CONVICTED (2016) | serial wildlife killer Benjamin James Murray, born 14 September 1984, of Leslie in Fife* – killed a cat and bit a dog during domestic violence incidents
Murray attacked women and family pets during a catalogue of violent crime.
He throttled former partners and bit one of them as well as biting a dog and fatally injuring a cat.
A judge told Murray: “You pled guilty to a series of violent offences against humans and indeed animals.”
John Morris QC said at the High Court in Edinburgh that from reports prepared on the offender “it is absolutely clear you pose a continuing risk to members of the public”.
The judge ordered that Murray should be kept under supervision for a further two years.
He was given a concurrent five-month jail term for crimes against animals and the judge said: “You will be banned from owning or looking after animals for a period of 10 years.”
Murray had pets of various kinds and he admitted ill-treating dogs and causing unnecessary suffering to animals.
In 2014 Murray and his accomplice, sex offender and serial animal killer Brandon Robb of Paterson Cottages, Leslie, Fife, stole 30 baby ducks from a farm, before Robb posted a picture of some of the ducklings, by then killed, on his page on the social networking site.
Murray’s accomplice in previous crimes against animals, Brandon Robb – a notorious and sadistic abuser in his own right
On another occasion Robb was convicted of using his lurcher dog to kill a rare piebald deer.
Sentence: four years in jail including five months for crimes against animals. Banned from owning or looking after animals for 10 years (expires February 2026).
*Benny Murray has links to the Cupar, Kirkcaldy, Leven and Glenrothes areas of Fife but is originally from Edinburgh and has family ties to Livingston and Blackburn, Bathgate, West Lothian.
As of July 2022 Murray is engaged to a woman with learning difficulties named Donna Stewart who lives in Ashgrove, Methilhill, Leven KY8 2DU. They appear to share a kitten.
Benny Murray’s current address is St Thomas, Skinners Steps, Cupar KY15 4DW.
CONVICTED (2016) | Edward Brian Elward, born 4 January 1955, and Susan Jayne Thomas, born 25 November 1970, of Parc Penrhiw, Betws, Ammanford SA18 2SP – allowed their five ponies to become thin, covered in lice and with scabs on their back
Sue Thomas and Brian Elward’s ponies were described as ‘neglected for months on end’
Elward and Thomas both pleaded guilty to an an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
When an RSPCA inspector visited the five ponies at Twyn, Garnant he found them to be in a neglected and in a poor state. They were thin and covered in lice and three of the ponies had scabs on their backs.
Sadly they had been neglected for some time and an independent vet found they had been clearly suffering.
RSPCA inspector Keith Hogben said: “These ponies had clearly been neglected for months on end and were suffering.
“There was some food being provided but clearly it was not enough. Their body condition was in a terrible state and they just did not have the energy to move to the little natural shelter that was available. It was so cold at this time of year so they suffered then even more.
“They should have known better and if people are struggling they need to ask for help instead of burying their heads in the sand.”
Following RSPCA care the ponies’ condition improved following an appropriate diet and veterinary treatment. All were made available for rehoming.
Sentencing: each ordered to pay a total of £850. Disqualified from keeping horses for 24 months (expired 2018).
CONVICTED (2016) | Jordan Smith, born 6 June 1995, of Middleton Road, Heywood OL10 2HU – brutally kicked, punched and whipped dog with a belt during a three-month campaign of abuse
Dog abuser Jordan Smith and his unnamed victim, who recovered from his ordeal
Smith was seen kicking, punching and whipping the male brindle-coloured Staffy with a belt over a three-month period. The shocking attacks were witnessed by his neighbours, who caught some of horrific violence on camera.
Smith was first spotted beating the dog in July 2014. The neighbours also witnessed an attack in September 2014 where they heard the 18-month-old dog yelping in the back yard.
The son ran upstairs and saw Smith attacking the dog in the yard from a bedroom window. He describe seeing Smith striking the Staffy with the back of his hand before clenching his fist and punching him several times in the stomach and aiming at least five kicks at him.
The dog was pinned against a fence panel and the blows were so powerful the fence panel began to bend.
