CONVICTED (2020) | Debbie Clara Wills, born c. 1990 of Lower Cranesmoor, Bovington, Wareham BH20 6LR – starved her dog and dumped his emaciated body in a garden shed after he died
Cruel Debbie Wills neglected and starved her two dogs, only one of whom survived.
Six-year-old black and white springer spaniel, Finn, was matted and had overgrown nails and large open sores when his body was found. The dog weighed 8.8kg at the time of his death – the weight he should have been at three months old.
Wills also kept a second springer spaniel in a terrible condition. That dog, a three-year-old known as Aero, weighed just 6.4kg, and was so thin he was unable to lift his head when RSPCA inspectors visited Wills’ home.
A court heard the dogs had been kept in a cage, with food just beyond their reach. Wills walked past their cage, which was in the hallway of her home, but ignored their suffering.
Officials were alerted by a member of the public concerned for the welfare of Wills’ pets.
RSPCA Inspector Graham Hammond visited her home where he found Aero in a collapsed state. The dog’s skull, shoulder bones, spine and leg bones were visible through his fur. He also had very matted ears, open sores, and curled, overgrown nails.
Insp Hammond then found the body of Finn stored in a garden shed. A post-mortem found the dog had starved to death.
Aero was rushed to a vet who provided emergency treatment. Miraculously he recovered and has since been rehomed.
Insp Hammond called the case “heartbreaking”.
“The dogs were in emaciated condition on the hard cage floor. Their open sores, long nails and matted wet ears would have definitely caused both Aero and Finn to suffer greatly,” he said.
“This case is heartbreaking. Debbie Wills ignored the needs and suffering of Aero and Finn.
“Finn died in front of Aero. Aero collapsed soon after Finn, he was so weak he was within hours of death.
“There was food within inches of them, just outside their cage, but sadly too far away.
“During these last days of their lives, Debbie Wills could see that they were losing weight and were dangerously thin but did nothing about it.
“She walked past their cage in her hallway, containing two starving dogs, never taking the opportunity to feed them adequately, take them to a vet or even asking someone for help.”
Wills is now banned from keeping animals for life
Wills, who runs a Facebook page called the Glossy Girls Boutique (at time of writing, deactivated), claimed she was struggling to cope because of having a poorly child.
She said her failures were neglectful, rather than intentionally malicious.
Sentencing: six months in prison, suspended for two years. 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement. Ordered to pay £512. Banned from keeping animals for life with the right of appeal after 10 years.
CONVICTED (2020) | Natasha Kaye Corbett, born 16/02/1988, of Meryl Gardens, Stockton Road, Hartlepool TS25 2PL – neglected and starved two dogs kept in pens in an outbuilding.
Single mother Natasha Corbett pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a dog called Lucky and of failing to ensure the welfare of a second dog, Otis.
The court heard vets found Lucky had a body condition score of 1 out of 9, along with painful, matted fur and Otis was significantly underweight with a score of 2 out of 9.
Lucky had to be shaved to remove painful matted fur
Stewart Heywood, prosecuting, said an RSPCA officer attended Corbett’s house in early October 2019 after concerns were raised about the dogs’ welfare.
He said the dogs were being kept in metal pens inside an outbuilding and the officer could see they needed immediate vet care.
The prosecutor said: “She said she relied on the children to feed both the dogs, but admitted she did not check they were doing so.”
Otis was underweight due to not being fed properly
He said Corbett was given an RSPCA caution in 2018 after she admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a number of puppies.
A spokesman for the probation service said Corbett, a former pupil at Manor College of Technology, is a single mother and works full time as a senior sales assistant for BrightHouse.
He said her two sons, aged nine and 11, were given the responsibility of caring for the dogs.
He said: “Ms Corbett now recognises that the responsibility to care for the dogs was her own.
“Due to her ignorance and lack of finance the dogs were not cared for as they should have been.
“She feels guilty about what happened.”
