Monthly Archives: December 2020

Dogs, Worst of the Worst

Dalkeith, Midlothian: Debi Ballantine-Brown

21 Comments

CONVICTED (2020) | Debi Ballantine-Brown, born c. 1967, of Ruskin Place, Mayfield, Dalkeith EH22 5QJ – starved and neglected two Weimaraner dogs

Dog abuser Debbi Ballantine-Brown from Dalkeith, Midlothian, Scotland
Evil Debbi Ballantine-Brown is free to get another dog immediately due to the latest appalling decision by the Scottish courts

Debbi Ballantine-Brown failed to provide suitable veterinary treatment for her Weimaraner dogs Ember and Buckley between 1 January and 26 February 2019

Surviving dog Buckley
Skin and bone: Ballantine-Brown’s dogs Ember and Buckley

A deprivation order was issued for Buckley, allowing him to be rehomed, but sadly Ember was put to sleep due to age-related health complaints before the case came to trial, the Scottish SPCA said.

Ballantine-Brown was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on 15 December 2020.

ALLEGED animal abuser Megan Hollingsworth
Megan Hollingsworth was charged alongside her mother but walked free from court

The case against her daughter Megan Charlotte Hollingsworth (born 19/03/1996) was not proven

Scottish SPCA Inspector Fiona Thorburn said, “We received a report from a concerned member of the public regarding dogs in the property shared by Ballantine-Brown and Hollingsworth, two of which were emaciated.

“On arrival at the address I had immediate concerns for the welfare of the dogs, particularly the female Weimaraner, Ember, who was so emaciated her pelvis, vertebrae and ribs were all clearly protruding. When she was examined by a vet she was found to weigh just 20kg, when she should have weighed over 26kg.

“Buckley, the male Weimaraner was also very underweight and his ribs and pelvis were clearly visible. On examination he was found to be 15.7kg when he should have been over 20kg.

“On further investigation it was found that Ember had not seen a vet at all despite her terrible condition and Buckley had not been examined since 22 October 2018.

“The dogs would have been caused to suffer considerably in becoming this thin and a responsible owner should have taken them to a vet much sooner. They gained weight rapidly in the care of the Scottish SPCA, with Buckley gaining 49 per cent and Ember gaining 37 per cent in the four weeks following their removal from Ruskin Place.”

She added: “We’re pleased that a ban on keeping multiple dogs has been issued and hope Ballantine-Brown will carefully consider her ability to look after any animal in the future

“We are glad a deprivation order has been issued for Buckley and he can now find the loving home he deserves after spending 22 months in our care.”

Sentencing: five-year ban on keeping more than one dog. Deprivation order on the surviving dog.

Scottish SPCA News

Dogs

Crewe, Cheshire: Sharon Parry and Mark Louth

Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2020) | Sharon Parry, born 15 February 1971, and Mark Louth, born c. 1972, both of 63 Claughton Avenue, Crewe CW2 6EY – failed to take their gravely ill dog to the vet and buried her when she eventually died

Animal abusers Sharon Parry and Mark Louth from Crewe
Sharon Parry and Mark Louth with Mitzy the dog

Staffordshire bull terrier Mitzy, passed away after a period of severe suffering, while owners Louth and Parry made half-hearted efforts to seek medical aid.

The court heard that Parry abandoned attempts to contact one vets practice because she was told to send an email.

The pair buried Mitzy in their back garden, but RSPCA officials launched an investigation and exhumed the dog for an autopsy.

Prosecuting for the RSPCA, Kevin Worthington, said: “The animal had been suffering from a case of pyometra which the vet said caused nausea and vomiting.

“It was obvious the animal was ill, it had collapsed four or five weeks before and the vet said it was suffering from 92 to 100 hours before it died.”

The prosecutor added that there appeared to have been an “element of well-intentioned but incompetent care” of the dog.

Victim Mitzy
Mitzy

As the couple’s solicitor, Ruth Oakes, outlined: “They tried to make enquiries and they did phone one veterinary service but were told they would have to send an email.

“Sharon (Parry) says she does not know how to send an email – they are both not particularly good at using the internet.

“They did make enquiries but they gave up fairly easily.”

The pair both admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal between June 1 and 4, 2020.

The court was told that Mitzy was an “old dog” and a “loved family pet”.

The couple also own another dog and were distraught at the prospect of having that animal seized by the RSPCA.

