CONVICTED (2017) | Adam Reid George McCarthy, born 04/01/1989, previously of Ethel Street, Sunderland, and as at late 2019 of Ravensworth Road, Birtley, Chester Le Street DH3 1EE – kicked former partner’s chihuahua to death during a row
Adam McCarthy, who has more than 20 convictions for domestic violence, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the tiny chihuahua, named Mollie.
Mollie’s owner told the court how McCarthy – a known drug and alcohol abuser – attacked her and when the dog started barking turned on her as well. He screamed at Molly “you can shut up you fucking little rat” before kicking her into the external wall of the premises and killing her instantly.
District Judge Roger Elsey jailed McCarthy for six months after he admitted common assault and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. The judge expressed doubts over McCarthy’s expression of remorse and blasted him for his record of violence against women.
Judge Elsey said: “The pre-sentence report shows 20 domestic violence incidents involving you and as is common with domestic abusers you have problems with alcohol and substance use.
“I have no doubt your brutality towards that dog together with the violence and harm you inflicted on Miss Ing means a custodial sentence can be justified.
“The maximum sentence I can impose is six months and that is the sentence you will serve.”
He also ordered that McCarthy forfeits the two dogs that he already owns, which infuriated the defendant.
Sentencing: Jailed for six months for attacking the dog, and for five months for assaulting his partner – sentences to run concurrently. Banned from owning animals for an unspecified period.
CONVICTED (2017) | Wayne Waithe, born 14/12/1957, of 1 Woodside Cottages, Bracondale, Norwich NR1 2AY – drowned his dog in a river by wrapping her legs in a rucksack so she couldn’t swim to safety
Wayne Waithe’s Staffordshire bull terrier, Missy, was found by a member of the public drowned near Hellesdon Bridge, with her legs wrapped in a navy rucksack and her body swaddled in a dark green jacket. Her head was left exposed.
Paul Croker, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, said a veterinary post-mortem examination revealed the dog died from drowning.
“It was alive and breathing when put in the river,” he said.
“As it was bound up, it was unable to swim to safety.”
Brute Wayne Waithe dumped his loyal dog in the river to drown
He said the dog, who was about five to seven years old, was found to have a number of tumours on her body, including a large one on her belly. Post mortem examination showed that the tumour was benign. She was suffering with overgrown claws and a number of other medical issues.
Mr Croker said inquiries led them to interview Wayne Waithe, who admitted he had a dog but said she had died.
Waithe then refused to be interviewed and became aggressive, asking officers to leave his property.
Mr Croker said the RSPCA considered the case as serious and asked that Waithe be banned from keeping pets in future.
“The RSPCA’s view is that this individual should not be trusted with animals,” he said.
Waithe admitted causing unnecessary suffering by drowning the dog on May 9, 2017.
Waithe claimed he thought Missy was dead when he put her into the water, but this was rejected by magistrates.
Chairman of the bench Jim Agnew said: “We think you deliberately drowned the dog because you did not want to pay for it to be put down.”
Waithe’s lawyer Andrew Cogan of Kings Lynn solicitors CCW told the court his client believed the dog had died.
“She was not in the best of health,” Cogan said.
“There were a number of hernias. He thought the dog had died peacefully in its sleep. He thought the dog was dead.
“He did not deliberately intend to cause suffering.”
Sentencing: six-week jail sentence, suspended for 12 months. Ordered to pay a total of £408. 10-year ban on keeping animals.
CONVICTED (2017) | Susannah ‘Susie’ Self, born 21/05/1991 and partner Magno Patrick Sousa, born 02/11/1991, both of Grange Road, in Retford, Nottinghamshire DN22 7UQ – for causing unnecessary suffering to a litter of kittens
A litter of poorly kittens suffered after East Retford couple Susie Self and Magno Sousa treated them using human medicines.
Mother-of-six Susie Self and her latest partner, Brazilian national Magno Sousa, gave human medicines to seven cats with flu and tried to treat a kitten’s fractured leg using bathing salts.
Both were found guilty of the charges against them.
The ultimate fate of the kittens is unknown.
Sentencing: disqualified from keeping animals for five years (expired November 2022). No further details available.