Andrew Teate, defending, said the dogs had been brought into the family by Ms Corbett’s former partner who was then sent to prison.
He said Ms Corbett’s cats were well looked after and the RSPCA had no issues with their care.
He said: “The children were caring for the animals, she accepts with the benefit of hindsight that was unsatisfactory.”
Sentencing: 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months; four-week curfew. Banned from keeping all animals for ten years. Deprivation order on her cats.
CONVICTED (2020) | Mark William Simpson, born 1968, of Westfield, Jarrow NE32 4QW – left his pet dog to suffer with skin disease and irreversible eye damage
Mark Simpson from Jarrow failed to treat his pet dog’s health problems and is now banned from keeping animals for 10 years
Simpson was in charge of a King Charles spaniel-type dog named Angel, who was found with a number of health problems.
The RSPCA said the animal was missing fur, was weak and had eye and ear disease when she was discovered at Simpson’s Jarrow home in July 2017.
Simpson pleaded guilty to four offences of causing unnecessary suffering to Angel and failing to ensure the animal’s welfare.
King Charles-type spaniel Angel was suffering from a number of painful conditions
RSPCA prosecutor Stewart Haywood told the court that an inspector visited the defendant’s home and saw the pet covered with a blanket.
“The dog’s eyes were filled with pus, it had missing fur, the skin was reddish and it had very long nails,” said Mr Haywood.
“The defendant said she had been attacked by a Rottweiler some weeks ago and had been taken to a vet.”
After a veterinary examination, it was found Angel was “extremely weak”, had reduced vision and “permanent irreversible damage” to her eyes.
Her ear canals had thick and yellow discharge, and the skin was described as being in “an appalling condition”.
The RSPCA went on to provide treatment and the pet is now doing well, the court heard.
Mr Haywood added: “The suffering had taken place for at least one month.”
He said Simpson had made appointments to see a vet in January and March 2019 for Angel’s skin and eye problems but had not turned up.
“There’s high level of suffering in this case,” added Mr Haywood. “There is prolonged neglect here.”
Annalisa Moscardini, defending, told the court her client had learning difficulties.
Sentencing: 12-month community order; ordered to pay £385; banned from owning animals for 10 years.
CONVICTED (2020) | Mathew Howell Jones, born 30/05/1981, of Jones Street, Tonypandy CF40 2BY – for badger baiting and failing to take his injured dog to the vet
Mathew Howell Jones was given a suspended jail term after interfering with a badger sett and failing to seek treatment for his badly injured dog.
Mathew Howell Jones pleaded guilty to one Protection of Badgers Act 1992 offence and one Animal Welfare Act 2006 offence.
The court heard that the father-of-three was caught using dogs to interfere with a badger sett on January 20, 2019.
Jones also admitted failing to get urgent veterinary treatment for his dog, with the black terrier struggling with serious injuries.
The unnamed dog had alopecia and skin lesions, caused by sarcoptic mange – with a wound to the eye consistent with a tear injury to the lower lid. Despite these problems, Jones had not taken him to the vet.
A veterinary professional said such injuries are “commonly seen following fighting” and would be “consistent with a face-to-face encounter with another dog or a fox or a badger”.
One of badger baiter Mathew Howell Jones’s dogs
The dog – one of four initially seized as part of the investigation – was signed into the RSPCA’s care and ultimately put up for rehoming.
Police found blood-stained overalls in Jones’ van, though he denied ownership of the clothing. Testing of the blood confirmed it had come from a badger. RSPCA officers later found evidence of one large, freshly dug and back-filled hole at an active badger sett.
Chief inspector of the RSPCA’s special operations unit Ian Briggs said: “Interfering with a badger sett in this way is a very serious wildlife crime, and clearly had serious possible impacts both for the dogs involved and wildlife.
“One poor dog in this case was struggling with injuries that clearly needed urgent veterinary care. It’s very worrying that the injuries sustained by the dog are – according to veterinary opinion – consistent with fighting, and a face-to-face encounter with wildlife, such as a fox or a badger.
