CONVICTED (2019) | Matthew Dennis Parker, born c. 1993, of Newton Street, Ferryhill, Co Durham DL17 8PW – abandoned three kittens in an empty property. One kitten was found dead, while the others were skin and bone.
Officers were called to Parker’s home after the RSPCA had established that he had not been back to his house to attend to the kittens for at least three days.
RSPCA inspector Clare Wilson said: “We had seen two kittens – Thor and Belle – on the windowsill of what we assumed was a bedroom upstairs, and they didn’t seem to have access to the rest of the house.
“When officers went in they found the kittens shut in.
“Tragically, a third kitten, Tigger, was found dead on the bed.
“All three of them were literally skin and bones but fortunately, with a lot of TLC, Thor and Belle have gone on to make a full recovery and have been rehomed.”
In mitigation the court heard that Parker was working a lot of hours at the time and thought he had left enough food for the kittens. They were told the last thing he wanted was to cause them suffering and regretted what had happened.
Inspector Wilson said: “We are seeing more and more people leaving their pets unattended for long periods. Not only is this unacceptable, it is against the law. If you must leave your pet unattended for more than 24 hours you must make arrangements for a responsible person to care for them in your absence.
“As this very sad case demonstrates, the consequences can be heartbreaking.”
Sentencing: 26 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months; 200 hours of unpaid work, 20 rehabilitation days; total of £415 costs and charges. Disqualified from keeping animals for 20 years.
CONVICTED (2019) | Thomas John Black, born 13 January 1995, of Laurel Road, Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees TS16 0BD – moved out of his house, leaving his pet cat behind
Black pleaded guilty to three offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 in a prosecution case brought by the RSPCA.
Black left a helpless cat alone in his filthy abandoned flat with no food or water
RSPCA inspector Clare Wilson said: “The house was filthy, with faeces and urine everywhere and rubbish strewn across every room.
“Cass had no access to food or water and, on top of both of these things, Cass had serious veterinary needs.
“Cass had previously suffered with seizures, which Black was aware of and was told needed treatment, but he moved out and left him behind in the property.”
Thomas John Black abandoned Cass in an empty property, leaving her to starve to death.
In mitigation the court heard Black had been going through a difficult time and had moved back in with family.
Cass has now been signed over to the RSPCA and hopefully will now be able to be rehomed.
Inspector Wilson said: “I’m dealing with more and more abandonment cases like this one.
“Abandoning an animal in this way is completely unacceptable.
“If you cannot attend to your pet for whatever reason, you must make arrangements for a responsible person to care for them in your absence.”
Sentencing: 12-month community order, 25 rehabilitation days, ordered to pay £300 costs and an £85 victim surcharge. Disqualified from keeping animals for ten years.
CONVICTED (2019) | Carla French, born 22 January 1980, of Jameson Crescent, St Leonards-on-Sea TN38 9JA – failed to take an injured dog to the vet
Carla French of Jameson Crescent, St Leonards, East Sussex, has been banned from keeping any animal for seven years
French pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an unnamed male brindle and white Staffordshire bull terrier by failing to provide proper and necessary veterinary care and attention for a tail injury. The offence took place at St Leonards between July 2 and July 7, 2018.
She was fined £80 and ordered to pay £300 in prosecution costs. Magistrates banned her from keeping an animal for seven years, recording that the reason was ‘an inability to care for animals’ (expires February 2026).
CONVICTED (2019) | company director Monshur Alom, born 28 November 1981, of Golf Green Road, Jaywick, Clacton-on-Sea CO15 2RL – exposed his Bengal cats to 31 degree heat and left ducks outside without fresh food or water for over a week
Chelmsford magistrates were shown graphic images of the animals’ living conditions during an eight-day period in June 2018, before RSPCA inspectors were able to contact owner Monshur Alom.
Alom, a furniture dealer trading as Royal London Antiques and director of a company named Cheque Bid Ltd, admitted to three breaches of the Animal Welfare Act.
The animals were being kept at the address in Golf Green Road, Jaywick, so the new dad could renovate his other home in Sidney Street, Stepney, London to accommodate the animals and his growing family.
Lauren Bond, prosecuting, called him “clearly unfit” to look after animals.
The ducks, and exotic cats, which he had no licence to keep, are now with the RSPCA.
Ms Bond said: “The inspector was overwhelmed by the heat in the conservatory and the ammonia smell burnt his nose.
“There was blood over the floor as though the cats had dragged raw meat but there was no sign of a carcass. There was a trough of water which was bright green, and large litter trays that appeared very full.
