CONVICTED (2020) | Jack Holt, born 9 June 1993, of Nodes Farm, Magham Down, Hailsham, East Sussex BN27 1PW – sent 38 sheep in poor condition to slaughter.
Jack Holt pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act after he transported sheep to a Kent abattoir while they were suffering from foot rot.
A total of 38 sheep in poor condition were sent to slaughter.
Ovine foot rot is an infectious, contagious disease of sheep that causes severe lameness.
Richard Strawson of East Sussex County Council’s Trading Standards said: “Farmers have a legal duty to properly look after the animals in their care and this clearly had not happened in this case. Our officers were shocked that these sheep had been allowed to be transported given their condition and the suffering this would have caused them. This case demonstrates that we won’t hesitate to take action when it comes to the mistreatment of animals.”
Holt pleaded guilty to two offences under Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. He was fined £580 fine and must pay £600 costs.
CONVICTED (2020) | John Trafford, born 07/12/1980, of Lon Olwen, Kinmel Bay, Rhyl LL18 5LQ – swung his French bulldog above his head by his lead and slammed him into the ground, before kicking and punching him
John Trafford can now add animal cruelty to his long list of criminal convictions
Career criminal and drug addict Trafford, whose previous offences include assault, harassment and burglary, was found guilty of “gratuitous” violence to the French bulldog, known as Ronnie.
District judge Gwyn Jones said Trafford’s violence towards the animal had been “deliberate and gratuitous”.
“No doubt the dog was terrified and was in significant pain as a result of your behaviour,” Judge Jones said.
The court heard Trafford had panicked when the dog bolted but his reaction on 19 May 2020 was “totally over the top”.
Jailing Trafford, the judge said the “extent of the violence” justified the jail term.
A solicitor defending Trafford said he had made no attempt to try and excuse his behaviour and remained “appalled” by it.
Ronnie was not injured and has been placed with another local family.
Sentencing: Trafford appealed against his original sentence of a 20-week jail term and 15-year ban on keeping dogs. The prison sentence was reduced to just 12 weeks and his ban is now for 10 years (expires October 2030).
CONVICTED (2020) | horse abattoir operator Stephen John Potter, born April 1965, of Whistley Farm, Whistley Lane, West Harptree BS40 6HD
Stephen John Potter has grown rich on the back of his shoddy businesses. Photo on right shows a pony being put down at one of his abattoirs. Source: Daily Mail
Two businesses, F Drury & Sons Ltd, of Tockenham Corner, Swindon, SN4 7PF and LJ Potter Ltd of Whistley Farm, West Harptree BS40 6HD together with Stephen Potter, who is the director of both companies, were found guilty of animal welfare offences following a prosecution brought by Wiltshire Council Trading Standards.
On 22nd October 2018, LJ Potter Ltd transported a horse from Northern Ireland along with a consignment of other horses to Drury’s abattoir. The lorry arrived at the abattoir late at night and as the horses were being unloaded from the lorry, a grey mare was found to be lying on her side and unable to rise. CCTV footage viewed by the court showed the horse attempting to stand five times, but continually falling over until eventually she managed to stand unable to bear weight on her right fore leg and reluctant to move.
Abhorrent cruelty: the grey mare couldn’t walk and or breathe but was left to suffer for several hours by Stephen Potter’s company
The court heard evidence from expert witnesses who viewed the CCTV footage that in their opinion, at that stage, either a vet should have been called to assess the condition of the horse, or she should have been put down. Instead, the court heard that Stephen Potter, who was not present at the abattoir but was viewing the unloading of the horses, instructed the driver to transport the grey mare on a further journey from the abattoir to his farm in Somerset.
The vehicle departed but soon returned to the abattoir as the horse had somehow managed to stand during the journey. The horse was unloaded from the vehicle and CCTV footage showed her being unable to walk on her front leg. Experts giving evidence for the prosecution were clear that the horse was suffering, needed urgent veterinary attention and was not fit to be transported.
The mare was left alone in the lairage at the abattoir overnight until she was noticed by the vet on duty at the abattoir early in the morning. He took the view that the animal was in a severe condition, breathing rapidly, distressed and therefore needed immediate destruction.
District Judge, Tim Pattinson, said that Potter ‘had made an error of judgement that had resulted in a horse suffering for several hours which could, and should have been avoided. In this country we expect high standards of animal welfare especially in commercial activity’.
Judge Pattinson also said that Potter had shown an excessively relaxed approach to the problem and had underplayed the pain and suffering of the horse.
The case, brought by Wiltshire Council Trading Standards, resulted in a total penalty of £22,170 divided between the two companies and Stephen Potter and included costs of £10,000 awarded to Wiltshire Council.
