CONVICTED (2018) | Tracey Carter, aka Skye Arnold, born c. 1973, of Hucklow Avenue, North Wingfield, Chesterfield S42 5PX – failed to treat her two dogs’ ailments.
Dog abuser Tracey Carter from Chesterfield has been banned from keeping animals for 10 years.
It was proved in absence that Carter caused unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, namely a Neapolitan Mastiff cross dog, by failing to provide prompt or adequate veterinary care and attention for the dog’s severe and chronic flea infestation.
It was also proved in absence that Carter caused unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, namely a Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross dog, by failing to provide prompt or adequate veterinary care and attention for its flea infestation and allergic dermatitis.
It was also proved in absence that Carter did not take steps to ensure that the needs of the same Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross were met by failing to meet its need to be protected from pain, injury and suffering or disease by failing to provide prompt or adequate veterinary care and attention to its ear infection.
Sentencing: 26 weeks in jail, suspended for one year; 16-week curfew with electronic monitoring; total of £415 costs and charges. Disqualified from owning animals for ten years.
CONVICTED (2018) | Ray Metcalf, born c. 1964, of Oxton Road, Birkenhead and Tracey Bleasdale (since deceased), born 29 January 1964, of Morley Avenue, Birkenhead – left their two dogs in agony with “red raw” skin
Wirral Magistrates Court heard the RSPCA became concerned for the welfare of bulldog Marney and Shar-Pei Coco after being contacted by members of the public.
Marney was left to suffer a painful skin condition.Marney’s fur was sparse and her skin covered in painful scabs.
Marney had a severe skin condition which had left her with sore skin and little fur left on her body.
Coco was discovered to have an eye and ear infection and an ingrown dew claw which had also become infected.
The dogs had not received veterinary treatment for their conditions.
Metcalf and Bleasdale admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the dogs, and also failing to meet their welfare needs over a period of two years.
Wirral RSPCA inspector Anthony Joynes, who investigated the case, said: “When I was first called to investigate, it was heartbreaking to see these two dogs suffering so needlessly.
“Marney’s skin was red raw and hadn’t been treated, and I could see sores on her body where she’d scratched herself so much to try and relieve the discomfort.
“Coco’s ingrown dew claw would have been causing her a lot of pain, as well as her ear and eye infection.
“An eyelash condition is not uncommon for Shar-peis and this situation proves just how important it is to do your research when you take on a pet, and how you must be prepared to look after them and provide for them at all costs.”
The dogs were taken into the care of the RSPCA but while their health improved rapidly, Coco was found to have an unrelated malignant tumour and had to be put to sleep.
Inspector Joynes added: “The tumour was very serious and she quickly deteriorated. I was absolutely gutted as I had hoped to see her in a new home.
“Thankfully for Marney, now that the case is over she can be found a loving new home and I’m really looking forward to seeing her enjoying a new life soon.”
Sentencing: 12-month community order, including rehabilitation activities of 30 days for Bleasdale and 15 days for Metcalf. Eight-week curfew order. Ordered to each pay £245 towards costs. Disqualified from keeping all animals for just three years (expired May 2021).
CONVICTED (2018) | Jemma Bishop, born c. 1988, from Newton Abbot, Devon – left a dog and hamster to starve to death in an abandoned property.
Callous single mother Jemma Bishop abandoned Staffy Cass and a hamster named Steve to starve to death. Cass was saved in the nick of time.
Mother-of-four Jemma Bishop admitted two offences of causing unnecessary suffering, contrary to Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, when she appeared before magistrates in Plymouth.
Cass when he was found
RSPCA inspectors were contacted after an emaciated dog and a dead hamster were discovered at a property in Kingsteignton, near Newton Abbot.
Staffordshire bull terrier, Cass, was close to death when he was rescued, with every bone showing, after he’d been left without food or water for more than two weeks.
A hamster, known as Steve, was discovered starved to death in his cage.
Jemma Bishop from Newton Abbot was imprisoned for her animal cruelty
Deputy chief inspector Suzy Hannaby said: “These animals were dependent on Bishop and she betrayed their trust by thoughtlessly leaving them to suffer without a care for their welfare.
“She could have handed her animals over to the RSPCA or another animal charity when she was aware she was no longer willing to care for them but instead decided to simply abandon them to die after a period of prolonged suffering.
“It’s a miracle that Cass survived. He was just skin and bones when he was rescued but has since recovered and gained weight.
