CONVICTED (2024) | prolific backyard extreme bully breeder Troy Eric Bowyer, born January 1992, of 5 Aberthaw Drive, Alway, Newport NP19 9QB* and Sam Hudacek, born c. 1999, of Albert Avenue, Maindee, Newport NP19 8FF – filmed themselves trying to artificially inseminate a pet dog.
The men were described in court as making a “crude and amateurish” attempt to inseminate a dog. A judge said when he first saw the footage he thought it showed “some sort of sexual perversion”.
The attempts of Troy Bowyer, who bred and sold cropped-eared bull-breed dogs under the name ‘One Hunna Bullys’, and Hudacek to impregnate the latter’s dog came to light after police executed a drugs search warrant and found the video on a mobile phone. The phone also showed Hudacek had been involved in dealing cocaine.
The video showed a female bull dog standing on her front legs with her back legs being held up and Bowyer moving his fingers in and out of the dog. A syringe could also be seen in the footage.
The court heard the footage was being shot by Hudacek and he could be heard laughing and giving Bowyer “encouragement” to carry on.
The court heard the footage appeared to show “some kind of artificial insemination” of the bitch.
When interviewed about the video footage Hudacek answered “no comment” to all questions asked while Bowyer accepted it was him on the footage but denied causing the dog unnecessary suffering.
Hudacek pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, while Bowyer pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
Defence counsel for Hudacek said the defendant had moved to the UK from Slovakia as a 12-year-old boy and initially struggled at school in Newport as he could not speak English. When his parents later returned home, however, he decided to stay in Wales. He said “there are people who think he is capable of a lot more” and said the defendant wants to support his partner and be a better role model. He said his client’s role in the animal offence had been “peripheral”.
Counsel for Bowyer, who is no stranger to the Welsh courts, said the dog belonged to the co-defendant Hudacek and his client had been “asked to assist with the artificial insemination”.
He said Bowyer had a long-term partner of 18 years with whom he had two children with a third was on the way, although the couple did not actually live together.
Judge Simon Mills described the matters involving the dog as “frankly unpleasant”, and said when he first saw the footage he “thought there was some sort of sexual perversion going on” but in reality it was a “crude and amateurish attempt at artificial insemination” which would have caused the dog considerable discomfort.
Sentencing | Hudacek: three years in prison with one month to run concurrently for the animal welfare offence. Bowyer: 24 month community order for the animal offence with rehabilitation course; £500 fine. Neither man was banned from owning animals.
CONVICTED (2024) | unlicensed backyard breeders Colin Williams, born c. 1977, and Ruth Williams ( née Ruth Sanders), born c. 1972, of Glanddu Road, Fleur de Lis, Blackwood NP12 3XT – for a catalogue of animal cruelty offences towards dogs and puppies they exploited for money.
The couple were prosecuted followed an investigation by Caerphilly County Borough Council trading standards.
Together with officers from Gwent Police, a veterinary surgeon, and officials from neighbouring councils, a warrant was executed at the Williams’ home address in June 2023. The premises was suspected of being used for unlicensed dog breeding.
Three French bulldogs, two British bulldogs and two cavalier King Charles spaniels were found severely confined in pens in one room with no access to water.
One of the pens, which housed two other dogs was in an alcove under the stairs. The conditions provided insufficient space with the animals having no stimulation and unable to show normal behaviour.
All nine dogs had conditions which caused them unnecessary suffering. The dogs were found to be suffering from skin, eye, ear and airway diseases.
The dogs were seized after being looked at by the vet and placed into the care of Hope Rescue. They have since been rehomed.
Colin Williams, who used to run a business called Valley Ultrasound and Microchipping and now works as a window cleaner, admitted 17 charges under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, and one charge under Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 for not declaring he was a breeder when he advertised the dogs’ sale.
He also admitted a charge under the Welfare of Animals (Transport) (Wales) Order 2007 of the Animal Health Act 1981, for illegally taking two pregnant dogs to Heathrow Airport.
Ruth Williams admitted 15 cruelty charges under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and a charge under consumer protection law.
Lyndsey Smith, rescue and adoption manager of Hope Rescue Centre, said: “Many of the dogs arrived with health issues so we were shocked to hear they were still being bred from.
“Amongst the group of dogs were a very nervous duo of cavalier bitches. They moved out to foster care together and developed such a lovely relationship – we just had to find them a home where they could stay together.”
Sentencing | Colin Williams: jailed for four months. Indefinite ban. Ruth Williams: eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. 10-year ban. £12,000 costs.
CONVICTED (2024) | Alyshia Diana Taylor, born c. 1999, of Keene Avenue, Rogerstone, Newport NP10 8DF – for the abandonment of two dogs and a puppy with only the latter surviving.
Taylor pleaded guilty to three offences under the Animal Welfare Act.
Two of the counts related to “failing to provide a suitable diet for two dogs, a bull breed type named Dior and a Chow Chow type called Storm”.
The third charge related to a Chow Chow puppy called Chase in that she was responsible for “an environment that was unsuitable in diet and in the providing of adequate clean fresh drinking water”.
