farms / smallholdings, Food Production, Lifers, Serial Animal Abusers

Ballymena, County Antrim: Michael Agnew

October 23, 2018 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2018) | Michael Agnew, born c. 1971, formerly of Ballynease Road, Portglenone, Ballymena BT44 8NU – for causing unnecessary suffering to two pigs

Agnew has 159 previous criminal convictions, 19 of which are for animal welfare offences. He had previously been banned from keeping livestock in May 2014.

Photograph produced in previous prosecution case against cruel farmer Michael Agnew

Prosecution barrister Catherine Chasemore told the court officials from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) carried out an inspection at Agnew’s farm on 6 October 2015.

She said two sows “were described as being particularly thin.”

One had “a large mammary abscess which had burst and the other had a spinal abscess,” she said.

A DARD vet told Agnew the animals were suffering unnecessarily and the only humane option was to euthanise the sows.

“The defendant strenuously objected to this and insisted that his own vet was called for a second opinion,” the prosecution barrister added.

“This was done and she agreed that the sows be euthanised, which the defendant then agreed to.

“The defendant was invited to be interviewed on two occasions but failed to give an account”, Ms Chasemore said

She told the court Agnew’s previous convictions included failing to dispose of the animal carcasses of three sheep, one donkey, one horse and two cows and allowing live animals to access the carcasses.

On one occasion in December 2012 officials found numerous dead animals on Agnew’s farm, she said.

A defence barrister said Agnew, a father of six children, was terrified of going to jail.

He had separated from his partner and only now only called at the Portglenone farm to collect or drop off his children, the barrister said.

“This was not a case of widespread neglect, it involved two sows. His record in terms of animal welfare is atrocious but this offending did not involve flocks nor herds”, the barrister added.

The lifetime ban prohibits Agnew from ever owning, keeping, transporting or dealing with animals.

Sentencing at Londonderry Crown Court on Tuesday 23/10/2018, Judge Philip Babington said Agnew “should be kept miles away from every living creature.”

“Any animal seeing this man coming over the horizon would have a heart attack,” the judge said.

He said he felt Agnew should go to prison but that it would be detrimental to his children to impose a custodial sentence.

“Your former partner and your children still live on the farm and you want to have contact with your six children.

“But if you every have any have any contact with animals again you will be going straight to prison”, he told Agnew.

Judge Babington also ordered the removal of any animals currently owned by Agnew.

Sentencing:
18 months in prison, suspended for four years. Banned from keeping animals for life.

BBC News

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Coleraine, County Londonderry: Anthony O’Hara

October 23, 2018 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2018) | Anthony O’Hara, born c. 1997, of Killowen Street, Coleraine BT51 – kicked and injured a pet dog in a cowardly attack

O’Hara, previously of Churchlands Road, Coleraine, has been put on probation for 18 months after admitting causing unnecessary suffering to the animal and possessing cannabis.

He must undertake 100 hours of community service “so that every time he picks up a piece of litter or paints a wall” he remembers his crime.

A prosecutor told the court that on July 20 2018 a heavily pregnant neighbour said O’Hara had been kicking a bin and then gave her the “middle finger” and swore at her.

The woman locked her door and put an ironing board across it in case O’Hara would try to get in.

The defendant was again verbally abusive to her and she feared that he was “going to stab” her.

A charge of common assault was withdrawn.

The woman then heard the defendant’s dog yelping for 10 to 15 minutes, and it stopped following “a very loud thud”.

Fearing for the safety of the animal, the woman called police, who found the dog bleeding from the nose.

There was also a strong smell of cannabis in O’Hara’s home and £20 of the drug was seized.

The prosecutor said the dog was taken to a vet and had trauma to an eye, a haemorrhage to its mouth, was withdrawn and nervous and was underweight for its age.

When interviewed by police, O’Hara said he had no recollection of the events with the neighbour.

He said the dog had a “bloodshot” eye as he was out jogging with this pet and a lead caught around a lamppost.

Regarding the other injury, he admitted to police he must have “clipped the dog too hard when he barked”.