In November 2010 Animal Aid exposed shocking cruelty at F R Drury. Undercover footage obtained by the group showed sheep being decapitated whilst still alive, calves slipping and collapsing repeatedly to the floor for three hours and goats leaping into the killing area to try to evade the stunning tongs.
CONVICTED (2020) | smallholder Gary Joseph Clark, born c. 1975, of 30a River Street, Truro TR1 2SJ – kept pigs, poultry and a llama in filthy and dangerous conditions
Foul and hazardous conditions on Gary Clark’s Cornwall smallholding
Taxi driver Clark pleaded guilty to six offences relating to a failure to care for the animals under the Animal Health Act, 2006.
The offences related to a failure to care for the pigs, poultry and llama, that were kept at Trevarth Farm allotments in Lanner, Redruth, Cornwall.
Over the course of three visits made by Cornwall Council’s Animal Health officers and an Animal Plant and Health Agency vet, the enclosure for the pigs was found to be continually waterlogged, with mud coming up to the animals’ bellies.
The only water available for them to drink was dirty and muddy and they had access to hazardous objects such as nails and sharp edges.
A llama at the site had no shelter from the elements and there were sharp objects including nails and sharp projections found in its enclosure.
The poultry was not provided with clean dry litter and also did not have access to fresh water.
Despite the extensive advice he was given over the course of the visits, Clark made only minor improvements to the unacceptable conditions in which the animals were kept. All requests to remove the sharp objects and to provide dry lying areas and fresh water were ignored.
Sentencing: total of £792 in fines and surcharge. Banned for five years from keeping farm animals, including llamas (expires September 2025).
CONVICTED (2020) | Sarah Joanne Meredith, born c. 1979, most recently of Upper Brassey Street, Birkenhead CH41 0AQ but now said to be of no fixed address – performed a sex act on a dog as unidentified men laughed and egged her on
Drug addict Sarah Joanne Meredith claimed she was forced to sexually abuse a dog
Meredith claimed she was “forced” to perform the sex acts on a Patterdale terrier by men the judge described as “grotesque”.
The court heard that Meredith had taken Philip Thomas’s dog for a walk when she abused the animal.
Paula Groggan, prosecuting, told the court that police were made aware of the incident after a video of the act was sent to the dog’s owner.
They arrived at his address where he showed officers the video – after which he was charged with possessing extreme pornography and admitted the offence in court.
Ms Groggan explained that there were two video clips. In one, a male is seen holding the dog underneath its front legs while Meredith is “egged on” to perform the act.
The second video shows Meredith performing a different sex act on the dog.
In both videos people who do not appear on the video can be heard laughing.
The court heard that after taking the dog for a walk for Thomas, who suffers from mobility issues, Meredith told his mother she had “done something really bad” but would not divulge what.
In interview she told officers that while in the park two males, who she refused to name, threatened her with violence and told her to perform a sex act on the dog.
Meredith told officers the men spat on her and explained she wasn’t aware she was being filmed.
Ms Groggan said: “She was ashamed and disgusted in herself for doing it.”
She confirmed that the dog was seized and after being examined by a vet suffered no physical injuries, but Ms Groggan noted that during the video it appears distressed.
The court heard Meredith has a “lengthy record”.
Meredith pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
District Judge James Hatton, sentencing, acknowledged Meredith had faced a “number of issues “including “significant mental health issues” and “significant drug abuse”.
The judge also commented on her “traumatic experiences” which “has no doubt contributed to the fact you have started using heroin again and struggling with your mental health”.
District Judge Hatton said: “That animal was treated appallingly.”
The judge accepted that the offence crossed the threshold of custody, but said that Meredith is also “vulnerable” and was victimised by the “grotesque” men who have not yet faced prosecution.
The judge said: “You are also a victim, you were also abused in a sickening manner by those individuals.”
Philip Thomas faced charges in connection with possession and distribution of the video showing Meredith abusing his dog. In October 2020 he too received a suspended prison sentence and was ordered to carry out a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.
Sentencing: 16-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months; 30 Rehabilitation Activity Requirements; costs and charges of £213. Banned from keeping animals for five years (expires September 2025).
CONVICTED (2020) | Tamara J Lloyd, born October 1969, of Chapelry Farm, Langrick Road, Lincoln LN4 4XH – failed to meet the needs of dozens of animals living in squalor at her sanctuary
Following an RSPCA prosecution, Tamara Lloyd of The Alternative Animal Sanctuary was found guilty of 16 offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
More than 70 cats, 14 pigs, along with dogs, horses and terrapins were among the animals kept in ‘appalling conditions’ at the sanctuary.
The offences came to light after the RSPCA executed two separate warrants in May 2019 and January 2020.
Lloyd was filmed for a TV documentary shortly before the first raid, with footage showing the chaotic home and outdoor pens overrun by animals. Before the raid she spoke on the Channel 5 programme called ‘The Woman with 106 Dogs’, which aired in June 2020.
