CONVICTED (2013) | Robert Thompson, born 5 March 1991, of 17 Raploch Road, Larkhall ML9 1AN – broke a puppy’s leg by throwing her down stairs.
Robert Thompson admitted causing 18-week-old Staffy Cheeka unnecessary suffering.
Scottish SPCA Inspector Sam McDonald: said: “When questioned, Thompson said he lost his temper because he woke to find Cheeka had toileted inside her cage in the house.
“He told her to do the toilet outside and threw her towards the door, at which point she hit on the door frame and fell down the stairs, breaking one of her front legs.
“This was a shameful act of violence against a defenceless puppy. While we welcome the six year ban given to Thompson, in our opinion a life ban on keeping animals would have been an appropriate punishment as we believe he is completely unfit to provide animals with the care they deserve.
“We are pleased that as a result of our investigation Cheeka will not be returned to Thompson and we can now find her a loving new home where she can live happily for the rest of her life.”
Sentencing | 150-hours of unpaid work. Six-year ban (expired 2019)
CONVICTED (2013) | Frederick McHugh, born 1931 (now deceased), his daughter Angela Russell, born c. 1971, her son Robert Russell, born 26/04/1988, and daughters Kirsty Russell, born 18/07/1992, and Louise Russell, born 14/11/1990, all previously of Faringdon Road, Abingdon OX13 5HN and niece Abigail McHugh of Pendennis Road, Swindon SN5 8QD – ran a bogus animal rescue where dozens of animals were starved, neglected and kept in squalor
RSPCA inspectors rescued 29 dogs, 13 horses and a number of chickens, goats, cats, and ducks during a raid on Crunchy’s Animal Rescue in January 2012.
Officials described conditions at the centre, based in in Faringdon Road, Longworth, near Abingdon, as “some of the worst they had ever seen”.
Dogs, cats, rabbits, ponies and other animals lived in filthy kennels covered in their own urine and faeces, with inadequate bedding, food and water.
Some animals were found in areas containing rubbish, bundles of barbed wire, metal frames from burned mattresses and rusting cars.
A number of the animals had skin conditions which had not been treated.
A shih-tzu dog with an eye condition, a duck and a turkey were in such a bad condition that they had to be put down.
In April 2013 a total of eight people involved with the sanctuary — Angela Russell, her father Fred, her son Robert Russell, her daughters Kirsty and Louise, her brother Peter, niece Abigail McHugh and Angela’s carer, Daniel Bunyan went on trial at Bicester Magistrates Court.
Angela Russell and son, Robert Russell, pictured outside court
All bar Peter Russell and Daniel Bunyan were convicted of 16 offences of cruelty including failing to provide adequate nutrition, adequate parasitic control and provision of veterinary care.
When welfare officers from the RSPCA, World Horse Welfare and the Blue Cross visited the sanctuary between December 2011 and January 2012, they discovered lice-covered horses left to forage in muddy fields littered with junk and sharp objects, and various rabbits, dogs and goats left in cramped conditions, covered in faeces and without food and water.
Some of the animals had been entrusted to the rescue centre temporarily by their owners.
Much loved pet Winston was found living in squalor at the Russell family’s so-called animal sanctuary
Sandra Luker trusted Crunchy’s with four golden retrievers, two cats and a rabbit in November 2011 – but only one dog and her cat were ever returned.
There were also allegations of animal exploitation for financial gain with the judge noting “a commercial element to the operation”. The charity received generous donations from the public but, in the judge’s view, that money had not gone towards looking after the animals. In addition the charity was found to have sold puppies, kittens and rabbits on the internet with Louise Russell having an instrumental role here.
Jonathan Coode, prosecuting for the RSPCA, had told the court: ‘It is our case that for years none of the defendants did anything to improve the conditions and when the RSPCA finally stepped in, some of the worst conditions that most of the witnesses have ever experienced were discovered.
‘One of the most shocking aspects of this case is a dog cowering in a cage. In front of it is effectively a termite mound, almost taller than it, of piled-up faeces.’
He said an area where four puppies were found living among rubbish in a caravan had ‘the most appalling stench’ of faeces and urine.
