CONVICTED (2012) | David James Pogmore, aka David Steemson, born 21/12/1991, of Meden Street, Warsop, Mansfield NG20 – subjected a springer spaniel to gratuitous violence.
Magistrates heard that feral savage Pogmore pushed an umbrella into the dog’s throat, stabbed it into the back of her head,and pinned her to the floor with a walking stick.
The dog, known as Ruby suffered a swollen bloodshot eye, bruising and a cut to her head and bleeding at the back of her throat.
In addition to a four-month prison sentence, Pogmore was disqualified from keeping animals for 15 years.
Pogmore’s lawyer conceded her client had “anger management issues” and said he accepted he had “gone way over the top” in his attack on a defenceless animal. No shit, Sherlock?
Skinny-arsed Pogmore’s propensity to temper tantrums was very much in evidence during his appearance on the Jeremy Kyle Show on Wednesday 9 November 2016.
He was apparently on the show to hear the results of a paternity test following an unfortunate fumble with a sexually incontinent halfwit. Imagine then Pogmore’s horror when Jezzer announced his conviction for dog cruelty to several million viewers.
The brute with all the charm of a week-old turd flexed his puny little chest as he looked ready to punch Kyle’s lights out especially when the latter called him “a horrible little man”. Security were, as ever, on hand to prevent a brawl and Pogmore eventually stomped off the show like a giant toddler.
I’m no fan of Jeremy Kyle, but his exposure of a convicted animal abuser, whose photo didn’t even appear in the newspapers at the time, was a job very well done.
David James Pogmore of Warsop, a worthy addition to the #WallofShame.
Sentencing: four months in jail. Banned from keeping animals for 15 years (expires 2027).
CONVICTED (2012) | Matthew Anthony Cox, born 12 October 1985, previously of Chilwell, Nottinghamshire, but as of November 2020 living at Polden Close, Oldham OL8 3WN – let his Labrador puppy drink vodka causing him to become gravely ill
Matthew Cox was at home drinking with his flatmate when the dog, known as Max, drank the vodka after Cox supposedly went outside. The court heard that Cox did not deal with Max because he was himself too drunk.
The dog was later taken to an emergency vet for treatment and after his recovery was rehomed.
Cox then left Max with his flatmate, even though the puppy was swaying, before going out to DJ.
Prosecutor Maria Moore told the court two girls saw Max that evening falling over and staggering about near shops close to Cox’s then home at Rathvale Court in Chilwell, Nottingham, and called the police.
The dog was removed by officers because they were so worried about his health.
Mrs Moore said: “Due to the state of the dog the police officer, being an animal lover himself, took the dog to the emergency vet.”
She said that Max, who Cox had owned for about three-and-a-half months, was immediately put on an intravenous drip for eight to 10 hours to flush the alcohol out of his system.
The puppy needed another 12 hours on a drip the next day to restore him back to full health.
Cox pleaded guilty to failing to ensure an animal’s welfare and was disqualified from keeping or owning a dog for three years and given a two-year conditional discharge.
Magistrate J A Smith said: “It was not malicious – there were no weapons – it was just downright stupid, wasn’t it?
“This could have had desperate consequences for him – a motor accident or anything.”
Speaking after the hearing, RSPCA inspector Chris Shaw said Max’s case was the first of alcohol poisoning that he had seen.
“It’s such a shame what’s happened to the dog but he’s been found a good home now and the owner has been punished.”
Sentencing: conditional discharge. Three-year ban on owning a dog (expired 2015).
CONVICTED (2011) | Ian Procko (aka Caim Procko) of Ferrers Walk, St Ann’s, Nottingham NG3 2GN – kicked a dog in the head and stabbed him in the shoulder
The court heard that Ian Procko “flipped” when the dog bit his girlfriend, Georgia Burrows. He took the unnamed animal into the kitchen where he kicked him in the head before stabbing him in the shoulder. The dog survived the attack but was later put down due to an unrelated illness.
Following his court appearance, Procko was assaulted by two men. One attempted to stab him in the chest with a knife. The other attacked Procko with a machete resulting in him sustaining a hand injury. Procko jumped over a wall to escape. Two men were later questioned in connection with the incident.
Sentencing: 12-month community order of 135 hours’ unpaid work. He was not banned from keeping animals.
#MostEvil | Chris Roger Wilson, born 12/08/1990, previously of Bloxwich, Walsall and Leicester and more recently (2022) of Swinton Copse, Newark NG22 9HW – subjected a sweet-natured dog to a brutal hour-long attack; dog very sadly put to sleep
Seven-year-old Staffy Molly suffered a fractured leg, bruising, bleeding muscles and a number of haemorrhages during the attack.