The court heard how the emaciated body of Dior was found in a kennel at Taylor’s then home in Cromwell Road Newport. Post-mortem examination found she had wood particles in her stomach which she had eaten in her desperation for food.
Storm was still alive but in an emaciated state. She and the puppy, who was described as thin, were found in the faeces-strewn property.
The RSPCA was alerted on January 30, 2023, after receiving a call from police regarding two dogs they had removed from the property and taken to a vet for examination and treatment. The charity was also advised that there was a dead dog at the scene.
In a written statement provided to the court RSPCA inspector Sophie Daniels said: “I established that of the two dogs removed, both of which were black Chow Chows, the adult female was in an emaciated condition and had been deemed to be in a suffering state by the vet Her male puppy was found to be thin and as such not having his needs met.”
Arriving at Taylor’s home to collect the body of the dead dog Inspector Daniels said: “There were toys and belongings cluttering the floor and there was a strong smell of dog. I walked through to a back room with lots of clutter left around.
“On the table, amongst other items, I saw an empty box of Bakers dog food and on the floor by the sofa, was an unopened sack of dry dog food.
“The kitchen was at the back of the property and was filthy with dog faeces all over the floor. The faeces was particularly concentrated by the back patio doors. There was a plastic dog bed on the floor by the back doors, which contained a dirty blanket. There were some plastic takeaway containers on the floor with a drop of water contained.”
Storm gained weight in the RSPCA’s care but was later put to sleep after she was found to have a debilitating condition
Outside in an enclosure furthest away from the house there were piles of dog faeces, a tipped over empty bucket and two silver dog bowls containing a small amount of brown/yellow dirty liquid. Dior’s body was found in a wooden open-fronted kennel in the back corner of the enclosure.
Inspector Daniels said: “The dog was laying on its left side on dirty bedding and there was an extremely strong smell of decay.
“The body was extremely thin with ribs visible. The eyes were sunken and there was dark/bloody liquid coming from the dog’s mouth and nose.”
As Inspector Daniels removed the body, large maggots – some over one centimetres in length – fell from the body.
Dior, who was nearly three years old, was examined by a vet, who said in a witness statement that her body was “emaciated with very little muscle mass remaining on her body.”
Commenting on the findings of the post mortem, the vet said: “The report showed that she had two bruises on her neck, wood throughout her guts and had died due to necrosis (or cell death) of multiple areas of her heart, the cause for the necrosis was not able to be determined.
“However the other changes of muscle mass loss, and severe loss of fat throughout the body indicates a severe energy imbalance or lack of food prior to her death.
“With her body at the lowest end of body condition score at one out of nine, this means that if she had had no food at all and just access to water, to get to the condition she was found in from a normal condition would have taken between two to three weeks of starvation, longer if she had access to food in that time.
“It is my professional opinion that Dior was allowed to suffer unnecessarily by her owner/carer from hunger due to lack of feeding over a prolonged period of time.”
Sentencing Taylor, magistrates said there was “a real prospect of rehabilitation” and suspended the custodial term.
Sadly, Storm later had to be put to sleep on veterinary advice after she was found to have a debilitating condition.
Chase was rehomed by the RSPCA.
Sentencing | 36-weeks custodial suspended for 18 months; 10 days of rehabilitation; £975 towards costs. 10-year disqualification order applicable to all animals.
CONVICTED (2024) | Roxanne Edwards, born 7 April 1997, of Clearwell Court, Bassaleg, Newport NP10 8JY – for cruelty to dogs Zeus and Zya.
Zoe Edwards with Zeus, Zya and a third unnamed dog. The fate of all three dogs is unknown.
Edwards admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a male pitbull terrier type dog called Zeus and being in charge of a dangerous dog in respect of him and causing unnecessary suffering to a female blue XL Bully known as Zya.
She also pleaded guilty to an animal welfare offence in that she failed to let them exhibit normal behaviour patterns, accommodate them in a clean environment, provide fresh clean drinking water and provide veterinary attention as required [in other words, she kept them in squalor, left them in pain and didn’t bother to give them water].
Edwards admitted committing the offences between May 19, 2023 and June 22, 2023.
The fate of the two dogs or indeed the third dog she owned has not been reported but given their breed we can probably guess what happened to them, if they even survived their time with Edwards.
Sentencing | “rehabilitation”, four-month curfew. £514 in costs. Five-year ban on keeping dogs.
CONVICTED (2024) | backyard breeder Simon Hobbs, born 19 September 1977, of 23 Davies Drive, Caerphilly CF83 3RG – kept neglected and malnourished dogs in inhumane conditions.
On 8 February 2024 Simon Hobbs pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to five dogs including a pregnant Belgian Malinois.
He was prosecuted following an investigation by Caerphilly Council’s Trading Standards team who executed a number of warrants, in June 2023.
Trading Standards and Gwent Police officers accompanied by a vet carried out a search of Hobbs’ home and found six dogs in the kitchen with three of them – French bulldogs – housed in a very small cage.
Conditions in the kitchen were cramped, overcrowded and uncomfortable with little room to play, toilet and feed.
The dogs shared one food tray and two bowls of water.