Six days later they witnessed another attack in which Smith began by kicking the animal at least four times. He then went inside the house and brought out a belt which he used to whip the dog nine times before kicking him again. This attack was captured by the neighbours on their mobile phone; however only Smith was visible in the footage and not the animal so inspectors needed more conclusive evidence.
Greater Manchester Police mugshot of Jordan Smith
But on September 29th there was another incident, this time fully captured on camera, where Smith punched and kicked the dog several times before throwing one of his boots at him, hitting the dog hard on the neck. He then put a mountain bike in front of him trapping him in the yard before eventually letting him back inside around half an hour later.
On none of the occasions did the dog attempt to move but could be heard yelping, crying and making a retching sound.
Dog wardens attended Smith’s house on October 19, 2014, and he gave up the animal who was taken away to be re-homed and he was issued a court summons.
Smith admitted a charge of causing the animal unnecessary suffering. The case was adjourned by magistrates for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.
Steve Connor, defending, said: “I concede the video footage shows there are a number of aggravating features including hitting the dog with an object.
“However there is significant mitigation in this case which will be outlined in due course.”
Although he was eventually arrested (the moment even being caught on camera and shared to Facebook!), the newspapers didn’t follow up on his animal cruelty conviction.
CONVICTED (2016) | serial wildlife persecutors Sam Louis Boylett, born 20 September 1982, of 127 Burtondale, Brookside, Telford TF3 1PP and Mark James Paddock, born c. 1970, of no fixed abode – failed to treat their dogs’ bite wounds. Animal fighting charges thrown out.
Sam Boylett (left) and Mark Paddock
Boylett and Paddock were found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering in relation to several dogs seized in a joint raid by police and RSPCA.
Boylett was found guilty of five charges of cruelty to dogs Tess, Jack, Pinto, Arnie and another unknown dog.
Paddock was found guilty of one charge relating to a single dog.
Boylett with father Charlie Boylett. The elder had cruelty charges against him thrown out by the court.
The court had heard how the dogs kept at the home of Samuel Boylett and his father Charles Boylett, born 23 October 1945, of Cardington House, Arleston Manor Mews, Telford TF1 2HS, were encouraged to fight with wild animals, including badgers, but charges related to animal fighting were ultimately thrown out by the court.
All charges against Charlie Boylett, who was originally prosecuted alongside his son and hunting associate, were also thrown out.
During an earlier hearing RSPCA prosecutor Paul Taylor told the court that the seized dogs were found with injuries consistent with them “fighting mammals”.
A mobile phone belonging to Boylett and a laptop were also seized and revealed evidence of earlier involvement with animal fighting.
Mark Paddock
Mr Taylor said that the phone was used to send and receive text messages about dogs and to set up animal fights. Photos were found that proved the dog fights happened and that the defendants had been present. He said that, in one of the images, Samuel Boylett was holding a dog which had an injury to its mouth.
Mr Taylor said that text messages also showed he had tried to avoid taking an injured dog to the vets. He said the evidence suggested Boylett had been responsible for putting a dog down a hole to fight a wild mammal, such as a badger, underground. He said Boylett and Paddock had communicated with each other to set up dog fights.
Boylett is a father of four
Giving evidence, Constable Gerry Plant said he had found nine terrier and lurcher-type dogs – some injured – when he went to Boylett’s home on March 28, 2014 following intelligence received from the RSPCA, and the animals were seized.
The trial was shown pictures of the accused out hunting with their dogs.
These showed Paddock, with Boylett holding a firearm, and other men, digging with an animal tracker nearby, a small terrier dog covered in mud wearing a tracker and another dog being sent down a hole. It was not clear from the images when the firearm was discharged.
Video footage taken at Boylett’s address showed a number of dogs, some with injuries, and a treadmill with a dog lead attached and a tool box containing veterinary equipment.
Veterinary surgeon William Walker, who examined a number of the dogs, told the court he found a catalogue of injuries – and that he thought they had been suffering for “one week or more”.
William Walker was called in to examine the dogs at the home of Samuel Boylett and his father Charles Boylett in Burtondale, Brookside, Telford.
