Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Hedge End, Southampton: Simon Hancock

June 14, 2019 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2019) | Simon James Hancock, born 20 April 1982, of Terrier Close, Hedge End, Southampton SO30 2ND – shot a dog in the head four times with an air rifle before dumping him in a wooded area and leaving him for dead.

Evil dog abuser Simon Hancock from Southampton, Hampshire, UK

The court was told how on July 11, 2018, Hancock attempted to destroy the 15-month-old dog, known as Jet, who belonged to his former partner.

After shooting Jet four times with an air rifle, Hancock dumped him in bushes close to his home in Hedge End, where he suffered, alone, for five days.

Jet experienced unimaginable suffering as he spent five days collapsed in woodland while seriously wounded

When the dog was was finally discovered, he had collapsed and was infested with thousands of fly eggs around the pellet holes.

Jet’s microchip details identified Hancock’s former partner as the owner, and investigations by the animal charity began.

An air rifle found in Hancock’s home was examined by forensics and it was accepted that it was the weapon used to shoot Jet, although Hancock claimed it had been dumped on his doorstep the same morning as the search warrant.

Jet's recovery was slow and he has been left with impaired hearing and vision thanks to the cruelty of Simon Hancock — Jet’s recovery was slow and he has been left with impaired hearing and vision thanks to the cruelty of Simon Hancock

He claimed a friend named Paul, whom he said he has since been unable to trace and didn’t know his surname, was given to Jet after it is claimed the young terrier bit his ex-partner’s daughter.

Hancock’s version of events was not believed by the court and in May 2019 he was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

Simon Hancock from Hedge End, Southampton, UK, shot this dog four times in the head with an air rifle and then abandoned him in woods

RSPCA Inspector Graham Hammond said: “Jet was treated in a shockingly brutal manner, being shot in the head four times, then dumped while still alive but horrendously injured.

“You cannot begin to imagine the suffering this dog went through during the five days he was left alone and injured.

“Thankfully he has survived and has made a very good recovery.

“He’s such a happy, friendly dog who loves everyone he meets. It’s amazing to see him thriving in his new home.

“More than £5,000 was spent on veterinary care.

“He was very touch-and-go at times and he lost hearing in one ear because an ear canal had to be removed. His vision has also been affected.”

Sentencing | 200 hours of community service; £1,600 in costs. Banned from keeping animals for just 10 years (expires June 2029).

Daily Echo

Dogs, Serial Animal Abusers, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Preston, Lancashire: John Bunting

June 13, 2019 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2019) | John Christian Joshua Bunting, born 24 March 1995, previously of Garstang Road North, Preston and more recently (December 2020) of Sherwood Road, Lytham St Annes FY8 4BL – caught on camera beating his pet dog.

Disco was filmed being beaten by her cruel owner John Bunting from Preston, Lancashire, UK — Abused dog Disco

Bunting pleaded guilty to one offence of causing unnecessary suffering to the dog, known as Disco, under the Animal Welfare Act.

The RSPCA was called by police on 8 September 2018 after they had arrested Bunting, seized the dog, and taken him to a vet practice.

RSPCA inspector Alison Fletcher said: “I met Disco before I saw the footage, which is distressing to watch.

“He was brought into the room by a male vet and he was extremely frightened. He had no obvious injuries but it was impossible to touch him without causing him distress.

“When I attempted to pick him up to place him in the kennel at the rear of my van and take him to the animal centre he went into blind panic. I did eventually manage to coax him inside after around 20 minutes of sitting with him and calmly reassuring him.”

In the first of three video clips Bunting can be seen entering the rear garden of a property on Garstang Road North, Wesham and walk over a grassed area partially out of view. A dog can be heard to cry out. He then appears at the corner of the house holding Disco in his left hand, by the scruff of the neck. He strikes the dog with his right hand a number of times while carrying him into the house. Disco can be heard to cry out again a number of times.

A second clip shows shadowy figures behind the frosted glass of the rear house door. Noises consistent with a slap and a dog vocalising can be heard. The door opens, a man’s voice can be heard to shout “Get out” and Disco runs out into the garden followed by Bunting. The dog runs onto the grassy area and sits down with his back to the garden wall and facing the house. The dog remains in the garden and Bunting returns back into the house.