He said he was feeding the dog but it was underweight because of “worms”.

Defence barrister Ben Thompson said the dog has now been rehomed to live with a friend of O’Hara’s.

The lawyer said there was “no one more upset or ashamed” of what he had done to the dog than the defendant.

His client, he said, had been living a chaotic lifestyle at the time and his behaviour was “extremely erratic” because of substance misuse which involved “risk taking” amid a relationship with alcohol.

The defendant, who had a record, works for a manufacturing company but Mr Thompson said the offences happened when he had been at his “absolute lowest ebb”.

He said a “thoroughly ashamed” O’Hara had not breached any bail conditions, which had involved an alcohol condition.

Mr Thompson added that “he knows how this case will change the public perception of him” and that there would be “consequences”.

District Judge Liam McNally said the defendant had committed a “cowardly act of kicking a dog” and causing injury, and said it was well-known courts treated that type of offence seriously.

In passing down the probation sentence and the community service, the judge also banned O’Hara from having the pet, or any dog, for the next 10 years.

He warned the defendant if there were any slip-ups he would be re-sentenced to four months in jail.

Sentence:
Community service; 18-month probation; 10-year ban on keeping dogs

Belfast Telegraph

Equine Abuse, farms / smallholdings, Food Production, horses and ponies, Multiple Species, Worst of the Worst

Bradworthy, Devon: Rebecca Tucker and Luke Morley

October 20, 2018 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2018) | smallholders Rebecca J Tucker, born c. 1972, of Bradworthy, and Luke J Morley, born c. 1981, now of Leicester – kept horses, cattle and pigs in squalid conditions without food and water.

Animal abuser: Becky Tucker from Bideford, Devon. Pic: Facebook — Becky Tucker

Tucker and Morley, who previously lived together in Boards Court, Bideford EX39 4FJ, pleaded guilty to a range of charges under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007.

Trading Standards Officers, Animal and Plant Health Agency vets and RSPCA inspectors were called to the pair’s premises at various times during December 2017 and January 2018 and found animals being kept in poor conditions and a state of neglect.

On one occasion a vet found 14 cattle in a newly built shed with no dry lying or bedding or food. There was also a small area adjacent where pigs were housed, and they had no access to water.

Rebecca Tucker and Luke Morley from Devon pleaded guilty to causing animals to suffer

On another day a vet arrived at the farm mid-morning to find the animals had not yet received any attention such as food and water that day.

When Trading Standards Officers visited they found 11 horses in a field with no suitable dry area for them to lie down in and they had no supplementary food.

There was also a collapsed five bar gate, collapsed fencing and collapsing netting in the field posing dangers of sharp metal edges and nails and an amount of plastic and burnt rubbish in the area.

Some of the horses were in such a bad state, that the pair were found to have caused them “unnecessary suffering” and so the RSPCA took possession of them.

During the hot sunny period in May vets were concerned about the lack of food, water and adequate shelter for the pigs – sunburn is a significant problem for pigs.

Trading Standards Officers returned to monitor the welfare of the animals and found further issues concerning diet, water and environment and reported their findings and subsequent advice to Tucker and Morley both verbally and in writing.

A further visit in June found eight pigs with a lack of dry bedding and a Belgian blue calf suffering from hair loss, scabs and a significant untreated lice infestation.

Despite repeated advice and intervention, Tucker and Morley made only temporary improvements, if any, in caring for their animals.

At the time of the offences it is understood that Tucker was the owner of the farming business and employed Morley to feed and care for the animals.

The Judge commented that Tucker “shirked responsibility” and put blame of the animals’ state on Morley, even though extensive advice had been provided to both by the inspectors.

Sentencing:
Tucker – 17 weeks’ imprisonment for each offence to be served concurrently and suspended for 12 months. 180 hours of unpaid community work. Total costs of £390.

Morley – 12 weeks’ imprisonment for each offence to be served concurrently and suspended for 12 months. 120 hours of unpaid community work. Total costs of £240.