A pregnant Belgian Malinois was significantly underweight. She gave birth to eight puppies 10 days later.
An Akita was found in an outside lean-to wooden kennel in direct sunlight, with no soft bedding or enrichment. Temperatures recorded early in the day, exceeded 26 degrees, the maximum accepted temperature for dogs.
Three dogs were found with conditions which caused them unnecessary suffering due to a lack of veterinary intervention and management.
The dogs were removed and placed into the care of Hope Rescue with the Malinois and her litter in need of intensive care to ensure their survival.
Sara Rosser, Operations Manager of Hope Rescue Centre said, “We were pleased to be able to support the hard work of Caerphilly County Borough Council with this case. It was shocking to see so many dogs living in such awful conditions.
“The dogs needed vet treatment and specialist care – one of the dogs who especially touched and saddened us was the Malinois who we named Jinx.
“As well as being in an awful condition, she was pregnant. We were very concerned that she would not have the strength to give birth and care for her litter but thanks for the hard work of the Hope Rescue Team, all eight puppies survived, and Jinx is now thriving.
“We are delighted that most of the dogs have already found loving new homes.’
Sentencing | ordered to pay £8,388.73 in fines, costs and a surcharge. He was disqualified from keeping all animals for five years (expires February 2029).
CONVICTED (2024) | John Paul McDonagh (born 01/10/1990) and his wife Mary Louise McDonagh (27/05/1992); Francie Gabriel McDonagh (18/01/1989) and his wife Angela Christina McDonagh (13/10/1989); Patrick Christopher McDonagh Snr (02/02/1977) and his wife Mary Christina McDonagh Snr (13/04/1980); Edward ‘Eddie’ McDonagh (01/11/1995) and his wife Mary Christina McDonagh Jnr (08/11/1998); husband and wife Martin Joseph McDonagh (23/03/1981) and Rosaleen Marie McDonagh (21/08/1981) and their son Patrick Christopher McDonagh Jnr (06/12/2001).
These men and their wives were prosecuted following an RSPCA investigation into the illegal puppy trade2016 image of Francie McDonagh. Source: Bucks Free Press
Eleven members of the extended notorious McDonagh clan – all Irish travellers – have been convicted of animal cruelty offences and fraud after trading puppies illegally from the council-funded Ellen Ridge travellers site in Hartridge Farm Road, Newport NP18 2NH.
The six men pleaded guilty to fraud and all 11 admitted an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
The case against the vile criminal family involved hundreds of puppies sold to the public under false pretences
The unscrupulous and greedy family made hundreds of thousands of pounds by conning members of the public into believing the puppies they were buying were much-loved pets when in reality they were being bred and traded like “commodities”
They falsely advertised the pups on popular Facebook pages and used dozens of fake emails, addresses, names, and staged photos showing the pups “at home” to hoodwink prospective purchasers.
The RSPCA-led operation found that most of the dogs and puppies, many of whom had health issues, had been imported from Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Ireland, while some had been bred in Wales. Others had been stolen
They had advertised and sold at least 40 different breeds of dogs, including Cavalier King Charles spaniels, pugs, beagles, miniature dachshunds, American pocket bully, shihpoos, French bulldogs, cavapoos, chihuahuas, labradors, rottweilers, German shepherds and whippets.
The callous and morally bankrupt family also dealt in stolen animals.
The offences were committed between January 1, 2020, and March 31,2021.
Many of the pups had been imported from countries which included Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.
The scam was uncovered thanks to a vigilant vet who reported his concerns to the RSPCA. Police had also been called to the Ellen Ridge travellers site following a violent disturbance and undertook a search of the premises.
The total value of the illegal puppy operation is estimated to have netted more than £500,000 with the McDonaghs pocketing around £300,000 in undeclared income.
A judge at Swansea Crown Court said the fraud had been sophisticated and carefully planned. It involved the transportation of animals likely bred in East European puppy farms into the UK. Some puppies had been bred in Wales and kept in dirty and unsanitary conditions.
The judge told the defendants their motivation had been financial and little regard had been paid to the welfare of the animals involved.
RSPCA prosecutor Hazel Stephens told the court the investigation started after a vet became suspicious that a man had taken three litters of puppies into the surgery using the same phone number but calling himself by different names.
The vet contacted the RSPCA, who launched an investigation called Operation Earth. This involved analysis of Facebook adverts and messages, phone records, financial transactions, and details of dogs’ microchips and vets records.
The investigation led to the Newport-based McDonagh family being identified as being behind an operation involving cross-border transportation, breeding, and the sale of puppies and dogs on a large scale.
The investigation revolved around the activities of five couples:
John Paul McDonagh and Mary Louise McDonagh of Laburnum Drive Newport NP19 9AL
Francie Gabriel McDonagh and Angela Christina McDonagh of George Lansbury Drive, Newport NP19 9DS
Patrick Christopher McDonagh Snr and Mary Christina McDonagh Snr of Moorland Park, Newport NP19 4NB
Edward McDonagh and Mary Christina McDonagh Snr of Maesglas Street, Newport NP20 3BU
Martin Joseph McDonagh and Rosaleen Marie McDonagh and their son Patrick Christopher McDonagh Jnr all of 114 Maesglas Crescent, Newport NP20 3BY.
