CONVICTED (2024) | backyard breeders Bridget Reilly, born 15 October 1977, and Andrew Keating, born 11 September 1981, of 11 Brackenhall Road, Sheepridge, Huddersfield HD2 1EU – bred dogs without a licence.
Reilly and Keating pleaded guilty to breeding dogs without a licence, under Section 13 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
The case came to light when Kirklees Council Animal Health officers found evidence of the pair posting adverts for a range of breeds of puppies on various sales platforms.
Reilly pleaded guilty to 18 offences and was sentenced to two years’ community service and 15 days of rehabilitation activity.
She applied for a licence before attending court and is now a licensed dog breeder.
Keating pleaded guilty to 11 offences and was sentenced to 18 months’ community service and a further 25 days rehabilitation activity.
The outcome of the confiscation hearing will be heard in September 2024, which is when the financial penalties for the pair will be decided.
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) | backyard breeder Jodie Leanne Blezard, born 11 September 1987, of Gladstone View, Siddal, Halifax HX3 9DH – failed to keep her dogs under control with one attacking a woman to her severe injury.
The victim had called to visit Jodie Blezard at her home in Halifax when she was “viciously attacked” by a Staffy crossbreed named Cally, causing blood to pour out of her neck.
As she was dragged to the floor she banged her head and was knocked unconscious.
Her wounds were so severe that they exposed her windpipe and required surgery.
The result was described at Bradford Crown Court as “significant cosmetic disfigurement” that left her voice impaired and her throat susceptible to infection.
Cally, who had recently had a litter of 11 pups, was removed along with Blezard’s other dogs. Callie was destroyed a month later.
Single mother-of-six Blezard pleaded guilty to being in charge of a dangerously out of control dog following the incident at her home on November 10, 2022.
The court heard that she had four dogs, three of whom were in the kitchen on the day of the incident, but that Cally was allowed into the living room.
The attack happened when the victim, who had been outside briefly, came back into the house and a baby gate became dislodged.
Mrs Recorder Taryn Turner said: “Very unfortunately, and in circumstances that will remain unclear, Cally attacked [the victim].”
Blezard had not seen the attack and, in an interview with police, said her animals were not dangerous. However she was “immediately remorseful” and apologised to the victim.
The court heard that Blezard had been spoken to in the past by various authorities about other dogs in her control, but that Cally had not been one of those animals.
Recorder Turner said: “You have a lot of children to look after, and it seems to me that if I were to impose an immediately effective custodial sentence today that would deprive them of their mother.
“You are truly apologetic and full of remorse for what befell [the victim] on that day when she popped in with a friend just for a chat.
“There is every reason to hope that something like this will never happen again because you don’t intend to keep dogs again.”
Sentencing | 16 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years plus 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days. Banned from keeping dogs for life.
CONVICTED (2024) | Del Alan Midgley, born c. 1969, of Robin Hood Street, Castleford WF10 4AX – used his dog as a weapon, leading to the dog being destroyed.
Del Midgley, who has 48 previous convictions for 164 offences, including robbery, ABH and affray, lured a man to his home to attack him with a baseball bat, then goaded his dog into attacking him.
Midgley then allowed the Staffy to attack a police officer when they turned up to arrest him. He also racially abused officers and tried to bite them himself.
He admitted a raft of offences including GBH and allowing a dangerous dog to be out of control. The unnamed dog was ordered to be put down.
The incident took place on June 30, 2023, after Midgley swung a baseball bat at the man, who then tried to grab the weapon.
The man was able to get out of the home and into the street, followed by Midgley who continued to hit him. His dog was with him, and when Midgley relented, the dog pounced and mauled the man for around 40 seconds. The man suffered a broken rib and a punctured lung from the bat attack, and lacerations to his skull and ears from the dog.
After the police were called, they found Midgley in an irate state and he tried to shut the door on the officers, but they were able to force their way inside. The court was told that Midgley allowed the dog to intimidate the officers who had to withdraw, but not before he jumped at one officer and sank his teeth into her arm with such ferocity it left the muscle exposed.