A horse found lying dead under an old pick-up truck roof had died of Yew tree poisoning and also had bits of tarpaulin and other rubbish in its stomach.
The RSPCA suspected the Russells had tried to hide it and were planning to secretly bury it.
The rescue centre was set up in 2006 and had four trustees. Concerns were first raised about the charity in 2008 and the RSPCA had issued several warnings about the standards of care of the animals
Sentencing Angela Russell, district Judge Tim Pattinson said he believed her to be the “prime mover” in the neglect.
He said: “There is no way an animal lover could allow such profound neglect of this type.”
“Crunchy’s was an animal disaster, a sea of mud and faeces containing shocking and dangerous hazards.
“In short, it was a rescue centre from which animals needed to be rescued.”
Judge Pattinson added: “The photos and videos shown during this case will be remembered by everyone who saw them for a very long time. In particular, the horses crippled by overgrown hooves and the horses trying to eat from a wheelie bin.
“All of you inflicted this suffering in the name of this charity – a rescue centre, a sanctuary – but nothing could be further from the truth than that of what was going on at Crunchy’s.”
RSPCA deputy chief inspector Kirsty Withnall investigated the case.
“What we found at Faringdon Road were filthy, disgusting conditions where animals were being kept amongst all sorts of hazardous items without food and water,” she said. “We have a duty to protect animals from this sort of neglect and we hope that the sentence will help to do this.
“Many of these animals had been entrusted to the care of the defendants by loving owners. Instead of the care promised, the animals were left in dirty, broken down buildings without vet treatment where it was needed or access to basic care.”
Sentencing |
Angela and Fred Russell were both sentenced to 26 weeks in prison and a life ban on keeping animals, with Mr Russell’s sentence suspended for 18 months in light of his age. He was also ordered to pay £1,000 costs.
Robert Russell was sentenced to immediate imprisonment for 18 weeks and was banned from owning, keeping, dealing, transporting or participating in keeping of animals for 10 years (expires July 2023).
Kirsty Russell received a curfew order and £1,000 fine,
Louise Russell received a 12-week suspended prison sentence, a curfew order and a £1,000 fine. Both sisters have been banned from keeping animals for 10 years.
Abigail McHugh was sentenced to 150 hours of community service and ordered to pay £1000 in costs.
Frederick Russell is deceased. Robert Russell now lives in Fore Street, Bugle, St Austell, Cornwall PL26 8PB with a partner and their twins. Angela Russell’s whereabouts are unknown.
CONVICTED (2013) | Dean Fellows, born 7 September 1991, of Dorsett Place, Walsall WS3 2BW – allowed neighbour’s dog to starve to death when he was supposed to be looking after her
Fellows had been asked to care for the Jack Russell cross breed called Ruby for just over two weeks. He had looked after the pet belonging to Margaret Doherty on previous occasions, feeding and walking the animal.
But between December 27, 2012 and January 11, 2013, the three-year-old dog was left to deteriorate to an emaciated state.
Fellows was seen taking the dog’s body in a plastic bag and putting it in a barrel at the bottom of his neighbour’s garden.
Prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, Nick Sutton told the court that Fellows had been asked to look after the dog for 16 days.
“The case came to light when information was received by the RSPCA that a carcass of an animal had been seen at the property,” said Mr Sutton.
Fellows had been given just two cans of dog food by the owner before she left.
“After the food ran out the animal was shut in a downstairs room and given no food,” Mr Sutton added.
Nigel Ford, defending, said: “Quite strangely the owner of the dog sits at the back of court in support of the defendant.
“Perhaps there’s fault that lies elsewhere. She leaves the dog at home for two weeks, leaves two cans of food and expects somebody on benefits to pay for food and even, in fact, electricity in the property.
“I’m not saying it’s OK, because it clearly isn’t. This wasn’t a deliberate act, but his non-actions led to the death of the dog.”,
Sentence: 12 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months; 240 hours of unpaid work; total of £1,131 in costs and charges. Fellows was not banned from keeping animals.
CONVICTED (2013) | Christopher Woodall, born 15 February 1976, of Ainsworth Lane, Bolton BL2 – pummelled a cat to death while high on butane gas
Christopher Woodall was said to be high on butane gas when he launched a brutal attack on helpless rescue cat Skittles (pictured)
Woodall was seen emerging from behind a shed in Whalley Range dressed in blood-soaked pyjama bottoms in the early hours of the morning.