A third clip shows Bunting standing over Disco before picking him up by the neck. Bunting carries Disco over to a brick-built outhouse within which the dog is placed. Bunting picks up a long piece of polystyrene and repeatedly hits something inside the outhouse. It is not clear whether he is striking Disco, though this was admitted by Bunting in interview.

The court heard that Bunting handled Disco in the manner seen in the footage because Disco wouldn’t go to the toilet, and would sit on the grass and not want to come in, then when he came back into the house he would urinate and defecate there. He said that he was trying to move Disco from behind the door to mop the floor.

Veterinary opinion was that it was likely that Disco had been subjected to shouting or violence when urinating and defecating, which caused him to become anxious when performing these bodily functions. It continued that this had led to him associating the garden with a place in which he experienced anxiety. In a similar way, when Disco urinated or defecated in the house and he was punished, there would be an association with an unpleasant experience in the house.

“This poor dog was in turmoil, caused to suffer physically and mentally,” said Inspector Fletcher.

“It has taken a great deal of love, patience and training from the wonderful staff caring for him at RSPCA Southport, Ormskirk and District Branch Animal Centre, but I saw him today and he’s like a different dog.

“I’m very happy to say that he’ll be looking for a new home soon.”

Sentencing | 18-month community order, 15 rehabilitation action requirement days, 300 hours of unpaid work, ordered to pay £500 costs and £85 victim surcharge. Disqualified from keeping animals for four years (expired June 2023).

Daily Mail

Animal Abandonment, Cats, Dogs, Multiple Species

Dunfermline, Fife: Natalie Page

June 12, 2019 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2019) | Natalie Page, born c. 1973, of Pentland Terrace, Dunfermline KY11 4ES – kept two dogs and a cat in squalid conditions.

Convicted animal abuser Natalie Page from Dunfermline in Fife — Natalie Page is banned from keeping animal for 21 months after keeping her pets in deplorable conditions.

Natalie Page admitted failing to ensure the needs of her pet cat were met by exposing the animal to faeces, household debris and unhygienic conditions.

Depute fiscal Alistair McDermid said a SSPCA inspector had gone to Page’s home on June 1, 2018, and warned her about the living conditions for her animals.

The two dogs removed from convicted animal abuser Natalie Page from Dunfermline in Fife — The two dogs removed from Natalie Page’s filthy property in July 2018.

On July 19, there was a return visit and two dogs were removed from the house.

Then, on October 25, two police officers went to the house on an unrelated matter.

They were trying to trace the owner and went inside when they found the front door unlocked.

“There was a thoroughly unpleasant smell and there was rubbish piled high on the floor of every room. The officers believed it was not suitable for habitation by a human and that the conditions posed a health risk,” said the depute.

“An adult cat was in the living room and was eating mouldy food that had been discarded on the floor. The pieces of mouldy food had been there so long they had flies coming out of them.

“There were cat and dog faeces on the floor. The dog faeces appear to have been there for three months.

“Wires were exposed where rubble had come away from crumbling walls.”

The cat was taken away to a local vet where it was found to be in “reasonable health” but required urgent dental work.

When Page was cautioned and charged by police she said: “I’ll get it sorted.”

Animal abuser Natalie Page from Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland. Picture: Facebook

Defence solicitor Peter Robertson said his client was currently living with her mother while her property was having renovations carried out by the council “to make it habitable”.

Sheriff Charles MacNair told Page: “The photographs taken at the time show the deplorable state of your property. If you want to live like that, I can’t do anything about it but animals can’t speak up for themselves and need protection.”

Sentencing | fined £360; 21-month banning order preventing Page from owning, keeping or taking charge of animals (expired 2022).

Dunfermline Press

Birds, Equine Abuse, farms / smallholdings, Food Production, horses and ponies, Multiple Species

Luton, Bedfordshire: Mohammed Malik

June 12, 2019 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2019) | Mohammed Saeed Malik, born 4 May 1983, of 26 Rondini Avenue, Luton LU3 1RR – kept hundreds of animals and birds in poor conditions on a smallholding.

