Dunfermline, Fife: Craig Mills

August 31, 2016 misanthropic 1 Comment

#MostEvil | Craig John Mills, born 20/01/1994, previously of Lochgelly but with a recent (2020) address of Maitland Street, Dunfermline, Fife KY12 8AF – bit his pet cat hard on the head, struck her several times and threw her against a wall, finally killing her

Cat killer Craig Mills and victim Pippa — Craig Mills was secretly filmed violently beating two-year-old Pippa (pictured) before biting down on her head.

Mills was secretly filmed violently beating his two-year-old pet cat Pippa before biting down on her head.

The disturbing footage, which was uploaded to social media, showed Mills gripping Pippa and striking her hard on her body with his hand at his home in Fife.

Cat killer Craig Mills — Mills is said to have an unstable personality disorder as well as addictions to alcohol and cannabis

After the ninth blow, he can be heard screaming at the cat: ‘Who are you hissing at?’

He then forces the front half of Pippa’s head into his mouth and bites down. The cat desperately fights to spring clear, leaving Mills with an injury to the side of his face.

A court heard that Mills had had been diagnosed with an ‘unstable personality disorder’.

His defending lawyer said Mills had addictions to alcohol and cannabis, and that his childhood had been ‘unsettled at best and tragic at worst’.

Sheriff Craig McSherry called the abuse a ‘disgraceful act of cruelty towards a young animal’.

He added that he would have imposed the maximum 12-month sentence, but Mills’ guilty plea forced him to reduce it to eight months.

An additional six months were added to his sentence for further charges, bringing his total to 14 months.

Harry Huyton, director of animal protection charity OneKind, praised the custodial sentence, but said he was disappointed Mills hadn’t been banned from keeping animals.

‘This is a horrific case of prolonged violence against a family pet which we hoped would have resulted in a lifetime ban on keeping animals,’ he said.

‘The fact the judge handed down the maximum jail sentence available to him reflects the severity of the case so we are deeply disappointed the court didn’t see fit to impose a lifetime ban, or any length of ban, on keeping pets.

‘While Mr Mills will serve time in prison, a lack of ban in our view is an overly lenient sentence for this level of abuse.

‘Given the level of violence involved in this case it seems wholly inappropriate that Craig Mills should be free to own pets again in the future and this is a huge concern to us given the threat he poses to animals.’

Sentence: jailed for 14 months; NO BAN

Metro
Courier

Animal Abandonment, Dogs, UKACF Exclusive

Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire: Dominic Lee-Woodward and Janine Hartley

August 31, 2016 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2016) | Dominic Lee-Woodward, born 16/03/1994, of Neptune Drive, Bridlington YO16 4EF, and Janine Marie Hartley, aka Janine Robinson, born 06/12/1986, of St Georges Avenue, Bridlington YO15 2ED – neglected and starved two dogs

Convicted dog abusers Dominic Lee-Woodward and his now ex partner Janine Hartley

Unfortunately there’s not much info on this case as it never made the newspapers.

We understand that the pair’s cruelty came to light when they took an emaciated dog to the vet, claiming they had found her. The vet was suspicious and alerted the RSPCA who attended the home the couple shared together. There, inspectors discovered another dog also starved and in very poor condition.

Both dogs were taken into the RSPCA’s care and slowly recovered from their ordeal.

Social media photo of Janine Hartley — Janine Hartley

Following an RSPCA prosecution in August 2016 Dominic Lee-Woodward and Janine Hartley – a mother of three – were banned from keeping animals for 10 years (expires August 2026).

Dogs

Southwick, City of Sunderland: Alan Noble

August 24, 2016 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2016) | Alan T Noble, born 20 September 1983, of Trinity Street, Southwick, Sunderland SR5 2EG – left two rescue Dogues de Bordeaux out in the cold, with no water or shelter.

Alan Noble neglected Dogues de Bordeaux Ruby and Hooch — Alan Noble rescued Ruby and Hooch from a shelter but then kept them outside without shelter in the cold and failed to feed them properly or treat their health conditions.

Dogues de Bordeaux Ruby and Hooch had been rescued from a shelter by Alan Noble, but their new home was not a happy one, Instead, Noble left them outside without water or shelter in wintry conditions, and did nothing to address Ruby’s skin and eye condition.

Judith Curry, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, said an inspector first visited Noble’s home after an anonymous tip-off.

Miss Curry said: “She met Mr Noble, who refused to allow her through the property, but he did take her to the back garden, where she was shown two dogs through the fence.

