening to assault someone with a baseball bat.

Detective Constable Matthew Fox of Suffolk Police said: “Williams’ behaviour during this period was controlling, it was threatening and it was severe; culminating in the brutal attack on two defenceless and innocent animals.

“He failed to control his emotions in the most extreme manner and has caused damage to cars, buildings and businesses, but most of all he has caused untold damage to the lives of a number of people.

“Now he will have time in prison to consider the fear and pain he has put onto other people, in the knowledge that even once released, if he breaches the conditions placed on him, he will face yet further punishment.”

Sentencing | 54-month custodial sentence, 10-year restraining order. A 10-year disqualification order applicable to all animals.

Suffolk Police
Suffolk News

*Williams’ last address before his latest bout of imprisonment was Orchard Close, Boughton, King’s Lynn, Norfolk. He has links to the following areas: Dereham, Norwich, North Walsham, Lowestoft, Diss, Swaffham, Attleborough, Bungay/

Dogs, ear cropping and tail docking, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders

Portswood, Southampton: Seyed Alavizadeh

May 17, 2024 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2024) | backyard bully breeder Seyed Hussain Alavizadeh, born April 1983, of Laburnum Road, Southampton SO16 3LE – cropped the ears of multiple dogs “for show”.

RSPCA prosecution of extreme bully breeder Seyed Hussain Alavizadeh from Southampton, who subjected seven dogs to ear cropping. — Seyed Alavizadeh with wife Jade and Ice Berg, one of the dogs involved in the prosecution

Unscrupulous extreme breeder Seyed Alavizadeh, who traded under the name TTB Bully Camp, was prosecuted for cropping the ears of seven American bullies – namely Bora, RZA, Mr T or Tank, Nala, Ice Berg, Ghost and Mooncake – between December 28, 2021 and March 18, 2022. Some of the dogs were part of the same litter.

The company director was caught when the RSPCA, assisted by the police, intervened and brought a case against him.

During interview he claimed that he didn’t own at least one of the dogs.

While not prosecuted, Seyed Alavizadeh’s brother Arman Alavizadeh has a similar breeding operation called Defined Bullz and shared ownership of dogs is a common tactic for remaining under the radar of the authorities.

Alavizadeh later pleaded guilty to seven counts of carrying out a prohibited procedure on a protected animal.

Prosecutor Joel Wootten said the procedure would cause the dog’s ears to become “inflamed and painful”, adding that it would result in “significant suffering”.

“It affects their communication with both humans and other dogs for the rest of their lives”, he added.

Alavizadeh claimed that when he first bought a dog his or her ears had already been cropped in America where the procedure is legal.

He said that American Bullies can compete in special shows, similar to Crufts, adding: “People do it (crop ears) for show. People do it because they like the look of it.”

Judge Brian Forster KC said that the dog’s ears had been cropped “for show” and that this had been “unnecessary” and caused the animal’s “significant pain”.

“Though it can be carried out in certain countries it can’t be carried out in this country.

“In each case it was deliberate and it was done in each case knowing that the law did not allow the procedure to be carried out.

“It was done for the purpose of show.”

Mitigating, Andrew Houston told the court his client is remorseful and has no relevant convictions.

He added that “there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation” and that he is a primary carer for his relatives who would be affected if he went to prison.

Alavizadeh was not ordered to make any contribution towards costs of £12,820.82 after pleading financial difficulty.

Sentencing | 16-week custodial sentence suspended for 18 months; 100 hours of unpaid work; £156 surcharge. Five year ban from owning or participating in the keeping of a dog (expires May 2029).

Daily Echo

Dogs, Lifers, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Wakefield, West Yorkshire: Craig Price

May 17, 2024 misanthropic 2 Comments

CONVICTED (2024) | Craig Anthony Price, born June 1990, currently of Lower Warrengate, Wakefield WF1 1SA but with strong links to Castleford and Pontefract – pinned a dog to the ground and hit him twice on the head with a shovel.