The court heard that the RSPCA applied for search warrants for a number of addresses in Newport but before they could be executed “there was an intervening event”.
On April 12, 2021, police officers responded to an emergency call at a property in Caerau Road, Newport, about “five Irish men” trying to kick their way into a property and asking for “the dogs”.
The men dispersed before officers arrived but a review of CCTV footage showed the group had been using two vehicles – a white Ford Transit van and blue Ford Focus car – and the vehicles were soon picked up by a police helicopter.
As a result of that information police officers went to the Ellen Ridge travellers’ site in Newport and two suspects who were identified from the CCTV footage were arrested.
The court heard that in the minutes between the men arriving at the site and police turning up at the gate the two males had swapped clothes and had started to shave their heads “presumably with the intention of evading detection” – those men were Eddie McDonagh and Patrick Christopher McDonagh.
Entrance to the Ellen Ridge travellers site in Newport
While at the site police saw a number of dogs and puppies that were kept in poor conditions and who did not appear in the best of health.
Some 21 dogs and puppies were removed from the premises and four of those were found to have been stolen.
The barrister said all the evidence gathered as part of Operation Earth showed the McDonaghs were advertising pups for sale on four of the main puppy selling sites – FreeAds, Pets4Homes, Preloved, and Gumtree – and the adverts were worded to make it appear that the dogs were from home-bred litters and were socialised and healthy puppies when in reality the defendants were trading puppies and dogs “like commodities with no care for their health or welfare”.
She said veterinary records acquired by the RSPCA “demonstrates the ill-health and frequent breeding of a number of dogs”.
Some of the puppies sold by the McDonaghs were found to have microchips from Poland, Hungary, Belgium, the Czech Republic, and Ireland. In some cases they had been taken to vets in the UK to make them look like dogs from Britain before then being mixed with other puppies from different origins – thereby further increasing the risks to their welfare.
On one occasion two of the McDonagh couples – Martin Joseph and Rosaleen Marie along with Eddie and Mary Christina – were stopped by officers from the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs at the Port of Dover with Dachshunds from the Czech Republic and Hungary in crates in their vehicles.
Martin McDonagh told an animal welfare officer that he and his wife had seen the pups while travelling on the Continent “on business”.
The passports for the puppies were in the names of Anthony Francis McDonagh and John Paul McDonagh. The prosecutor said five of the imported dogs were subsequently abandoned when it transpired they needed veterinary attention.
The court heard that as part of the investigation the RSPCA collected details of all the microchips implanted in the puppies and dogs in the case, traced the date the chips were implanted and to whom they were registered, and the details of who subsequently then sold the animals.
The results of this analysis showed the links between the movements of the puppies between the various members of the McDonagh family.
The investigation also showed that as well as many puppies having been imported some were being bred on the travellers’ site and other dogs were stolen.
The McDonaghs’ Facebook adverts were designed to dupe people into believing the puppies they sold had been bred in a loving home environment.
One read:
“This stunning little tri-coloured cavalier king Charles spaniel pup is now ready to leave for his new homes. We have one boy available he is very loving affectionate pup that likes to play and have cuddles. He has been raised in our family home with our kids and he is well socialised. Mum is our family pet and can be seen with pup”
while another was worded:
“I’ve come to the very sad sale of my beautiful beagle. He is four months old I have had him since he was eight weeks but I hate to say this but my circumstances have changed and I sadly cannot have him no more I am so upset about this as I really do love him but I can no longer give him the time that he deserves and has forced me into putting him up for sale”
The prosecutor said analysis of Facebook adverts and messages and of phone records showed the defendants had used 41 different residential addresses, 47 mobile phone numbers, and 39 email addresses during the puppy-selling scam.
It is estimated that between January 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021, a total of £532,300 worth of dogs were advertised for sale online and the prosecutor said for the purposes of the case the value of the fraud was put at £300,000.
The court heard 20 victims of the scam had given statements to the RSPCA and between them they had paid the McDonaghs more than £30,000 for what they believed were socialised and healthy pups from a family home.
A number of those puppies subsequently required vet treatment with some being diagnosed with pneumonia, some with campylobacter, giardia; two puppies were diagnosed with parvovirus.
The prosecutor said many of the purchasers had been left with large vets bills.
Judge Geraint Walters said there was “carefully coordinated action” where the use of multiple properties, different vehicles and different vet practices had been used, along with false adverts, false documentation and various mobile numbers.
Ms Stephens said there were two sets of victims in the case: the puppies themselves and also the purchasers who suffered “considerable expense and considerable emotional upset through the illness and in some cases death of the puppy”.
She said the defendants “exploited the emotional vulnerability of potential purchasers, some of whom had small children excited about their new member of their family”.
The court heard that as part of the investigation an analysis was carried out into some of the bank accounts belonging to the defendants and “multiple deposits of large quantities of cash” were identified as well as multiple income transactions from “third parties”.
The court heard Patrick McDonagh Snr had 10 bank accounts and saw payments into his accounts totalling more than £120,000 a year while receiving a legitimate income from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and child tax credits accounts of approximately £16,500 per annum.