“This case is yet another example of the RSPCA’s efforts to tackle crimes against Wales’ wildlife.”
Sentencing: five-month prison sentence, suspended for 24 months; ordered to pay a total of £1,520. Disqualified from keeping all animals for four years.
Jones was also deprived by the court of all possessions related to the interference with a badger sett – including locating devices and netting.
CONVICTED (2020) | Maidstone gypsies and serial animal abusers Jimmy Price, born 2 September 1994, of Forstal Farm, Well Street, Loose ME15 0QE, Samuel ‘Johnny’ Powell, born c. 1985, of Wheat Gratten Stableyards, Forstal Road, Lenham ME17 2BF, Danny Price, born c. 1990, of Victoria Stables, Victoria Court, East Farleigh ME15 0BW
Serial animal abusers Samuel Powell (left) and Jimmy Price were both jailed for their latest acts of cruelty.
Jimmy Price and Samuel Powell were sent to prison after the former was filmed repeatedly stabbing a deer and the latter had put an eight-month-old foal to work. Price was also found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a horse and two dogs.
Qualified jockey Danny Price left a horse to starve to death but was let off with a community order and not banned from keeping animals.
Jimmy Price’s brother Danny Price – a qualified jockey – admitted letting a horse starve to death and received a community order.
Jimmy Price’s brother Danny was convicted after his bay horse was found dead next to a hay bale during the RSPCA raid in March 2019. He had starved to death
A video played to the court showed Jimmy Price’s dogs, Scout and Tramp, untethered and unfed at the father-of-two’s home address in Forstal Farm, Loose.
Jimmy Price, who has previous convictions for violence and dishonesty, is a father of two
A voice in the video was heard to say: “If they run away good luck to them, I tell you what you’re the wickedest fella I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Jimmy Price, who has a history of violence, was previously convicted in December 2019 after repeatedly stabbing a deer. He was also caught hare coursing.
Still from the horrifying video in which Jimmy Price stabs a deer repeatedly while being goaded by three unknown accomplices
Rowan Morton, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said today: “It’s very difficult to even explain the gravity of what the video shows.
“There are a group of four males that can be seen with a deer. Jimmy Price is seen stabbing the deer multiple times in the throat while others shout at him to stab it.
“It’s very graphic and upsetting, there was no doubt that animal was caused significant pain and suffering.”
Jimmy Price with partner Chanelle Treeby
Price, who was already serving a suspended sentence for theft offences, has previously been convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to dogs.
Persistent criminal Jimmy Price was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to two dogs and a horse
When Tramp and Scout were taken into the RSPCA’s care and fed properly, they gained 25% bodyweight and 45% bodyweight respectively within seven weeks.
Jimmy Price was previously convicted of hare coursing
Price’s dogs and the horse, which belonged to his late father, were seized during an RSPCA raid on Forstal Farm in March 2019.
Horse trader Samuel Powell had three horses seized during the same raid, having had a mare and her foal seized two months prior.
Samuel Powell
Four of the horses were found to be emaciated. One was suffering with diarrhoea and the foal had breathing problems, fleas and was described as “very thin”.
A Shetland Pony was found with a cut across the nose.
Powell accepted each of the horses was his own, but said they were in that condition as he was rehabilitating them.
He told the court: “I will buy horses that have not been treated properly. When I get them I feed them, look after them and rehabilitate them. Then I sell them for profit.
“I like to think I sometimes save lives when I buy horses.”
When asked where he buys his horses, Powell said: “I don’t want to go into too much detail as I’m from the gypsy community.”
In 2019 Powell was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a foal which was seen walking up and down at Appleby Horse Fair pulling a cart with people in.
On Friday 10/01/2020 Powell was found guilty of four counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and a fifth charge of failing to ensure the welfare of an animal. The five charges relate to the five horses seized from Forstal Farm.