He told Telford magistrates he found a number of injuries to the mouth, face and feet of the dogs that were so serious the animals had to be sedated before he could treat them.
Mr Taylor asked Mr Walker about one dog specifically: “Was the animal suffering?”
“Yes,” the vet replied.
Mr Taylor said: “For approximately how long was that animal suffering?”
Mr Walker replied: “It was caused to suffer for a period of one week or more.”
The prosecutor asked him: “How could that suffering have been alleviated?”
“It would have been obvious to a reasonable owner that the animal required a vet,” the vet replied.
Another vet, Deborah Wragg, told the court how she carried out surgery on a dog after it had been seized by the RSPCA following animal welfare concerns. She said that some of the injuries around the dog’s face were fresh with additional injuries to its nose and lip.
Ms Sara-Lise Howe, for Boylett, suggested the animal had been attacked while in the RSPCA’s care.
Sam Boylett had all charges against him related to animal fighting thrown out
Despite the weight of evidence that the dogs had been forced to fight wild mammals, animal fighting charges were thrown out in January 2016 by District Judge Nigel Cadbury. He said it had not been proven that an animal had been placed with another animal for the purposes of fighting. He ruled there was “no case to answer” for the charges relating to animal fighting.
Sentencing the pair on the unnecessary suffering charges, District Judge Cadbury said: “You did not take these dogs to the vet because you were worried and concerned about the vet discovering how they had been caused and that would have led to reports to the police and or the RSPCA.”
Sentencing |
Boylett was sentenced to 24 weeks in jail and was told he could not have anything to do with dogs for 10 years (expires February 2026).
Paddock was sentenced to 12 weeks in jail, suspended for two years, and was ordered not to have anything to do with dogs for five years (expired 2021).
CONVICTED (2016) | Tracy Callander aka Tracy Heaney, born 6 December 1976, of Etna Drive, Ardoyne, Belfast BT14 – allowed her Akita-type dog to starve to death.
Callander pictured during her court appearance in February 2016
The unnamed dog was found emaciated and covered in his own excrement at the back of Callander’s north Belfast home. His b/iody was discovered by animal welfare officers who called to Callendar’s home in May 1015.
A solicitor for Belfast City Council explained that a post mortem on the dog determined that he had died from starvation due to neglect.
The unnamed dog (pictured) was left in a garden to starve to death and rot
During interview Callander admitted not feeding the dog but claimed she did not notice the animal losing weight as she didn’t venture out to the back of her house. She was charged with one count of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and a further count of failure to meet the needs of an animal.
District Judge Ramsey said the case clearly crossed the custody threshold adding that Callendar had shown a callous disregard for the suffering of her pet.
He said she didn’t go near the dog and failed to take him into her notice.
A defence solicitor said his client was going through a period of significant personal trauma during the time of the dog’s neglect.
Judge Ramsey interjected saying that if Callendar found she was incapable of looking after the dog all she had to do was call the USPCA to come and take him away.
The judge added that it was hard to look past the picture taken by the animal welfare officers showing the emaciated dog covered in his own faeces.
“Starving to death is not a pleasant way to die. Her circumstances made her unable to look after the animal and she was probably unfit to look after herself,” he said.
Addressing Callander directly as he gave her a suspended prison sentence, Judge Ramsey asked her: “Do you realise how lucky you are not to be going to jail?”
Standing in the public gallery, Callendar replied that she was aware she was fortunate not to be sent to prison.
Sentencing | four months in prison suspended for three years; £69 court costs. Banned from keeping a pet or any animal for 15 years (expires February 2031).
#ThList Paul Dwuayne Tomlinson, born 24 June 1986, of Melford Road, Bilborough, Nottingham NG8 4AF – used two dogs to kill two badgers
Tomlinson. who has past convictions for anti-social behaviour including terrorising his most vulnerable neighbours, was found guilty of keeping dogs for use in an animal fight. He admitted attempting to kill badgers on June 5 and June 23, 2014.
The court heard that he was walking a dog through the Bilborough area of Nottingham, when she attacked a badger. The wild animal, which is protected in law, is thought to have died, but the attack only came to light after Tomlinson posted details on his Facebook page.
