CONVICTED (2013) | Sam Smith, born c. 1959, of the travellers site, Romany Lane, Kessingland, Lowestoft NR33 7RB – failed to protect a horse found hanging from a cliff face.
Smith, a traveller, was jailed for eight weeks after the unnamed colt was found on a cliff face in Pakefield near Lowestoft, hanging from a tether around his neck.
He admitted causing unnecessary suffering and failing to meet the horse’s welfare needs over the incident in March 2013.
The RSPCA said one of its inspectors, Nicky Thorne, was called out to the horse near Pontins Holiday Park and managed to cut him down with her pocket knife.
In a six-hour rescue, the unconscious pony was rescued from the beach with help from the fire service and taken to the Norfolk-based Redwings Horse Sanctuary for treatment.
Tragically, he died from a collapsed windpipe on arrival at the charity.
Ms Thorne said: “I was so upset; I kept telling the horse he would be the most famous and looked after horse in Suffolk if he pulled through.
“To lose him after six hours of trying to save him was awful.
“I am so grateful to the fire service, to the coastguard and to Redwings – everyone went above and beyond to try to save this horse’s life.
“I called the horse Frank after Frank Sinatra as he had blue eyes and I will remember him for a long time.”
Nic de Brauwere, senior veterinary surgeon at Redwings, said: “There is no doubt that young Frank suffered terribly, which is harrowing enough in itself.
“But what is most upsetting is the knowledge that the whole incident was completely unnecessary.”
Sentencing | Jailed for eight weeks. Banned from keeping animals for 15 years (expires October 2028).
CONVICTED (2013) | illegal puppy breeders Jeffrey Speakman, born c. 1947, of 2 Bentley Hall Farm, Bentley Hall Road, Bury BL8 3PH and son Richard Speakman, born c. 1991, of Ramsbottom (address tbc)
Puppy farmers Jeffrey and Richard Speakman pictured outside court
Police and RSPCA inspectors swooped on Bentley Hall Farm after an undercover sting by the Manchester Evening News (M.E.N.) revealed the Speakmans were illegally breeding and selling hundreds of puppies from the premises.
Investigators found dogs living in their own faeces and with untreated medical conditions – including a labrador found dead in her bed from organ failure.
Dogs at the puppy farm were being kept in cramped, overcrowded and dirty conditions with many thirsty, in pain and suffering from untreated medical conditions.
RSPCA inspectors said some older dogs at the farm had been kept purely as ‘breeding machines’ – producing litter after litter to be sold at around £250 per puppy.
They seized 137 animals during the raid after discovering a number left in pain and thirsty in filthy, overcrowded sheds. M.E.N. reporters were shown several litters of border collies, Alaskan malamutes and labradors in two shabby barns during a number of visits to Bentley Hall Farm.
M.E.N. learned that the Speakmans had been operating without a licence – which is needed to breed dogs on a commercial scale – for about 18 months.
All of the dogs seized were eventually signed over to the RSPCA for rehoming.
Richard Speakman is a father of two
RSPCA inspector Jason Bowles said: “Some of the dogs were six years old and have been used as nothing more than ‘breeding machines’, producing litter after litter of puppies to be sold for £250 plus each.
“The Speakmans put profit before welfare, as these types of businesses do.
“These puppies were being sold a little bit cheaper than they would normally be. It’s the equivalent of the difference between the welfare of a battery chicken and a free range chicken.
“Nobody intends to, of course, but buying from a place like this, from people like this, is to finance misery. Always go to a rescue centre, or if you really must buy, do your research and choose a reputable breeder.”
Sentencing (October 2013): four-month suspended jail term; 200 hours of unpaid work; £500 in costs each. Banned from keeping dogs for 10 years (expires October 2023).
Neil Speakman was not involved in the case so had no legal ban from keeping dogs at the premises.
But the council received many protests from individuals and campaign groups like CARIAD.
After the meeting he said he had spent more than £6,000 on readying the farm for a new pet shop.
Speakman described the outcome as “disappointing” and said the councillors’ minds were made up before they even started.”
He added: “I’m not my dad and I’m not my brother.
“But I think public perceptions before the hearing swayed the decision – that is what needs changing.
“People need to see this is something completely different.
“This would not have been a puppy farm, somewhere where they breed dogs on the premises for cash, but a pet shop, where no dog breeding was going to occur.
“I think the decision was inevitable. It felt like I was fighting a losing battle.”
We collate data on animal cruelty convictions in the UK