Danny Price admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a bay horse. In return charges of causing suffering to a bay mare, a black mare and a piebald mare, were dropped.
Horse killer Daniel Price
The bay horse was found dead next to a hay bale during the RSPCA raid in March 2019. He had starved to death.
Magistrates heard the 29-year-old had stopped looking after the horse as he was in the process of selling it, and thought it was the new owner’s responsibility.
Sentencing: Jimmy Price – jailed for seven and a half months of which half will be spent in custody. Ordered to pay £5,115 in costs and charges. Five-year order banning him from keeping dogs.
Samuel Powell – jailed for 26 weeks and will serve half of that sentence. Ordered to pay total of £5,115. Banned from owning horses for five years but can appeal after just one year.
Danny Price – 12-month community order; 150 hours of unpaid work; ordered to pay £1,585.
CONVICTED (2020) | Luke Butler, born 20/09/1995, of 23 Mayfield Park South, Fishponds, Bristol BS16 3NF, girlfriend Rebecca Whitlow, born c. 2000, and her mother Claire Poore aka Claire Hodges, born c. 1980, both of Speedwell Avenue, St George, Bristol BS5 8DN – left a dog in severe pain with multiple health problems
Callous Luke Butler and girlfriend Rebecca Whitlow turned a blind eye as their Staffy screamed in painCo-accused Claire Poore aka Claire Hodges
Butler, Whitlow and Poore pleaded guilty to two charges of neglect in relation to six-year-old Staffy Hugo who was in such poor physical condition he had to be put to sleep.
Staffy Hugo was left ‘screaming in pain’ as the trio responsible for his wellbeing ignored and neglected him.
The dog had the worst case of fleas a vet had ever seen, was blinded in one eye and could barely stand. His ribs were very prominent and he scored just three out of nine on the vet’s body health count.
The judge, Lynne Matthews, described the actions of Butler, Whitlow and Poore as ‘staggering’.
The court heard that Butler bought the dog, but was unable to keep him at the home he shares with his mother as she has cats and other animals.
Mother of five Claire Poore had no time for Hugo
So instead, Hugo lived at his girlfriend Rebecca Whitlow’s home, even though her mum Claire Poore – a mother-of-five – was not keen.
The court heard that in late July 2019, a couple who were friends of the family offered to take Hugo out for a walk, being aware that he was rarely walked (Butler, Whitlow and Poore claimed they didn’t have time to walk him).
The friends arrived in a car to take Hugo on a trip to Brean Sands beach, on July 27, 2019, and both Poore and Whitlow were at home with the dog.
“When Claire Poore brought out Hugo, he was screaming with pain,” said Lindi Meyer, prosecuting for the RSPCA.
“He was barely walking, hopping along and dragging his back legs. His left eye was closed up completely and covered in a discharge, and his coat was clearly infested with fleas,” she added.
The friends told Poore that the dog needed urgent treatment, and when neither she nor Whitlow said they would take him to the vets, they called the PDSA charity and took him in.
Ms Meyer said the PDSA vet examined Hugo and found he had minimal body fat, and was a three out of nine on the body condition score.
“He was reluctant to walk, screaming in pain. He was ‘knuckling’, which is a sign of injury, and both hind legs were being dragged,” she said.
“Hugo’s condition was severe. He had the worst flea infestation the vet had ever seen,” she added.
The court was told that after a week, Butler and the vet agreed that Hugo had to be put down.
Convicted animal abusers Luke Butler, Rebecca Whitlow and Claire Poore outside court
Butler, Whitlow and Poore agreed they were jointly responsible for the dog, and all three pleaded guilty to two counts of neglect – that they caused Hugo unnecessary suffering by failing to seek prompt veterinary treatment, and a second charge that they did not take steps to ensure the needs of an animal were met.
The court heard that all three acknowledged their failure to look after Hugo. Defending, Robyn Rowland said Hugo’s condition worsened in just one week – a statement challenged by the District Judge, who pointed to the very low body condition score as evidence that the neglect was prolonged.
