CONVICTED (2024) | Amanda Hawkins, born 3 April 1974, of Keighley Avenue, Colne BB8 9EP – failed to get veterinary treatment for her dog’s chronic ear infection and skin condition.
Hawkins admitted one animal welfare offence in relation to nine-year-old Labrador, Robin, whom she had left to suffer for at least two months.. The RSPCA had provided Hawkins with a voucher for veterinary treatment but she claimed she had mislaid it.
Sadly, Robin’s condition had deteriorated to such an extent that a vet decided he should be put to sleep on welfare grounds.
In written evidence to the court, RSPCA Inspector Vicki Brooks, who attended Hawkins’ home in Keighley Avenue, Colne, said: “I was immediately aware of the unpleasant smell that I associate with dogs that have skin issues. I advised her that I was there to check that she had taken her dog for veterinary treatment in relation to a number of health issues.
“Robin was in lean body condition and had extensive fur loss and a skin condition affecting most of his body. I could see patches where he had scratched or rubbed himself to the point of bleeding. His ears were swollen and deformed, and he was shaking his head regularly which was a sign that he most likely had an ear infection.
“Amanda Hawkins told me that she had not taken Robin to the vet because she could not afford it. I reminded her that a previous colleague had issued her with an assistance voucher to contribute towards her veterinary costs and she told me she had lost the voucher.”
Hawkins was told Robin required urgent treatment and as she had not followed previous advice, animal welfare officers may have been committed.
She agreed for the officer to take him and he was seen at the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital later that day.
In written evidence, the vet who saw him said: “Robin had signs of chronic ear problems. Both the left and right ear canal were markedly thickened, meaning it was not possible to examine them while he was conscious.
“There was a diffuse reddening of the skin over much of the dog’s body with thinning hair, especially over the back. The presence of live fleas was also noted.
“Examination under a general anaesthetic showed that the right ear canal was narrowed so far as being completely closed over. The extent of scarring, thickening and signs of infection in both ears are likely to be associated with significant pain and discomfort for this dog. Aural haematomas, as suspected in this case, often arise from head shaking as a result of ongoing ear irritation/infection.
“Ear disease with this appearance takes some time to develop. In the early stages, a simple ear infection may not cause significant suffering, but the level of scarring seen here is likely to have caused significant suffering for at least two months, likely significantly longer.”
In interview, Hawkins said that Robin had started nibbling himself and that he was treated regularly for fleas and bathed in flea shampoo. She said she had switched his food to wheat-free but that got too expensive and nothing had worked.
RSPCA Deputy Chief Inspector Susie Micallef, who was also involved in the investigation, said: “This was a particularly sad case to deal with. Robin’s suffering could have been avoided had he received early veterinary intervention and his owner acted on the help and support that had been given to her.”
Sentencing | 12-month community order with 200 hours of unpaid work; £114 victim surcharge. Five-year ban (expires May 2029).
CONVICTED (2023) | Jamil James Khan, born 1 September 1993, of 9 Mason Street, Colne BB8 9BU – subjected two kittens to multiple attacks, causing one to suffer fatal injuries.
Khan, who has links to Norwich and Bacup, Lancashire, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the kittens called Obi and Amidala, between April 1 and July 4, 2022.
The court heard how Khan took Obi to Stanley House vets where he claimed the kitten had been injured by a dog.
An examination revealed Obi had suffered fractures to his jaw and skull.
Two days later, on July 3, Khan phoned the vets again and said Obi was shallow breathing but still alive. He attended the vets within a few minutes by which time Obi had died, This time he said the kitten had been involved in a road traffic accident
The vet challenged Khan since the kitten’s injuries were not consistent with this account. Khan replied three times “I just can’t tell you’”.
The matter was referred to the police, who arrested and interviewed Khan that same day. He refused to answer any questions and responded with “no comment”.
A search of Khan’s property found another kitten, Amidala, who was handed over to the RSPCA.
She was taken to Greater Manchester Animal Hospital where it was found she had at least one fractured rib.
A post-mortem examination on Obi at the University of Liverpool found multiple fractures across his body and blood in his stomach, which shows he was alive when being subjected to the physical violence.
Joanne Daniels, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, said both animals had been subjected to blunt force trauma on multiple occasions, while Obi suffered from high energy blunt force trauma and was alive at the time.
Mitigating, Rhianydd Clement said Khan had spoken about being stressed at the time of the abuse. She said that he panicked when speaking to the vet and realised the gravity of the situation he was in, which is why he did not tell the truth.
She added Khan had taken full responsibility for his offending and he is extremely remorseful.
