NAMED AND SHAMED | Robert Smith and partner Samantha Draper, both of Sunnymead, Scissett, Huddersfield HD8 9JA – Smith was caught on camera repeatedly hitting a terrified dog with a rounders bat while Draper did nothing to stop him.
A neighbour filmed the shocking footage, which showed Smith and Draper walking the dog, named Millie, on a communal grassy area. Smith is holding the bat which he waves around, intimidating the animal before hitting her after she lies down and refuses to move.
Although the RSPCA investigated the incident, no charges appear to have been brought against Smith or Draper.
Smith spoke to the local newspaper and claimed that the bat was made of foam. He said he had since given the dog away as she was too boisterous.
CONVICTED (2016) | Fiona Simpson, born 11 June 1982, of Shalfleet Drive, Alvaston, Derby DE24 0UR – starved four snakes to death.
Mother-of-three Simpson didn’t feed her four snakes for several months at a time. Two hadn’t been fed at all for seven months while two more were so badly emaciated they had to be put to sleep.
Simpson also failed to keep a tank heated for the four snakes and in one case left a boa constrictor for dead in a plastic bowl inside a bag. It was found at her home by an RSPCA inspector with its nostrils “crusted over” and “lying in stinking yellow liquid”.
Another snake, when examined by a vet, was found to have rotting skin in its jaws and was “wheezing and blowing bubbles from its mouth”.
And two other corn snakes were so malnourished they were “neglected to the point of emaciation”.
The court was told how all of the pets either died within days of being taken to the vet or had to be euthanised “on welfare grounds”.
John Sutcliffe, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, said: “An expert snake vet who examined the reptiles said it was one of the worst cases (of neglect) he had ever seen.
“One of the snake’s bodies had simply shut down due to starvation while another suffered long-term starvation. One Boa was described as limp, floppy and lethargic and despite attempts to try and feed it, it could not swallow.
“Shed skin was blocking its nostrils and when she was interviewed, the defendant admitted she had not fed two of them for seven months and another for six months.”
The hearing was told how Simpson had bought the snakes in 2015 after “developing an interest” in them.
Andy Oldroyd, mitigating, said his client initially fed them “from instructions she read on the internet,” but had stopped as she was “unable to cope due to depression”.
Sentence: 12-month community order; £700 costs. Banned from keeping all animals for life.
CONVICTED (2016) | Claire Louise Hopkins, born c. 1972, of Tukes Avenue, Gosport PO13 0SD – left three horses unattended for two weeks, during which one horse died
Claire Hopkins left a horse to rot in a stable
Hopkins admitted three offences over three horses kept at Newgate Lane, Fareham. Molly in the stable in Newgate Lane, Fareham.
Left stabled and neglected for around two or three weeks in the spring, the three horses, Phoebe, Fred and Molly, were left to fend for themselves.
Following a call from a concerned member of the public, RSPCA inspectors found that Phoebe had died, her body remaining with Fred. Molly was so emaciated that she was close to death and was later found to be in-foal.
Hopkins only received a three-year ban on keeping animals
“It was horrendous,” explained RSPCA inspector Jenny Ride. “To see a deceased horse basically rotting away and another not long from death must have been mental and physical torture.”
Fred, Molly, and her foal, Bluebell, have now been successfully rehomed, all in the same place.
Sentence: eight-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months, 20 days of rehabilitation activities; £300 fine and an order to repay the vet costs of £274.80. Banned from keeping horses for just three years (expired November 2019).
CONVICTED (2016) | Craig Palmer and Sophie Palmer (née Richards) of Dylan, Llanelli SA14 9AN – failed to treat their pet dog’s serious skin condition
Craig and Sophie Palmer pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering after leaving terrier Bella to get into a “truly shocking state”.
Victim Bella
In December 2015, the RSPCA found the dog with virtually no hair remaining on her body.
She was taken to a veterinary practice for independent assessment, where it was found the animal had unnecessarily suffered.