RSPCA prosecution of violent dog abuser Craig Price, from West Yorkshire, who was seen beating a dog with a shovel and stamping on his head

Price was seen dragging a bull mastiff called Moschino from his then home in Keswick Drive, Castleford, by the scruff of his neck before picking up a large metal-ended shovel and striking him twice on the head.

He then stamped on the dog’s head with his knee as his pet lay defenceless on the ground.

Eye witnesses reported the incident, which took place in the property’s back garden on 29 December 29, 2022, to the RSPCA.

Price was prosecuted by the animal charity and on February 26, 2024, was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to Moschino and a German Shepherd called Snowy.

The court heard how an RSPCA inspector, accompanied by a police officer, visited Price’s house to speak with him after witnesses described seeing him raise the shovel above his head and ‘whack’ Moschino with it and ‘stomp’ on the animal’s head with his knee.

The court heard how Price was initially calm, but instantly became irate on being questioned about the allegation.

In written evidence, the RSPCA officer said: “Mr Price instantly knew what I was talking about. He replied that he had taken the dog outside and shouted at him, but he denied that he had used any physical force. He said there was a shovel out there for picking up after the dogs – but again denied hitting them with it.”

Price then became verbally aggressive and refused to allow the RSPCA to take the dogs to a vet for examination. The pets were therefore seized by police and transported to an RSPCA hospital.

Moschino was found to be lame due to a soft tissue injury and was nervous and fearful when examined.

A vet who gave a written statement in the case said based on the eye witness accounts given to the RSPCA, his opinion was that Price had inflicted physical abuse for a period “of at least several minutes, possibly longer,” and had failed to protect Moschino from injury, pain and suffering.

The court also heard evidence from a clinical animal behaviourist who said Price hadn’t provided the dogs with a safe and predictable environment in which they did not experience anxiety, physical discomfort and helplessness.

The behaviourist said: “This suffering could have reasonably been avoided or reduced had Moschino not been hit and the dogs not been put into fear by the behaviour that they were exposed to.”

“He showed no retaliation, and at no point did his behaviour provoke the male to continue the abuse; there was no reason to cause the animal suffering, or for the suffering to continue for as long as it did as described.”

Price immediately lodged an appeal against his conviction.

The two dogs remain in the care of the RSPCA.

Sentencing | 12-month community order with 300 hours of unpaid work and 20 days of rehabilitation; £366 in costs and a victim surcharge of £114. Disqualified from keeping animals for life.

Wakefield Express

Additional Information

Price is a director of a flooring supply company called Price Carpets Ltd, though that appears to have ceased trading.

He formed a second company in October 2023 called A Brush Painting & Decorators.

Dogs, Equine Abuse, horse traders, horses and ponies, Multiple Species, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders, Serial Animal Abusers, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Cwmann, Carmarthenshire: Evan Bevan

May 16, 2024 misanthropic 2 Comments

CONVICTED (2024) | backyard breeder and serial animal abuser Evan David Bevan, born October 1979, of Pyllau Crynion, Cwmann, Lampeter SA48 8EX – kicked a pony, hit one dog repeatedly with a stick and failed to treat a second dog’s ear injury.

RSPCA prosecution of Evan Bevan from Cwmann, near Lampeter, Wales, who was caught on camera beating a horse and a dog on separate occasions.

In videos provided anonymously to the RSPCA Bevan, director of Electech Electrics Limited trading as Electech Installations, was shown inflicting physical abuse on a pony known as Tony by kicking him, and beating a mastiff called Lily with a stick. He also failed to provide veterinary care for an ear injury suffered during a fight by German Shepherd Rosie.

Bevan, who was once a landlord for notorious breeders Andrew Bateman and Kelly Busby during the period they were churning out sick and dying puppies and selling them to unsuspecting buyers, pleaded not guilty to the cruelty charges but was convicted after a trial.