“Ruby and Hooch were both in a lean condition, but appeared alert.

“Mr Noble stated that he was in the process of completing a new kennel. He said the back door was always open so they could have access to the house.”

Miss Curry said the inspector came across several breaches of the Animal Welfare Act, including lack of nutrition, shelter or bedding.

She added: “The yard was in a dangerous condition, with a lot of items that pose a threat to animals.”

Noble was given advice on how to rectify the problems, especially in view of the cold weather, and an RSPCA inspector returned a few days later to find Noble was not home.

On December 20, 2015, they went back to the house, where they met Noble outside, refusing to show them the dogs.

“He stated that he had no keys to access the property and that the gates to the back garden were padlocked and the dogs were aggressive.”

Police were called and the inspector examined the dogs, who both had visible and prominent ribs, hips and spines.

“Ruby was very lethargic,” Miss Curry added. “The inspector said the animals needed to see a vet and Mr Noble signed them over to the RSPCA.”

The dogs were taken to see a vet and Hooch, who was underweight but required no treatment, was released to the care of the RSPCA on a special diet. Ruby was hospitalised, suffering from dehydration and a skin and eye condition. They have both been rehomed.

Noble was interviewed, saying he did feed the dogs three times a day with three 15kg bags of dried dog food per week. He said he’d taken in the rescue dogs four months prior and that his care had improved their health.

Noble pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to meet the needs of Ruby and Hooch, in that they were kept in an environment that contained hazardous objects and no adequate shelter; that he failed to provide them with a suitable diet and fresh water; and that he failed to address veterinary care in respect of infections.

Sentence: 12-month community order, with a three-month curfew; total of £210 costs. No ban.

Source: Sunderland Echo (article removed)

Dogs, Equine Abuse, horses and ponies, Lifers, Multiple Species, Paedophiles / Sex Offenders, Worst of the Worst

Buxton, Derbyshire: Janet and Anthony Melland

August 23, 2016 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2016) Janet Melland, born 9 February 1947, and son Anthony Melland, born 1 December 1970, of Beechcroft Cottage, Flagg, Buxton SK17 9QE – kept horses and dogs in conditions of filth and squalor.

Animal abuser Anthony Melland from Buxton, Derbyshire — Anthony Melland

The Mellands were hit with the lifetime disqualification after five horses were left in two dirty and humid shipping containers on their farm for at least 22 hours a day.

Anthony Melland pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a miniature Shetland pony called Robin. He also admitted failing to provide five equines, Robin, Alana, Vienna, Kiara and Victor, with a suitable environment.

Janet Melland pleaded guilty to failing to provide three dogs, Spot, Mini and Ruby, with a suitable environment.

Horses and dogs were kept in horrific conditions on the farm owned by Anthony Melland and his mother Janet Melland

Prosecutor Kevin Worthington said an RSPCA inspector and a vet visited the Mellands’ Greatlow Farm on Ashbourne Road, Flagg, on February 10, 2016, and found two ‘large shipping containers’.

Inside one were two Shetland ponies including Robin who was in a ‘very poor body condition’ and had ‘nasal discharge’.

Another container, housing mares and a foal with overgrown hooves, was covered with faeces and had poor ventilation.

The inspector and vet then went inside the Mellands’ home and found three dogs in a ‘filthy, dirty’ area covered with faeces.

RSPCA inspector Heather Morris, who investigated the case, said: “When we visited the farm in February, we found two Shetland ponies, Robin and Alana, being kept in a plastic shipping container which was extremely humid inside and with no fresh air.

“It was very small, there was no hay and the water was dirty. Additionally, the floor of the container was absolutely soaking and Robin was very skinny.

“We also found two adult cob horses and a cob foal – Vienna, Kiara and Victor – in a metal shipping container. “The conditions in this container were just as horrific.

“In interview, it was admitted that the horses were shut away in the containers for at least 22 hours a day.

“On top of that, we also found three dogs – a Jack Russell, a poodle-type and a border terrier – living in an outhouse, covered in faeces and with no clean water. “It was absolutely appalling that the animals were shut away in these horrific conditions.

“The containers were humid and absolutely stunk. For them to be locked away for that period of time with no fresh air is absolutely horrendous.”

Allana found a new home through World Horse Welfare’s rehoming scheme, while Victor, Vienna and Kiara were still with the charity undergoing rehabilitation.

Robin had to be put down after a few weeks at Penny Farm as he failed to respond to treatment for dental problems and a sinus infection.

The three dogs — Spot, Mini and Ruby — were rehomed by the RSPCA.