“Outside the ducks were confined to a one metre by three metre alleyway. There was liquid faeces on the floor and it smelt disgusting.”
It was his first time before the court in relation to animal welfare.
Mrs Scoot, mitigating, explained life had got on top of him and he had also been unwell.
However, he did accept his actions were a “form of neglect”.
She said: “He’s had the cats for two years and there’s never been any concern or need for the RSPCA to address him or the family.
“Unfortunately, the cats weren’t litter trained so he had them in the property for a short time and renovations were being made to their current property to give them appropriate living conditions.
“He’d had the ducks for significantly less time. A friend was going to kill them so he took the ducks and was going to find another home for them.
“He didn’t plan to keep them long term.”
Sentencing | 180 hours of unpaid work; £685 costs. Banned from keeping animals for ten years.
CONVICTED (2019) | Liam Reynolds aka Lee Dart, born 21 August 1990, of Oxland Road, Illogan, Redruth TR16 4SH – jailed after appalling conditions led to the deaths of at least three dogs
Reynolds, who is unemployed and was living in a caravan at Cocks Roost, St Just, at the time of the offences, pleaded guilty to all charges against him. These related to six dogs for which he was responsible.
Police and RSPCA officers attended the site on March 29, 2018, having been concerned about dogs in the care of Reynolds in the past, and were said to have been deeply affected by what they discovered.
The bodies of two dogs were found. One had been left to decompose inside a plastic bag used to store animal feed and the other, Sam, was found in a makeshift kennel. The court heard that witnesses had described a “powerful smell of rotting flesh”.
A lurcher called Ben was thin and had scars around his head and muzzle. He was also found to have what was described as a “de-gloving” injury – when skin is lost – on his face and was likely to have been in considerable pain but had not received any treatment.
Three dogs were found inside a “cramped” trailer without water. One of those was a beagle named Bruno who was described as being aggressive and later had to be put down. A dog called Tia was found inside the caravan which was in a “shambolic state” with a “build-up of faeces, especially on the mattress”.
The trailer in which three dogs were found. One of those had to be put down.
Kevin Withey, prosecuting for the RSPCA, revealed: “If the circumstances didn’t change [the dogs] would be at significant risk.”
During a search of the site remains of at least three other dogs were also found.
The decomposing remains of other dogs were found at the site.
Before signing over care of the dogs to the police, Reynolds told officers: “I know I’ve f*cked up.”
A postmortem examination found that Sam had been dead for at least two or three weeks and had died from malnutrition due to starvation. The results from investigations into the death of the other dog were inconclusive because the body had already started to decompose.
Mr Withey revealed that upon writing his statement, a police officer with 21 years of service described the site as the “most upsetting” scene he had ever witnessed. He also said he had “never witnessed animals being forced to live in such poor conditions”.
Mr Withey added that the animals had been “obviously suffering” and their needs were “deliberately ignored”. He also revealed the RSPCA had concerns for two dogs that Reynolds still had access to but claimed belonged to his partner. However during court proceedings, these animals were also surrendered to the animal charity.
District Judge Diane Baker described the events as the “most appalling case of animal cruelty”.
Liam Reynolds
She said she found Reynolds of the highest level of culpability due to the “prolonged period of serious neglect”. Judge Baker added that he ignored advice of the RSPCA to increase the dogs’ diet and ensure water was available.
She continued: “I have no doubt the suffering was obvious. It was ignored in the most inhumane manner.” Upon sentencing, Judge Baker took into account Reynolds’ supposed good character, family difficulties and late guilty plea.
Sentencing: 16-week prison sentence, of which he will serve half. One-year’s probation. Disqualified from owning any animals for 20 years, with no right of appeal for ten years.
Reynolds was hauled back to court after admitting breaching the 20-year ban imposed for his horrific abuse of dogs.
He breached the order by being caught keeping ferrets and snakes.
Reynolds, whose address was given at court as care of a home in Mount Pleasant, Hayle, had denied the charges but was found guilty after a one-day trial of two counts of breaching a disqualification.
After being found guilty of breaching that ban his case was adjourned for sentencing.
However, he failed to turn up at Truro Magistrates’ Court for that sentencing hearing.
As a result he also faced two further charges of failing without reasonable cause to surrender to custody.
Reynolds received a suspended sentence for two years, was ordered to undergo 200 hours of unpaid work and pay costs of £1,122.