During the first warrant, 14 Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs were found housed in an area dirty with faeces and urine accumulation and cluttered with debris and hazards.
Seventy cats did not have a suitable environment in which to live. They were surrounded by urine, faeces and ammonia and some had no access to a suitable diet and fresh drinking water
Two cats were found to have suffered failing to seek appropriate veterinary care to explore and address painful ear infections.
Five more cats were found to be suffering with chronic dental disease that not been treated.
A boar had a severely in-grown tusk. This had penetrated through his face and into the oral cavity.
Three dogs were found with untreated infected wounds on their bodies. Another dog, named Flo, had a ligature injury to her leg – again this had not been treated
One dog had matted fur, heavily contaminated with mud, faeces and plant matter. This took two hours to remove while under a general anaesthetic.
Following the first warrant , the RSPCA served Lloyd with several improvement notices. The charity attempted to work with her over several months to reduce the number of animals on the site and to improve the welfare of those remaining. While initially cooperative, Lloyd went on to acquire more animals.
After further welfare concerns and complaints, another raid was carried out in January 2020. The RSPCA confirmed that one dog was found dead and another was put to sleep by the owner’s vet.
Witnesses described the conditions on site as ‘appalling’. Dead rats were found in the animals’ accommodation along with overflowing litter trays, stagnant dirty water and hazardous objects.
Eleven dogs were found inside the main living quarters of the house, which was described as uncomfortably warm with a strong smell of ammonia and pools of urine on the floor. There was heavy faecal and urine soiling throughout the downstairs with dirty bedding, empty food containers, a lack of sufficient water, and hazards such as general clutter, rubbish and exposed nails.
A three-legged dog was found in a dark kennel with little ventilation, which was soiled with faeces and urine.
Lloyd also did not take reasonable steps in all the circumstances to meet the needs of seven cats for a suitable environment in which to live.
Seven cats were kept in a poorly ventilated area littered with the bodies of dead rats. Again there were overflowing litter trays, and faeces and urine over the floor. The area was cluttered and hazardous. .
Two pigs had not been provided with a suitable diet including access to drinking water or a suitable environment in which to live.
The adult Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs were found to be obese and living in an area where faeces and urine had accumulated as well as debris and hazards, and dead rats, one of which was being chewed by the pigs. There was no provision of clean drinking water for the pigs and the feed for them was not suitable as was evidenced by their obese state.
Ten terrapins were found in an environment detrimental to their health and well-being. A vet noted that “slime and sludge covered the surface of the stagnant water, dead maggots were seen in excessive numbers floating on and under the water” The vet described the smell from the water and building as “putrid” and said that all had suffered for some considerable time due to their squalid environment, and were severely immuno-suppressed.
Vets deemed the animals to be suffering with obvious signs of disease and ill health and the animals were removed.
In his verdict, District Judge Peter Veits said:
“I find that [Lloyd] started with good intentions and clearly believed in the sanctity of life for her animals, but her issue here has been that she simply cannot say no.
“She needed to recognise that as a sole owner of the premises that her capacity to meet the needs of animals was limited. She either needed staff or less animals and by choosing to carry on she has undermined her sole purpose in that her failures have contributed to the suffering of animals.”
Lloyd was convicted of 16 offences and acquitted on one charge.
Sentencing: two-year conditional discharge; costs and victim surcharge. Banned from keeping animals for 10 years.Lloyd has lodged an appeal.
CONVICTED (2020) | Callum Jay Frew, born June 1997, of Lavender Hill, Flimby Brow, Flimby, Maryport CA15 8TD – member of a gang of sadistic hunters that inflicted pain and suffering on wildlife
Callum Frew is banned from keeping all animals for life
Company director Frew admitted a total of ten offences. These include wilfully killing a badger, causing suffering to a fox by encouraging dogs to chase and attack it, failing to provide veterinary care for his lurcher who had infected painful injuries to its face. They happened between 2018 and 2019
The prosecution came after an RSPCA investigation into material depicting wildlife crime was discovered on a mobile phone by police looking into a separate case. The RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit launched an investigation into footage showing the men badger digging and baiting. Further investigation then revealed more offences against Frew.
Investigating officer Jason Bowles said: “The footage shows the men and their dogs inflicting pain and suffering on innocent wildlife.
“Badger baiting and digging are brutal and illegal blood sports which sees violence being inflicted on wild animals as well as painful injuries on the dogs who are used.
“Frew and others appeared in images and footage showing the men out with their dogs, digging down into badger setts and setting dogs on the animals. It’s extremely upsetting to see the badger being attacked by the dogs and to hear their cries as they’re killed. We then discovered that there was more evidence against Frew showing him setting his dogs on foxes and badgers and brought more charges against him.”