All of the offences took place at Bevan’s home address in Cwmann.

RSPCA deputy chief inspector (DCI) Gemma Cooper told the court she had attended the location seen in the videos with police officers and an animal health officer from Carmarthenshire Council. She recognised Evan Bevan as the male in the footage.

DCI Cooper said: “We asked if we could look at his dogs and he let out of a barn approximately 10 to 15 dogs who almost straight away started to fight amongst each other, one being bitten on her face and causing her to bleed,” she said.

“Evan Bevan stated it was all too much for him and he wasn’t going to breed anymore.

“I asked if he would like help with rehoming the dogs and he said that he only had two he wanted to rehome; a female bull mastiff called Lily and a female chocolate Labrador called Maggie.”

Bevan was asked where a German Shepherd dog called Rosie was and he said he had rehomed her with a rescue centre a couple of days earlier.

DCI Cooper later spoke with the rescue centre who confirmed that he had brought Rosie to them. She was suffering with an old injury to her right ear.

An independent expert veterinary report into the welfare of a group of dogs and a horse was provided to the court in which both videos were examined.

According to the vet, Bevan “kicks the pony with force to the left shoulder” in the first video clip.

The vet added: “The kick was forceful and clearly made contact with the pony that reacted adversely to the kick, indicating that the kick caused pain and hence suffering.” .

In relation to Rosie, who lost a significant portion of her right ear, it was said that “the injury will have caused the dog pain and suffering”.

She sustained the injury during the incident caught on the second video where Bevan was seen in a yard with a large group of dogs all off the lead and running freely around. He is seen swinging a stick in an attempt to hit the Jack Russell and ends up hitting another dog. A fight also erupts between the dogs.

The vet report states: “When Mr Bevan identifies what is going on he walks back across the yard and repeatedly hits the bull mastiff with his stick in an attempt to get the dog to loosen its hold of the German Shepherd dog.

“Mr Bevan persistently hits the dog before eventually getting hold of the mastiff and attempting to pull it free of the German Shepherd dog although he continues hitting at the dog with the stick.”

Bevan confirmed that Rosie’s ear injury occurred during the incident. He admitted that he did not seek veterinary attention but instead sprayed the ear with Engemycin spray.

Lily and Maggie, who were placed into RSPCA care, are now in loving new homes.

Rosie, who was in the care of another rescue, has also been rehomed.

Magistrates said they “did not find it necessary to make an order” to disqualify Bevan from keeping pets “after a long and careful consideration” because “the offences date back to 2022” and the number of animals in Bevan’s care “has significantly reduced” because he “is no longer breeding dogs or ponies.”

Magistrates ruled that “the risk to the future welfare of animals in the defendant’s care had significantly reduced.”

Sentencing | 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 24 months; 25-day rehabilitation requirement order; 200 hours of unpaid work; £1,000 in costs and a victim surcharge. No ban on keeping animals was imposed.

WalesOnline
Western Telegraph

Animal Abandonment, Dogs, Worst of the Worst

Kingston upon Hull / Scarborough, North Yorkshire: Jake Craven and Megan Findlay

May 15, 2024 misanthropic 2 Comments

CONVICTED (2024) | Jake Craven, born 11 February 1996, currently of Linnaeus Street, Anlaby, Hull HU3, and Megan Findlay, born 18 April 1999, of Victoria Park Avenue, Scarborough YO12 7TR – neglected three dogs, starving one to death.

RSPCA prosecution of former couple Jake Craven now of Hull and Megan Findlay from Scarborough, North Yorkshire- neglected three dogs, with one starving to death.

Craven and Findlay were offered help with rehoming when the RSPCA and a housing association officer visited their flat in Victoria Avenue in Scarborough in March 2023.

Two Staffies – Coco and her puppy Tinker – and a terrier called Rex were among several dogs being kept in breach of the tenancy agreement. When the housing association officer returned to the flat a fortnight later, she was unable to get inside.