Liam Reynolds, now said to be living Mount Pleasant, Hayle, Cornwall, was jailed for 34 weeks after he breached an animal disqualification order for a second time.
Reynolds pleaded guilty to animal welfare offences, following an investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA.
He was given a 34-week custodial sentence, with 20 weeks concurrent for each offence and a 14 week sentence to run consecutively for breaching his ban. The court also ordered him to pay costs of £600 and a £128 victim surcharge, and reset his 20-year-long disqualification order for keeping animals.
In October 2020, police contacted the RSPCA after CCTV footage they had obtained showed Reynolds continuing to have regular contact and interaction with ferrets, despite his earlier disqualification for animal cruelty.
The footage CCTV spanned a period of between September 22, 2020 and October 13, 2020 and showed Reynolds handling, feeding, and moving ferrets, as well as cleaning out pens and handling ferret food. The second offence arose whilst he was already under investigation and had moved the ferrets to another location and also acquired approximately 40 quails.
RSPCA inspector Paul Kempson, who investigated for the animal welfare charity, said after the sentencing: “Courts impose disqualification orders on people convicted of animal welfare offences to protect more animals from suffering.
“It is important to reiterate to the public that we rely on them to tell us if someone has breached a ban. We depend on the public to be our eyes and ears and we take breaches of bans very seriously – as do the courts.”
The first change was that between September 23, 2020 and October 9, 2020 at Trevingey Road, Redruth, while being under a disqualification for 20 years extending to all animals, he breached that disqualification order in respect of ferrets.
The second was that on and before April 5, 2021 at Newton Moor, Troon, he again breached the same qualification order, in respect of ferrets and quails.
CONVICTED (2019) | Elizabeth McLeod, born 7 September 1977, of Lawswell, Alloa FK10 3JD -starved a nursing dog and failed to get vet treatment for her potentially fatal infections
Elizabeth McLeod pleaded guilty to failing to provide adequate care and treatment to her dog, Cody, for two months between April 1 and June 1, 2018.
The court heard that the Scottish SPCA had visited McLeod’s home following a tip-off and found a female dog in a crate with puppies. The dog was described as “incredibly thin, with her rib cage, spine and pelvic bones clearly visible”.
Bedding in the crate smelled foul, and stained with urine and faeces. There was no food or water bowl.
McLeod was told to offer Cody food and water. She ate the food “vociferously, taking large mouthfuls” and drank two full bowls of water very quickly.
Cody had fresh blood on her hind legs and around her vaginal area.
McLeod told the vet she had owned the dog for two years without taking her to the vet.
Subsequent veterinary examinations found Cody to be emaciated with a body score of one out of nine. She had depleted the majority of her fat stores to produce milk for the puppies.
Cody also had a urine infection for which she had to receive an operation. During the procedure she was found to have an enlarged uterus which contained multiple placentas, which had caused infection.
In the vets’ opinion Cody could have gone on to develop potentially fatal septicaemia if left untreated.
Scottish SPCA Inspector Seddon said, “McLeod caused unnecessary suffering by failing to provide veterinary treatment for her dog, Cody, who had a bacterial womb infection and for failing to provide her with proper nutrition which put the health of her twelve puppies at risk.
“When I visited the property, Cody was with her puppies in a cage with bedding that was saturated with faeces and urine.
“Cody was found to be incredibly thin, and after examination, the vet described her as emaciated. You could clearly see her rib cage, spine and pelvic bones and her head looked too big for her body. It was also clear there was obvious discharge and blood around her genital area indicating that there was a medical condition.
“I asked McLeod to feed Cody and she voraciously ate two bowls of food. When water was put down for her she drank two full bowls very quickly and half of a third.
“Upon veterinary examination, Cody was given a body condition score of one out of nine. She weighed 27.8kg and the vet considered that she should weigh around 40kg. Ten of her twelve puppies were found to be underweight too. It was also confirmed that Cody was suffering from a bacterial womb infection.
“Due to her infection, Cody had to have her ovaries and womb removed, where vets found multiple retained placenta from giving birth which were causing the infection. If left untreated, she could have died within days.
“I’m delighted to say that Cody made a full recovery and has found her forever home where she is getting the love she deserves. The puppies didn’t last long in our centre and I’m pleased to say they all found their happy homes too.
“We are glad that the courts have dealt with this case and the sentence passed down.
“Bans send an important message that owning an animal is a privilege rather than a right.”
Cody and all the puppies have since been rehomed by the animal charity.
Sentencing McLeod, Sheriff David Mackie told her: “The court accepts there was no will to harm the dogs.”