Khan had been studying a psychology degree at Burnley College but has abandoned his course after one year due to the prosecution case.
Sentencing, Recorder David Temkin said: “Over the course of three months you mistreated both of those cats.
“The vet pressed you on how Obi died and the police were called. You were arrested on July 3 and interviewed but provided no comment and the police searched your house.
“They found a second kitten and it was medically examined and found to have at least one rib fracture.
“Those kittens were subjected to blunt force trauma and on both occasions suffered pain from your abuse. You failed to meet their needs.
“Your behaviour was clearly violent and must have been regular. You continued until one lost its life.”
Sentencing | 18 weeks in prison suspended for 18 months; 35 rehabilitation activity requirement days; £300 fine to be paid at £30 for week. Disqualified from keeping, owning or caring for animals for 10 years.
CONVICTED (2023) | Kieran Hands, born 27 April 1989, and April Pearce, born 2 May 1990, of Calder Street, Colne BB8 0DG – kept 12 dogs in a room, of which eight were kept in cages with no food, water or bedding.
Pet rescue from hell owners Kieran Hands and partner April Pearce kept a dozen dogs in filthy crates – as well as numerous other neglected animals – at their disgusting home
Hands and Pearce, who ran Howls for Help Sled Dog Rescue, each admitted nine animal welfare offences following a prosecution by the RSPCA.
RSPCA inspector Emma Dingley went to the couple’s home on Calder Street, Colne, on June 25, 2022, to investigate a report of concern about a dog with matted fur.
On arrival the inspector was met by Pearce and Hands who conceded that their dogs were “scruffy” but insisted there were no welfare issues.
Giving evidence, Inspector Dingley described conditions in the property as “very poor, very dirty [with] lots of hazards.”
She continued: “The smell of dog faeces and urine hit me as soon as I entered the property.
“There were dogs in the front room of the house and the kitchen and multiple dogs loose and caged in the living room.
“I could hear more dogs in the front room so asked if I could have a look at these. The conditions in this room were shocking.
“The smell of ammonia was so bad it made my eyes water and made me cough.
“There were crates on top of crates, all containing dogs. None of these crates had any bedding in them and all the dogs were standing on the wire base of the crates. There was no food or water in any of them.”
A bearded dragon called Mal was living in a vivarium on a counter in the kitchen, along with a large Malamute crossbreed called Tazz, who was confined behind a gate. Pearce and Hands had attempted to shave his heavily matted coat but had only done a small section on his back.
Tazz’s fur was yellow and the smell coming from him was described by inspector Dingley as “awful”.
When asked if they had any more animals both defendants said no. However, two cats called Thunder and Rain – both in poor condition with obvious skin issues – were found upstairs, along with seven pet rats in a bedroom.
A terrapin called Malibu was also living in a bath which had water but no dry resting area, heat or UV.
An empty bottle of a dog attack deterrent spray called ‘First Strike K9 spray’ was found in front of one of the crates and as soon as the inspector picked it up all the dogs stopped barking. Pearce and Hands told the officer they used the sprays to keep them quiet.
Police seized all of the animals and handed them into the care of the RSPCA, where they were transported to the charity’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital for assessment.
The vet who examined the animals said all of the dogs – which included numerous male and female huskies, collies, a Staffordshire bull terrier and a chihuahua – had unkempt coats and flea infestations.
Six of them, as well as both cats, were in a suffering state at the time, the court heard.
Several dogs also had stiff and painful limbs which were causing them discomfort.
Apart from one dog, who was put down on veterinary advice due to severe leg and back issues, many of the rescued pets have already been rehomed by the charity.
In mitigation the court heard how the couple were animal lovers and had been accepting rescue animals and taken on too many.
Pearce had lost her job and her partner was working six days a week and the animals’ care had all fallen on her.
She said that she knew what she was doing but hadn’t noticed some of their ailments and she was treating them herself, rather than going to a vet.
Sentencing | 18-month prison sentences suspended for two years; two-year community order with 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days; costs of £600 each and a victim surcharge of £154. Banned from keeping animals for five years (expires April 2028).
CONVICTED (2018) | Jobi Lee Varey, born c. 1991, of Blascomay Square, Colne BB8 0SG – shot two ducks dead with an air rifle.
Traveller Jobi Lee Varey, brother of notorious cat killer and wildlife persecutor Josh ‘Percy’ Varey, was caught in the Cotton Tree Lane area of Colne where officers saw him going into the river to retrieve a dead bird. Varey, who had an air rifle, put the duck next to another dead bird on the grass.