When his home was raided, officers seized an iPhone which showed parts of the attack. This was used as evidence against him.
Inspectors also found dead deers and hares in Tomlinson’s freezer and lamping equipment. Hooks used for hanging carcasses was found in his house, as well as blood on the floor.
His solicitor said Tomlinson’s father was a warden for Quorn Hunt. She described Tomlinson as a country man brought up in the city.
Tomlinson was found guilty after a trial in January 2016 of one charge of keeping three dogs for use in connection with an animal fight, under section 8 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, and two charges of willfully killing or attempting to kill a badger, under section 1 of the Protection of Badgers Act 1992. Two seized lurcher-type dogs will now be rehomed.
RSPCA inspector Carroll Lamport, who investigated the case, said: “His phone was seized, and on this phone were photos of his dogs attacking badgers. The fact that he did nothing to stop this and stood by and took photos says it all.”
Mike Butcher, chief inspector of the RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit, said: “Badger-baiting is an absolutely horrific practice and this shows the sickening levels of needless animal cruelty that people who do this are responsible for.
“It is premeditated animal cruelty – to deliberately go out into the countryside purely to cause horrific injuries to an iconic wild animal is stomach-churning. These badgers would have suffered tremendously during these sickening attacks.”
Sentencing: jailed for 20 weeks. Banned from keeping dogs for three years (expired 2019).
CONVICTED (2016) | dog-fighting trainer Julie Wright, born c. 1973, of Hoylake Close, Slough SL1 5UR kept scarred dogs and dog-fighting training equipment at her home
A dog fighting training camp was discovered at Julie Wright’s home
During a raid of Wright’s property in Cippenham, Slough, police and RSPCA officials uncovered a barbaric dog-fighting training camp. They found all the match practice equipment needed to turn dogs into ferocious fighting machines.
Two dogs kept in caged kennels in Wright’s back garden were seized.
Wright pleaded guilty to having dog fighting equipment, training a dog and having two banned dogs.
Scarred dog rescued from Julie Wright of Slough
Police and the RSPCA homed in on her address after coming across evidence linking her to dog fighting circles in 2014.
When they investigated, they discovered she had dog-fighting paraphernalia including treadmills, break sticks, a specially adapted ball and spring and A frame – all described as tools used to train fighting dogs.
There was also evidence of Wright trading dogs with convicted dog-fighting exponents in other parts of the country.
Wright is banned from keeping dogs until 2026
After Wright was sentenced, Mike Butcher, RSPCA chief inspector of the special operations unit, said: “This is another sad case where the dogs end up being the unfortunate victims of the dark and cruel world of dog fighting.
“This barbaric ‘sport’ really has no place in a modern society and the RSPCA is working hard through investigations and more to put an end to this brutal enterprise where suffering is inflicted on animals who are there to do their owners cruel bidding.
“We hope this prosecution goes some way to showing others out there involved in this bloody ‘sport’ that organised cruelty and abuse of this nature is not only against the law but it will never be tolerated.”
Wright, who was represented in court by Clive Rees, appealed against her conviction but the outcome isn’t known.
Sentencing | 18-week suspended prison sentence; £1,000 costs; banned for owning dogs for 10 years (expires February 2026).
CONVICTED (2016) | dog breeder Urfan Ahmed, born c. 1977, of Burdock Close, Crawley RH11 9EH – repeatedly breached his ban on keeping dogs even after one dog mauled his baby niece to death
Urfan Ahmed, a spray-painter, was fined for breaching a court order banning him from keeping dogs, despite being told he would be jailed if caught again.
Aiding and abetting charges brought against Ahmed’s partner, hairdresser Linda Hood of Davis Close, Broadfield, Crawley were dropped and six seized dogs returned to her.
Ahmed was charged with breaching an order banning him from keeping custody of a dog after he was found with one in a field to the south of West Field Place, Lowfield Heath Road, Charlwood, on September 14, 2015.
Ahmed initially pleaded not guilty to the charges but later changed his plea.
He was found guilty of breaching the five-year disqualification twice and possessing a dog dangerously out of control at a court hearing in 2013.
At the time, a police statement said he was banned from owning a dog until 2023 and fined £1,585.