Both – banned from keeping animals for ten years (expires October 2028).

DevonLive
BBC News

Dogs

Bangor, County Down: James Lane

October 20, 2018 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2018) | James Michael Lane, born 26 July 1968, of Groomsport Road, Bangor BT20 – failed to act when his 14-year-old Labrador developed a painful “satsuma-sized” tumour.

Animal abuser: James Lane from Bangor, Northern Ireland

A lawyer for Ards and North Down Council, which prosecuted the case, told the court an enforcement officer was contacted by a member of the public who had “serious concerns over the body condition” of a stray dog.

When the officer attended, he saw a “large open abscess growth on the side of the dog’s neck” so took the animal, called Tess, to the vet, who said that she was suffering.

In addition to that tumour, which was “red raw and coated in puss”, there was a second, smaller lump beside it, and the dog was described as skinny with her “ribs and spine clearly showing”.

Optometrist and company director Lane was spoken to and confirmed the family had owned Tess since she was a puppy, but she was now “doubly incontinent” and that the tumour had been there for about a month but had only opened in the previous two weeks because she had been scratching at it.

“He said that he hoped the dog would die peacefully,” said the lawyer, but he added the vet had told Lane that instead “she would likely die a slow and painful death”.

Lane signed the dog over voluntarily and she was put to sleep.

A defence solicitor entered guilty pleas on Lane’s behalf to offences of causing unnecessary suffering to the dog, and failing to take reasonable steps to meet the dog’s needs on a date unknown on or before April 21 2016.

The solicitor said Tess had belonged to Lane’s daughter who had been sitting her A-levels and he did not want to upset her.

“He has been very contrite and in reflection, he should have euthanised the dog at an earlier stage,” the solicitor said.

Following the guilty pleas, the council’s lawyer withdrew the same charges against Lane’s wife, fellow optometrist and co-director of Lane & Lane (N.I.) Ltd, Carol Anne Lane ( born November 1967).

Sentencing:
Fined £5,000 plus costs. No ban was imposed by the court.

Belfast Telegraph

James and Carole Anne Lane operate an optician’s business named Bangor Optometrists (previously Lane and Lane) based in High Street, Bangor.

Animal Abandonment, Dogs, Lifers

Sparkhill, Birmingham: Leanne Ungless

October 18, 2018 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2018) | Leanne Marie Ungless, born c. 1983, of Avondale Road, Sparkhill, Birmingham B11 – for cruelty to a dog found starving in the street.

Animal abuser Leanne Ungless from Birmingham

Staffy Roxy was found wandering near to the the Ackers Adventure Centre in Sparkbrook, Birmingham. She was in such a poor condition that the RSPCA launched an immediate investigation.

Roxy was starved and abused by Leanne Ungless from Birmingham

Inspector Herchy Boal, who led the successful prosecution, found out the dog was microchipped to an address in Nottingham, which is where Ungless is originally from.

The woman at the East Midlands property said she had given Roxy away to a family member and provided her with Ungless’s address.

Inspector Boal visited Ungless’s home on a number of occasions and left messages for her to get in touch – but she failed to make contact.

Ungless was summoned to Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Friday, October 5, 2018, to face an offence of causing unnecessary suffering to Roxy but failed to appear and was convicted in her absence.

Speaking about the case Inspector Boal said: “Poor Roxy was very emaciated and she was basically thrown out on the streets by her owner who should have been caring for her.

“There is never an excuse for failing to meet the needs of an animal and allowing them to get into such a poor and emaciated condition.”

Sentencing:
12-month community order, which includes a 12-week curfew order between 8pm and 7am. Total costs and charges of £585. Banned from keeping animals for life.

BirminghamLive

Dogs, Paedophiles / Sex Offenders, Serial Animal Abusers, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Dunfermline, Fife: Robert Goodwillie and Levi Bissett

October 18, 2018 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2018) | Robert Goodwillie, born c. 1989, and partner Levi Chantelle Bissett (aka Levi Hamilton or Levi Mallett), born 26/05/1994, both of Broomhead Drive, Dunfermline KY12 9AG – for sadistic cruelty to a shih-tzu dog.