Malik was sent to prison for 12 weeks and disqualified from keeping all animals for a period of 20 years after pleading guilty to a number of animal welfare offences.

Prosecutor Janita Patel told the court the case concerned the neglect of a large number of animals kept by the defendant on a smallholding/allotment-type premises in Kempston.

The RSPCA and Trading Standards had made a number of visits to the premises during April to August 2018, and advice and warning notices were issued to improve the manner in which the animals were being kept. But this advice was ignored and as a result a multi-agency operation, involving police, RSPCA, Trading Standards, Animal Plant and Health Agency and vets was carried out in September 2018.

Over a period of three days around 300 animals were removed on welfare grounds, including 195 chickens, 50 goats, five horses, three alpacas, five sheep, 32 geese, eight ducks, two turkeys and three peafowl.

Despite the nature of the operation the defendant obtained more animals and further complaints were made. The RSPCA attended a further four times to remove animal. On the last visit on February 4, 2019, 368 pigeons, 38 chickens and three quails were removed.

During the investigation officers found an array of animals were found to be kept in poor unacceptable conditions, with insufficient water and food available. Animals were also in poor body conditions.

Horses with their bones showing and overgrown hooves were kept on bare ground with insufficient grazing or supplementary feed and the water was dirty, sheep were underweight and had overgrown hooves, goats were kept in a shed made of pallets and had insufficient grazing or provision of hay, many of the goats were underweight and had overgrown hooves, and alpacas were underweight with overgrown hooves.

Poultry in poor body condition was kept in locations strewn with rubbish and hazards. There was also dead poultry carcasses left on site.

One vet who attended said that there had been gross negligence shown to each of the animals removed that had been under the defendant’s care, and that the animals had not had their needs met on multiple levels despite professional advice.

Speaking after the case RSPCA Inspector Susan Haywood said: “Despite visits by the RSPCA and Trading Standards giving advice and warning notices to improve the manner in which these animals were being kept, this was mostly ignored.

“The conditions of the animals, and the locations they were kept in, was shocking. Animals were in poor body conditions and were being kept in places without adequate clean water, grazing and feed.

“Some animals had their bones showing, others were lame and many had overgrown hooves.

“If someone takes on a large number of animals it is essential that they have the knowledge to look after them and also understand any regulations that may be relevant to the types they are keeping.”

The defendant was also subject to prosecution proceedings by Bedford Borough Council’s Trading Standards team, pleading guilty to four offences under Animal By Products legislation, with these offences relating to failings to secure and dispose of carcases representing serious failures to reduce the risks of the spread of disease to the public and other animals.

Many of the animals signed over into the RSPCA care have been found new homes – and new homes are being sought for the remainder.

Sentencing | for the eight RSPCA offences, he was sentenced to a 12-week immediate custodial sentence on each count to run concurrently and for the four Trading Standards charges a sentence of 8 weeks immediate custody to run concurrently with the 12 weeks already imposed. He was also ordered to pay £1,000 towards prosecution costs for the RSPCA and also the same to amount towards council costs and ordered to pay a surcharge of £115. He was disqualified from keeping all animals for a period of 20 years and cannot apply to terminate the order for a period of 10 years.

MK FM
Luton Today

Cats, Hoarders

Whitburn, Tyne and Wear: Ardal Rushton-Hall

June 11, 2019 misanthropic 7 Comments

CONVICTED (2019) | Ardal Padraig Rushton-Hall aka Ardal Hall, born 30 June 1997 of Souter View, Whitburn, Sunderland SR6 7HU – kept 14 cats in squalid conditions.

Animal abuser: Sunderland man Ardal Rushton-Hall is the son of notorious cat hoarder Anne Rushton — Ardal Hall

Ardal Rushton-Hall was arrested on a warrant after failing to turn up at South Shields Magistrates’ Court for his trial.

A warrant is still outstanding for his mother, 52-year-old Anne Louise Rushton.

Serial cat hoarder Anne Rushton — Compulsive cat hoarder and abuser Anne Rushton was a ‘no show’ in court

“The defendant is her son,” said John Elwood, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA.

“It is a consistent pattern for her to obtain accommodation by rental, and move in with animals in breach of the agreement.

