CONVICTED (2017) | Mark Theed, born 6 January 1961, previously of Priory Crescent, Aylesbury, and more recently of Oakfield Road, Aylesbury – found with 19 cats, including one with a large untreated head wound, in his dirty one-bedroom flat.
Police attended Theed’s flat after reports that he was selling kittens in Aylesbury town centre. When they arrived they were so shocked by the animals’ living conditions that they contacted the RSPCA.
RSPCA inspector Jaime Godfrey said: “One of the cats, named Georgie, had a large, infected wound across his head as a result of fighting with one of the other cats. Because of the urine-soaked environment the wound hadn’t even started to heal and would have been very painful.
“There were lots of unneutered cats living in such a small space and fighting amongst them was bound to happen.
“The conditions were very unpleasant, the flat was extremely dirty and smelled very strongly of urine. The litter trays were filled with urine and there was also a rotting corpse of a kitten in the bathroom.”
All of the cats were signed over into the RSPCA’s care and have been rehomed.
Sentencing: 120 hours of unpaid work. 10-year ban on keeping all animals.
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Update October 2020
Mark Theed, 59, and still of Oakfield Road, Aylesbury was convicted of. assault by beating. He was fined £180 and ordered to pay compensation of £100 and costs £200.
CONVICTED (2017) | Judith Bedson (aka Judith Shufflebotham), born c. 1967, of Longton Road, Stone ST15 – left her pony to starve despite having access to hay
Apache was thin as a result of being starved by his neglectful owner Judith Bedson.
Bedson was found guilty of two offences: causing unnecessary suffering to a colt named Apache between 20 April and 20 May, 2016, and failing to meet his needs between 20 January and 20 May, 2016.
The court heard that Bedson had been receiving deliveries of hay but was failing to place it in the field in Vanity Lane, Oulton, where the three-year-old piebald cob was kept.
An RSPCA inspector later discovered that the bales of hay had gone mouldy.
Bedson told an RSPCA inspector that she had only had Apache for two weeks and that he was thin when she got him, but posts on social media proved she had owned him for a year.
She also told the RSPCA that she was attending to him at night, but there was never any evidence of food being left.
“We were being misled from the very start, from how long she had the pony, to how often she attended to see to him and his feeding regime,” said RSPCA inspector Laura Bryant.
“Unfortunately I know I will have to deal with many more people like Judith Bedson in my career, people who want an animal and do not take into consideration the time, knowledge, motivation or finances required to provide the animal with a suitable standard of care.
“Bedson built an elaborate story based on lies to try to argue she had only just rescued Apache, to explain his terrible state. The truth was she had already owned him for a year and simply wasn’t attending to feed him daily.
“I hope the sentence is a deterrent to those who think having a horse or any other animal is their right and that they can ignore good practice and allow an animal to suffer.”
Apache has since made a full recovery. He is currently being cared for at a private boarding facility.
Sentencing: 18 weeks in prison. Disqualified from keeping animals for life.
CONVICTED (2017) | Alastair Christian Watt, born August 1971, of Sherwood Road, Worksop S80 1QN – starved and neglected a dalmatian puppy
Dog abuser Alastair Watt is banned from keeping animals until 2027
Company director Alastair Watt’s dalmatian puppy, Penny, was described as being “desperate for food” after being neglected to the extent that her hip bones, spine and ribs were clearly visible through her fur.
Emaciated eight-month-old dalmatian Penny was kept in a cage without food or water by her cruel owner, Alastair Watt.
The eight-month-old pup was found suffering in a crate with no food and water by builders who were doing work at a Bassetlaw house.
The builders were so shocked by the puppy’s emaciated appearance that they contacted the RSPCA.
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding Penny’s health by the animal charity led to the prosecution of the dog’s owner, Watt.
Aviation engineer Watt, whose active companies are ACW Aviation Ltd and ACW Engineering Ltd, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the puppy.
RSPCA inspector Becky Harper said: “As soon as I saw Penny I knew that something wasn’t right. She was so thin and you could see her hip bones, spine and ribs. She was also very nervous but clearly desperate for food.
“She weighed 9kg, which is far from what she should have weighed, and vets gave her an extremely low body score of one out of nine. As soon as we gave her some food she wolfed it down – she was so hungry.
“It was clearly obvious that she was in a state of neglect. It was very quickly proven that there were no underlying health issues and her poor condition was simply due to not being provided with a suitable diet.
“It is not acceptable to leave an animal to suffer in the state that she was in.”
“In court, the magistrates clearly stated that they could not understand how any person could look at this dog and fail to recognise that there was a serious issue with her weight or health,” said inspector Harper.
“I believe that the severity of this offence has now been taken on board by Mr Watt, with the sentencing reflecting the gravity of the situation, and it is hoped that lessons have been learned to prevent any similar situation reoccurring in the future.”