Three-year-old rescue cat Skittles was found dead nearby – her collar wrapped around her back legs and a penny on the top of her bloodstained head.
Woodall was seen staggering around inhaling from a butane gas canister. A witness describing him as being ‘off his face’.
He was arrested and went on to plead guilty to causing the cat unnecessary suffering.
Christopher Woodall pictured in 2022. It appears he now lives in Leeds, West Yorkshire.
Woodall claimed that Skittles had attacked him. Raj Chopra, defending, said there was little to say in his client’s defence, although he had expressed remorse .
While District Judge David Clarke acknowledged that this was a serious case of animal cruelty, he let Woodall off with a suspended prison sentence.
Speaking after the hearing, Skittles’ owner said Woodall should have been locked up.
She said: “He killed an innocent cat. I understand there are financial issues with putting people in prison, but I think he should spend time in jail.”
Sentencing: 10-week suspended custodial sentence. £50 compensation to the cat’s owner plus £80 victim surcharge.
CONVICTED (2013) | Jonathan David Bowes, born December 1971, of Vine House, 1 Main Street, Knipton, Grantham NG32 1RW – hacked off nine ducks’ wings with a pair of old scissors
Bowes, who operates a logging business named J & H Logs, pleaded guilty to eight wildlife offences after an investigation into his shooting business at his family’s farm at Holwell, near Melton.
Bowes charged customers to shoot ducks on the lake that had had their wings clipped. Surgically clipping birds’ wings within the first 10 days of their life is legal but Bowes carried out the procedure on older birds without anaesthetic and admitted two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to animals, as well as two charges of carrying out an illegal procedure.
He also admitted illegally selling 12 wild birds at Melton market and possessing spring traps to illegally catch wild birds, which also occasionally killed his ducks.
Sentencing: fined £1,500, ordered to pay £5,000 costs and was banned from being involved in the keeping of any birds for five years (expired 2018).
At Hinckley Magistrates’ Court on 6 February 2016, Bowes attempted to get the ban on keeping birds lifted, explaining that his wife, Emily-Anne Bowes, keeps pigeons, chickens and ducks at their home and their four-year-old daughter also enjoys looking after the animals.
Bowes told magistrates he was being denied the chance to help his daughter with the birds. He said: “I want the ban lifted so I can help her feed the birds and help her if she has chickens to hatch out – and help my wife with maintaining the electric fence and things like that.”
His wife also gave evidence at the hearing to say there were jobs she found difficult, such as carrying around 25kg feed bags, and jobs she was unable to do, such as driving in new fence posts.
Kevin McCole, representing the RSPCA, opposed the lifting of the ban because the original offence has been so serious.
He said: “There’s simply no excuse for causing suffering in the way he did.
“The RSPCA feels that the sentence was commensurate with the seriousness of the offence.”
The magistrates agreed the original five-year ban had been appropriate and refused the application.
#MostEvil | Bilal Yilmaz, born 21 July 1990, previously of Hull but as of April 2021 of 4 Eton Court, Scunthorpe DN17 2PG – killed a pet rabbit by hurling her from a 40ft balcony – and smashed another against a brick wall.
RSPCA inspectors RSPCA inspectors found a rabbit with a broken spine after she had been smashed against a wall by violent criminal Bilal Yilmaz
Yilmaz, former owner of a pizza restaurant based in Beverley Road, Hull, had thrown the young female rabbit with such force her back was broken. She was then left to suffer for almost four weeks.
RSPCA Inspector Hannah Bryer found the grey domestic rabbit in a cardboard box in Yilmaz’s home, emaciated and immobile. Her hind legs were decomposing and saturated with faeces – she had been dragging herself around the house using just her front legs. The smell was very strong; Inspector Bryer was almost overcome as she rescued the rabbit and took her to a vet.
The vet found the rabbit had a broken spine and femur. He was horrified at the suffering she had endured, and appalled that Yilmaz, who had inflicted these injuries, had not sought treatment for her. He concluded the rabbit had suffered immensely through pain, hunger, and the inability to move freely. She was euthanased on welfare grounds.