“She then fails to look after the animals, and leaves the property in appalling conditions with the animals suffering.

“This defendant has helped her breach her disqualification, and has kept animals in dreadful conditions such that he failed to protect them from injury and disease.”

The court heard landlord Aiden Dunville let two flats in Stockton Road: one to Rushton, and one to her son and his partner.

“They all said they were homeless and in need of accommodation as soon as possible,” said Mr Elwood.

“Within a day, it was discovered Rushton had moved in cats, and the smell in her flat was over powering.

Ardal Rushton-Hall and his mother Anne Rushton kept multiple cats in atrocious conditions

“The rent went unpaid, and neighbours started to complain about the smell.

“The neighbours were also concerned they had not seen anyone in the flat for some time.

“It was discovered there was 14 cats in one of the flats, and rubbish and faeces all over.

“It appears that half the cats were were owned by Rushton, and half by her son.

“The cats had fur loss on their back ends and fleas,” added Mr Elwood.

“One cat at the property was missed, and only found under floorboards during building work to make the flats habitable again.

“The defendant was aware of his mother’s disqualification from keeping animals.”

Rushton-Hall admitted two charges of animal cruelty and one charge of aiding and abetting a person to commit animal cruelty.

Neil Hodgson, defending, said: “The prime mover behind this offending is not before the court today.

“This went on for six or seven weeks, and there is no doubt the defendant played a lesser role.

“He has had difficulties in his upbringing, having been involved in the care sytem.

“Mr Rushton-Hall doesn’t know where his mother is, and he hopes to bring his itinerant lifestyle to an end.

“He is hopeful of finding stable accommodation in the South Tyneside or Sunderland area.”

Sentencing | 12-month community order of 120 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation activity days; £335 costs. Banned from keeping animals for five years (expires June 2024).

Sunderland Echo

Dogs, Lifers, Worst of the Worst

Devizes, Wiltshire: Simon and Sarah Jane Sherman

June 11, 2019 misanthropic 3 Comments

CONVICTED (2019) | Simon Sherman, born 8/ July 1972 and Sarah Sherman, born 22 February 1972 of Waiblingen Way, Devizes SN10 2BP – failed to treat their dogs’ ailments or to feed them properly.

Animal abusers Simon Sherman and Sarah Sherman from Devizes, Wiltshire, UK. Picture: Facebook — Laddie

The Shermans were banned from keeping animals for life after leaving their dogs emaciated and sick.

Laddie was starved and neglected by Simon Sherman and Sarah Sherman from Devizes, Wiltshire, UK. — Laddie was in such poor condition he was put to sleep

RSPCA Inspector Miranda Albinson discovered collies Laddie and Milo in March 2019 after concerns were raised about their welfare.

During veterinary examination, Laddie was found to have a skeletal appearance, alopecia from his mid-back to tail, and paraphimosis, the inability to retract his penis, which had left it dry and inflamed.

Inspector Albinson said: “Laddie was lying in a green plastic dog bed on the kitchen floor.

“There was a small dirty cushion in this bed and next to it was a filthy blanket which was wet to the touch. Inside the bed was an empty silver dog bowl.

“He was clearly extremely underweight, with prominent hip bones, ribs and spine, and had complete fur loss over his back end.

“Milo had a sticky, dirty, and greasy coat and I could feel that he was also extremely underweight.

Simon Sherman took to Facebook to bemoan his conviction and claims he and wife Sarah Sherman were “well screwed over in court”

Devizes couple Sarah Jane Sherman and husband Simon Sherman were convicted of neglecting their dogs Laddie and Milo — Simon Sherman

“There is no excuse for allowing any pet to get into the state Laddie and Milo were in.

“There is always help available for those people who need it and we encourage people to seek out this help to prevent animals suffering.”

Laddie was put to sleep because of the severity of his condition and Milo is still recovering.

Sentencing |
Simon Sherman – 250 hours of community service and ordered to pay a total of £335 costs and charges.
Sarah-Jane Sherman – costs and charges totalling £230.
Both are banned from keeping animals for life.