Francie McDonagh had a turnover in his bank account of £96,800 between December 12, 2019, and August 12, 2021, with cash deposits of in excess of £8,600 and third-party transfers of more than £76,000.
John Paul McDonagh had income from the DWP accounting for £18,310 of a total turnover of £63,122 with more than £14,000 directly referenced to “dogs”.
Martin McDonagh’s Halifax account saw cash deposits of almost £56,000 and only £64,000 of a turnover of £167,331 could be accounted for by DWP transactions.
Martin McDonagh, Francie McDonagh, Patrick McDonagh Jnr, John Paul McDonagh, Patrick McDonagh Snr, and Eddie McDonagh all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and to failing to meet the needs of puppies in the their care under Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Rosaleen McDonagh, Angela McDonagh, Mary Louise McDonagh, Mary Christina McDonagh Snr and Mary Christina McDonagh Jnr all admitted failing to meet the needs of puppies in their care under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Heath Edwards, for Martin McDonagh, said the operation had been “unsophisticated” and said only a “fraction” of the dogs sold had been unwell. He said the criminality lay in misrepresenting the animals as home-bred and purchasers got “the same pet just not exactly the one they thought they were buying”. He said his client was a hardworking father-of-six and a good neighbour and he said they were his instructions that the defendant “has no available funds”.
Clare Wilks, for Patrick McDonagh Snr, said the father-of-six had been alcohol-dependent for more than 20 years and battles with his addiction on a daily basis. She said the defendant had been a scrap car dealer and said while the prosecution put the figure of the fraud at £300,000 that cash had been shared between members of the “family network”. The barrister said the defendant “led a rather solitary lifestyle” with his family, had depression and anxiety, and was “something of a closed book” in regard to opening up about the difficulties in his life.
Clare Wilks, for Eddie McDonagh, said the defendant had joined the conspiracy when it was already in existence and said his role had been limited to transporting puppies between locations including importing five puppies from the continent. She said the defendant was on medication for depression.
Andrew Taylor, for Francie McDonagh, said his client had been a roofer but when his work dried up due to Covid he became involved in the puppy conspiracy. He said the defendant was expecting his fifth child in June and was “extremely fearful” of the outcome of the case. The barrister added that “if chivalry exists it exists in his family” with the males taking responsibility and pleading to conspiracy while not guilty pleas on behalf of the females had been accepted by the prosecution.
Steve Burnell, for John Paul McDonagh, said the defendant had been involved in the buying ang selling of vehicles prior to the Covid pandemic and regrets getting involved in the puppy operation. He said the father-of-two was on anti-anxiety medication and was not currently in work.
James McKenna, for Patrick Christopher McDonagh Jnr, said his client had been aged 18 at the time of the offending and had been involved in the sale of some of the dogs. He said the client was married and had a one-year-old daughter and was keen to improve his literacy skills.
Andrew Kendall, for Mary Christine McDonagh Snr, said the defendant had no previous convictions and was the sole carer for her children.
The barrister also represented Mary McDonagh Jnr and said on her behalf she been present at Dover with her husband Eddie when dogs had been imported into the UK.
Stephen Donoghue, for Rosaleen McDonagh, said a report before the court concluded the mother-of-four presented a low risk of reoffending and it had not identified any rehabilitation needs on her part.
Rhodri Chudleigh, for Mary Louise McDonagh, said the mother-of-two was suffering with depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Timothy Evans for Angela McDonagh, said the defendant was heavily pregnant with her fifth child and had dedicated her life to raising her family. He said his client had spent the last three years “agonising” over what would happen to her and her husband and said it was fair to say that she approaches the next year or so with “terror”.
Judge Geraint Walters said the background to the case was the dog population of some nine million animals in the UK and the buying and selling of around 800,000 puppies every year.
He said the McDonagh family fraud had been a sophisticated and carefully planned operation involving the transportation of animals likely bred in East European puppy farms into the UK as well as the breeding of pups in Wales, the keeping of animals in dirty and unsanitary conditions, a range of documentation, and the use of multiple emails, names, and addresses.
He told the defendants their motivation had been financial and they had paid little regard to the welfare of the animals involved. He said the puppy breeding selling had caused “unspeakable distress” to its victims.
The judge noted that in the cases of the female defendants the maximum sentence available at the time of the offending was one of six months in prison for a summary-only offence though that maximum had subsequently been increased to five years. However he said he was bound to pass sentence having regard to the law as it applied at the time and would effectively sit as a district judge to exercise the power to sentence a summary-only matter.
Following the sentencing RSPCA Inspector Kirsty Withnall, said: “We’d very much like to thank all those who helped us bring this case to court, from Gwent Police, veterinary practices, witnesses, Newport Council trading standards and The Animal and Plant Health Agency. The heart-breaking reality of puppy farming is that the welfare of the puppies comes second to making money.
“The sums of money involved are just eye-watering; and it’s another reminder of how unscrupulous this trade can be; and how dangerous poor breeding and trading practices are for dogs, pups and unsuspecting consumers. For anyone looking to buy a puppy, rather than adopt – we urge them to do their research, know the signs of an unscrupulous breeder and use tools such as the Puppy Contract to avoid becoming another victim of the puppy trade.”