“Mr Butler acknowledges that he didn’t check on the animal as much as he should,” said Mr Rowland.
“He is incredibly remorseful, as they all are. He was someone who generally cares for animals.
“This was not a case of someone buying an animal and then deliberately setting out to mistreat or neglect it,” he added.
“This has been a stark learning curve for him, as it has for all of them. Little is to be gained by sending this man, or any of them, into custody,” said Mr Rowland.
“Miss Whitlow was just 18 at the time, and was a young and naive woman. She didn’t understand the difficulty in looking after an animal – it was a lack of learning and a lack of knowledge.
“Miss Poore has five children, including a two-year-old, and having the dog in her home was perhaps not her first choice. She was tearful when I met her earlier, and she can’t quite believe the situation she finds herself in,” he added.
Luke Poore and Becky Whitlow
District Judge Lynne Matthews slammed the three for their actions – or inaction.
She told them: “It’s said you loved that dog but didn’t look after it. I say you didn’t look after the dog and the dog has lost its life,” the judge said.
“If you are not in a position to look after a dog, don’t have a dog.
“You three were not up to it. I don’t take the view you were malicious and I think you were all incompetent, too busy with other things and this poor dog suffered as a result,” she added.
“If this was a child, and a child was screaming in pain, attention would be given immediately. It was obvious this dog was in extreme pain and to turn a blind eye – this is a higher culpability and greater harm,” she said.
Sentencing the trio, District Judge Matthews gave Poore a lesser sentence, and said she was less culpable for the dog’s plight.
Becky Whitlow pretends to mourn Hugo’s death despite being the cause of it. No wonder that the judge singled her out for being particularly callous.
She slammed Whitlow for not taking Hugo to the vet, or even accompanying him when their friends said they would.
“Even when it was convenient for friends to take Hugo to the vets, you still didn’t go – that’s quite staggering,” said District Judge Matthews.
She told Butler and Whitlow they were the dog’s owners and had a duty to act.
Sentencing: Poore – 12-month community order of 100 hours of community service. Banned from keeping dogs for five years.
Butler and Whitlow – ten-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. Ordered to do 300 hours’ community service work. Banned from keeping any animals for five years.
CONVICTED (2020) | Paul Underwood, born c. 1972, and Nicola Muca (aka Nicki Underwood), born 20/01/1975, of Balmoral Avenue, Rushden NN10 – owners of an unsocialised Alaskan Malamute puppy who bit neighbours after straying twice from his home
Irresponsible Nicola Muca and partner Paul Underwood are now banned from keeping dogs for five years
Underwood and Muca were each given community orders and banned from keeping dogs for five years after being found guilty of having a dog dangerously out of control.
The one-year-old dog, known as Thor, first came to the attention of police after biting a neighbour who tried to return him home in August 2019, before the same thing happened to a different neighbour three months later.
Thor was seized from owners Underwood and Muca under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
Neglected Alaskan Malamute Thor has been rehabilitated and will now be rehomed.
Following an investigation and assistance from specially trained police officers, it became apparent that he hadn’t been socialised properly – he didn’t know how to play with dog toys, wasn’t toilet trained and was clearly used to an abusive environment where raised voices were the norm.
He was in danger of being put to sleep but officers from Northamptonshire Police’s Dog Section persevered and successfully rehabilitated him. A rehoming centre is now in the process of finding him a home.
PC Eva Horn, who assisted the investigating officers, said: “Thor certainly didn’t have the best start in life and we were determined to try our hardest to ensure he could get to a place where he was able to live the life he deserves. No-one invested in Thor to be a family dog and he was denied socialisation and training.
“Thor reacted so well to our training and has now become a much more well-rounded dog – all he needed was some love and attention.”
Sentencing: Underwood and Muca were each given 12-month community orders and banned from keeping dogs for five years (expires January 2025).