Original newslink regarding sentencing removed but you can still find details of conviction here.
CONVICTED (2017) | Tonya Haughton, born 26/11/80, and daughter Carmen Lyth, born 21/6/99, of Blakelow Road, Abbey Hulton, Stoke-on-Trent ST2 – kept dozens of guinea pigs and rabbits in shocking conditions
Tonya Haughton and daughter Carmen Lyth of Stoke on Trent kept dozens of animals in shocking conditions. RSPCA inspectors found 42 dead animals and one year own 28 more were found.
Carmen Lyth (pictured) and her mother Tonya Laughton pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to 11 guinea pigs and four rabbits.
The RSPCA was contacted by the Stoke-on-Trent City Council in April 2017 after a council employee became concerned about smells coming from a property in Trowbridge Crescent, Bentilee, where the pair were living at the time.
When an RSPCA inspector attended, she found 42 dead guinea pigs wrapped in puppy training pads in a hutch in the garden, and two bags of dead guinea pigs inside the house.
There were also emaciated rabbits in the garden, and the house was covered in faeces.
Overall, Haughton and Lyth had around 130 animals in the house.
RSPCA inspector Charlotte Melvin said: “There were four cages of guinea pigs in the living room and more guinea pigs kept outside in the garden. There were even more cages dotted around the house.
“We found a dead guinea pig inside the property and when we asked what happened, we were told that the guinea pig was dying that morning but that they hadn’t had time to deal with it.
“The conditions inside the house were shocking and the animals were in terrible states. The rabbits which we found in the garden were so thin that it was a surprise they were still alive.
“It really was such a shock to see animals being kept in this way. It is clear that the animals had been deteriorating for some time and it should never have got to this point.”
The RSPCA had 57 surviving animals signed over to them, who will be rehomed.
Sentencing:
Haughton – 12-week suspended sentence. Disqualified from keeping animals for life.
Lyth – 18-month conditional discharge. Disqualified from keeping animals for just 5 years (expired November 2022).
CONVICTED (2017) | William Thomas Gerald Benney, born c. 1941, of Trease Farm, Cury Cross Lanes, Helston TR12 7QU – laughed in court over horrific case of rotting lambs’ carcasses discovered on his land
William Benney left newborn lambs to die in mud and cut off tails with a carving knife
Animal inspectors were stunned to find scenes of horror on William Benney’s farm where rotting lambs carcasses were found.
Surviving sheep were found lame and stumbling on bloodied feet, and distressing images reveal the shocking conditions in which animals lived.
Inspectors found the rotting remains of 35 lambs at Trease Farm on the Lizard peninsula
On one visit, stunned inspectors discovered a pool of blood where lambs’ tails had been sliced off without anaesthetic.
The court heard Benney was formerly a proud and well-respected member of the agricultural community.
He was the third generation of his family at Trease Farm and had worked there for 60 years – from the age of 16.
He had won numerous prizes for his sheep at shows and during his career had been at times a president of Helston Fatstock Show, parish councillor and village hall committee chairman.
However, the court heard Benney had become unwell in recent years and admitted he could no longer care for the sheep.
Benney pleaded guilty to failing to prevent unnecessary suffering to his sheep, docking tails without anaesthetic, failing to treat lameness in the animals, failing to record the medicine used on the flock and failing to dispose of 35 sheep carcasses.
At one point in the hearing, Benney appeared to chuckle and was severely reprimanded by Judge Diane Baker, who said to him: “I don’t find any of this funny at all.
“You should listen carefully to what’s been said and not make any funny noises or shake your head.”
Later, Benney became tearful as the full evidence was ready out.
Kingsley Keat, prosecuting on behalf of Cornwall Council, said an animal welfare inspector and a Defra vet visited the farm in March 2017 where they found the bodies and skeletal remains of 35 lambs and sheep.
He said: “Many were very decomposed, indicated that they had been there a long time. They were scattered across the fields. Some of the new-born lambs appear to have got stuck in mud and died as a result.”
He said out of 120 sheep, a quarter were found to be lame and bleeding from foot-rot. One animal had pus oozing from a swollen leg.