Gwent Police constable Bianca Robson-Mallet, who was the officer in charge of the warrant, said the force works closely with the RSPCA in animal cruelty cases and said colleagues had been receiving “intel” for a few months prior to the warrant.
PC Robson-Mallet later rehomed one of the dogs seized during the operation.
Sentencing |
Martin Joseph McDonagh: three and a half years in prison Patrick Christopher McDonagh Snr: three and a half years in prison Francie Gabriel McDonagh: three years and two months in prison John Paul McDonagh: three years in prison Eddie McDonagh: 20 months in prison Patrick Christopher McDonagh Jnr: 18 months in prison.
They will each serve up to half those sentences in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.
Rosaleen Marie McDonagh, Angela Christina McDonagh, Mary Louise McDonagh, Mary Christina McDonagh Snr, and Mary Christina McDonagh Jnr were each made the subject of a 12-month community order and were ordered to complete rehabilitation courses.
Mary Christina McDonagh Jnr was also ordered to do 180 hours of unpaid work, Mary Louise McDonagh was ordered to do 160 hours of unpaid work,
Rosaleen Marie McDonagh was fined £200, Angela Christina McDonagh was fined £200, and Mary Christina McDonagh Snr was fined £500.
The male defendants were banned from keeping dogs for 15 years while the female defendants only received a 10-year ban on keeping dogs.
CONVICTED (2024) | Martin Clowes, born 3 April 1968, and Gavin James Cromwell, born 15 June 1981, both of Tynycellar, Water Street, Margam, Port Talbot SA13 2PD – kept 24 cats in filthy conditions at their so-called animal sanctuary.
Cat hoarders Martin Clowes and Gavin Cromwell were banned from keeping animals after 11 cats in their care died in a fire
Clowes and Cromwell,, who ran rescue from hell Jemima’s Place, pleaded guilty to failing to meet the needs of the animals in their care.
Firefighters attending a fire at a property in Pyle Road, Margam contacted the RSPCA.
On her arrival RSPCA animal rescue officer (ARO) Paula Milton was told by a fire officer that they had found two cats alive inside the house. She was also told by a neighbour that the owner had opened up a rescue called Jemima’s Place which at first opened in Bridgend and then moved to the Pyle Road property.
The bodies of 11 cats were recovered from a property filled with bags of rubbish and covered in faeces
Ms Milton said when she entered the property in March 2023 the smell of urine and faeces was “overpowering the smell of smoke”.
She continued: “In the living room there were lots and lots of black rubbish bags full of soiled cat litter. This was piled about 3ft high. The rest of the living room was covered with clutter and the floor was covered in faeces. There were a few deceased cats in the living room on the floor.”
She also said there was a room next to the living room where there were again loads of black rubbish bags full of soiled cat litter. This filled most of the room and was piled about 6ft high.
“I went to go up the stairs and the stairs were covered in cat faeces, at the top of the stairs there were two dead cats in the upstairs hall,” she said.
“Also in the hall there were more black rubbish bags full of soiled cat litter, there was faeces and rubbish all over the floor.”
Once the fire service had finished upstairs ARO Milton was able to try and catch the cats. She was told that the house was safe apart from the bedroom that had a hole in the floor from the fire.
She then met Clowes who said he was the owner and he helped her catch the live cats.
“I went to go up the stairs and the stairs were covered in cat faeces. At the top of the stairs there were two dead cats in the upstairs hall,” she said.
“Also in the hall there were more black rubbish bags full of soiled cat litter. There was faeces and rubbish all over the floor.”
In the bathroom she found three live cats. She said the bathroom floor “was completely covered in cat faeces”.
Two of the surviving cats
The three cats – Cheeko, a black seven-year-old cat, Ady, a seven-year-old white and black cat, and Lewis, a tabby and white four-year-old – were caught and placed into her van.
There were also two cats that were taken to a vets in Bridgend by someone on the morning of the fire. Clowes also agreed to sign these cats over into RSPCA care.
ARO Milton went back into the house to see if there were any more cats and she found further rubbish. She said: “In the hall upstairs leading to the bedrooms there was a pile of black rubbish bags full of soiled cat litter that was about 2ft high. I couldn’t get into the smaller bedroom. This room was full of rubbish and faeces.
“In the main bedroom where the fire was in the left-hand corner again [there were] more rubbish bags with soiled cat litter. There were a few bags on the right-hand side and also at the back of the room the left side of the bed was more black bags with soiled litter. This was about 2ft high also.”
She and Clowes started collecting the bodies of the cats who had died in the fire and in total 11 cats were found. A
ARO Milton said she was told that Clowes did not live at the house but he visited three to four times a day to feed the cats.
The following day RSPCA deputy chief inspector (DCI) Gemma Cooper met Clowes where he showed her four more cats that had been in the house fire. These four cats along with the two that had been taken to a vets in Bridgend were then transferred to RSPCA Merthyr Tydfil Veterinary Clinic.