Penny recovered in the RSPCA’s care. Her former owner Alastair Watt is banned from keeping animals for 10 years.
Penny went on to make a full recovery and was made available for rehoming.
Sentencing: Fined £1,400 and ordered to pay £650 costs. Banned from keeping pets for ten years (expires September 2027).
CONVICTED (2017) | Philip Strachan, born 03/10/1952, of Stocks Drive, Rawcliffe Bridge, Goole DN14 8NR – kept an emaciated, lice-infested horse in a field
Philip Strachan from Goole was banned from keeping horses for life after his elderly mare was found in a pitiful condition
Strachan was banned from keeping horses for life after an elderly mare, known as Tessa, was found in a field in Lund, East Yorkshire in “pitiful” state.
Tessa was severely emaciated, suffering a severe lice infestation and open wound which had not been treated. In addition, she only had access to a shelter with filthy bedding.
Strachan pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering and failing to meet the needs of an aged Thoroughbred mare in his care, in a prosecution case brought by the RSPCA.
World Horse Welfare Field Officer, Sarah Tucker, was alerted to the horse by a caller to the charity’s welfare line in March 2017.
She said: “I attended the location on a cold, miserable wet day where I found a bay Thoroughbred-type mare wearing a thin blue rug. Even through the rug I could see her hips and pelvic bones sticking out.
“There was a man-made shelter within the field which had dirty, wet faecal contaminated bedding inside.
“I contacted RSPCA Inspector Claire Mitchell and Veterinary Surgeon, Kirsty Nelson of Aldgate Vets, Driffield, and asked them to attend the location.
“Once they arrived, we removed the rug and found a large wound on her withers that had scabbed and had become attached to the rug. Her coat was dull and she had a severe lice infestation.
“Tessa was an old mare who should have been receiving extra care, not to be left in a field struggling. Seeing her stood alone in the field with only a thin sheet for warmth she looked in a pitiful state, all of her bones were protruding and her body was covered in lice.
“Seeing any animal in an emaciated state is shocking but this situation was totally unnecessary and could easily have been prevented by providing basic care with palatable food, a deep clean bed and an appropriate rug to help maintain body condition.”
Tessa was removed to safety and a place where she could receive the dedicated care and veterinary attention she so desperately needed but unfortunately she was in such a terrible state that she collapsed and the decision was sadly made to put her to sleep 72 hours after her rescue.
RSPCA Inspector Claire Mitchell said: “Tessa was the thinnest horse I have ever seen. She was very wobbly on her feet and in the state she was in, at her age, the outlook wasn’t good.
“This was a really sad and upsetting case – all animals need a bit of extra TLC when they get older but Tessa didn’t get it, and she suffered as a result.
“Just because an animal is aged doesn’t mean it is normal and okay for him or her to be suffering – if you’ve got an old animal and they are thin or ill then there is something wrong and they need to be seen by a vet.”
Tessa had to be euthanised on humane grounds 72 hours after her rescue
Ms Tucker added: “Caring for an elderly animal always comes with additional challenges but it is vital that owners seek regular veterinary advice and ensure their needs are being met. It is unacceptable to leave any animal in its twilight years without providing additional care. Anyone concerned about a horse or in need of advice should call World Horse Welfare’s welfare line on 08000 480 180.”
Sentencing: 12-week custodial sentence suspended for 12 months; ordered to pay £300 in costs. Disqualified from keeping all equines for life.
CONVICTED (2017) | Rebecca J Jefferies, born 4 April 1989, previously of Ember Road, Salcombe but has moved to 44 Collapark in Totnes TQ9 5LW – left a pet rabbit to starve to death in his cage
The emaciated body of the rabbit, known as Fudge, was seen dead in his hutch by a neighbour who contacted the RSPCA to raise their concerns.
RSPCA inspector Claire Ryder, who investigated, said: “It’s unacceptably cruel to leave an animal to die a slow and painful death in a cage without the care they need to survive. This rabbit was completely reliant on Rebecca Jefferies and she chose to simply leave him to die.”
The court found that Jefferies had caused unnecessary suffering by failing to provide food, contrary to Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006
Cruel Rebecca Jefferies left Fudge to starve to death in his cage.
The rabbit had also not been provided with basic means to survive, nor kept in appropriate conditions, contrary to Section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Inspector Ryder encouraged anyone thinking of getting pet rabbits to carefully research what is needed to ensure they are cared for correctly before making the commitment.
She said: “Many people do not realise how complex rabbits can be to care for, and we see many come into our centres after owners have not provided them with what they need to be kept happy and healthy.
“Owning and caring for rabbits can be great fun and very rewarding, but it’s a big responsibility and a long-term commitment in terms of care and cost.