Swindon Advertiser

Dogs, foxes, hunting with dogs, hunts, Wildlife Crime / Bloodsports, Worst of the Worst

South Herefordshire Hunt: Paul Oliver, Hannah Rose, Paul Reece and Julie Elmore

June 10, 2019 misanthropic 4 Comments

CONVICTED (2019) | Paul Oliver, born c. 1978, and Hannah Rose, born c. 1988, both of Sutton Crosses, Long Sutton, Spalding PE12, Paul Reece, born c. 1970, of Grove View, Usk Road, Chepstow NP16 6SA and Julie Elmore, born c. 1963, of Brynarw Estate, Cwmyoy, Abergavenny NP7 7ND – convicted of cruelty to foxes after cubs were fed to hounds.

Fox cub killers Paul Oliver, Hannah Rose, Paul Reece and Julie Elmore - all involved with now defunct South Herefordshire Hunt — Fox cub killers Paul Oliver, Paul Reece, Hannah Rose and Julie Elmore

Footage obtained by a group called the Hunt Investigation Team (HIT) was instrumental in the successful prosecution of Paul Oliver, master of hounds with the now disbanded South Herefordshire Hunt.

South Herefordshire Hunt cruelty case. Fox cub killer Paul Oliver, former huntsman with the now defunct hunt. — Disgraced Master and Huntsman of the now defunct South Herefordshire Hunt, Paul Oliver

Oliver was convicted of four counts of animal cruelty for allowing his hounds to kill four fox cubs and was handed a 16-week suspended jail sentence for causing their “painful, terrifying” deaths.

District Judge Joanna Dickens, sitting at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court, also imposed a 12-week suspended sentence on Oliver’s partner, Hannah Rose, the hunt’s kennel maid.

South Herefordshire Hunt kennel maid Hannah Rose pictured outside court

The pair were ordered to pay £300 in costs and a £115 victim surcharge after being convicted of causing unnecessary suffering.

South Herefordshire Hunt cruelty case. Hannah Rose and Paul Oliver pictured outside court. — Hannah Rose and Paul Oliver pictured outside court.

HIT, a relatively new group whose members include ex-services personnel, received training in covert investigative methods.

They fixed a device to Oliver’s Land Rover following a tip-off and tracked him to a site where they suspected he was catching fox cubs in May 2016.

They also set up cameras at the hunt’s kennels and obtained footage they said proved Oliver was catching cubs and taking them back to his hounds to “blood” them.

South Herefordshire Hunt cruelty case. Paul Oliver was filmed taking live fox cubs from a crate into a kennel block. A short time later he was captured disposing of the cubs' mutilated bodies. — Paul Oliver was filmed taking live fox cubs from a crate into a kennel block at the South Herefordshire Hunt. A short time later he was captured disposing of the cubs’ mutilated bodies.

South Herefordshire Hunt cruelty case. Paul Oliver's girlfriend Hannah Rose looks on as he handles the fox cubs. Photo credit: Hunt Investigation Team. — Paul Oliver’s girlfriend Hannah Rose looks on as he handles the fox cubs. *Photo credit: Hunt Investigation Team.*

The court heard that one camera recorded Oliver dumping the bodies of two cubs in a wheelie bin.

The activists are said to have taken legal advice from lawyers and animal welfare organisations who told them they could not recover the cubs as this would amount to theft.

They said they did not pass the case to the police because they did not believe officers would have the resources to follow it up.

HIT members, who are involved in several ongoing investigations, are so worried about reprisals that one was allowed to give evidence during the seven-day trial from behind a screen.

Fox cub killers Julie Elmore and Paul Reece — Terrierman Paul Reece was filmed delivering a fox cub to the crate. Nathan Parry, who unbelievably was acquitted, was also present along with his girlfriend Julie Elmore (pictured)

Julie Elmore and Paul Reece admitted two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to cubs which were distressed by being transported to the kennels.

Elmore and Reece were given conditional discharges and ordered to pay costs of £50 after the judge said both had been “motivated by consideration” for two fox cubs.

A fifth defendant, Nathan Parry, born c. 1978, also of Brynarw estate, Abergavenny,was cleared of all charges.