PC Samantha O’Key, Cumbria police wildlife, rural and environmental crime coordinator, said: “We are very pleased with the outcome of this investigation and the subsequent convictions that have been brought against the individuals, as Cumbria Police takes animal cruelty very seriously.
“We worked diligently with our RSPCA colleagues and this is a good example of partnership working at its most effective.”
Sentencing: concurrent jail terms of 120 days on each offence, suspended for 18 months. Community order with 26-week curfew and 100 hours of unpaid work. Ordered to pay costs of £2,000 and a victim surcharge of £122. His mobile phones were ordered to be destroyed. Disqualified from keeping all animals for life. Deprivation order on two whippet-type dogs.
CONVICTED (2020) | Wayne Francis McGrath, born December 1972, of Marsden Gardens Flats, Belfast BT15 5AN – bludgeoned his pet dog to death with a hammer and burnt his remains
Wayne McGrath and victim Patch
McGrath said he killed the American bulldog-type dog, known as Patch, after the animal mauled an eight-year-old girl.
Police found no evidence of the Patch’s remains but a court heard his owner caused him “unimaginable pain”.
McGrath admitted charges of being the keeper of a dog involved in the attack on the child and causing him unnecessary suffering.
Belfast Magistrates’ Court was told Patch was not on a lead when he attacked the girl at Kinnaird Avenue, North Belfast.
The child was bitten and mauled, and witnesses described seeing the dog shake and trail the child by the hair.
McGrath and another man punched and kicked the dog in a bid to break his hold on the girl, the court heard.
She then fled, but the animal shook off a chain put round his neck and began chasing her.
“The dog caught up with the child and got on top of her, and was shaking her and mauling at her chest,” a prosecution lawyer told the court.
The two men then grabbed the dog and restrained him, while the girl was led to safety.
McGrath was questioned at the scene by police, who took both him and the dog back to his partner’s house.
The following day officers checked to see if he had handed over the animal to be humanely destroyed, but McGrath told them he had killed the dog himself.
The court heard he had received death threats and was under pressure to dispose of the dog, but did not have the money to take the animal to a vet to be euthanised.
No remains of the dog were found when police searched McGrath’s home, but during interviews he claimed to have killed the animal at a dump near Ligoniel.
“He admitted killing the dog by hitting it over the crown of the head with a hammer twice, and then putting its remains in a wheelie bin, covering it with copper wire and petrol, and setting the remains and the tools he used on fire,” a prosecution barrister said.
But no evidence of dog remains or the burnt bins were found during further searches of the dump area either.
The court heard McGrath’s admissions were the only evidence that the dog had died in the way described.
The prosecution said the animal had been subjected to unnecessary cruelty.
“A blow to the head with a hammer would cause a lot of damage, trauma and pain,” the lawyer argued.
“In the final moments of its life the animal would have experienced unimaginable pain and fear inflicted by its carer.
“There’s no way to ascertain if the first blow from the hammer would have rendered the dog insensible, and the owner ascertained a further blow was indeed required.”
A defence barrister said McGrath acted out of fear, having received a visit from people connected to an unnamed criminal organisation.
The judge said it was a “terrible case” in which a girl had sustained “lasting injury” and a dog was treated in an “appalling” manner.
“I have no doubt in my mind that unnecessary suffering was caused to that animal.”
Sentencing: four months in prison. Lifetime ban on keeping any animals. McGrath was released on bail, pending an appeal against his jail sentence (later abandoned).
Bridget Gulley pleaded guilty to three charges under the Animal Welfare Act in relation to a black female crossbreed dog called Bella.
Gulley “failed to provide adequate veterinary care and attention for its severe skin disease, hair loss and associated infection”.
The offences were committed between September and October 2019.
No further details are currently available.
Sentencing: 12-month community order; 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement; £405 in fines, costs and surcharge. Banned from keeping animals for five years (expires September 2025).
CONVICTED (2020) | career criminal Byron David Toyne, aka Baz Toyne, born 1 December 1984, of Keddington Road, Louth LN11 0AA – attacked and fatally injured a hamster during a violent domestic incident
Byron Toyne, who goes by the first name Baz
Byron Toyne, whose previous convictions include harassment and assault, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the hamster, known as Nibbles, by throwing and shaking him. Toyne claimed he was unaware the hamster was in the cage.
We understand that Nibbles’ owner only took him to the vet four days after the incident where he was diagnosed with a broken back and put to sleep. She was not prosecuted for her failure to seek prompt treatment for the stricken pet.
Toyne also admitted criminal damage to a bicycle wheel, art box, leaning board and canvas picture belonging to a Louth woman on the same day.
Sentencing: community order which includes 170 hours of unpaid work. Total costs and charges of £175. He was not banned from owning animals.