“They feel regret and they do miss the dog,” added Ms Oakes. “There is an acceptance from both of them that they could have done more to assist her. They became aware the dog was ill, but put in context the dog was quite old.”

District Judge Nick Sanders told the pair: “The dog may have died as it was clearly very ill, but the failure to get veterinary help is a concern,”

Sentencing: two-year conditional discharge; costs and charges of £272 each. Three-year ban on owning or keeping a dog (expires December 2023). Deprivation order on the couple’s other dog.

Crewe Nub News

Animal Torture, Cats, Lifers, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Bath, Somerset: John O’Reilly

7 Comments

CONVICTED (2020) | John Pierce O’Reilly, born 4 May 1973, of Fox Hill in Bath BA2 5QN – launched a violent attack on a kitten

Photo composite shows John O'Reilly and his victim, kitten Betty Boo, after the attack and following recovery

Irish national John O’Reilly was jailed for 18 weeks after he admitted attacking a kitten, known as Betty Boo, leaving her with multiple injuries.

Late at night on July 16, 2020, several eyewitnesses saw O’Reilly attacking the kitten in an outdoor area near his flat after hearing her distressed cries. Two young women managed to rescue her before rushing her to Rosemary Lodge Veterinary, who alerted the RSPCA

The kitten was soaking wet, hypothermic, with a temperature of 35.8C and her respiratory rate was abnormally high.

She had a laceration to her right nostril, blood in her mouth, nasal discharge, and marked upper respiratory congestion consistent with bleeding and fluid accumulation in her nasal passages.

Some of her teeth had also fallen out.

Vets also found that she had fluid in the airways, which indicated attempted drowning. Radiographs revealed she had air within the thorax, which is a common after-effect of chest trauma.

It was also found that Betty Boo had bruising around her neck.

John O'Reilly
John O’Reilly

RSPCA inspector Miranda Albinson, who investigated for the animal welfare charity, said: “It’s upsetting that Betty Boo was subjected to this.

“She was left severely injured and a video taken seven hours after she arrived at the vets shows how much distress and discomfort she was suffering.

“Thankfully, she has now fully recovered and has found a loving new home where she is getting the love and care she needs.”

Sentencing: 18-week custodial sentence; £300 costs. Banned from owning animals for life.

In Your Area

Additional information

John O’Reilly, who hails from the Irish Republic, describes himself as an electrician on his Facebook profile. He would appear to be of no fixed abode and in recent years has lived in a variety of temporary accommodation centres for people with mental health and addiction issues.

Animal Abandonment, Equine Abuse, horses and ponies

Chichester / Bognor Regis, West Sussex: Nybella Stephens and Gemma Stevens

1 Comment

CONVICTED (2020) | Nybella Claire Stephens, born 11 July 1995, of Terminus Road, Chichester PO19 8TX, and Gemma Jane Stevens, born 17 October 1984, most recently of Lagoon Road, Bognor Regis PO21 4TJ – abandoned two former racehorses to starve in a water-logged field.

Gemma Stevens
Gemma Stevens


Nybella Stephens and Gemma Stevens, both formerly of The Millers, Yapton, Arundel, West Sussex, were prosecuted after the RSPCA had to rescue their horses, Magic and Lexi, from a flooded, mud-covered field.

The court heard that RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Marie Stevens and RSPCA Inspector Cora Peeters attended a muddy field in Shripney Lane, Bognor Regis in December 2019 where the horses were being kept. There they witnessed Magic, a fifteen-year-old chestnut gelding eat away at a wooden fence post because he was so hungry and there was nothing to eat.

Horses abandoned by Nybella Stephens and Gemma Stevens

Inspector Peeters said: “Approximately 75% of the field was flooded and the remainder of the field was deep with mud. The hedges and trees had been stripped of their bark by the horses. I couldn’t see any form of Ad-Lib feeder or hay on the ground.

Both Magic, belonging to Gemma Stevens, and Lexi, a bay mare belonging to Nybella Stephens, were extremely thin and their bony protrusions were clearly visible.

A vet attended and confirmed both horses were in a suffering condition to the extent that they were in an emaciated state.

Magic had an extremely good appetite and dragged his rescuers to grass as soon as he was removed from the field. He weighed 356kg meaning he was at least 100kg underweight.

Lexi weighed 384kg. A thoroughbred of a similar height would be expected to weigh 450-500kg.

The horses were seized by police and removed to a private boarding facility to begin their recovery.