After the conviction in 2013 Inspector Di Lewis said: “The magistrate told Ahmed during the trial that if he comes before the courts again for keeping dogs, he will be sent to prison.”
Sentencing: Fined £785 and ordered to pay £1,500 court costs with a £75 victim surcharge. Ban expired.
CONVICTED (2016) | Christen Lee Booth, born 20/08/1994, most recently of Southfield Avenue, Withernsea HU19 2UE – bit a pitbull terrier-type dog in a bid to “control” her.
Booth told RSPCA inspectors his dog had been attacked by a fox while they were on a woodland walk. He claimed Pebbles, whom he had for 18 months, became aggressive towards him and others following the attack.
Richard Brown said police, responding to a tip-off, visited Booth’s address on July 18, 2015.
“The officer describes seeing a dog with a number of fresh looking wounds, with blood on its face,” said Mr Brown.
“The hair on its body was very thin and bright pink skin was showing underneath.
“It was cowering and shivering in its basket.”
Booth offered “inconsistencies” in his version of events surrounding the fox attack, which led to the RSPCA being called.
With the owner’s consent, Pebbles was taken to a veterinary surgery for treatment. She was suffering from ulcers and inflammation to both eyes, scalding and cuts. It was the view of the vet that “a caustic substance” had also been applied to her coat. Booth was unable to provide an explanation for this.
“An experienced vet came to the conclusion that Pebbles was a banned breed, which falls within section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act,” said the prosecutor.
“Taking that fact and the injuries into account, the decision was taken that it was in the best interests of the dog to euthanise it. The owner had no objections.”
Booth admitted two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, contrary to section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
During interview, Booth told inspectors that he had become concerned about Pebbles’ aggressive demeanour following the fox attack.
“He had found the dog pinning his brother and girlfriend to the floor,” said Mr Brown. “He himself had been attacked, causing puncture wounds to his face.”
Mr Brown then described how Booth had admitted taking matters into his own hands in a bid to calm Pebbles’ rage.
“He decided the best way was to bite the dog and he had been fighting it,” said Mr Brown.
“He also admitted inserting a shower hose into its mouth.”
Booth insisted he had sought medical attention for Pebbles after the fox attack and had been advised to use disinfectant on the numerous injuries.
“He said he was using Lynx shower gel to clean those wounds,” said Mr Brown.
Richard Drew, mitigating, said Booth, who suffers from the behavioural disorder ADHD, had given “the most candid and open” interview to investigators that he had ever heard.
[Original source: Hull Daily Mail – article removed].
Sentencing: Total costs and charges of £770. 20 days’ rehabilitation. Banned from owning, looking after, or keeping dogs for seven years (expiredFebruary 2023).
CONVICTED (2016) | prolific animal abuser John Michael Ginty and partner Nicola Bradley of Dalwood Court, Hemlington, Middlesbrough TS8 9JG – convicted of a catalogue of cruelty offences relating to six dogs and a wild sparrowhawk.
John Ginty and Nicola Bradley pictured during their court appearance.
Ginty and Bradley were convicted of seven offences of animal cruelty. The pair were prosecuted after two raids on their home: the first in March 2015 and a second in August 2015.
In the first raid, dogs were found wandering loose, some with injuries.
Some of the dogs cruelly treated by John Ginty and Nicola Bradley.
A number of dogs were in the back yard of the property – three lurchers and a Patterdale dog. There were also two puppies in the house with a nursing bitch.
One lurcher was found with an injury to her leg which Ginty said had been caused when she got caught on a barbed wire fence while they were out “lamping”.
A second lurcher named Spike was found in a closed shed with no water. He had a serious injury to his tail which later had to be amputated due to infection.
Ginty said he did not know how Spike got the cut on his tail but he told the court he cleaned it and put purple spray on it.
He described the dog as his “blue-eyed boy” and said if he thought the cut had been as bad he would have taken it to a vet.
The dogs and bird were kept together in the garden of the property Ginty and Bradley shared.
A shih-tzu at the found at the house had to have its eye removed due to an infection. Ginty said he was unaware of the infected eye due to it being covered by long fur.