RSPCA Inspector Tom Hutton later tracked the couple down to where they were living on wasteland near the Grand Hotel in Scarborough on June 10.

Findlay told the inspector they were homeless and Rex had died, so she had wrapped him in a blanket and put him inside their tent.

Inspector Hutton said in a statement presented to the court that Findlay then let the two Staffies out of the tent and he could see they were both extremely thin.

Their hips and ribs were prominent and their spines were visible. Both dogs were anaemic and needed treatment in an animal hospital.

A vet who examined two-year-old Coco said the dog was emaciated with a body condition score of two out of nine. Her daughter, Tinker, a six-month-old Staffie cross, scored three on the same chart.

“Both dogs were suffering due to lack of nutrition and water and were losing body condition. I estimate they would have been suffering for around a month at least to have lost that much weight,” said the vet.

In mitigation, the court was told that Findlay suffered from psychological problems, including ADHD and anxiety and depression. Craven was said to have “secondary responsibility” for the care of the dogs.

Coco and Tinker have been returned to good health and will now be rehomed by the RSPCA.

Speaking after the hearing, Inspector Hutton said: “The defendants had ample time to address the weight loss of their dogs. They didn’t engage with the RSPCA’s foodbank scheme or seek the support one of our branches could have offered them if they were struggling.

“They rang us to tell us one of the dogs was dead and we rushed over, but it was too late by then.”

Sentencing |
Craven – 18-month community order with 25 days of rehabilitation. Three-month curfew.
Findlay – 18-month community order with 35 days of rehabilitation; victim surcharge of £114.
Seven-year ban (expires May 2031).

BBC News
DogsToday

Cats, Dogs, Hoarders, Multiple Species

Brierley Hill, Dudley, West Midlands: Stephanie Sinclaire

May 15, 2024 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2024) | Stephanie Sinclaire, born c. 1956, of Stour Hill, Brierley Hill DY5 – kept 13 sick and neglected pets inside her filthy home.

RSPCA prosecution of animal hoarder Stephanie Sinclaire from Brierley Hill, Dudley, West Midlands, who kept eight cats and five dogs in foul conditions and failed to feed them properly.

Animal hoarder Sinclaire kept eight cats and five dogs in a foul environment, surrounded by a build-up of faeces and urine. One of the dogs was in such poor condition that he had to be put down.

There was no clean water source available and no comfortable bedding for resting.

Some of the animals were found in small crates with no litter trays or heavily soiled litter trays and all had urine and faecal soiling to their coats.

The dogs were found to be suffering with a variety of health conditions including fleas, skin lesions, dental disease and eye discharge.

Four of the five dogs and all eight of the cats were underweight because of a lack of food.

The vet who examined the animals said they would have been suffering unnecessarily for weeks due to poor body condition and the associated feelings of weakness and hunger.

Two dogs, Sykes and Ozzy, had lesions on their skin due to pressure from inappropriate housing and prolonged contact with urine and faeces causing scalding to the skin.

The vet said Ozzy would have suffered unnecessarily for a number of weeks due to pain associated with severe spondylosis – a painful condition of the spine resulting from the degeneration of the intervertebral discs – affecting multiple regions of his spine.

As a result of these spinal issues he developed painful urine scald and pressure sores affecting his limbs.

In their report, the vet said: “This unnecessary suffering could have been avoided by seeking veterinary treatment, including pain relief and by providing an appropriate environment that would have prevented Ozzy from lying in his own urine and faeces.”

Sadly Ozzy had to be put to sleep by vets because of the severity of his condition.

The other animals, who have been in RSPCA care since their rescue, can now be found new homes after Sinclaire was also deprived of ownership when she was sentenced.

Sinclaire admitted four animal welfare offences following an investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA.

RSPCA Inspector Ben Jones said: “Our plea to all animal owners is to make sure they always receive care and treatment they need.

“Animals are completely reliant on their owners to ensure their needs are met and they are kept safe and healthy.”