Inspector Morris added: “We worked together with World Horse Welfare, Derbyshire police and the local trading standards in this case and we are very grateful for their help.”

Sentencing |
Anthony Melland: six-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months, 150 hours of unpaid work, £400 costs.
Janet Melland: 16-week curfew, £400 costs.
Both banned from keeping horses for life.

Buxton Advertiser
Horse and Hound

Additional Information

In September 2021 Anthony Melland was stung by a paedophile hunting group for the third time for online sexual grooming of a child.

When the group turned up at Melland’s farm to confront him with their evidence, they caught him in his van masturbating while chatting to a child on the internet.

The group said that Melland had discussed bestiality with their decoy and the possibility of involving a child in that kind of depraved activity.

The group described Melland as “a very dangerous man” and warned parents to check their children’s devices for the name ‘Smith Mark’.

During a previous visit to Melland’s farm by paedophile hunting group Predator Exposure in February 2019 several dogs were found apparently living in squalid conditions. The group reported the matter to the RSPCA but it’s unknown if Melland ever faced further prosecution for animal cruelty.

Dogs

Gateshead, Tyne and Wear: Avril Scott

August 22, 2016 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2016) | Avril Scott, born 26 October 1968, of Edgeware Road, Gateshead NE8 3UU – neglected elderly mongrel, left him to suffer ear infection; Benji very sadly put to sleep

Photo of Avril Scott, Co Durham, and Benji, the dog she abused — Avril Scott and Benji, the elderly victim of her neglect

Former careworker Scott, who is originally from Houghton-le-Spring, Co Durham, failed to take Benji to the vet, despite him suffering an horrific ear infection for weeks.

The dog’s ear had swollen to more than twice its normal size but Scott denied noticing anything was wrong until the day before the RSPCA paid her a visit in January.

The court heard Scott still failed to seek veterinary advice, instead going on a night out.

RSPCA prosecutor Denise Jackman said: “The animal was euthanised three days later.”

She added that this was not purely down to the ear condition, but because the dog was elderly and also had Cushings disease.

Mrs Jackman said a report from an expert said Benji’s ear must have been bad for two to three weeks.

She told Scott: “If you were a hands-on owner, the dog would have yelped, because it would have been in significant pain”,

Sentence: total of £640 fines, costs and surcharges; disqualified from keeping animals, except her two pet goldfish, for three years (ban expired 2019).

Sunderland Echo

Animal Torture, Cats, Dogs, Multiple Species, Reptiles / Exotics, Serial Animal Abusers, Small Furries, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Market Drayton, Shropshire: Jennifer Lampe

August 18, 2016 misanthropic Leave a comment

#MostEvil | Jennifer Jeane Lampe, born c. 1988, of Shropshire Street, Market Drayton – beheaded her two pet snakes with a pair of scissors after downing seven cans of lager in an alcohol binge; also drowned a hamster and abandoned a puppy and kittens

Lampe told police she had killed the snakes because she feared her sister was about to throw her out of the home they shared and did not think she could look after them.

The heads of the two snakes were in her pockets of her jogging bottoms and she was covered in blood when police arrived to arrest her.

Four days prior to cutting the heads off her two pet snakes with a pair of scissors Lampe drowned a hamster because he was noisy and “keeping her up at night”.

The court heard Lampe had also dumped and abandoned two tabby cats and given away a puppy to a stranger in the park because she did not want to look after them any more.

Despite this catalogue of appalling cruelty and neglect, Lampe was given an animal ban of just five years.

Sentencing: Four months in prison, suspended for two years. Banned from keeping animals for five years (expired August 2021).

Shropshire Star
Daily Mail

Dogs, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders, Serial Animal Abusers

Stonehouse, South Lanarkshire: Morag Jackson

August 11, 2016 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2016) | puppy farmer Morag Jackson, born c. 1962, of Mid Lanrigg, Stonehouse, Larkhall ML9 3PD – kept dozens of terrier dogs in cramped pens and failed to properly feed or clean them

Morag Jackson was banned from keeping dogs for 15 years after 'gross' neglect — Morag Jackson was banned from keeping dogs for 15 years after the ‘gross’ neglect of those on her puppy farm

Jackson, who is originally from Turriff, Aberdeenshire and has a past conviction for running an ILLEGAL dog breeding operation, was found guilty of four offences under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 between July and September 2015.