She was discovered by her owner, close to death and lying in a “pool of blood”.
It was estimated she had been beaten for an hour.
The owner said she discovered her pet with a swollen head, “fixated” eyes, a “floppy and loose” back leg and blood under the surface of her skin. She took Molly to the vets and she was put down.
Experts said the “blunt trauma injuries” would have been caused by the dog being struck or run over.
Wilson initially denied hurting the animal, saying a shelf had fallen onto her, and she had hit her head on a toilet.
Wilson later admitted two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to the animal and two of failing to ensure her welfare.
Sentencing (August 2011) | jailed for 23 weeks. Banned from keeping animals for life.
CONVICTED (2010) | Arran Patrick Chaplin, born 05/03/1990, whose family home is at Flamstead Road, Ilkeston DE7 5LS but as of July 2020 he may be living in the vicinity of Watnall, Nottinghamshire – threw two kittens out of a bedroom window to their death
March 2020 image of Arran Chaplin
Manic Arran Chaplin killed the kittens before punching his girlfriend in the face, breaking her jaw. He then attacked her 12-year-old autistic brother who owned the kittens he had just killed.
Chaplin was already on bail for damaging a railway line when he flew into a drug-addled rage at his girlfriend Sarah Bacon ‘s Derbyshire home.
Derby Crown Court heard that Chaplin had gone to Miss Bacon’s home to pick up some belongings when he began trashing his partner’s room, and threw the cats out of the window.
Sentencing Chaplin to 18 months, Judge John Wait described the killing of the two kittens and the subsequent beatings as “appalling”.
CONVICTED (2009) | Gary David Adamson (26/01/1971) of Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees, Owen Anthony Batey (26/11/1968) from Middlesbrough, Christopher John Burgess (24/11/1966) from Mansfield, Kenneth Harold King (14/12/1973) from Newark, Jane Adamson aka Jane Barnes (22/12/1970) of Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees, Claire Amanda Parker (15/12/1964) from Gainsborough, and Mohammed Nasir Farooq (16/09/1975) of Bordesley Green, Birmingham
, Clockwise from top left Claire Parker, Gary Adamson, Mohammed Farooq, Owen Batey
Members of one of the UK’s biggest dog-fighting gangs were caught as part of two major investigations into dog fighting by the RSPCA’s special operations unit named Operations Cannon and Castle.
Separate footage obtained by an undercover reporter working on a BBC Panorama investigation into organised dog fighting and a notorious gang, the Farmers’ Boys, also provided the RSPCA with vital video evidence to bring the gang to justice.
Video footage captured Adamson readying his dog for a fight
In a secretly recorded video shown in the programme, Gary Adamson proudly boasts that a dog named as Pablo suffered a “real good ragging” in a half-hour fight with Kenneth King’s dog Chief for £500 prize money. Adamson pulls up the nervous-looking dog by his collar at one point to show multiple white scars on his face, a ripped ear and some stapled wounds.
Gary Adamson – the self-described”Don King” of dog fighting
Adamson was caught on camera naming some of those who attended, while others were tracked down by the RSPCA.
The journalist secretly filmed Adamson’s now ex wife Jane Adamson (now Jane Barnes) at a dog fight.
Jane Adamson / Jane Barnes
When Jane Adamson was interviewed by police, she told officers: “I just did what I had to do.”
Searches were carried out at several premises, including the homes of the defendants. Equipment including several treadmills, training aids, home veterinary kits and prescription only drugs were all discovered by the RSPCA inspectors who investigated the case. Many of the individuals also had elaborate kennel set-ups at their home addresses, along with several pit bull type dogs that had scars from previous fights.
‘Fighting’ dog chained up at Gary Adamson’s home
During a search of Claire Parker’s home, RSPCA inspectors discovered a blood stained fighting pit constructed in the garage. This is believed to be the pit where the fight described by Adamson was held. The inspectors also found three pit bull type dogs, an elaborate set of kennels and treadmills used to train the animals at Parker’s premises.
Dog badly injured after being forced by Adamson’s evil gang to participate in a fight
Adamson boasted how he was the “Don King of dog fighting” and was a top breeder and trader of bull terriers.
Details of Charges and Sentencing
Claire Parker, aka Claire Page, denied all the charges but was found guilty of being present at a dog fight, keeping a premises for dog fighting and possessing three pit bull dogs. She was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison and banned from keeping animals for ten years (expired 2019).
Her late-husband John Parker was also due to stand trial on dog fighting charges, but he died before the hearing while in prison for other offences.
Gary Adamson
Gary Adamson of 9 Seymour Avenue, Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees TS16 0LD pleaded guilty to six charges in connection with illegal dog fighting and was given 23 weeks in prison. He was banned from keeping animals for life.