Sentencing | 26-week custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months; 15 days of rehabilitation; £400 costs. Disqualified from keeping animals for 10 years.

Express & Star
BirminghamLive

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Billingham, County Durham: Thomas Hardy

May 7, 2024 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2024) | Thomas Hardy, born 13 April 1992, of 48 Prior Court, Billingham TS23 3PL – for two counts of animal abuse involving blunt force trauma, physical violence and intimidatory behaviour towards two Cockapoos.

Prosecution of violent dog abuser Thomas Hardy from Billingham, County Durham.

Sickening CCTV footage from Prior Court, Billingham, captured Thomas Hardy inflicting a litany of abuse on two terrified dogs.

One clip showed Hardy repeatedly punching a tan-coloured Cockapoo in the head, before placing her in a stranglehold, compressing her chest between his legs and swinging her around by the neck.

Further footage showed the same dog cowering from Hardy and trying to run before he grabs her by the scruff and lifts her off the floor. He places his free hand around the dog’s throat and carries her swinging in front of him.

She is then thrown into a lift and collides with the back of it before Hardy kicks her under the chin and blocks the security camera.

In a third clip filmed 10 days later Hardy is seen with a brown male Cockapoo. The dog is initially wagging his tail as he follows Hardy. He is grabbed by the neck as the defendant violently puts a lead on him before being dropped to the floor and yanked off his front feet. His tail stops wagging and he is observed acting submissively.

An RSPCA inspector visited Hardy’s flat with police officers on August 2, 2023,. Due to animal welfare concerns, entry to the property was forced after there was no reply.

In written evidence to the court, the RSPCA inspector said: “Inside the property was a light brown Cockapoo type dog, she was very nervous and cowering down.

“The flat the dog was living in was very unkempt and smelt of excrement and had faeces littered around.

“The dog was seized by the police and placed into the care of the RSPCA and I put her in my vehicle.”

In written evidence to the court the vet who examined the female dog and viewed the CCTV footage, said: “The individual in the videos is clearly seen to hit, choke, kick and throw the tan cockapoo.

“There is no reason to treat any animal in this way. The dog will have suffered physical pain and in addition showed clear signs of emotional distress.”

The vet said Hardy had inflicted pain and fear on both dogs and they had suffered unnecessarily as a result.

Hardy pleaded guilty to the charges.

Speaking after the conclusion of the case, RSPCA Chief Inspector Mark Gent said: “The video footage of these dogs being abused by Hardy multiple times was very difficult to watch. It’s hard to understand how someone can treat animals with such contempt and cruelty, and we will never know, as the defendant refused to be interviewed about it. We’d sincerely like to thank the police and the security staff for their assistance in this case which has been upsetting for everyone involved.”

The female cockapoo was looked after at a private boarding facility on behalf of the RSPCA and has since been happily rehomed.

The offence was deemed serious enough to warrant a prison sentence. However, it was suspended given Hardy’s admission of guilt.

Sentencing | twelve-week custodial, suspended for 24 months, for each charge; thinking skills programme; £600 costs and £154 victim surcharge. Disqualified from dealing or participating in keeping any animals for 12 years.

Northern Echo
TeessideLive

Additional Information

Following Hardy’s conviction, the Daily Mail spoke with two of his neighbours with one telling the newspaper that the two dogs he attacked belonged to his boss.

The neighbour added that he had “never seen Thomas fight”.

A second neighbour said he was ‘shocked’ to hear about the case as Hardy is a good neighbour.

He said: ‘I didn’t hear anything about the attack but I knew that he had a dog at one point.

‘I’m shocked to hear about the attack. I know he has his problems and that he had his problems.

‘He is a little bit anti-authority.

‘But, when you meet him and you know him that isn’t the person I know.

‘He is a good neighbour. He doesn’t have loud parties and barely has anyone over.’