Paedophile Robert Goodwillie and partner Levi Bissett of Dunfermline abused a little dog named Suki (pictured).

Goodwillie and partner Bissett admitted that over a three-month period they caused Suki unnecessary suffering.

They failed to provide adequate veterinary treatment causing chronic skin condition, dry eye and overgrown claw issues resulting in complications with her health.

Paedophile Goodwillie, who has a previous conviction for the possession of child pornography, also admitted that at his home on April 10, 2018, he caused Suki unnecessary suffering by dragging and kicking her, launching her in the air, resulting in her landing on the ground with her legs splayed.

Convicted paedophile and dog abuser Robert Goodwillie from Dunfermline

Suki had to be euthanised because of her poor condition.

In court for sentencing neither Goodwillie nor Bissett were represented by a solicitor.

Twisted Robert Goodwillie and his partner Levi Bissett pictured outside court

Asked by Sheriff Craig McSherry if they had anything to say about the offences, they both shook their heads.

Despite the despicable cruelty the pair had inflicted on a helpless dog, no ban on keeping animals was imposed by the court.

Sentencing | four-month restriction of liberty orders.

The Sun

Dogs, farms / smallholdings, Food Production, Lifers, Worst of the Worst

Saltash, Cornwall: Andrew Pearson

October 17, 2018 misanthropic 2 Comments

CONVICTED (2018) | Andrew Pearson, born 12/09/1968, of Wheldons, Trevollard Lane, Trematon, Saltash PL12 4RX – left emaciated dogs outside in squalid conditions with no food or water.

Animal abuser: Andrew Pearson from Saltash, Cornwall. Pic: Facebook

Five emaciated dogs belonging to father-of-five Andrew Pearson, owner of a tree surgeon business named Professional Monkey, were found alongside five others who were all living outside in grim conditions without food or water at a smallholding in Saltash.

Dogs starved and neglected by Andrew Pearson from Saltash, Cornwall

Pearson was convicted of failing to explore the cause of the dogs’ poor body condition and for failing to ensure they were kept in a suitable environment.

Andrew Pearson from Saltash, Cornwall, kept his dogs outside in grim conditions. Many were emaciated.

Investigating RSPCA inspector Claire Ryder said: “Animal owners have a duty of care to take reasonable steps to ensure their needs are meet. This includes providing an appropriate environment, a suitable diet, the ability to exhibit normal behaviour patterns, a need to be housed with or without other animals and protection from pain, suffering, injury and disease.”

Sentencing:
18 weeks’ custody, suspended for 19 months. 200 hours of unpaid work. Total of £415 costs and charges. Banned from keeping animals for life.

Plymouth Live

Dogs

Newmains, North Lanarkshire: Donna Laird

October 17, 2018 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2018) | Donna Laird (née Macgregor), born 22/11/1977, of Aitken Close, Newmains, Wishaw ML2 9BJ – allowed her elderly dog to became significantly underweight.

Animal abuser: Donna Laird from Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. Pic: Facebook

Laird admitted causing unnecessary suffering to bulldog Skye between Christmas Day 2017 and February 7, 2018.

Laird failed to provide adequate care and treatment for her pet and failed to obtain veterinary advice.

Donna Laird from Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, Scotland failed to provide Skye with the care she needed

Skye was suffering from poor body condition and a range of health issues including weight and muscle loss, a skin condition and chronic ear condition.

Laird’s solicitor, Kevin McCarron, said his client had been “very distressed” by the situation.

He told the court: “She had this dog for 10 years when it was in good health and well cared for. A culmination of factors contributed to the situation. It was a case of negligence rather than outright intent.”

Passing sentence, Sheriff Daniel Kelly QC told the accused: “I appreciate you come to court not previously having been involved in such proceedings.

“However, this was an extremely worrying situation. The dog was significantly underweight.

“It seemed to be covered in warts and was in obvious discomfort. This must have been going on for some time and the animal must have suffered as a result.”