When they were reweighed less than three weeks later, Lexi had already gained over 20kg and Magic had gained 50kg.

Both defendants, who failed to attend any of their court hearings, were found guilty of three offences each under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Magic and Lexi who have both made great recoveries, will be re-homed by World Horse Welfare.

Sentencing: ordered to pay a total of £1,151 each. 10-year disqualification order banning them from keeping equines, donkeys or their hybrids.

ITV News
The Argus

Dogs, Lifers, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Oldbury, West Midlands: Shahzeeb Shazad Khan

2 Comments

CONVICTED (2020) | Shahzeeb Shazad Khan, born 7 November 1995, of Harry Price House, Hartlebury Road, Oldbury B69 1EQ – kicked and stamped on his pet dog while in a lift

Shahzeeb Khan was jailed after being filmed stamping on this young dog’s head in a violent lift attack
Shahzeeb Khan was jailed after being filmed stamping on this young dog’s head in a violent lift attack

The RSPCA were contacted by West Midlands Police on December 10, 2019, after CCTV cameras in a lift of an apartment building captured video footage of a man kicking a dog that morning.

RSPCA inspector Claire Davey, who led the investigation, said: “In the footage, a large brindle-coloured dog enters the lift followed closely behind by Mr Khan.

“The dog looks nervous and cowers in the corner of the lift before he launches a violent attack on him, kicking and stamping on his head twice.

“There is a puddle of urine on the floor of the lift that wasn’t there before the attack. Poor Rico was so frightened that he wet himself.

“The man then attaches a lead to Rico’s harness and yanks at him to move him to the other side of the lift. He scurries over to the doors and continues to cower on the ground.

“As the doors open, the dog scuttles out nervously before they disappear from the shot.”

West Midlands Police seized Rico – an eight-month-old Presa Canario – and he was checked over by vets who didn’t find any injuries.

Vets viewed the CCTV footage and concluded that the attack was “aggressive” and that Khan had demonstrated a “barbaric use of force”.

Khan pleaded guilty and was sentenced to eight weeks in prison and given a lifetime ban on keeping all animals.

The court removed Rico from his ownership meaning the RSPCA can now seek him a new home.

Inspector Davey added: “After spending a year in our care, Rico can now find a wonderful new home.

“All of the staff who have been taking care of him are so thrilled that this Christmas is looking so much brighter for this lovely lad.”

Sentencing: eight weeks in prison; £123 victim surcharge. Disqualified from keeping all animals for life.

Express and Star
Birmingham Mail

Additional information

Shahzeeb Khan has links to the following areas: Wolverhampton, Bilston, West Bromwich and Smethwick.

Dogs, Worst of the Worst

Grangetown, Middlesbrough: Jason Scott

1 Comment

CONVICTED (2020) | Jason Scott, born c. 1990, of St Andrews Road West, Grangetown, Middlesbrough TS6 7JB – left his pet dog’s huge mouth tumour untreated

Jason Scott
Jason Scott, who appears to have another dog (pictured) is now banned from keeping animals until December 2025 after failing to take his gravely ill pet to the vet for treatment for a massive mouth tumour

Eleven-year-old Mastiff x American bulldog Buster was suffering from a growth so large that he was unable to eat or drink properly.

Buster had a growth which was larger than his entire mouth
Mastiff x American bulldog Buster had a growth which was larger than his entire mouth

The dog’s teeth were on the outside of the tumour, which was larger than his entire mouth, and he was foaming at the nose.

He had difficulty breathing and there was blood and puss dripping from his mouth.

His body was thin, as the mass had caused him to lose weight, and he was unable to stand up.

After examining the dog, vets concluded that he had been left without treatment for at least three months.

In order to stop him suffering further, they decided to put him to sleep.

Buster’s owner Jason Scott has been prosecuted by the RSPCA in relation to his mistreatment of the dog.

Jason Scott with Buster
Jason Scott had owned 11-year-old Buster since he was a puppy but failed to get him vital healthcare when he needed it

Scott admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal between June 7 and July 27, 2020, at Somerset Road, in Grangetown, Middlesbrough.

The court heard, in mitigation, how Scott had had Buster since he was a puppy and loved the dog.

He had contacted the PDSA, who had told him initially to self medicate the dog with paracetamol until they could take referrals due to the covid-19 pandemic.

The court heard how they tried to contact Scott again, on a number of occasions, just a couple of days later to arrange a follow up. However they were unable to reach the defendant.