Daily Mail

Animal Abandonment, Dogs, Serial Animal Abusers

Batley, West Yorkshire: Michelle and Ethan Farrar

May 4, 2024 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2024) | mother and son Michelle Farrar of 122 Ealand Road, Batley WF17 8HT, and Ethan Lee Farrar of 15 Oakhill Road, Batley WF17 8JD – kept two dogs in a faeces-strewn property filled with hazards and starved and neglected one of them.

RSPCA prosecution of mother and son Michelle Farrar and Ethan Farrar from Batley, West Yorkshire - for starvation and neglect of a dog in their care. — Persistent animal abusers Michelle and Ethan Farrar were both ordered to undertake rehabilitation. The mother received a two-year ban while her son is banned from having anything to do with animals for the next five years.

The court heard that in October 2022, RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer (ARO) Rebecca Goulding visited an address in Oakhill Road, Batley, to check on the welfare of dogs living there.

Looking through the window ARO Goulding could see two Dogues de Bordeaux – an adult and a puppy. She said: “Both dogs looked in reasonable condition, and were bright, alert and active”.

There were however concerns about the animals’ living conditions with ARO Golding stating that “the stench of urine and faeces that could be smelt from outside the property, combined with the filthy windows and stained curtains suggested that conditions inside were not suitable for the dogs. The living room appeared in complete disarray and all surfaces were covered in faeces.

“When I got inside of the house, the smell of urine and faeces in the living room was overpowering”

The RSPCA was told by the property’s resident, Ethan Farrar, that the two dogs belonged to his mother Michelle Farrar, who although the legal tenant of the Oakhill Road property, lived elsewhere, in Ealand Road.

ARO Goulding advised both the mother and son that the condition of the house at Oakhill Road was unsuitable for the dogs and that improvements must be made otherwise they would have to be removed from there.

ARO Goulding made many unsuccessful attempts to visit and contact Michelle Farrar in person. When Michelle Farrar finally did return ARO Goulding’s calls, she agreed to sign the puppy – named Rain – over to the RSPCA and to move the adult dog – Storm – from the address at Oakhill Road, to the other address in Ealand Road, which provided a more suitable environment.

Farrar was warned against the dog being returned to Oakhill Road, unless significant improvements were made to that property.

A month later, ARO Goulding returned to Oakhill Road for a spot check. To her dismay she discovered that Storm was in the property’s back yard which was full of hazards and littered with faeces.

ARO Goulding warned Ethan Farrar that if Storm was found inside the property, then she would be removed.

In February 2023, RSPCA inspector Demi Hodby visited Oakhill Road for a follow up inspection, to check that Storm wasn’t being kept at the Oakhill Road house. But on arrival, she could see a now very thin Storm sitting on a faeces-covered window ledge and noticed a strong smell of faeces and urine coming from the property’s air vents.

Ethan Farrar admitted that there had been no improvements made to the condition of the property. The Farrars had once again ignored the RSPCA’s warning not to return Storm to these filthy conditions. In addition, the dog’s body condition had seriously deteriorated and she had lost a substantial amount of weight.

Inspector Hodby advised that the dog must now see a vet, that an investigation had been started and that Storm would be in RSPCA care until the investigation was concluded.

Storm was taken into the care of the RSPCA and was thoroughly examined by a vet and treatments to improve her condition were started.

Veterinarian Dr Sean Taylor, expert witness for the prosecution, reported that the evidence indicated that as well as a 3cm (1.2in) lesion on her tongue, Storm had dental disease which was causing her to experience pain. The evidence suggested that the condition had been present for some time and Storm would have suffered for a period of at least five days, but probably longer.

In addition, Dr Taylor reported that due to the house at Oakhill Road being so unhygienic and full of hazards, Storm’s needs had not been met. He added that those responsible for the welfare of this animal had failed to provide a suitable environment

RSPCA Inspector Demi Hodby said: “It was the Farrars’ legal responsibility to properly care for Storm and they failed to do this. Not only did they repeatedly ignore instructions to improve the conditions that Storm was being forced to live in, but there was also no excuse for failing to get veterinary care for her when it was abundantly clear she so desperately needed it.