Sentencing: 12 months of supervision. Banned from looking after dogs for just five years (expires February 2024).
CONVICTED (2019) | Stan Strelley and wife Heather Strelley, both born c. 1978, of 34 Bron, Gwendraeth, Kidwelly SA17 4HT – failed to meet the needs of 35 ponies and caused them to suffer
Stan and Heather Strelley are well-known on the showing circuit
RSPCA Cymru were shocked to find the ponies with overgrown hooves, cuts and scrapes to their bodies and surrounded by broken glass, brick, metal and old machinery on their land.
Banging noises could be heard at the site – and rescuers soon found a collapsed shed with ponies trying to push their way through the fallen metal roof.
Three distressed ponies inside did not have room to stand up without hitting themselves and they were forced to crouch causing their legs to buckle.
RSPCA Cymru found a collapsed shed with ponies trying to push their way through the fallen metal roof
Conditions at the shed were so bad that the building was bursting at the seams with soiled faeces and had nails protruding from the walls.
Shockingly, the bones of a deceased pony were found on a muck heap nearby.
A further 20 ponies were discovered in a separate building – almost all of which were living in horrific conditions.
Part of the building’s roof was collapsing, and the ponies were living on many feet of faeces.
The building was so dilapidated the ponies were not able to stand up without hitting themselves on the roof
Some three ponies were found to be underweight, six were lame, and a further three were trapped in a collapsed shed.
An investigating RSPCA inspector has said the case amounted to ‘shocking neglect of a large number of animals’.
RSPCA inspector Keith Hogben said: ‘I will never forget the sound of hearing a pony trying to bang his way out of a collapsed shed.
‘It was an horrific discovery – with three ponies trapped beneath fallen metal roofing sheets, in conditions so horrendous I was left cold. They were desperate to get out, but had no way out before we arrived.
It was confirmed in court that both individuals kept showing showing ponies – and, indeed, some were found at the site groomed and in far better condition that other ponies.
The judge labelled the overall conditions at the site ‘disgraceful’ and ‘disgusting’.
Twenty-two of the ponies were signed into the care of the RSPCA – with the other 13 remaining at the property, but moved away from the poor environment in which they had been forced to live.
The pair now have 28 days to make arrangements for the ponies still in their care.
Mr Hogben said: ‘This complex investigation found shocking neglect of a large number of animals – with ponies kept in hugely inappropriate conditions; and many left to suffer with serious weight loss or lameness.
‘Remarkably, both individuals were showing ponies – and continued to do so during our investigations.
‘There was a clear priorities problem – with some animals groomed and treated far better; while others were left in appalling conditions. It was one rule for some – and another rule for the others.
‘It is so hard to understand how anyone lets conditions get so bad for their animals.’
Sentencing: Stan Strelley – 16 weeks in jail, suspended for a year; a total of £415 costs and charges; 190 hours of unpaid community work and 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days
Heather Strelley – 12 weeks in jail, suspended for a year; a total of £415 costs and charges. 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
Both were banned from keeping ponies and horses for five years, but may appeal after just one year (ban expires February 2024).
The Strelleys were back in court after ignoring their ban on keeping equines.
RSPCA inspector Keith Hogben and World Horse Welfare field officer Tony Evans visited the couple at a farm in Trimsaran Road, Kidwelly, on 28 May, 2021, following reports of a lame pony and a breach of ban offence.
A total of 13 section A Welsh ponies were found at the property, along with a further six in a field outside. The majority of those stabled were showing stress-induced behaviours and a bay mare called Maia, who was reluctant to move, was found to be suffering from untreated laminitis.
The couple denied the ponies belonged to them and instead gave inspector Hogben the name of a woman, with two different surnames, who they claimed was the owner. They also told him that Maia had seen a vet six to eight weeks previously.
Mrs Strelley was repeatedly asked for the owner’s contact number, but when it was eventually provided, there was no reply. When the alleged owner eventually spoke to inspector Hogben later that day, she told him that Maia belonged to her and had seen a vet. However, the two veterinary practices, whose names were given to the inspector, said they had never heard of the pony.
A vet visited the farm for the RSPCA later that day and confirmed Maia was lame on all four legs. She added that it was evident the mare was in “uncontrollable pain”, had been suffering unnecessarily for six to eight weeks, and was unlikely to have been seen by a vet or farrier in that time.
The pony was removed that day by police and placed in RSPCA care.