Morag Jackson failed to provide the necessary veterinary treatment or adequate nutrition for the 36 breeding dogs and puppies in her care — Jackson failed to provide the necessary veterinary treatment or adequate nutrition for the 36 breeding dogs and puppies in her care

Following a call from a concerned member of the public about the conditions of the puppies being kept at Jackson’s premises at West Town Farm, Stonehouse, inspectors from the Scottish SPCA attended and found a number of dogs housed in pens between two wooden sheds and a garage. The conditions were cramped, dirty and unhygienic. There was little bedding and a a lack of food and water. Water that was present appeared discoloured and littered with debris.

Dogs rescued from Morag Jackson's puppy farm

The only food which the Scottish SPCA saw during their search was a mouldy tub of food teeming with maggots which had been left out for a Yorkshire Terrier and her newborn pups.

Breeder Morag Jackson failed to provide the necessary veterinary treatment or adequate nutrition for the 36 breeding dogs and puppies in her care

During a search of the garage area, a West Highland Terrier type bitch named Abbey was found in a small pink carrier on a shelf.

The carrier was covered with cloth, the carrier had no bedding, food or water and was too small for the dog to even turn around. There was very little light entering the box due to the cloth and rubbish surrounding it. Abbey was underweight with a severe skin disease and almost total hair loss.

A total of 36 dogs were removed from the premises and taken into the care of Scottish SPCA centres across the country.

Most made a full recovery but some required ongoing treatment.

Gary Aitken, Procurator Fiscal, Wildlife and Environment described the case as “one of the worst cases of gross, widespread and indiscriminate neglect which the Crown has dealt with in recent times”.

Mr Aitken added: “These dogs were caused terrible and unnecessary suffering and Jackson failed to provide them with a suitable environment.

“We expect the highest standards of commercial dog breeders and are committed to working with the Scottish SPCA and the police to ensure that those who do not meet these standards are held to account.”

Sentencing:
200 hours of unpaid work, banned from keeping dogs for 15 years; forfeiture of the dogs in her care (ban expires 2031).

Evening Times
Daily Record

In January 2017 police and Scottish SPCA went to Jackson’s home to investigate reports that she was breaching her ban on keeping animals. Although Jackson attempted to obstruct their search and even kicked a police officer in the chest, four dogs were recovered and taken into the care of the SSPCA.

For this latest offence she was sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid work.

GlasgowLive

Dogs, hare coursing, hunting with dogs, Organised Animal Crime, Serial Animal Abusers, Traveller Animal Crimes, Wildlife Crime / Bloodsports

Aberdeen Hare Coursing Gang: Colin Stewart, Mark Stewart, Raymond Higgins

August 11, 2016 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2016) | Aberdeen men Raymond Higgins, born c. 1971, of Summerhill Road AB15, Colin Stewart, born c. 1985, of Blackthorn Crescent AB16, and Mark Stewart, born c. 1990, of Clinterty Caravan Park, Kinellar AB21 0TN – used dogs to hunt hares.

Colin Stewart pictured outside court in 2016 — Colin Stewart was sentenced to 135 days in jail after he was caught using dogs to hunt hares

The trio were found guilty of hare coursing after DNA evidence helped secure their conviction.

Specialist wildlife fiscal Fiona Caldwell said the Stewarts also took hares with dogs at locations across Scotland, including the island of Tiree, between November 15, 2015 and March 27, 2016.

This was admitted after police examined a Samsung video camera found in their van at Ladywell Farm, on the outskirts of Kirriemuir, Angus.

Ms Caldwell said the men had been engaged in “cruel sport” when police intervened.

“At approximately 8.30am on March 27, a witness was at home when he became aware of the Stewarts setting a dog on a hare at Ladywell.

“The witness was also aware of a vehicle, a Ford Focus which was being driven and was associated with the people in the field.

“This was driven by Raymond Higgins.”

Police attended and stopped the men in the van nearby, where they claimed they were searching for a missing dog.

Police mugshot of Colin Stewart — Colin Stewart went on to commit various offences related to drug trafficking and in January 2020 was jailed for six years.

Ms Caldwell added: “It was then put to them that persons matching their description were seen coursing hares earlier, which they vehemently denied.

“They were noticeably evasive after that point.”

Two of the three dogs were in the van and Colin Stewart asked to retrieve the third which was in some nearby trees.

“Shortly afterwards he made good his escape from the trees and was not traced,” Ms Caldwell added.

Additional units and a police dog were called in to trace Colin Stewart but he was not found.

The police later found footage of the Aberdeen men “posing” with dead hares and discussing the Kirriemuir incident on a video camera, and “extensive evidence” that both Stewart men had been involved in previous offences.