Magistrates were told how Varey struck without permission and out of the ” duck shooting season”.
The ground worker said he often went to the area to shoot birds to feed his bird of prey.
Jobi Lee Varey (right) with cat and wildlife-killing brother Josh Varey (aka Percy Varey)
Varey’s lawyer told the court his client had gone to shoot rabbits, which he had done previously, with permission. He claimed Varey had acted out of ignorance rather than committing an intentional offence.
Varey admitted killing a wild bird – a Manky Mallard and a Mandarin duck, on April 17, 2018.
He was fined £200, with £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.
CONVICTED (2014) | serial wildlife and pet abusers Joshua Robert Percy Varey, born 26/02/1990, of Duke Street, Colne BB8; Shaun Mullens, born 11/11/1991, of Dean Street, Trawden, Colne BB8 8RN; Paul Ashworth, born 14/10/1967, of Tennyson Road, Colne BB8 9SD – shook a cat out of a tree so their dogs could attack it
Josh Varey and accomplices Shaun Mullens and Paul Ashworth laughed as they set their dogs on other terrified animals so they could make ‘trophy’ videos for a dog-fighting racket.
Varey filmed Mullens and Ashworth climbing up a tree and trying to shake a cat out of its branches so that their dogs could maul it.
Varey and Mullens also filmed a horrifying incident in which they used one of their dogs to attack a badger after digging into its sett.
Vile: Shaun Mullens
Magistrates saw DVD footage in which Varey could be heard laughing as distressed animals yelped in terror. In one attack, caught on film, a voice was heard saying ‘It’s dead’ before a badly injured badger crawled away.
The court had heard that police and RSPCA officers found the DVD during dawn raids at 11 homes across Pendle in summer 2013, in which officers seized three lurchers, two terriers and a lurcher/bull terrier cross, as well as computers, mobile phones, cash and drugs equipment
Josh Varey outside court
The operation followed a 12-month evidence gathering operation into badger digging, deer poaching, hare coursing and offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
Paul Ashworth
In October 2013, six cats were killed by lurchers in attacks in Colne over three days. Police said the incidents were known as ‘cat coursing’, where dogs were trained to kill domestic pets before going poaching or badger baiting.
Shaun Mullens
Magistrates heard that Varey, who bought and sold dogs for profit, and bred them to fight other animals, had injured and scarred dogs in cages outside at his home and was proud that his animals were ‘adept at fighting.’
Phones found at Varey’s house contained animal baiting videos, photographs of animals, and messages about ‘doing holes’, ‘going out with the terriers’ and ‘going digging’.
The prosecutor said: ‘ We suggest that this is talking about about putting dogs down holes to get at animals.’
He said there were photographs showing a scarred dog, a dog with blood around its mouth, and a photograph of a fox and fox cub.
When interviewed, Ashworth claimed he was only doing what he was told when he was shaking the tree a cat had run up.
Paul Ashworth
The cat was forced to run quickly up another tree to get away from the dogs, and said the cat would have been terrified.
When Varey was questioned, he didn’t deny any responsibility for the film on his phone but made no comment. Mullens admitted it was his dog in the badger fight video.
Varey finally has his collar felt.
After the case, RSPCA Inspector Ian Briggs said: ‘These men showed absolutely no regard for any of the animals, including their own dogs.
‘This was cruelty in its most abhorrent form.’
Sentencing: Varey and Mullens were jailed for 126 and 114 days respectively and banned from keeping pets for ten years (expires July 2024). Ashworth was jailed for 76 days and banned from keeping animals for 5 years (expires July 2019).
Serial offender Joshua Varey was charged with further animal cruelty offences alongside another man, Howard Bernard Lewin, born 20/12/67, of 6 Dickson Street, Colne.
Another of Josh Varey’s partners in wildlife crime Howard Lewin of 6 Dickson St, Colne. Top-right photo shows one of Lewin’s dogs whose scarred face shows all the hallmarks of her having been forced to fight other animals.
The pair pleaded guilty to being present at an animal fight and causing unnecessary suffering to a ferret and a rat. Varey also faced an additional charge of breaching his disqualification order after two dogs were found at his home.
Speaking about this case RSPCA special investigation officer Jason Bowles said: “We were alerted to a really disturbing video that had been posted on Varey’s Facebook page,”
“In the video, a pet ferret is pitched against a wild rat in a hutch and they are urged to fight. The men are clearly encouraging the animals to fight and are shouting at the ferret, willing it on to attack the rat.
“The rat is frantically trying to escape, climbing the bars of the hutch and looking for a way out.