Convicted animal abusers Sophie and Craig Palmer from Llanelli
RSPCA Inspector Rohan Barker said: “This poor dog had been allowed to get into a truly shocking state, with this case highlighting exactly what can happen if an owner does not ensure their animals receive appropriate veterinary care.
Given the right medical treatment, Bella made a full recovery
“Fortunately, after getting the treatment she so desperately needs, Bella has undergone an incredible transformation.”
Sentence: 12-month supervision, and 90 hours of unpaid work each; total of £310 costs and charges each; banned from keeping animals for three years (expired November 2019).
CONVICTED (2016) | Marie Richards, born c. 1968, and husband Steven Richards, born c. 1965, of Triner Place, Norton, Stoke-on-Trent ST6 8LE – left their pet dog to suffer with a broken leg for so long he had to have it amputated
Marie and Steven Richards left their small dog in excruciating pain with a snapped femur
The Richards claimed West Highland terrier cross Charlie just had a small bite wound on his leg.
But when the RSPCA found his femur was snapped in half, they admitted Mr Richards had fallen on Charlie, but said they had no money to take him to the vets.
The RSPCA said it became involved after being alerted by a member of the public who was concerned about the Charlie’s welfare.
Charlie’s owners lied about the circumstances surrounding the dog’s significant injury, which was consistent with a road traffic collision
Inspector Charlotte Melvin, said it had been obvious the dog’s injury was more serious than the couple had said.
“Charlie was on three legs and couldn’t put any weight on his fourth leg,” she said.
“When we took him to the vet an x-ray revealed that his femur was completely snapped in half an injury that was consistent with the force of being hit by a car.”
The couple said they had given him paracetamol and thought he was okay because “he was still wagging his tail”.
But a vet said Charlie would have suffered excruciating pain from the injury, which was at least a week old, Ms Melvin said.
“Charlie has since been successfully re-homed and is “very happy”, she added.
Sentence: 12-month community order;100 hours of unpaid work each. Banned from keeping dogs for 10 years (expires November 2026).
CONVICTED (2016) | Victor Stokes, born c. 1962, of Devon Road, Rubery, Rednal, Birmingham B45 ONP – failed to get medical treatment for an elderly English bull terrier with huge infected jaw tumour.
Desperately ill English bull terrier Lenny was left to suffer by his cruel owner.
Stokes was convicted and sentenced for causing unnecessary suffering to his English bull terrier, Lenny. He neglected to get treatment for Lenny’s tumour and weight loss but also failed to provide a suitable environment for his pet.
RSPCA inspector Boris Lasserre was called to Stokes’s home in May 2016 after reports the animal was in an emaciated state with a large growth.
He said: “Lenny was being kept in the hallway of a property with a dirty, damp duvet in a dog cage as his bed.
“The stench of rotting flesh from the untreated tumour hit you as soon as you walked into the house and the hallway stank of urine and faeces from where Lenny had been confined.”
Lenny endured extreme suffering and was euthanised on welfare grounds.
The ten-year-old dog was rushed to the vet and was found to weigh only 12.7kg – half of a normal adult dog of his breed – dehydrated and covered in ulcers and wounds to his legs and chest where he had been lying in bad condition.
“The vet’s x-ray showed Lenny’s lower jawbone had disintegrated due to the tumour and he had to be put to sleep to end his suffering.
Mr Lasserre added: “Mr Stokes explained to the court he had not taken the dog to a vet because he knew Lenny would be euthanased, and could not bring himself to do it.
“This dreadful case shows the importance of checking your pet’s health regularly and seeking veterinary treatment the moment you think something is wrong.
“There is no doubt that Lenny could have been spared months of suffering if he’d been taken to a vet. It is never an easy decision to make to have your pet put to sleep when the time comes but, to allow suffering to continue for selfish reasons, is inexcusable.”
Sentence: jailed for ten weeks. Banned from keeping animals for life.