The garden was described “disgusting” due to large accumlations of faeces on the ground. A fox tail was seen hanging from a kennel
Further charges were laid following another search in August 2015 when the “agitated” sparrowhawk was found.
Prosecuting, John Ellwood, said: “It was jumping from the perch. It was landing in its own faeces but also in dog dirt.
“The bird had no access to water and was basically exposed to the elements.”
Ginty said he found the sparrowhawk with “kids by a beck” so took it into his care.
Mr Ellwood also told the court that before these offences, Ginty had been given a warning by the RSPCA when he was found digging up a badger sett – but on that occasion he told inspectors he had lost a chihuahua dog down the hole.
Bradley
A probation service spokeswoman told the court that Ginty was on Job Seeker’s Allowance and that there was no evidence he suffered from depression, as he had claimed.
She said he was not likely to be suitable to carry out unpaid work as he had told probation “he could get a sick note like that” – but magistrates still ordered he carry out 180 hours unpaid work.
Ginty, dubbed the “Hemlington Cowboy”, was jailed six weeks for contempt in October 2015 after “riding a horse at speed” through a housing estate.
Bradley
Ginty was stunned when officials of the county court arrived at his home with a warrant for his arrest citing offences involving riding and tethering his pony.
He had been banned from doing so by a court order issued in June 2015.
A neighbour of Ginty’s said at the time: “He rides his pony around bare-back, he’s like a cowboy but he’s not doing any harm.”
Sentencing: Bradley – 12-month community order with a 20-day rehabilitation requirement; £500 costs and charges. Ten-year ban but can appeal after five years. Ginty – 14-week suspended prison sentence; 180 hours of unpaid work. Ten-year ban, but may appeal after five years.
Just 10 days after the conclusion of the above case, Ginty was handed a 10-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months after he admitted hunting with dogs.
Because the latest crimes pre-dated the offences relating to the dogs and the sparrowhawk, Ginty again avoided jail.
Ginty admitted killing the deer and hunting a wild mammal with dogs, while accomplice Batey admitted destroying rabbits.
The court heard how Ginty had admitted hunting a wild animal with dogs and another charge of killing a pregnant deer.
Rob Hutchinson, mitigating, said Ginty now accepted full responsibility.
He said Ginty had been badly affected by press attention after he was given a suspended prison sentence earlier this month.
Mr Hutchinson said: “As a result of that conviction he tells me his life is not the same. The press attention has meant that he is effectively banned from the family home by the council. He has effectively seen his relationship break down. He’s suffered a lot.”
At the latest hearing, the court heard Ginty is now on incapacity benefit of £140 a fortnight for “anxiety and depression”.
He was ordered to pay £80 charges and £400 costs, which will be added to his existing court fines and paid back at £5 a week.
Marcus Batey
A second man, Marcus Owen Batey, admitted trespassing and destroying a rabbit.
Prosecutor Kim Coley said the offences took place in the early hours of March 9, 2015.
Police discovered Batey’s empty Peugeot near the entrance of a private wood on the Neasham estate, near the village of Eryholme, close to Hurworth.
When they returned to the car, police stopped them and found Ginty sitting in the front seat with blood on his hands, clothes and on the handle of a lamp.
Two lurcher dogs were in the back.
When they searched the woods close by, police found a dead roe deer, which was pregnant, bleeding from the neck.
After their arrest, Batey made no comment but Ginty said his dogs had got loose and he was not responsible for the deer’s death.
But forensic analysis of blood stains on Ginty’s jacket proved he had carried a bleeding deer across his right shoulder.
A separate RSPCA investigation recovered a phone from Ginty’s property which had a picture of a lurcher dog next to a deer carcass, but that may have been from a different occasion.
Marcus Batey, born c. 1990, of Cannock Road, Berwick Hills, Middlesbrough, was fined £160 and ordered to pay £270 costs and charges for trespassing at night and destroying a rabbit.
In June 2017 Teesside Live reported that Ginty was set to go on trial after being accused of breaching his ban. While the trial was due to commence in July 2017, the outcome isn’t known.
We collate data on animal cruelty convictions in the UK