“The men tip and shake the hutch to try to encourage the animals to fight. There are a few clashes but generally the terrified animals cower in separate corners.
“In the video, one of the men can be heard shouting at the rat: ‘That’s disgusting, I hate them, f***ing rodent b***ards.
“We launched an investigation into the video once it had been brought to our attention but never found the rat or the ferret so, sadly, we don’t know what happened to them.
“However, we will not stand for this sort of disgusting behaviour and cruelty towards animals. We hope this case serves to show that we take online videos showing cruelty to animals very seriously and, where offences have been committed, we will take appropriate action.”
“In 2014, Mr Varey was disqualified from keeping animals for 10 years, having been convicted of animal fighting offences under the Animal Welfare Act,” SOU inspector Chris Heyworth said. “That ban is still in place.
“He came to our attention again after Cumbria Police were called to a field to reports of two men – one of whom was Mr Varey – stuck in the mud in their vehicle. They were arrested on suspicion of offences under the Deer Act 1991 and a mobile phone was seized.
“Material from that phone was passed to Lancashire Police who were investigating wildlife crime offences with RSPCA inspectors. Photos, video and texts on the phone suggested the men were still involved in wildlife crimes and, therefore, a warrant was executed at a property in Colne, Lancashire, on 28 September.
“Despite his ban, we found two dogs – both lurcher types – at the property. One of the dogs belonged to someone else but one was quite clearly his. We also found lots of evidence on a phone that showed he was participating in the keeping of dogs.”
The dog – called Nell – was seized and placed into RSPCA care.
Sgt Damian Pemberton, Lancashire Constabulary’s Rural Policing, Wildlife and Heritage Crime co-ordinator, said: “This sentence is testimony to the hard work of our rural officers who are committed to putting an end to the unnecessary suffering of animals.
“Those who mistreat animals and take part in these types of cruel activities will be tracked down and brought to justice.
“Josh Varey is a well-known animal abuser with previous convictions for animal cruelty.
“His conviction and sentence sends a clear message that animal cruelty will not be tolerated and our dedicated rural officers will work hard to bring those responsible to justice.”
Sentencing: Varey was given a 16-week jail term, suspended for two years; ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and pay £250 in costs. He was also disqualified from keeping all animals for 15 years (expires March 2033).
Lewin was given a 12-month community order with a rehabilitation requirement.
CONVICTED (2011) | Jason Anthony Metcalfe (aka Jay Jones), born 30/11/1981, formerly of Earby, Pendle, Lancashire and more recently (2019) of Heather View, Skipton BD23 2SD – smashed an elderly cat repeatedly against a wall, killing her.
Jason Metcalfe, who now goes by the name Jay Jones and lives in Skipton
In February 2011 Metcalfe was jailed for 16 weeks and banned from keeping animals for life after admitting repeatedly smashing the 14-year-old cat, known as Bonnie (pictured), against a wall until she died.
Twisted Jason Metcalfe grabbed friendly cat Bonnie by her back legs and swung her against the wall at least four times over 10 minutes, just because she rubbed against him
The sickening incident took place in front of a nine-year-girl who described seeing the cat approach Metcalfe as he was walking along the road and nuzzle against his legs. Metcalfe then picked the cat up by one of her hind legs and swung her against the wall several times until she was dead.
Bonnie was the much-loved family pet of Sarah Lancaster who described her as “a defenceless animal who couldn’t protect herself”.
The rabbit, a British Giant named Edward, belonged to three young children. Their mother, who runs a rabbit rescue sanctuary, told how friendly Edward had escaped from her garden and wandered into nearby Goodall Close where Metcalfe lived at the time. Two girls told her that they had seen a man kick the rabbit in the head. The RSPCA were making enquiries but no update is available.
When Metcalfe appeared in court for sentencing, his face was plastered up and it was revealed that he had been attacked by a dog, which had bitten off part of his nose.
Sentencing: jailed for 16 weeks and banned from keeping animals for life.
CONVICTED (2008) | Clare Elizabeth Frear (aka Clare Taylor), born 15/04/1985, of 8 Juno Street, Nelson BB9 8RH – failed to get treatment for a cat that had been microwaved by her child
Clare Frear
In October 2008 Frear pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the cat, named Cassie. She was initially accused of putting the cat into a microwave oven herself, but later blamed her four-year-old son, Declan Frear.
The cat died in agony six hours later and Frear admitted she hadn’t taken her to the vet for treatment.
RSPCA officers found Cassie’s body in a bin bag outside the house.
Sentencing: three-month curfew; costs of £250. Banned from keeping animals for five years (expired 2013).