Mr Keat said Benney had told the inspectors he had been unable to care for the animals for two weeks as he had flu, had hurt his knee and was suffering from sheep-dip poisoning.
He said Benney had asked a friend to look after the animals but admitted she did not have any experience of caring for sheep.
Mr Keats said on a later visit in August, the inspectors found Benney had recently used a carving knife to dock the tails of lambs without anaesthetic, which is against the law.
Judge Baker said to Benney: “If you had been a younger man, I would be sending you straight out that door to immediate custody.
“I do think your offending crosses the custody threshold but because of your age, your previous good character and health difficulties, I am going to suspend the period of imprisonment.”
She added: “This is one of the worst animal welfare cases I have recently dealt with. It involves a large number of animals and a long period of neglect.”
Sentencing: four months in prison, suspended for two years. Ordered to pay prosecution costs of £6,329. Banned from keeping sheep or cattle for ten years.
CONVICTED (2017) | Henry Brewer, born 18/09/1969, of Esholt Lane Caravan Site, Shipley, Bradford BD17 7RJ – for a catalogue of sickening horse neglect
Henry Brewer
Gypsy traveller Henry Brewer was found guilty of three offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 at a hearing at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court.
This photo of Tom Jones sparked outrage on social media in 2016. Amazingly he survived his ordeal.
The court heard that between February 2016 and March 2016, Brewer caused unnecessary suffering to a 10-month-old skewbald filly called Juliette, also known as Trixie, a 10-month-old bay colt called Tom Jones, also known as Sea Biscuit, and a three-year-old piebald mare called Lily.
Juliette as found on Esholt Lane Caravan Site. She has also recovered in the care of the RSPCA.
This was by failing to investigate their poor body conditions and weight loss.
Brewer was also found to have kept the three horses in filthy conditions, failing to provide them with adequate bedding, clean water and suitable food.
In his defence, the court heard he had always kept his horses like that and he did not think there was anything wrong with it.
After his conviction, Brewer did accept he had fallen short of the necessary standards required by law.
Photos of Tom Jones trussed up using a makeshift rope harness and wearing a bit sparked widespread outcry on social media in 2016.
The RSPCA stepped in and seized the colt along with two other horses from the travellers site.
“The photos of Tom Jones seen last year on social media still haunt us, as I’m sure they do many other animal lovers,” said RSPCA inspector Carol Neale following the sentencing.
Tom Jones at the time of his rescue from the hellhole for animals at Esholt Lane Caravan Site in Shipley
“We acted as quickly as we could within the remit of the law to get access to the caravan site and find this foal.”
She added they then discovered the two other horses who “were also suffering”.
“Brewer had tried to hide them from us, but with the police and a vet present we were able to locate them,” said Inspector Neale.
“This has been a long and testing case, and is a good example of how our work investigating cruelty takes a great deal of caution and care.
“It’s taken many months of our team working with the foals to get them to a healthy weight and the difference in them is obvious to see.”
Tom Jones after his recovery
Juliette now
Sadly Lily had to be put down due to “major issues” with her mouth, which she was born with.
The two foals were taken into RSPCA care and made available for rehoming following their remarkable recovery.
Sentencing: Brewer was ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months and pay costs of £1,500 plus a £85 victim surcharge.
Allegations of routine animal cruelty at Esholt Lane Caravan Site – Bradford Council deny there’s a problem
In 2016 members of the public raised concerns about the welfare of horses and dogs on the the council-run travellers site in Esholt Lane, near Baildon, Shipley.
Animal lovers had obtained several photos pertaining to show appalling conditions at the site:
At the time RSPCA spokesman Leanne Plumtree said: “Two officers from the RSPCA visited Esholt travellers site, Bradford, to check on the animals there after a number of complaints from members of the public over the past few days.
“There are three horses at the site which are all in normal bodily condition, are stabled and have hay and water.
“There are seven dogs at the site which are all in normal bodily condition, have kennels, bedding, food and water.
“An eighth dog was signed over to the RSPCA for rehoming. We do not have concerns about these animals at the present time.
“Officers from the RSPCA regularly visit this traveller’s site after complaints are received and give advice as they see fit on each visit.