Sentencing:
Fined £500. Banned from owning or looking after an animal for five years (expires October 2023).

Daily Record

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Carlisle, Cumbria: Kaine Hardie

October 16, 2018 misanthropic 4 Comments

CONVICTED (2018) | Kaine Moon Hardie, born 07/05/1994, of Forest Hill, Carlisle CA1 3HF – repeatedly kicked and punched a rescue greyhound.

Carlisle dog abuser Kaine Moon Hardie and his victim - a rescue greyhound

Kaine Hardie admitted causing the dog (pictured) unnecessary suffering.

The cruelty came to light thanks to off-duty police officer Christoper Brennand.

He had been driving past when he saw the defendant viciously attacking the dog on London Road, Carlisle, on September 30, 2018.

First, the officer saw Hardie kicking the dog in his legs forcefully.

Then Hardie delivered a second kick to the dog’s ribs, causing her to yelp out in pain.

Another witness, a woman pedestrian, intervened after seeing Hardie punching and kicking the dog, and dragging her along the pavement.

When police interviewed Hardie, he blamed his actions on drinking too much.

He told police he had been drinking vodka.

Dog abuser Kaine Moon Hardie from Carlisle

John Cooper, for Hardie, said the defendant had owned the dog for two-and-a-half years.

“His mother works for a rescue shelter and that is how he got hold of the dog,” said the lawyer.

“In those two and a half years, that dog has become his closest friend. He is adamant that he has never done anything like this before.”

Mr Cooper said the dog was regularly given veterinary treatment, and taken out on to the fells by Hardie.

He said that the dog went everywhere with the defendant, who could not recall mistreating the animal.

The lawyer pleaded with District Judge Gerald Chalk to let Hardie keep the dog. But Judge Chalk refused, telling Hardie: “This seems to have been gratuitous violence, committed in drink.”

Sentencing: 12-month community order, with 150 hours of unpaid work, £85 costs, and an £85 victim surcharge. Banned from keeping any animal for five years (expires October 2023).

News and Star

Dogs, Domestic Violence - Animals Targeted, rabbits, Small Furries, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Shefford, Bedfordshire: Ethan Andrews

October 16, 2018 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2018) | domestic abuser Ethan Andrews, born c. 2000, of Shefford Road, Shefford, Clifton SG17 5QS – set fire to his ex girlfriend’s home causing the deaths of a rabbit, degu and dog.

Evil Ethan Andrews and the rabbit he burned to death in an act of revenge against his ex. Two other innocent pets – a degu and later a dog – died from smoke inhalation.

“Controlling and abusive” Andrews poured petrol over the rabbit hutch that he knew housed the victim’s much loved pet ‘Spice’. When he lit the accelerant, the resulting explosion blew in patio doors to the property.

There was nothing left of the rabbit hutch containing Spice and a second pet – a degu – later died as a result of smoke inhalation.

On 11 June 2019 the Sun reported that the family dog had also died some months later from smoke inhalation.

Andrews’ attack followed the break-up of his brief relationship with the victim.

She had complained that Andrews had been controlling and abusive. When she broke up with him he tried to pressurise her back into a relationship, making threats against her and to harm her pets.

In July 2018 he acted upon those threats.

Andrews admitted arson ‘reckless as to whether life was endangered’ and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

The case was investigated by Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Domestic Abuse Investigation and Safeguarding Unit.

Detective Constable Colin Workman said: “It is clear from the fire investigation that numerous lives were put at risk by Andrews’ actions, including the life of an unborn baby.
[…]
“Andrews planned this attack to get back at the victim. It was an act of pure callousness to target a rabbit in order to achieve this goal. His deliberate actions caused immense distress and harm to the victim and her family. I hope this sentence today allows them to start putting these terrible events behind them.”

Sentencing: 32 months’ imprisonment – 13 in jail and 19 out on licence – with a further three months to run concurrently for killing the rabbit. He was also given an indefinite restraining order.

BBC News
The Sun

UK Animal Cruelty Files

Monthly Archives: October 2018