Scott admitted he was reluctant to take Buster to a vet as he felt inevitable that Buster would be put to sleep.

Buster in healthier times
Buster in healthier times

RSPCA Inspector Terri-Ann Fannon led the investigation for the animal welfare charity.

She said: “As soon as I entered the property I was hit with a pungent smell of infection and decay.

“Buster was lying under a stairwell and he had an extremely large growth inside and outside of his mouth. His teeth appeared to be on the outside of the growth which was larger than his entire mouth.

“Scott agreed I could take Buster to a vet and as he carried him outside to my van he asked me to walk in front of him to hide Buster because he did not want his neighbours to see the state of the dog.”

Following the court case, she added: “Pet-owners have a legal responsibility to ensure their animals do not surfer and that their needs are met and sadly Scott failed in this duty towards Buster.

“He should have been more persistent with the vets and sought treatment for Buster rather than allowing his condition to significantly deteriorate into a suffering state.”

Sentencing: 12 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months; 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days. Banned from owning animals for five years (expires December 2025).

Gazette Live

Cats

Liversedge, West Yorkshire: Lawrence Coleman

2 Comments

CONVICTED (2020) | Lawrence Peter Coleman, born c. 1983, of Bradford Road, Liversedge – ‘turned a blind eye’ to his cat’s excruciatingly painful wound

Animal abuser Lawrence Coleman and victim Charlie


Coleman failed to seek any treatment for his longhair cat Charlie whose collar had become embedded in his skin.

He pleaded guilty to one offence of causing unnecessary suffering to Charlie – contrary to Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Charlie had been seen limping and RSPCA Inspector Kris Walker was called to investigate

Inspector Walker said: “I saw Charlie had a black collar on that was wrapped around his left foreleg and even before getting close to him I could smell what seemed to me like infection.

“As I picked Charlie up I saw that there was pus coming out of an open wound under his left foreleg. I took him to a vet immediately who after examining him concluded Charlie had been caused to suffer unnecessarily for a minimum of two to three weeks.

“He was seized by police and passed into the care of the RSPCA before remaining at the vets overnight as he required surgery the next day.

“The collar was embedded in the tissue of his left axilla which caused damage to the muscle and the buckle of the collar was tangled in his long hair coat. Once the collar had been removed his infected wound was cleaned. Charlie required antibiotics to treat the infection but has since made a good recovery.”

The court heard mitigation that Coleman had “turned a blind eye” towards Charlie’s condition.

Inspector Walker added; “It is important to check on our pets regularly – by giving them a little health check every so often will prevent situations like this from occurring.”

A deprivation order was imposed in relation to Charlie which will allow the RSPCA to find him a new home.

Sentencing: 12-month community order requiring 80 hours’ of unpaid work in the community; costs and charges totalling £390. Disqualified from keeping all animals for five years (expires December 2025).

Examiner Live

Birds, farms / smallholdings, Food Production, Lifers, Multiple Species

Lydney, Gloucestershire: Anthony Curtis

1 Comment

CONVICTED (2020) | Anthony (Tony) Curtis, born c. 1961, of Kerrin Farm, Kerrin Lane, Lydney GL15 6PL – a serial abuser of livestock

Tony Curtis

Anthony Curtis pleaded guilty to 25 animal welfare offences
and was given a lifetime ban on keeping livestock. The ban will take effect from January 2021 to allow Curtis time to test his cattle for tuberculosis and pass on their ownership.

The charges were brought by Gloucestershire County Council’s trading standards service.

Cows were living in deep mud and being fed mouldy hay
Cows were living in deep mud and being fed mouldy hay

Councillor Dave Norman, cabinet member responsible for trading standards, said: “In this case not only did the farmer fail to care properly for his livestock, but on several occasions he also showed little regard for the cleanliness and hygiene of animals which were intended for the human food chain.

“Members of the public are entitled to expect that locally produced food is farmed to a high standard of welfare and hygiene.

“Our officers work hard to ensure that farmers maintain these standards and take action such as this where necessary.”

Trading standards officers first visited Kerrin Farm in February 2019 following reports Curtis was keeping animals in terrible conditions and failing to adequately dispose of animal carcasses.

Curtis was cautioned for similar offences in 2017.

Officers found roughly 30 ducks living in cold, damp and squalid conditions, littered with the carcasses of around 60 other birds. On a later visit, they discovered ducks were fed stale bread with lumps of plastic inside.