Midgley was Tasered and brought under control, but after claiming he had a heart condition, the officers took him to hospital. However, he continued to struggle and be abusive. He racially abused two officers who had to restrain him when he tried to bite them. Finally, he urinated in the police van.
Held on remand since his arrest, he admitted section 20 GBH, two counts of being a a person with a dangerous dog that caused serious injury and two of racially-aggravated harassment.
An order was made to have the dog put down and Midgley was given a 17-year ban from keeping animals.
Mitigating, Chloe Hudson said that Midgley did not object to the dog being euthanised.
She said that on the day of the attack, Midgley had been drinking heavily and in relation to the dog, she added: “It was clearly very loyal and he [Midgley] should have intervened. He is beginning to realise that offending of this type will just end up in further custodial sentences.
She said of the relationship with the victim: “There’s a long history of knowing one another and there’s not always been a mutual liking, but it does not excuse what went on, it should not have happened.” Miss Hudson said Midgley was having drug counselling in prison and was enrolling in courses to better himself.
The judge, Recorder Marco Giuliani, jailed him for 45 months, and activated an additional two months of a suspended sentences he was on at the time for a driving matter.
Sentencing | 47-month custodial for non-animal welfare offences. Destruction order for the dog which Midgley didn’t object to. Banned from keeping animals for 17 years.
CONVICTED (2024) | convicted child rapist Benjamin Thomas, born c. 1991, most recently of a holiday park in Looe, Cornwall, but originally from the West Midlands – went on the run and left his cats behind to starve.
In 2012 at Worcester Crown Court Thomas was jailed for five years and made subject to a sexual harm order after being convicted of child rape.
Following his release he has failed on numerous occasions to adhere to the terms of his sex offenders registration which oblige him to keep police informed of any change of address.
In June 2023 Thomas was living in a flat in Lancashire with his girlfriend but vacated the property after falling behind on rent, leaving two cats behind.
When contacted by the property manager, he explained there’d been a bereavement and claimed he had returned to feed the cats. However, when the property manager attended there was no sign anybody had returned and the cats were feeding off scraps. The pets were taken into RSPCA care.
Thomas had fled to Cornwall but was soon apprehended by police and charged with failure to comply with notification requirements as a sex offender between August and December 2023.
Representing Thomas, Barry Hilliard said his client “made an error of judgement”.
Sentencing Thomas, Recorder Richard Stead said Thomas has “numerous previous convictions for failing to comply”.
He added: “You seem to fail to understand the extreme seriousness of the first offence of rape and reasons you’re subject to the requirements of the sex offenders’ register. If you did you’d ensure you provided police with the new address when you moved.”
CONVICTED (2024) | Ian Rosenberg, born c. 1964, of South Haven Close, Hamworthy, Poole BH16 5BJ – illegally bred and sold puppies.
Illegal dog breeder/dealer Ian Rosenberg (right) with one of his many traveller friends
Rosenberg, who has strong connections to the traveller community, is said to have earned £53,260 through his illegal activities, which he will have to repay.
An investigation led by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) into Rosenberg’s operations ran between October 2019 and July 2022, and involved a raid of his Hamworthy property in July 2021.
The warrant was issued by Dorset Police, welfare checks were done by the RSPCA and the council’s Animal Welfare Officers were able to investigate at his premises.
Rosenberg was found to be housing 50 dogs and five litters of puppies.
Trading Standards then carried out a financial investigation which led to the successful prosecution.
This was the first successful conviction by BCP Council in bringing an unlicensed breeder to justice.
In court, he was found guilty of breeding three or more litters of English Bulldog, French Bulldog and Cocker Spaniel puppies over a 12-month period.
He was also found guilty of selling the puppies without a licence.
Sentencing | two months in prison, suspended for 12 months; 120 hours of unpaid work; repayment of the money he benefitted from through his illegal activity, with £10,500 having to be settled within a three-month period. If any of the payments default, Rosenberg will face six months in jail.