CONVICTED (2016) | Claire Machin (aka Claire Rimmer), born 15 June 1979 with a last known address Collinson Road, Goldenhill, Stoke-on-Trent ST6 5RS – mistreated horses and pet dog
Machin, who is from a notorious family of travellers and horse traders (her mother, Jackie Johnson, went on to be banned for life from keeping horses in 2017) was convicted of causing ‘unnecessary suffering to two horses and a dog’ in a prosecution brought by the RSPCA.
The RSPCA took Machin to court following two separate complaints regarding her pet shihtzu Coco, and two horses.
Horses neglected by Claire Machin from Stoke on Trent, UK
RSPCA inspector Charlotte Melvin, who investigated alongside colleague Laura Bryant, said: “We were invited along on a warrant as part of an investigation by Animal Health and found Ms Machin’s dog, Coco. She was very, very thin and vets gave her a body condition score of just one out of five.
“The vet also found a huge bladder stone which she said was the biggest she’d ever seen in comparison to the little toy dog’s size – it took up the whole of her bladder.”
Horses neglected by Claire Machin from Stoke on Trent, UK
Around a month later, the RSPCA were called again to emaciated ponies in a field.
“Two colts in the field were extremely skinny and the vet who saw them gave them a body condition score of just 0.5 out of five. They were so weak they couldn’t even pick their back legs up to walk.
“We weren’t sure if they were going to make it and, for the first week in our care, one of the little ponies had to be scooped up off the floor several times a day as he didn’t have the strength to stand himself.
“Thankfully, all the animals recovered and are doing amazingly well and can now go on to be rehomed.”
Machin had denied three offences of causing unnecessary suffering – one allegation in relation to the dog and one each in relation to both of the ponies – but was convicted on all counts and sentenced under Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act.
Sentence: 24 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months; £1,000 in costs. Disqualified from keeping animals for life.
2019: Claire Machin is also using the name Mandy Ding on Facebook. The family’s horse trading business continues to operate with Claire Machin’s brother Wayne Sallis playing a key role.
CONVICTED (2016) | animal hoarder Anne Coram, born c. 1955, of Thomas Wyatt Way, Wrotham, Sevenoaks TN15 7BH – caused suffering to 40 rabbits; four dead babies found and 36 others in filthy conditions
The RSPCA discovered four dead baby rabbits and 36 others living in “dirty, dilapidated, run-down hutches which were far too small” at Anne Coram’s house.
Coram, who lives at Thomas Wyatt Place with adult daughter Holly Marie Coram, admitted four offences of causing unnecessary suffering to rabbits and one of failing to provide 36 rabbits with a suitable environment.
RSPCA inspector Rosie Russon investigated the case and said: “We were contacted in March by members of the public who were concerned about rabbits which kept getting loose and running around a communal car park.
“When I went along to Wrotham and tracked down where the bunnies were coming from I found 36 rabbits living in awful conditions.
“They were being kept in dirty, dilapidated, run-down hutches which were far too small. There were no runs for the rabbits to exercise in and they had no access to water and very little food.
“Sadly, it was too late for some, and I found the bodies of four baby rabbits which had clearly perished.”
Coram failed to provide the dozens of rabbits in her care with veterinary treatment and some were found with dental issues
Four of the 36 rabbits which were seized had to be put to sleep to end their suffering, but the rest were successfully rehomed.
The court also made an order for all other animals remaining in Ms Coram’s care to be removed and taken into RSPCA care.
“Ms Coram was described in court as a ‘hoarder’ and it was clear to me that having so many rabbits had become a major issue for her,” inspector Russon added.
“She said that keeping rabbits had started as a hobby for her daughter [Holly Coram] and it had quickly got out of hand. She took on more and more rabbits and couldn’t cope with the numbers she had.
“People would give her rabbits to keep and those in her care were breeding so it all got out of control.
“We hope now that she will receive the help she needs to tackle the hoarding issue.”
Sentence: six-month community order with 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement; total of £145 costs/charges. Disqualified from keeping all animals for just two years (expired 2018).