Acquitted of any involvement in live fox cubs being fed to hounds: Nathan Parry — Unbelievably Nathan Parry was acquitted with judges believing his implausible account

Parry took foxes to kennels but was found not guilty after the judge accepted he believed they would be relocated in the wild.

Martin Sims, director of investigations at the League Against Cruel Sports and former head of the police’s National Wildlife Crime Unit, said: “We believe the incidents show that hunts are clearly still hunting as the poor fox cubs were thrown into the kennels to give the hounds a taste for blood.

“The barbarity of these incidents is sickening and will horrify the vast majority of the British public who are overwhelmingly opposed to fox hunting.”

Deborah Marshall, HIT spokeswoman, said: “This case has taken far too long to come to court and we have faced false allegations against investigators and obstruction throughout. We are glad that justice has finally taken its course.

“The capture of fox cubs to be used to train hounds is nothing new and is widespread across Britain, as is the mass destruction of healthy hounds to make way for younger ones. We will continue to expose cruelty and wildlife crime.”

The Masters of Foxhounds Association suspended the South Herefordshire Hunt after the footage emerged and it has since disbanded.

A spokesperson for the association said Oliver’s actions were “completely disgraceful” and had no place in hunting.

Telegraph

Dogs, ear cropping and tail docking, Lifers, Pet Theft

Coventry: Martin Carter

June 8, 2019 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2019) | Martin Carter, born, c 1986, of Mercers Meadow, Keresley End, Coventry CV7 8RF – stole a dog from Birmingham Dogs Home and cut off his ears to avoid capture.

Mastiff cross Marley was stolen from Birmingham Dogs Home by his former owner, Martin Carter. He has now been jailed for six months. — Mastiff cross Marley was stolen from Birmingham Dogs Home by his callous former owner, Martin Carter.

The court heard that Martin Carter stole the three-year-old Mastiff cross – known as Marley – during a burglary at Birmingham Dogs Home in November 2017.

Staff at charity never gave up the search for the pooch and after a number of appeals police recovered Marley from an address in Keresley, Coventry.

The court was also told that cruel Carter had arranged for the dog’s ears to be surgically cropped off in an attempt to conceal his identity.

He even had the dog’s microchip surgically removed and replaced with another.

Marley had been re-homed to the home by the courts after his previous owner was convicted of using the dog in an attack on a woman earlier that year.

Carter’s court appearance came after a police investigation across the West Mercia, Warwickshire and West Midlands Police regions.

An application by the prosecution for Carter to be disqualified from owning animals again was not granted.

Sentencing | six-month custodial sentence for handling stolen goods and three months for the animal offence – to run concurrently. While an application by the prosecution for Carter to be disqualified from keeping animals was not initially granted, this was overturned on appeal in November 2019 and he is banned from keeping animals for life.

Birmingham Mail

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

London: Akim Hussan

June 3, 2019 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2019) | Akim Hussan, born c. 1969, of Boundary Road, St John’s Wood, London – for attacking a dog named Zeus

Hussan caused unnecessary suffering to Zeus by grabbing, kicking and yanking him, on August 20, 2018 at Brentwood in Essex.

No further details are available.

Sentencing: 160 hours of unpaid work. Total of £170 costs and charges. Disqualified from owning and keeping all animals for five years (expires June 2024).

EssexLive

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Mansfield, Nottinghamshire: Scott Weatherer

June 2, 2019 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2019) | Scott Weatherer, born c. 1975, of Highfield Road, Clipstone Village, Mansfield NG21 – carried out a “horrible attack” on a cocker spaniel.

Dog abuser Scott Weatherer of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire — Dog abuser Scott Weatherer

Weatherer appeared at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on Monday, May 20 , 2019 charged with causing “unnecessary suffering to a protected animal” in relation to a spaniel named Bella.

The incident which was described as “a horrible attack”, took place on December 22, 2018 in Bassingham Fen, near Aubourn.

Magistrates treated the offence “as a one off incident” on the grounds that Weatherer was of previous good character and had, apparently, looked after dogs well up to that point.

Sentencing | 18-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months. Costs and charges totalling £615. Banned from keeping animals for ten years (expires June 2029).

LincolnshireLive

UK Animal Cruelty Files

Monthly Archives: June 2019