“The team at RSPCA Little Valley transformed him during his time in their care and found him a loving new home with a great family who are showing him the love and care he deserves.”
Sentencing | jailed for 13 weeks. Disqualified from keeping animals for ten years (expires May 2028).
CONVICTED (2018) | Scott Michael Doak, born c. 1992, of Freiston, King’s Lynn PE30 4RE – beat a mother dog and her puppies; left another dog to become extremely emaciated.
Backyard breeder Scott Doak was sentenced for causing unnecessary suffering to a Staffordshire Bull Terrier type dog called Rocky by failing to adequately investigate the cause of his poor body condition, and failing to protect Rocky and four Staffy puppies from fleas and worms.
Doak also failed to provide a suitable environment that was clean, of a suitable size and free from hazards.
The RSPCA were first contacted about a male dog and puppies who were all being kept in unreasonable conditions at Doak’s ex-girlfriend’s property.
The dogs were found in the bathroom with lots of mess and a chewed up disposable razor. Staffy Rocky was also incredibly emaciated.
The RSPCA took the dogs into their care but then received a further call to say that Doak had been beating another Staffy called Lily, who was used for breeding, and her young puppies which were being kept at another address.
Abused dog Lily has recovered well despite her horrific ordeal at the hands of brutal thug Scott Doak
Doak was also sentenced for causing unnecessary suffering to Lily and her puppies Millie, Penny and Lizzie, after he kicked and threw them across the room.
Sentencing: 26 weeks’ imprisonment and a one-year supervision order; £116 victim surcharge. Disqualified from keeping all animals for 25 years.
Doak was given a two-year suspended prison sentence after being convicted of sexual offences against a 14-year-old girl.
He was also convicted of attempting to cause a child to look at an image of sexual activity and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.
The court was told that Doak sent hundreds of sexually explicit messages with the clear intent of engaging the girl into sexual activity.
However, the girl did not exist and was instead a adult member of a paedophile hunting team
Two teams ‘Elite’ and ‘ghosts’ worked together to expose Doak. And when Doak turned up to meet the girl he believed he was grooming, he was met by members of a team who questioned him on his internet activity before ringing police who arrested him.
He was told to register as a sex offender for ten years and a sexual harm prevention order was imposed for life.
CONVICTED (2018) | Son Van Huynh, born 20/08/1965, and Hai Huynh, born 02/02/1996, both of 11 Kildare Road, Nottingham NG3 3AF – for the severe neglect of three dogs, all of whom had to be euthanised
Vietnamese nationals Son Van Huynh and his son Hai Huynh pleaded guilty to eight Animal Welfare Act offences between them, relating to the neglect of three dogs.
The court heard that the RSPCA became involved in August 2017 after a neighbour contacted the animal welfare charity about a “high-pitched whining” which was coming from the garden of the house.
When RSPCA inspector Susan Hammond arrived at the house, she found that the high-pitched whining was coming from a Japanese Akita dog, named Skye, who had collapsed and was covered in maggots.
There was a second dog also in the garden, a German Shepherd called Gino, and a third dog, a shih tzu called Miko, was inside the house living in a poor environment. None of the dogs had access to an adequate supply of fresh water.
Skye’s multiple wounds were infested with maggots.
Inspector Hammond said: “Skye was in such a poor condition and had collapsed, she wasn’t able to stand at all. Her high-pitched crying was evident that she was suffering a great deal. She had open wounds on her body which were covered in maggots – her skin was rotting away and she was being eaten alive.
Unforgivable neglect: Skye had to be immediately put to sleep on welfare grounds.
“Myself and the vet who accompanied me on the visit to the house were really saddened by Skye’s state and she was put to sleep on humane grounds.”
Gino and Miko were taken to a vets, where examination showed that Gino was suffering from tumours on his foot and anus. The vet made the difficult decision to put him to sleep on welfare grounds.
Sadly, Miko was put to sleep by a vet after he was aggressive and attacked a member of staff at an RSPCA centre.
“This is a very sad case which was the result of a long period of neglect. Hai was responsible for the dogs’ welfare while his dad was away, but they had already been suffering prior to this,” added Inspector Hammond.
Warehouse worker Hai Huynh’s excuse for his callous cruelty towards three helpless dogs was that he was working on a dissertation as part of a degree course at Nottingham Trent University.