In her written statement provided to the court DCI Cooper said the environment in which 24 cats were living was “not safe, clean, or hygienic”.
There was an electric heater which had been left on inside the house while it was unoccupied which was described as an “obvious hazard”. No litter trays were provided and the cats were toileting all over the floor of the property and there was no substrate provided for them to cover it up. DCI Cooper said there was no mental or physical stimulation inside the property for the cats and there was not enough space for the cats to have their own space if needed inside the two-bedroomed cottage.
The court also heard that another animal charity which is no longer running removed around 30 cats in poor health from Jemima’s Place in 2021 when Clowes and Cromwell admitted they could not cope. The 13 cats involved in this case were signed over to the RSPCA and have been rehomed.
The court heard the two men had good intentions but lost control, and now have regret and remorse.
The 13 surviving cats have since been rehomed.
Sentencing | 12 week custodial, suspended for 12 months; £300 costs and £54 victim surcharge each. Banned from keeping all animals for 10 years (expires January 2034).
CONVICTED (2024) | Carol Ann Gravenor, born 2 May 1956, of Coed Main, Caerphilly CF83 1RS – allowed wild birds to suffer at her so-called sanctuary.
Bird rescuer Carol Gravenor kept multiple injured birds in filthy conditions
Gravenor, owner of Caerphilly Bird Rescue, pleaded guilty to six animal welfare offences after 26 wild birds were found in an unsuitable environment with their needs not being met. Many were in a suffering state.
The birds included pigeons, blackbirds, crows, jackdaws, a peregrine falcon and a common buzzard.
These birds were found with numerous ailments and injuries which had not been treated adequately, including fractured wings, damaged eyes and legs, and bumble foot condition.
The environment and bird cages were found to be unhygienic and hazardous and an RSPCA inspector found predator and prey species being kept in close proximity to one another.
A peregrine falcon with a missing eye was found in a filthy cage too small to spread its wings, the RSPCA said.
It had to be put down along with 20 others.
In a written statement heard by Newport Magistrates’ Court, RSPCA inspector Keith Hogben described unhygienic and hazardous conditions found during an inspection of the centre in April 2023.
The wild birds found included pigeons, blackbirds, crows, jackdaws, a peregrine falcon and a common buzzard.
Some were living in a kitchen inside the property, he said, while others were loose in the garden and some were caged in sheds, and 20 were found dead.
“There were many empty soiled bird cages piled on top of each other in the garden,” he said.
“In the back garden were several pigeons walking around that looked to have dropped wings along with some domestic ducks, a domestic goose and a chicken that was obviously lame.
“We were invited into the house and on the kitchen table were two fledgling blackbirds and a nestling pigeon.”
A cardboard box on a kitchen unit also held Jackdaw with an injured eye.
Mr Hogben said he found “a peregrine falcon bird with its left eye missing” in a shed.
“The environment was poor with no water and a filthy cage which was too small for the falcon to spread its wings in all directions.
“Within two feet [0.6m] of this cage containing the peregrine falcon was another cage containing eight pigeons.
“This cage was in full sight of the cage containing the peregrine falcon, and again had no water and the cage was in a filthy condition with hardly any perches.”
RSPCA inspectors found 20 dead birds at the centre
All the birds were sent for assessment by a wildlife veterinarian at the RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre, where just five pigeons were deemed fit to be given the chance of rehabilitation.
Gravenor admitted failing to take steps to ensure the needs of the 26 birds were met as required – as well as five offences relating to causing unnecessary suffering to 17 birds (full wording below).
In mitigation, her solicitor said her intention was only ever to help birds and animals, and that she had tried her best, but they accepted the contents of expert veterinary reports as she was not an expert herself.
He confirmed his client had been “overwhelmed” and “swamped” by the situation.
Following sentencing inspector Hogben said: “Keeping and rehabilitating wild birds is a huge commitment requiring specialist knowledge, husbandry, equipment and accommodation.
“While most rescues and sanctuary owners start out with the best intentions, sadly, vulnerable animals entering these establishments can sometimes end up in even worse situations than they were in already, with sanctuary owners ending up in situations not realising the severity of the problems with their establishments until it is too late.
“In this case we appreciate the well-meaning intentions to help rescue and rehabilitate wild birds in need. However, it is always imperative to seek prompt veterinary care, including seeking advice on whether birds can be successfully rehabilitated, whilst also housing any birds in an appropriate and clean environment – and clearly the consequences of failing to do that here were serious for the birds involved.”
Sentencing | 14-week custodial, suspended for 12 month; ordered to pay £300 plus £154 victim surcharge. Lifetime ban on keeping animals.
CONVICTED (2023) | backyard breeder Josh Mark Rowles, born 19 February 1997, of Matthew Street, Dyfatty, Swansea SA1 1PT – punched a young French bulldog puppy to death.
Rowles lost his temper with the puppy, known as Hugo, after the dog bit him while they were ‘nuzzling’ on the bed
A post mortem carried out on Hugo following his death concluded he had been hit with “considerable” force.
Victim Hugo
Jon Tarrant, prosecuting, said the incident happened at Rowles’ home on the morning of April 29, 2023. He said the defendant awoke to find Hugo on his bed, and he and the dog began to “nuzzle”. The pup then bit Rowles on the lip, and Rowles responded by punching the dog.