CONVICTED (2024) | Wally David Beaney, born 15/11/1984, his wife Maria Smith, born 18/05/1988, and her mother Louise Smith, born 28/08/1960, all of 2 Beechwood Gardens, Meopham, Gravesend DA13 0SD, Charlotte Lauren Byron, born 15/04/1987, of Longfield Road, Meopham, Gravesend, and her mother Deborah Lorraine Lampard aka Deborah Kirsch, born 11/08/1964 of 123 Highview, Vigo, Gravesend DA13 0UT – kept dozens of dogs in horrific conditions and sold gravely ill and dying dogs to buyers.
Of the five members of a gang of fraudulent puppy farmers estimated to have netted £500,000,, only one escaped a prison sentence. L-R Maria Smith, Wally Beaney, Debbie Lampard, Charlotte Byron
The cruel and illicit activities of the gang were uncovered during a raid on 22 September 2021 by rural crime police officers and the RSPCA. A total of 36 dogs and three cats were taken away and £10,000 was seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Police made eight arrests, acting on four animal welfare warrants and also seized 12 vehicles and were able to return a farm vehicle to its owner.
All members of the gang, apart from Debbie Lampard who walked free with a conditional discharge, received prison sentences for duping the public and showing ‘cruelty and neglectful behaviour’ that led to the death of multiple dogs.
The gang reaped considerable financial benefit by repeatedly breeding dogs, while failing to provide appropriate medical care.
Some of the puppies had been poorly with parvo virus – a highly contagious and often fatal illness – and had died within days of being taken to their new home.
During a raid on three properties in Kent in October 2021 over 30 puppies were recovered.
A vet described the puppies’ living conditions as ‘dark and smelly’, with three puppies requiring ‘urgent’ veterinary attention.
Many adult dogs were also found in the garden of the raided properties – including two pregnant dogs who were riddled with parasites and dental issues.
Phones containing enquiries from people about purchasing the puppies were also seized during the search.
RSPCA inspector Vikki Dawe said: ‘These dogs were all being kept in horrible conditions with very poor care which did not remotely reflect the expectations of buyers who saw the adverts placed for them.’
Woolwich Crown Court heard that, in one instance, three Golden Retriever puppies, all purchased from Byron’s address in Kent in July 2021, died within four days of being purchased.
Wally Beaney, a traveller, received the longest custodial term of the gang
A vet who examined the case said in a statement: ‘This suggests that the seller knew a litter mate was sick at the time of their sale.
‘Yet the other puppy purchasers were not notified, either at purchase that a litter mate was unwell or that a litter mate became unwell.
‘It is my opinion that the seller failed to protect the three pups discussed in this report by not sharing with the new owners that he had detected signs of disease in another litter mate.’
Beaney with wife Maria Smith, who also went to jail
All five defendants were sentenced on January 25, 2024.
Wally Beaney pleaded guilty to four offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, as well as one charge of conspiracy to commit fraud.
Louise Smith pleaded guilty to one offence under Animal Welfare Act 2006 and one charge of conspiracy to commit fraud.
Maria Smith pleaded guilty to two offences under Animal Welfare Act 2006, and a charge of conspiracy to commit fraud.
Charlotte Byron pleaded guilty to one charge of conspiracy to commit fraud.
Debbie Lampard pleaded guilty to selling puppies without a licence.
Sergeant Darren Walshaw, of Kent Police’s Rural Task Force, said: ‘Those convicted reaped considerable financial benefit by repeatedly breeding dogs, all the while failing to provide the animals and their puppies with appropriate medical care, such as worming medication and inoculations.
‘They demonstrated cruelty and neglectful behaviour that ultimately led to numerous animals losing their lives unnecessarily.’
Sentencing |
Wally Beaney: four and a half years’ immediate custody. Ten year-ban on keeping dogs.
Louise Smith: two years and four months in custody, Banned from keeping dogs for five years.