“We urge anyone thinking of taking on rabbits that they do thorough research about how they need to look after them first and ensure they are able to meet all their welfare needs throughout their lives.”
Sentencing: ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work and to pay £485. Disqualified from keeping small caged animals for two years (expired 2019).
CONVICTED (2017) Victoria A Richards aka Victoria Legge, born c. 1981, of Tunstall Gardens, Redcar TS10 2TR – neglected and starved a pet rabbit to death.
Rabbit killer: mother-of-two Victoria Richards with partner Geoff Boon. He was also charged in connection with the neglect and starvation of rabbit Hugo but pleaded not guilty. No details of his trial were ever reported.
Richards, an ex-Navy veteran, admitted neglecting the pet, called Hugo, for a “prolonged” period of time after failing to provide enough food and water for him.
John Ellwood, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, said that when the emaciated rabbit was found he was lying in two inches of his own droppings.
He said that when the RSPCA discovered Hugo an “empty water bottle was attached to the hutch” and that his “suffering was contributed to by the lack of water.”
He added: “The pet slowly died through starvation over a long period of time rather than the owner removing food from it immediately.
“The neglect was over a long period and because of the lack of water the rabbit was unable to even eat its own bedding.”
Paul Watson, defending, said that Richards suffers from “anxiety and depression” and had previously served in the Navy but left due to stress.
He said: “She fully accepts guilt but maintains that her actions were not intentional.
“The rabbit was bought for her daughter and she believed that her and other people were feeding it but as the parent she agrees that she had a duty to take care of it.
“She did not realise it was emaciated.
“She had to Google how to take care of a rabbit as she only knows how to take care of cats and dogs, of which she has two.”
He added that Richards was “remorseful and ashamed”.
Chairman of the bench David Bennett said magistrates took a “very dim view of neglecting animals” and that she was “very close to going into custody”.
A co-defendant, Geoffrey Boon, born 1976 , of Coast Road, Marske TS11 7LZ, who was charged with the same offence, pleaded not guilty at the same hearing. He was set to appear for trial on 18 October 2017 but the outcome wasn’t reported.
Sentencing: 12-month community order with 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 40 hours of unpaid work. Ordered to pay £235 costs. Banned from keeping rabbits for five years (expired September 2022).
CONVICTED (2017) | Corey Martin Jones, born 18/02/1996, and Layla-May Allsopp, born 21/07/1998 , both of Albert Road, Cinderford GL14 2HS – convicted of cruelty towards an elderly Staffy
Dog abusers Corey Jones and Layla-May Allsop pictured September 2022.
Allsopp and Jones, who are parents, admitted failing to meet the needs of 12-year-old Max when they appeared before magistrates.
Senior dog Max was neglected and starved by his owners
When Max was first discovered by the RSPCA he was significantly underweight at 15.7kg.
Following a visit to a vet, Allsopp and Jones were asked to ensure that he was seen and weighed regularly, and if he failed to put on weight then the weight loss should be explored.
Layla-May Allsop, now Layla Jones, pictured September 2021.Corey Jones, pictured 2022
The pair failed to return to the vet after ignoring several reminders to attend.
Max was emaciated when rescued
RSPCA inspector Suzi Smith said: “Max is now 20Kg and back to full health despite his age. This was simply by providing food.”
Max was signed over to the RSPCA at the court hearing.
Sentencing: eight-week custodial sentence, suspended for one year; £50 court costs each. Banned from keeping animals for just two years (expired 2019).
CONVICTED (2017) | Clifford Roy Johnson, born c. 1953, of Llandeilo Road, Llandybie, Ammanford SA18 3JD – left his horses unattended for five weeks.
Clifford Johnson, who runs an Riverside Animal Feeds and in 2015 stood as a UKIP candidate, was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering after his horses were removed from Brynhyfryd Farm by the RSPCA in 2016 following reports from concerned members of the public.
Johnson had three horses which were found to be between 20 and 30 percent underweight, ‘riddled’ with parasites and in pain with hooves which made them lame.
A vet who examined the mares diagnosed them with starvation and said they were suffering under pain and distress.
Magistrates heard how the horses were left in a field devoid of grass and did not have anywhere comfortable to stand or lie down.
Johnson had kept horses for over 20 years but explained to the court that he didn’t trust vets.
He said he was growing the horses’ hooves out ‘to level them’, had been observing them from a 300-metre distance every day and explained he was having trouble with trespassers who he believed had poisoned his horses.
Johnson said: “They seemed fine. I would never in my life ill-treat a horse. I was distraught when I saw what had happened to them.”
RSPCA Inspector Barker, who attended Johnson’s property in December 2016 said the horses had been left to fend for themselves.