Presiding magistrate Caroline Exton told the pair: “We find there was greater harm and higher culpability because of the death and suffering caused to the three animals over a very prolonged period of neglect.
“You were both in a position of responsibility of care for these dogs. Both of you omitted to obtain veterinary care. You are equally culpable.”
Although the animal ban was imposed without a finishing date, they could return to court and ask for it to be lifted.
Sentencing: prison terms of 12 weeks, suspended for a year. They must each pay £150 towards the RSPCA’s costs as well as £115 government tax. The two men must spend 12 days of training with probation officers. Lifetime ban on keeping animals.
CONVICTED (2018) | Lindsay Kate Tweddle, born c. 1979, previously of Delaval Crescent, Blyth, and now of Holystone Avenue, Blyth, – left two Shih-Tzu dogs in an abandoned house covered in faeces and urine and with only a bucket containing foul brown water for drinking
Cruel Lindsay Kate Tweddle from Blyth, Northumberland, and Shih-Tzus Mishka and Lexi whom she abandoned
Tweddle caused suffering to her two Shih-Tzu dogs who were found abandoned, extremely malnourished, riddled with fleas and living in appalling conditions.
The dogs were in an appalling condition when discovered at Tweddle’s abandoned property in Delaval Crescent, Blyth.Both dogs were infested with fleas.
She was prosecuted by Northumberland County Council after their animal welfare officers discovered the dogs, Mishka and Lexi, in a property covered in faeces, urine, rubbish and clutter and which hadn’t been lived in by humans for weeks.
Their only source of a drink was a bucket containing “foul, brown water”, while their only food was “stale” cat biscuits, prosecutors said.
The Northumberland County Council animal welfare officer that rescued the dogs said:
“When I first saw the dogs I was appalled at the condition they were in and the conditions they were living in. The dogs were terrified and extremely underweight with their spines, ribs and hip bones clearly visible. One weighed 6.14kg and the other 4.4kg. Their coats were heavily matted and a thick muggy brown colour and they were soaking wet from lying in their own urine.
“They had no food or water and were locked in a hallway between the kitchen and living room with only access to the bathroom. The smell of urine and faeces in the property was overpowering. ”
Unremorseful: Lindsay Tweddle has been banned from keeping dogs for just five years despite having a callous disregard for their welfare.
Both dogs were taken away for a health check at St Clair Veterinary Care, Croft Road, Blyth where they were given a bath and had the heavy matting shaved out of them.
The vet report, presented in court said that both dogs were riddled with fleas and had excessive worms.
Mishka and Lexi were taken to Berwick Animal Rescue Kennels where they were cared for and nursed back to full health. They have now been rehomed and are loving life again.
Sentencing: eight-week custodial sentence suspended for 12 months; curfew order; total of £667 in costs. Banned from owning, or participating in the keeping of dogs for five years (expires May 2023).
The Chronicle reported that Tweddle, now of Lily Avenue, Bedlington, was given a 12-week suspended prison sentence after she attacked two staff members at Farm Foods, in Blyth, when they tried to stop her from stealing goods. She pleaded guilty to two count of assault by beating and one of shop theft.
The court heard that Tweddle now had 17 offences on her record and was on a community order for possessing a knife at the time of the attack.
Stewart Hay, defending, said Tweddle suffered from mental health problems and hadn’t been taking her medication. He added: “The reason she committed the stealing was because she was homeless and had no food. She stole the cleaning products to sell in order to buy food. It’s just a panic situation when she is stopped.”
Giving Tweddle a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months and ordering her to pay £50 in compensation to each victim, chairing magistrate, Keith McIntosh, said: “Basically, what we’re doing is giving you one last chance. If you commit further offences, you know what’s going to happen, you will end up in prison.”
CONVICTED (2018) | Graham Lee John Charles Anstey, born 15/10/1974, formerly of Trackside Farm, Yeovil and currently of Spooner Road, Wymondham, Norfolk NR18 – caught on CCTV kicking a cow before pushing her head into a concrete floor and pulling on her tail.
Heartless livestock worker now lives in Wymondham, Norfolk
The appalling footage showed Anstey spending 30 minutes trying to “violently” move the collapsed animal at an abattoir in Bridport, Dorset, before abandoning her on a ramp.
He pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a cow, failing to record livestock movements and breaching TB disease controls.
Sentence: fined £850 and ordered to pay £2,000 towards prosecution costs.