Further offences Curtis committed included:

  • Cattle were kept in a field littered with broken gates and timber with protruding nails.
  • Pigs, cattle and ducks did not have water or a dry lying area
  • Cattle were housed in deep muck and had to wade through liquid slurry to get to their feed, which was mouldy hay
  • Hen houses had not been cleared out for a long time; hens were fed in filthy troughs and were laying eggs in dirty nesting boxes
  • Officers also found the carcass of a calf which had not been covered

Curtis said his ill health left him unable to care for his stock.

A number of ducks and poultry were rehoused by the Animal and Plant Health Agency, who confirmed that Curtis had failed in his duty of care to the ducks.

Sentencing: conditional discharge; £185 towards costs. banned from keeping livestock for life.

GloucestershireLive
BBC Live

Dogs

Cramlington, Northumberlnd: Christopher Baldry

Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2020) | Christopher Baldry, born 22/02/1953, of Nelson Avenue, Nelson Village, Cramlington, Blyth Valley NE23 1HG – left his pet dog in agony with skin infection and open wounds on her face

Christopher Baldry


Baldry was banned from keeping pets after leaving bulldog Tetty to suffer with a painful skin condition which covered her face. She also had conjunctivitis

The eight-year-old dog was rescued from a property in Cornwell Crescent, Bedlington, in May 2018. Inspectors found she had been sprayed with a purple wound first aid spray, which is commonly used as antiseptic by farmers.

Neglected dog Tetty was suffering from a severe skin condition which had spread to her eyes and the ears
Neglected dog Tetty was suffering from a severe skin condition which had spread to her eyes and the ears

But despite her painful condition, she hadn’t been taken to see a vet.

RSPCA inspector Jaqui Miller, who investigated, said: “Poor Tetty was reluctant to move due to the pain she was in. I took her to the vet and they confirmed that she was suffering with a severe skin condition. She had open, bleeding wounds on her face and was suffering from conjunctivitis.

“Her skin was so sore and infected, you could literally smell the infected skin on her. It was very distressing to see this dog in such a poor state.”

The court heard how Baldry had not taken Tetty to the vet to treat this flare up of her skin condition and he admitted he had been using the purple first aid spray for years.

The vet who examined Tetty confirmed she would have been suffering from the skin condition for at least four weeks due to the pain she was in.

Neglected dog Tetty was suffering from a severe skin condition which had spread to her eyes and the ears

She started to do well in RSPCA care and her skin condition improved. However, the charity says Tetty later developed tumours on her lungs, and a vet decided it was best to end her suffering by putting her to sleep.

Inspector Miller added: “It’s extremely sad that this case didn’t have a better outcome for poor Tetty, but at least Tetty was rescued when she was and didn’t continue to suffer.”

In his own mitigation, Baldry told the court he suffers with learning difficulties and needs an appropriate adult.

Sentencing: ordered to pay a total of £1,050. Banned from keeping all animals for 10 years but can appeal after five years.

Chronicle Live

Animal Abandonment, Dogs

Portadown, County Armagh: Terence Herron

1 Comment

CONVICTED (2020) | Terry Herron, age unknown, of Charles Street, Portadown BT62 1DQ – kept his Caucasian shepherd-type dog tethered on a short rope, with no access to food or water

Animal abuser Terry Herron from Portadown, Northern Ireland
Terry Herron

Herron pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the unnamed dog and failing to ensure his welfare.

On 9 November 2018 Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council received a complaint regarding a large breed of dog being kept in unsanitary conditions. It was alleged the Caucasian type Shepherd dog was standing in his own faeces and urine, had no access to food or water and was tethered on a short rope.

Dog kept tethered in a pen by his cruel owner, Terence Herron from Portadown, Northern Ireland

A Council Animal Welfare Officer subsequently visited the property and observed the dog in a pen located in the garden area. On seeing the filthy conditions in which the dog was being kept, the officer obtained a warrant and returned the following day accompanied by police officers.

The dog was assessed by a veterinary surgeon who determined he should be removed.

The dog was later rehomed after Herron voluntarily signed him over to the Council.

On hearing the details of the case the judge remarked that the facts, in his view, were appalling and that Herron knew what he was doing.

Sentencing: ordered to pay £400 plus costs of £307. Disqualified from keeping all animals for a period of five years (expires December 2025).

Portadown Times