Mohammed Farooq of 43 Daniels Road, Birmingham B9 5XP was found guilty on two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and possessing training equipment for dog fighting and was jailed for the maximum 26 weeks. Banned from keeping all animals for life.
Owen Batey of 44 Cannock Road, Middlesbrough TS3 7NU was given 23 weeks in jail, having admitted setting two pit bulls on each other, being present at a dog-fight and owning a pit bull. He was disqualified from keeping animals for life.
Christopher Burgess of 44 Nursery Court, Nursery Street, Mansfield NG18 2AJ pleaded guilty to one charge of keeping a banned dog and received 160 hours’ community service.
Kenneth King of Island Cottage, High Street, East Markham, Newark NG22 0QJ admitted eight charges including taking part in dog fights. He was jailed for 23 weeks and banned from keeping animals for life.
Jane Adamson previously of Pacific Drive, Stockton on Tees (current address tbc) admitted one charge: causing unnecessary suffering to a pit bull terrier type dog named Pablo by failing to obtain veterinary attention in respect of injuries sustained in a fight. She was given an 18-month community order and told to pay £150 in costs. She was banned from keeping dogs for 10 years (expired 2019).
An unidentified 17-year-old youth was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and keeping dog-fighting equipment. He was given a six-month referral order and a five-year ban from keeping or owning animals.
Several members of the gang appealed, but these were largely unsuccessful.
A fight broke out inside the court building during which Kenneth King received head injuries. Police had to use a taser to overpower Christopher Burgess.
Claire Parker was sentenced to four and a half years in jail after she crashed her BMW at 80mph and killed a devoted couple.
Lincoln Crown Court heard Parker was estimated to be driving her BMW at 80mph when she crossed over double white lines and moved out to pass two cars and a double decker bus before colliding with the couple’s vehicle.
CONVICTED (2001) | dogfighting ring members with a twisted obsession for animal cruelty Kenneth Charles Langan, born 12/03/1968, of 277 Valley Road, Portslade, Brighton BN41 2TH, Jeremy Peter Brown, born 11/09/1954, of 4 Tennyson Street, Chesterfield S42 5TY, John Anthony Mullen, born 07/09/1957, of 8 Tarragon Gardens, Northfield, Birmingham B31 5HU and Ryan Nuttall, born c. 1971, of 129 Garden Terrace, Newstead Village, Nottingham NG15 0BX
2019 photo of Ryan Nuttall from Newstead Village, Nottingham
The men pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to animals, failing to provide veterinary care, and providing premises for dog-fighting.
Ryan Nuttall pleaded guilty to 11 charges, while Mullen, Langan and Brown denied some of the lesser charges which included being present at an illegal dog fight.
All four were caught after undercover journalists bought a pit bull terrier and tricked their way into the gang by pretending to be interested in their animal fighting
Sentencing the defendants, District Judge Peter Nuttall said: “To any right-thinking member of the public, dog-fighting, and everything which goes with it, is offensive.
“These were dogs which were used to fighting and they were bred for that.”
He added that a large amount of dog-fighting literature, equipment and cartoons depicting dog-fighting found at the defendants’ addresses showed “an unhealthy obsession” with the practice.
Langan, Nuttall and Brown were sentenced to four months in prison, while Mullen received a three-month custodial sentence.
Paul King, prosecuting, had told the court how seven pit bull-type dogs seized by the RSPCA had suffered hundreds of cuts, puncture wounds and injuries – none of which had been treated by a vet.
The dogfighting ring had conducted fights at two hidden pits at Chesterfield and Newstead in the Mansfield area of Nottinghamshire.
The outcome was hailed by the RSPCA, whose special operations unit had brought the prosecution, as a “fantastic result”.
Speaking after the case RSPCA Chief Inspector Mike Butcher said: “I think this sends a clear message to the public and to other dog-fighters that if they are caught they will go to prison.
“Dog-fighting is a bloody, cruel and brutal sport carried out by people with a perverse sense of pride in their animals.
“Three of the dogs taken in this case had deep scarring and wounds to the face and chest.
“This sentence is a fantastic result for everyone involved, and to have these men taken out of the picture really strikes a blow against animal abusers.”
But despite the victory the RSPCA are concerned that the full picture of dog-fighting in the UK – banned in 1835 – is unknown.
Mr Butcher said: “I have been working to beat these kinds of people for more than 15 years and it is getting harder and harder to catch them.”
Another spokesperson from the animal welfare organisation echoed his fears, saying the illicit nature of dog-fighting meant “most of the time it is very difficult to know where it is being carried out, and the extent of the problem is difficult to assess”.
Sentencing: custodial. All four men were banned from keeping animals for life.