Maria Smith: two years and four months in custody. Disqualified from keeping dogs for five years.
Charlotte Byron: two years and three months in custody.No ban.
Debbie Lampard: 18-month conditional discharge. No ban.
CONVICTED (2024) | Kristina Barton, born 18 August 1995, of Heol Dinefwr. Foelgastell, Cross Hands, Llanelli SA14 7EH – for dog breeding without a licence.
Unlicensed puppy breeder Barton, who also runs a pony event business called Carmarthenshire Party Ponies & Therapy Pets, was told to pay £26,700 after admitting three charges under the Animal Welfare Act at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court.
Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings were launched, where the prosecution alleged that Barton profited to the sum of around £31,000 from the illegal puppy sales.
Swansea Crown Court heard that Barton had bred as many as nine litters of puppies during that period. The case was brought to light after multiple complaints from concerned neighbours to Carmarthenshire County Council and Dyfed-Powys Police.
The investigation began in April 2020 when Barton initially inquired about a dog breeding licence. Despite being provided with an information pack, subsequent complaints from neighbouring properties surfaced, leading to allegations of illegal dog breeding, unauthorised construction of kennels and stables, noise disturbances from barking dogs, and dogs straying and fouling outside the property.
In May 2021, an advert on the Pets4Homes website revealed that Barton was advertising a litter of puppies, prompting a warning letter from Carmarthenshire County Council. However, the situation escalated when Dyfed Powys Police received additional complaints in April 2022.
A Data Protection Act request, by the Local Authority to Pets4Homes, uncovered that Barton bred as many as nine litters of puppies and offered four individual dogs for sale between May 17, 2021, and July 30, 2023 – all without the required dog breeding license.
Despite previous advisories, Barton continued her breeding operations, leading to legal action by the County Council.
Sentencing | 12-month conditional discharge; ordered to pay £26,721.12 as well as £500 in costs and a £22 surcharge.
CONVICTED (2023) | Luke Frewin, born c. 1996, of Ebor Paddock, Calne SN11 0JY – caught with a huge collection of images depicting sexual abuse of animals and children.
Sexual deviant Luke Brewin from Calne in Wiltshire. Image credit: Wiltshire999S
Frewin, who is apparently a father, initially denied four sex offences but changed his pleas to guilty a few days before his trial.
He also admitted possessing 57 extreme images involving sexual activity with animals.
He also admitted possessing 750 indecent images of children, including 239 described as being in category A – involving penetration.
Frewin was sentenced to 15-month prison sentence suspended for two years and was told to complete 60 rehabilitation days.
He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years. A Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed to run alongside it.
CONVICTED (2023) | puppy smugglers Mark Anthony Hirst, born September 1977, of Lidgett Lane, Skelmanthorpe, Huddersfield HD8 9AQ* and Oliver Sean McVeigh, born c. 1974, of 65 Kinturk Road, Cookstown BT80 0JD
Breeder Oliver Sean McVeigh (left) colluded with pet transporter Mark Hirst to smuggle animals from Ireland into Britain.
Hirst, sole director of Allstar Pet Transport Limited, and commercial dog breeder McVeigh pleaded guilty to charges in relation to an illegal puppy smuggling racket between Northern Ireland England.
Hirst’s company was a front for an illegal racket where bogus paperwork was used to move dogs from puppy farms in the Republic of Ireland to the UK mainland
Hirst was jailed for four months after he pleaded guilty to a charge of fraud by false representation, while McVeigh walked free from court with a suspended three-month custodial sentence after he admitted supplying the dogs to Hirst to illegally sell in the UK.
Some of the puppies seized by police from Mark Hirst’s vehicle
The court heard that Hirst was stopped on August 2, 2022, by a DAERA official (Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs) at the Duncrue inspection centre which is part of Belfast Port.
The official found 58 dogs in Hirst’s van along with a cat who was being legitimately transported to her owner in England.
The puppies were an assortment of breeds, including golden retriever, cockapoo, miniature terrier, French bull dog, American bull dog, cocker spaniel, roan spaniel and dachshund.