“This was a sad case and Storm’s suffering could have easily been avoided. The RSPCA urges anyone struggling to take care of their animal to ask for help and act on advice, rather than neglecting them and leaving them to suffer.”

Storm was later rehomed by the RSPCA, and though sadly diagnosed with cancer, had a new home for the remainder of her life.

Sentencing |
Both were given 12 month community orders with 20 days of rehabilitation; each was ordered to pay costs of £400 and £114 victim surcharge. Michelle Farrar received a two-year ban applicable to all animals (expires April 2026) while Ethan Farrar received a five-year ban (expires April 2029).

BBC News
ITV News
YorkshireLive

UK Animal Cruelty Files

Tag Archives: multiple victims

Walney, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria: Paul Rose

CONVICTED (2024) | owl sanctuary owner Paul Allen Rose, born 5 January 1953, of Foxfield Road, Walney, Barrow-in-Furness LA14 3SJ – neglected the needs of birds in the care of his rescue and kept them in poor conditions.

Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire: Greg Baker

CONVICTED (2024) | huntsman Gregory Edward Baker, born 31 October 1980, of Troedythiw, Rhydcymerau, Llandeilo SA19 7PT – for multiple counts of animal cruelty relating to five equines and one foxhound.

Lowestoft, East Suffolk: Danny Williams

CONVICTED (2024) | violent career criminal Daniel Williams, born c. 1993, of no fixed abode but with links to multiple areas of Suffolk and Norfolk* – killed a pet cat and left another with such serious injuries she had to be put down.

Portswood, Southampton: Seyed Alavizadeh

CONVICTED (2024) | backyard bully breeder Seyed Hussain Alavizadeh, born April 1983, of Laburnum Road, Southampton SO16 3LE – cropped the ears of multiple dogs “for show”.

Wakefield, West Yorkshire: Craig Price

CONVICTED (2024) | Craig Anthony Price, born June 1990, currently of Lower Warrengate, Wakefield WF1 1SA but with strong links to Castleford and Pontefract – pinned a dog to the ground and hit him twice on the head with a shovel.

Additional Information

Cwmann, Carmarthenshire: Evan Bevan

CONVICTED (2024) | backyard breeder and serial animal abuser Evan David Bevan, born October 1979, of Pyllau Crynion, Cwmann, Lampeter SA48 8EX – kicked a pony, hit one dog repeatedly with a stick and failed to treat a second dog’s ear injury.

Kingston upon Hull / Scarborough, North Yorkshire: Jake Craven and Megan Findlay

CONVICTED (2024) | Jake Craven, born 11 February 1996, currently of Linnaeus Street, Anlaby, Hull HU3, and Megan Findlay, born 18 April 1999, of Victoria Park Avenue, Scarborough YO12 7TR – neglected three dogs, starving one to death.

Brierley Hill, Dudley, West Midlands: Stephanie Sinclaire

CONVICTED (2024) | Stephanie Sinclaire, born c. 1956, of Stour Hill, Brierley Hill DY5 – kept 13 sick and neglected pets inside her filthy home.

Billingham, County Durham: Thomas Hardy

CONVICTED (2024) | Thomas Hardy, born 13 April 1992, of 48 Prior Court, Billingham TS23 3PL – for two counts of animal abuse involving blunt force trauma, physical violence and intimidatory behaviour towards two Cockapoos.

Additional Information

Batley, West Yorkshire: Michelle and Ethan Farrar

CONVICTED (2024) | mother and son Michelle Farrar of 122 Ealand Road, Batley WF17 8HT, and Ethan Lee Farrar of 15 Oakhill Road, Batley WF17 8JD – kept two dogs in a faeces-strewn property filled with hazards and starved and neglected one of them.

We collate data on animal cruelty convictions in the UK