The court heard the dog’s condition started to deteriorate over the following 10 minutes and he was seen to start panting.
The defendant rang his ex-partner, who told him to take the animal to the PDSA vets – but Hugo had already died before they reached the clinic.
The vet advised Rowles to contact the RSPCA, who collected Hugo’s body and began an investigation.
The pup’s remains were sent to Liverpool University for a post mortem.
In the meantime Rowles was invited to attend a voluntary interview with the RSPCA during which he said he had woken up to find Hugo on his chest and while he and dog were “nuzzling” the puppy had bitten his lip and he gave the animal “a clip”. He later told an officer that after Hugo bit him he carried the pup to his bed and threw him down before punching him to the side of his body.
The prosecutor said based on disclosures made in interview, evidence from the vets, and the results of the post mortem it was concluded there had been a punch to the head and a punch to the ribs of the puppy, and that the defendant “must have used considerable force”.
In court Rowles, a convicted heroin dealer and former member of an organised crime group, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
His last conviction was for a public order matter some three days before the fatal blow to the dog.
2018 police mugshot of Josh Rowles
John Allchurch, for Rowles, said his client and his ex had owned a French bulldog that had a litter of five puppies. After the couple split his client had kept one of the pups namely Hugo. He said the defendant had had Hugo for five or months before the incident in question.
Allchurch said Rowles had co-operated with the RSPCA investigation and been candid during his interview.
The advocate said Rowles had also been candid with the author of his pre-sentence report about needing help to address his consumption of alcohol.
Judge Catherine Richards told Rowles he had committed a “brutal offence” against his dog which had resulted in his death. She said the “easy” thing to do would be to send the defendant to prison to mark society’s disapproval of what he had done but she noted the “genuine” remorse he had expressed in the pre-sentence report and the steps he had already taken to address his issues around anger and alcohol.
The judge said the appropriate sentence on the guidelines was six months in custody – with a one-third discount for his guilty plea.
Sentencing | four months in prison suspended for 12 months; rehabilitation; 90-day alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement. Banned from keeping any animal for the next five years (expires December 2028).
CONVICTED (2023) | Kristopher Daniel Morgan, born c. 1987, of Brewery Court, Merthyr Tydfil CF47 8FG – allowed his elderly dog to become emaciated.
Kristopher Morgan left his elderly pet dog to suffer in agony for several months
Morgan, who has a previous conviction for sexual assault, pleaded guilty to one offence under the Animal Welfare Act in relation to American bulldog-type Buddie.
The offence was that between February 3 and May 4, 2023, he caused unnecessary suffering to the dog by failing to provide proper and necessary veterinary care and attention for the causes of his weight loss and masses.
Buddie, who was around 10 years old, was put to sleep after vets found him in an emaciated condition and covered in lumps
The RSPCA were notified after Buddie was found straying on Brecon Road, Merthyr, and taken to a vet by a member of the public. Very sadly, the elderly pet was so unwell he had to be immediately euthanised.
Morgan was traced as Buddie’s owner after vets scanned for a microchip.
RSPCA deputy chief inspector Gemma Cooper said she collected Buddie’s remains from the vets the following day. She said she saw “every bone in his body, he was covered in lumps and his penis was prolapsed.”
The body was seized by police for the RSPCA to continue with its investigations.
Morgan claimed that Buddie had been missing seven weeks due to poor fencing in his garden. He also stated that he first noticed a ping pong ball sized lump seven to eight weeks previous to the right of Buddie’s neck, and since then he had been reluctant to eat and was losing weight.
In a witness statement presented to the court, a vet gave the opinion that Buddie would have been suffering for longer than seven weeks.
The vet added: “In my opinion, it seems very unlikely that a dog of such loving nature and large stature would have been missing for seven weeks without anyone finding him and bringing him to either a veterinary practice or to the RSPCA.
“It is also clear from the conversation that I had with Mr Morgan that he did not seek or have intentions of seeking veterinary treatment for the lump or weight loss.
“As a consequence, I feel Buddie was suffering whilst in this poor condition – uncomfortable when trying to sit down, weak, malnourished and regurgitating after food (likely due to the size of the lumps pressing on his food pipe).
“In my opinion, I feel this dog was suffering for longer than seven weeks, at a minimum three months but possibly longer. Veterinarian opinion should have been sought as soon as he started going off his food and losing weight, as this would have started to impact on his quality of life.
“Buddie should never have been left this long and by doing so Mr Morgan had failed in his duty of care to Buddie and allowed him to suffer unnecessarily.”
DCI Cooper added: “This is a very sad case, and we’re very sorry to hear that Buddie didn’t make it. We’d like to thank the member of the public who took him to the vets and the staff at the vets who gave him emergency care when he arrived.
“Sadly he had been neglected and the failure of veterinary care and attention for his condition meant that he would have been suffering for some time.”
Sentencing | 12 month community order with 135 hours of unpaid work and 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement; £500 costs. Disqualified from keeping all animals for 10 years (expires December 2033).