Yilmaz pleaded guilty to animal cruelty, and assaulting his wife and a toddler
In his defence, Yilmaz claimed he flicked the rabbit against the wall after it bit him. However, a vet concluded the rabbit must have been forcefully thrown to inflict the injuries.
Mr Brown said: “The vet said he was horrified by the degree of suffering this animal endured, especially considering the owner had inflicted the injuries and didn’t make any attempt to alleviate the suffering.
“This was a deliberate act of cruelty by the defendant, which resulted in the animal suffering for a prolonged period of time.”
Yilmaz laughed at police when they asked if he had hurt the animals.
Turkish Yilmaz also admitted trying to drag his wife, who was 15 weeks pregnant, into his car off the street and convince her to have an abortion.
The couple, who are cousins, were separated at the time of the assault..
He also admitted “accidentally” slapping a toddler across the face, which made her nose bleed and left a red mark under her eye.
Sentence: 20 weeks in prison. Banned for life from keeping animals.
CONVICTED (2013) | Nathan John Smith, born 15 November 1985, of 77 Hall Street, St Helens, Merseyside WA10 1EJ – viciously beat his pet dog to death, wrapped his corpse like a mummy and buried him in a field.
Nathan Smith carried out repeated savage attacks on defenceless Staffy, Winston
Nathan Smith admitted inflicting unnecessary suffering on his four-year-old black and white Staffordshire bull terrier, Winston – which ultimately led to the dog’s death.
Smith inflicted repeated violent attacks against Winston between August and September 2012, leaving him with several broken ribs, massive hemorrhaging, a bleeding liver and a brain injury so severe that the animal contracted meningitis. This proved fatal.
The cruelty was uncovered by Smith’s former partner Demi Partington. She was shown Winston’s body, which was in the living room, wrapped in a peculiar way, in a sheet, bin bags and with tape across his muzzle and body. Smith told her that the dog had died after falling downstairs and into a bucket of bleach.
Smith claimed he then tried to wash the dog down before putting him “out of his misery”.
Ms Partington was sceptical of Smith’s explanation and later led the RSPCA to a nearby recreation area where Smith had buried the dog. Winston’s body was exhumed and taken away for a post-mortem, which showed an appalling catalogue of injuries.
Despite the horrific violence involved, Smith walked away from court with a suspended prison sentence.
Despite the severity of the cruelty Smith had inflicted on a defenceless animal, he avoided a custodial sentence on the grounds that he had “anger management issues” that would not be properly addressed in prison.
Sentence: 24 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, 300 hours’ unpaid work, £1,000 in costs. Lifetime ban on keeping animals,
CONVICTED (2013) | Emma Lesley Trueman, born 19 April 1981, previously of Ridgacre Lane, Quinton, Birmingham and more recently (2021) of Cock Hill Lane, Rubery, Rednal, Birmingham B45 9SG – left a dog alone in an empty flat to starve to death
Trueman allowed her dog, Kyra, to starve to death in her flat, which was above a veterinary practice. She also lived within walking distance of the PDSA and RSPCA.
She had lied to her family and friends, telling them she had rehomed the dog, named Kyra, when in fact she was alone in the flat, starving.
When the landlord discovered Kyra’s dead body she weighed 9.4kg; a normal weight for a dog of this type is around 20–25kg.
Mastiff cross Kyra’s emaciated remains were discovered in Trueman’s abandoned flat
The environment was filthy, and there was a copious amount of dog faeces on the floor, indicating that Kyra had been confined to the room for weeks, if not months. Veterinary evidence confirmed Kyra’s severe emaciation, terrible suffering and eventual death could only have been caused by lack of food.
Tim Scott, the RSPCA’s Chief Inspector for the West Midlands, said there was “no excuse” for people to neglect animals.
“The current economy is sometimes touted as a reason for animal neglect, but it is not an excuse,” he said. “When it comes to providing for animals’ needs there are charities willing to help those in need. “It’s sickening when you find yourself in people’s homes and they say they could not afford to feed their animals, but they have plenty of luxury items in their house.”
Sentence: jailed for 20 weeks and banned from keeping animals for life.