Three dogs were photographed and swabs taken for DNA analysis.

A post mortem by SAC Consulting: veterinary services confirmed a hare found at the scene had died from injuries caused by a large predator, later identified to be one of the dogs.

Dr Lucy Webster, Wildlife DNA Forensics, Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) said: “This case demonstrates the power of animal DNA in wildlife crime investigation.

“A dog DNA profile recovered from the hare carcass is a match to one of the dependents’ dogs – providing very strong evidence to link these men to this specific hare coursing incident.”

Sentencing |
Colin Stewart: 135-day custodial sentence and one-year ban on having the custody of any dog.
Mark Stewart: one-year supervision order and disqualification of custody of any dog for a year.
Raymond Higgins: fined £400.

Press and Journal

Dogs, Lifers

Walton, Liverpool: Sheila Bilsborough

August 11, 2016 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2016) | Sheila Bilsborough, born c. 1956, of Lilford Avenue, Walton, Liverpool L9 3AT – neglected her pet dog so badly she had to be put down.

Sheila Bilsborough refused to take her King Charles spaniel Abbey to a vet until she became emaciated and had to be put down.

When mother-of-three Bilsborough eventually took Abbey for treatment she weighed just 1.9kg and had a score of one out of nine on a scale used by vets to assess body condition. A healthy female dog of her breed should weigh between 8kg and 12kg.

Bilsborough was given a lifetime ban alongside a 16-week suspended prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, on April 14, 2016 after pleading guilty to animal neglect. She appealed against the banning order and her case was heard at Liverpool Crown Court in August 2016.

Peter Mitchell, opposing the appeal on behalf of the RSPCA, said: “This was a period of prolonged neglect resulting in the animal being put down.”

He said District Judge Andrew Shaw, who imposed the ban, found that Abbey had “suffered greatly” in the last months of her life.

But Claire Jones, representing Bilsborough, said her client had cared for Bailey “impeccably” for eight years.

Ms Jones said Bilsborough found that Abbey had complex medical conditions relating to her pancreas and went to the breeder from whom she bought the dog.

The breeder had offered a refund but made her aware that the dog would be put down, prompting Bilsborough to decide to keep her.

But despite Abbey losing weight rapidly throughout 2015, Bilsborough failed to seek veterinary help until the dog was fitting and desperately ill.

Deputy Circuit Judge Elliot Knopf, presiding over the appeal, said: “The evidence and that poor body condition have to support the conclusion that the dog had been suffering unnecessarily to varying degrees throughout its life. It had been unwell for some time and clearly had been suffering considerably in its final days.”

Judge Knopf said the appeal bench would have reached the same conclusion as Judge Shaw “without hesitation” and dismissed the appeal.

The ban, which was temporarily suspended awaiting the appeal, meant Bilsborough had to give up her other dog.

Sentence: 16-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, Lifetime ban on owning animals but can appeal after five years.

Liverpool Echo

Dogs, Lifers, Worst of the Worst

Nottingham/Sutton-in-Ashfield: Paula Tempest and Andrew James

August 9, 2016 misanthropic 3 Comments

CONVICTED (2016) | Paula Tempest (aka Paula Watson), born 29/12/1978, of Goodall Crescent, Hucknall, Nottingham NG15 7RT, and Andrew George James, born 02/06/1976, of St Michael’s Street, Sutton-in-Ashfield NG17 4GN – for the mistreatment of a puppy who had to have a rear leg amputated

Dog abuser Paula Tempest aka Paula Watson from Hucknall in Nottingham — Paula Tempest

Eleven-month-old Staffy cross Ralph was rescued from the vile pair in February 2016. He had a fractured left back leg, three broken ribs and a fractured pelvis which had gone untreated for at least 10 days.

Abused dog Ralph, whose injuries were so severe he lost a leg — Ralph had suffered a catalogue of serious injuries, the cause of which was never established.

It is not known for certain how Ralph sustained the injuries.

The dog’s leg injury was so severe that he had to have his leg amputated.

Watson and James were found guilty in their absence of two offences each. The offences were causing unnecessary suffering to Ralph by failing to seek veterinary care and failing to meet his needs.

Sentence: Watson – eight-week prison sentence suspended for one year; 80 hours of unpaid work; £250 in costs. James – immediate eight-week prison sentence; £80 victim surcharge. Both were disqualified from keeping all animals for life.

RSPCA News

UK Animal Cruelty Files

Monthly Archives: August 2016