“The site has been visited on several occasions this winter and this will continue as long as there are on-going issues.”
Bradford Council also reported that it was looking into allegations of unlicensed dog breeding at the Esholt site but some months later reported they had found “insufficient evidence” of any breaches of reeding rules.
In March 2016 as a photograph of mistreated foal Tom Jones began to circulate on social media causing public outrage the local newspaper reported that the RSPCA had revisited the site. A group (since disbanded) was set up on Facebook to campaign against animal cruelty at Esholt and the failure of the local authority to admit there was a problem.
The group organised a petition to the council and, in May 2016, held a noisy demonstration at the travellers site where there was something of a stand-off between the protestors and the travellers.
A court protest at Henry Brewer’s trial was also arranged, though this proved difficult to organise due to constant delays in his case being heard.
CONVICTED (2017) | Jordan McIsaac, born 24 December 1998, of Temple View, Banff AB45 1HG, and Daniel Innes, born c. 1997, of Brands Butt, Inverurie AB51 – brutally killed two geckos during a house party
Thugs Jordan McIsaac (left) and Daniel Innes slaughtered a family’s pet geckos during a vile wrecking spree
Daniel Innes wrecked a house in Aberchirder during a drink-fuelled rampage, causing £5,000 worth of damage, before he and pal Jordan McIsaac killed two geckos.
One of the animals was dropped on the floor, where it died, and the other was blitzed in a blender.
The kitchen walls were covered in blood after evil thugs Jordan McIsaac and Daniel Innes killed a gecko in a blender
Innes and McIsaac used a mobile phone belonging to the householder’s teenage son to film the crime as he slept.
Sheriff Philip Mann had previously deferred sentence on the pair to give them a chance to show they were sorry, and suggested they spend time volunteering with animal charities.
Jordan McIsaac
But with no organisation willing to take the pair on, they returned to court and Sheriff Mann remanded them after ruling they had failed to show enough remorse.
The geckos’ owner Amanda Bibby welcomed the sentence – but said it should have been a lifetime ban.
During an earlier calling of the case, Sheriff Mann described the crime as “chillingly evil” and one of the most difficult he had ever dealt with in his career.
Innes and McIsaac outside court
However, he acknowledged the friends had suffered as a result of the media attention surrounding the case – with both claiming they had been assaulted.
He told them: “You’re still young men, you’ll still be able to make a proper and productive life for yourself.
“I hope you’ll use the period in custody to good effect.
“I think you’ll find there are opportunities there.”
McIsaac was also sentenced to two months’ detention for his part in a violent assault in 2016.
His solicitor Leonard Burkinshaw had urged Sheriff Mann to be lenient in his sentence, and told the court the teen had sold his Xbox and weights bench to provide his mum with money to make donations of £50 to the Scottish SPCA and £80 to the Cats Protection charity
He had also applied to start college and had dreams of becoming a fisherman.
Mr Burkinshaw added: “He deeply regrets being involved in this and the trauma that has been caused.
“He is entirely remorseful for his behaviour that night and he is trying to get things back on track.
“Certainly, he has learned his lesson.”
Solicitor Margaret Nash revealed her client Innes had written a letter of apology to gecko owner Amanda Bibby but said she had not passed it on because “things are a bit raw”.
Speaking after sentencing, Ms Bibby said she was surprised the pair had been locked up, but welcomed the decision.
“Hopefully it will set a precedent for other animal cases,” she added.
“I think you should be banned from keeping animals for life if you can kill.
“But it’s a lot more than what I thought they would get.
“I hope it’s a lesson learned for them.”
Liam Kerr, Scottish Conservative justice spokesman, said: “These thugs appear to have shown no remorse whatsoever for their actions and I think most people would agree this crime justifies a custodial sentence.
“It beggars belief that anyone would consider that this was acceptable behaviour. The fact that this stomach-churning offence was filmed using the teenage son’s own mobile phone makes it even worse.
“This pair will at least now have some time to think about their actions, and the awful impact that this horrible stunt will have had on the family involved.”
Sentencing: Innes was given a 36-week sentence for the animal cruelty offence, with McIsaac receiving 33 weeks. They were also disqualified indefinitely from keeping animals.