The court heard that Allstar Pet Transport was a “legitimate” business, but under EU laws Hirst was required to produce transport certificates for each animal he ferried between Northern Ireland and mainland Britain.
When the DAERA official checked the transport certificates for the dogs found in Hirst’s van they were found to be false.
Each certificate must state the origin of the ownership, the place of departure, date and time of departure, the intended place of destination and the expected duration of the journey.
During an earlier court hearing, an investigating detective said the paperwork contained details of those Hirst allegedly met to obtain the animals, but police could only contact one person who stated they did not know him.
“(Some of) these people don’t exist, they are duplicate names and addresses, they are bogus,” he contended.
Searches of the vehicle uncovered vaccination cards completed by a veterinarian based in Co Longford.
The detective said Hirst travelled to Northern Ireland by ferry, drove across the border, and then returned with the animals.
“It is the police case that the defendant is involved as a puppy smuggler,” he alleged.
“He’s involved in moving dogs from the Republic of Ireland over to Great Britain and he is making fraudulent declarations to DAERA in order to obtain his paperwork.
“These dogs are being recovered from puppy farms in the Republic of Ireland and documentation is being falsified to suggest they are from Northern Ireland.
The detective described Hirst’s pet transportation business as “a façade to facilitate a criminal enterprise.”
Prosecutor Rosemary Walsh told the court that Hirst “could have run a legitimate business on this day but he was providing false information and it was not possible for the authorities to know where an animal was going. We have no evidence of where the animals were going. Anything could happen to them.”
McVeigh’s lawyer told the court “was having puppies at his impeccable kennels which he couldn’t sell in Northern Ireland”.
He added: “There simply wasn’t the demand at the time and demand for puppies in Northern Ireland dropped right off once (Covid) lockdown ended.
“There was a much higher demand in England and he knew he could transport dogs over there, get them sold and get paid”.
Passing sentence, Belfast Recorder Judge Patricia Smyth said that the case before her did not involve “cruelty to animals” but said that the “absence of a plausible explanation for the ultimate destination of these dogs is a matter of concern”.
She added: “The fraud enabled a profit to be made from animals bred in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland which are then sold at a much higher price in other parts of the UK and Scotland.
“The dangers for animal welfare are therefore obvious and a strong message must go out that unlawful practices such as this will not be tolerated by the courts.”
The Recorder noted that Hirst had previous convictions for drug offences and cautions for dishonesty offences.
Turning to McVeigh, Judge Smyth said his “excellent reputation as a dog breeder … has now been seriously diminished”.
Judge Smyth concluded: “Those who fraudulently attempt to undermine the system put in place to safeguard the welfare of animals are committing a serious offence.”
Sentencing |
Hirst was jailed for four months after admitting a charge of fraud by false representation.
McVeigh received a three-month suspended sentence.He admitted supplying the dogs to Hirst to be sold illegally in the UK and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.
*Alternative address for Mark Hirst: Leys Farm, Park Lane, Emley, Huddersfield HD8 9SS.
Hirst’s company Allstar Pet Transport Limited was dissolved in November 2023. This was a reincarnation of a previous company with an identical name, which was dissolved in March 2021.
Hirst was implicated in a 2021 animal cruelty prosecution case after dozens of puppies found crammed into a van travelling on the M6 died with canine Covid. The vehicle, which was being driven by traveller Patrick Stokes of Adventure Lane, West Rainton, Durham, was stopped by police officers who found 46 dehydrated and malnourished dogs inside. Stokes told police he had paid Mark Hirst to transport the animals from Belfast to Cheltenham. He said he had picked the puppies up from Hirst just 45 minutes before being stopped by the police.
Hirst was charged with one count of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and one count of failing to ensure the welfare of an animal in his care. He was due to stand trial in September 2021 but the outcome was never reported.
In June 2021 Stokes was convicted for his part. Details of the case against him are here.
We collate data on animal cruelty convictions in the UK