After the three mares were taken into RSPCA care, one sadly had to be destroyed.
Within six weeks in their care, the two remaining horses had gained 44kg and 67kg, had their hooves tended to and were free from parasites.
Johnson was found guilty of three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal by failing to investigate and address the causes of the poor bodily condition and weight loss; failing to properly care for and maintain necessary hoof care; and failing to carry out effective parasite control.
Finding Johnson guilty, Magistrate Mr Parry-Williams said: “You admitted not closely inspecting the horses for a number of weeks.
“The horses weighed 20 to 30 percent less than their ideal weight; they had a chronic infestation of parasites and their hooves had made them lame.
“They suffered as a result of your neglect.”
Sentencing: 150 hours of community service over 12 months,; ordered to pay £835 in court costs and victim surcharge. Banned from keeping horses for just two years (expired September 2019).
CONVICTED (2017) | John Yorke, born c. 1956, of 40 Drumlane Road, Maghera BT46 5XE – caused unnecessary suffering to two cows who had to be euthanised
Cruel and negligent farmer John Yorke from Maghera, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Farmer John Yorke pleaded guilty to charges involving animal movement, identity and unnecessary suffering.
Yorke failed to notify the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) of cattle movements on to his holding or the birth of three animals, one charge of using an ear tag to identify an animal which had already been used to identify another one and two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to two bovine animals.
The court heard the case arose following a cattle identification inspection and a follow-up investigation of John Yorke’s activities by officers from DAERA’s Welfare and Enforcement Branch.
In addition to cattle identification and movement irregularities, officers discovered two cows in a field in very poor condition.
Both cows were severely emaciated and unable to rise. Birds were pecking at one of the animals. The two cows were euthanised by a veterinary surgeon to prevent further suffering.
CONVICTED (2017) | Kristian Andrew McNicholas-Murphy (or plain Andrew Murphy as he calls himself nowadays), born, c 1992, most recent known address Turret Road, Wallasey, Wirral CH45 – subjected a tiny kitten to repeated violent attacks from which he eventually died
Kitten killer Kristian Murphy is now known as Andrew Murphy. As at February 2019 he is s till living in Wallasey, Wirral, Merseyside.
Murphy, previously of Mill Lane, Wallasey, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a black cat called Bagheera between August and September 2016.
Evil Kristian Murphy was jailed after one of his kittens died from horrific injuries
Bagheera had previously been taken to the vets on August 16, 2016, with a broken lower canine and acting ‘drunk’ and disorientated which Murphy said was due to him falling off the sofa.
On September 24 he was brought in again with a lame hind left leg, swollen face and bloodied nostrils which Murphy said had occurred after a fall.
On September 26, he was brought in for the last time with new injuries and due to the severity of these injuries Bagheera died on the vet table before treatment could be given.
Bagheera suffered horrific injuries during the latest violent attack by serial abuser Kristian Murphy.
The black cat had a fractured left and right thigh bone, fractured pubic bone, dislocation of the ribs and a trauma on the right side of his head.
Bagheera’s injuries included a deep wound on the side of his head. Sadly he didn’t recover. His tormentor Kristian Murphy was jailed and banned from keeping animals for just five years..
It was at this point that the RSPCA was contacted and Inspector Anthony Joynes seized the body.
A postmortem confirmed the concerns of the vets that the injuries had been caused by numerous acts of physical violence.
Inspector Joynes described Bagheera as having suffered ‘catastrophic injuries.’
Sadistic Kristian Murphy from Wallasey, Wirral, Merseyside subjected his cat to numerous violent attacks.
Murphy faced an allegation of causing unnecessary suffering to Bagheera by failing to exercise reasonable care and supervision and subjecting the cat to non-accidental injury which was likely to cause unnecessary suffering, contrary to Section 4 (1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Murphy pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison and banned from keeping animals for five years.
Inspector Joynes said: “This kitten was completely vulnerable and put his whole trust in him and he abused that trust by inflicting horrific violence on him.
“It’s really upsetting for me as I’ll never know exactly what happened behind closed doors and it’s so frustrating when you can’t help the animal involved because sadly Bagheera’s injuries were so severe that he died before we even got there.
“Time and again Murphy presented Bagheera to the vets for treatment which may shock some people but it is actually quite common in cases of non-accidental injury.
“He always had an explanation but the vets felt that these injuries were not consistent given the history and when investigated by a specialist on non-accidental injury he found that Bagheera’s injuries had been a result of physical abuse at the hands of Murphy.
“We are pleased that the outcome demonstrates how serious the judge deemed this case to be by issuing a ban and a jail sentence and hopefully this will prevent any other animals suffering as a result.”
Sentencing: 12-week custodial sentence. A pitiful five-year ban on keeping animals (expired September 2022).