“In this case, I believe much earlier intervention with a veterinarian and a farrier would have prevented ongoing suffering of this mare,” said the vet, in evidence to the court.
“The appearance of the mare’s hooves externally show that she was overdue trimming and this, along with other factors such as breed, stress, diet and increased weight, would have predisposed her to laminitis.
“In my opinion the barn environment was stressful as the majority of the ponies were exhibiting stress-induced behaviours such as cribbing, kicking, snorting and biting. These ponies, including the laminitic mare, were fed ad-lib haylage which, as a source of high starch, is inappropriate for laminitis-prone breeds and a pony currently suffering from the condition.”
Magistrates were told a different woman, whose name was given to inspector Hogben, was not the ponies’ owner. The court heard this woman said Mrs Strelley had been sending her messages, asking her to say the ponies were hers and had offered her money to do so.
The Strelleys continued to deny ownership of all the ponies until 8 June when, via a letter from the solicitor, they admitted they were theirs.
The two animal welfare offences the pair were charged with were causing unnecessary suffering by failing to ensure a pony received appropriate veterinary and/or farrier care as a consequence of lameness, and that they did not take reasonable steps to ensure ponies’ needs were met, in terms of diet and a suitable living environment that minimised stress.
The mitigation given for their actions was that they loved the ponies too much to give them up, and that they couldn’t seek veterinary treatment because it was likely the vet would know they were banned from keeping equines.
Maia has since been rehomed and the remaining ponies are under new ownership.
After the case, inspector Hogben said: “Mr and Mrs Strelley have shown a total disregard for the law and the sentence that was handed out to them when they appeared in court for previous animal welfare offences.
“Unfortunately another pony has now suffered unnecessarily due to Mrs Strelley’s failure to treat a hoof problem that she was fully aware of.
“We are very pleased that Maia made a full recovery after receiving excellent veterinary treatment and rehabilitation by equine professionals.
“We are grateful to our friends at World Horse Welfare, in particular field officer Tony Evans, for their support in this case, which is another example of what we can achieve together for animal welfare.”
Sentencing 10 February 2022: Her – a 12-week and eight-week prison sentence, to run concurrently, suspended for two years for breaching the disqualification order and causing unnecessary suffering respectively. She was also ordered to pay costs of £1,000 and a £128 victim surcharge. Four-month curfew; 25 days of rehabilitation activity requirements.
Him – eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, for breaching his ban, and ordered to pay the same costs and victim surcharge as his wife. He must also undertake 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 200 hours of unpaid work.
The couple were given an additional five-year ban.
CONVICTED (2019) | Liam Jones, born c. 1993, of Shrubcote, Tenterden, Ashford TN30 – for illegally docked the tail of a 15-week-old spaniel puppy
Cocker spaniel Max was discovered in High Halden with an elastic band wrapped at the top of his tail that had been tightened with the aid of crimping pliers, leaving the end to become “withered”.
His owner Liam Jones pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a puppy by attempting to dock his tail, when he appeared before Maidstone Magistrates.
RSPCA Inspector Dave Grant said that Max had been rescued in July 2018: “When we removed Max from the home he had an orange elastic band wrapped tightly around his tail.
“It was 1.5ins from the base of his tail and the remainder of the tail was withered almost to the point of falling off. I touched his tail and he yelped; he was obviously in pain.”
He added: “Mr Jones was used to docking lambs’ tails and didn’t see any different in applying the same method to his 15-week-old cocker spaniel puppy, Max.
“He claimed his previous dog had suffered a de-gloving tail injury, which is when the skin is torn away, and he wanted to prevent Max going through the same.
Tail docking is illegal under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, except for medical purposes or for certain types of certified working dogs, when the procedure must be carried out by a vet before the puppy is five days old.
“While Mr Jones told us that Max was intended to be a working dog, he was not registered with any groups.”
Insp Grant said. “He also admitted that he was unaware of the laws around tail docking and had used crimping pliers to apply the rubber band to Max’s tail.
“Tail docking is illegal under the Animal Welfare Act. It is a painful process, can impact on how dogs communicate and is often wholly unnecessary.
“We do not believe any animals should be mutilated for cosmetic purposes and that removing part or all of the tail should only be done for medical reasons.”
Max has been rehomed by the RSPCA.
Sentencing: community order of 200 hours of unpaid work and 20-days of rehabilitation activity, to include attending the RSPCA’s pilot intervention programme aimed at stopping re-offending. Total of £385 costs and charges. Disqualified from keeping dogs for two years (expired February 2021).
