CONVICTED (2021) | Tiffany A Charlton, born 3 June 2000, of Nashcourt, Hull HU6 9TE, and Michael D Downing, born 23 January 2000, of 6th Avenue, Hull HU6 9PS – left their injured dog to die a slow and painful death over three months
Charlton and Downing, who are parents, received a lifetime ban on owning animals after they left their pet dog to suffer for weeks from an untreated bite injury that turned into a deadly infection.
The pair pleaded guilty to one count of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog under Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act.
Lola developed sepsis before collapsing and dying on the vet’s table
Their one-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier cross Lola received a bite injury, which the pair failed to get veterinary treatment for. The wound became infected and resulted in sepsis, weight loss and death.
Lola was left to suffer between April 24 and July 21, 2020. Sadly, by the time she was taken to a vets in July, she collapsed and died on the table before any treatment could be given.
RSPCA inspector Lucy Green said: “This was a tragic case as if Lola had received the appropriate veterinary treatment after her injury, it could have been easily managed and she would have looked forward to a long and happy life.
“However, the wound on her leg was such that it resulted in sepsis and eventually death.”
Sentencing: 18-week suspended prison sentence; total of £375 costs and charges. Downing also received 100 hours of community service and five rehabilitation activity days. Charlton received 20 rehabilitation activity days and a 12-week curfew.Both received a lifetime ban on all animals but can appeal after three years. Deprivation order for two other dogs at the property.
CONVICTED (2021) | puppy farmer George William Miller, born July 1991, previously of Woodlands Drive, Heysham, but as of May 2024 of of Loupsfell Drive, Morecambe LA4 4SB – for the illegal sale of dogs.
Miller, a traveller, was charged with two offences relating to the illegal sale of dogs.
The proceedings were brought by Animal Protection Services, and follows the charity’s investigation into the unlicensed sale of puppies in the North West.
Miller pleaded guilty to the crime of the unlicensed sale of animals as pets under the animal welfare act as well as the unlawful sale of pets in regards to consumer protection laws.
Miller made more than £15,000 from sales of Miniature Dachshunds, Cockapoos and French Bulldogs.
Animal Protection Services representative, Jacob Lloyd told LancsLive that Cockapoos, a crossbreed of Cocker Spaniels and Poodles, are the most commonly farmed dog seen by the charity.
He said: “We see Cockapoos all the time, they are the most popularly farmed breed that we’ve come to see.
“There are just the breed of choice at the moment, there is a huge demand for this sort of working cross breed.
“We are also seeing a huge increase in organised crime taking advantage of this demand, it is something that is fuelling the increase in dog thefts throughout the country.”
Animal Protection Services investigated Miller after he sold several dogs through the Pets4Home website.
Jacob says the investigation was difficult but ultimately worth the efforts of the charity as Miller pleaded guilty to both animal offences and was slapped with a hefty fine.
He added: “Trading of puppies without a licence is not acceptable. The undermining of the statutory licensing regime is a risk to animal welfare and consumer protection.
“The illegal puppy trade has become a low risk, high reward trade and we are determined to ensure that opportunists and organised criminals are brought before the courts to face justice.”
Sentencing | ordered to pay £1,173 in fines and a £900 contribution to prosecution costs. He was disqualified from dealing in dogs (both selling and breeding) for three years (expired March 2024).
CONVICTED (2021) | Stephen John Challis, born 29 March 1961, of Bridleways, Brickfield Lane, Burnham, Slough SL1 8LF – failed to take proper care of an emaciated horse with an infected wound.
Bonny was so badly neglected by her owner she had to be put down
Company director Challis, who owns a pet supplies business named Bridleways Ltd, was convicted of three animal welfare offences in relation to a mare named Bonny.
Former RSPCA Inspector Rachel Smith, who led the investigation for the animal welfare charity said: “Even from a distance I could see how thin Bonny was; her ribs, spine, hips and pelvis were prominent. She had a dirty bandage on her front left leg and her knee appeared swollen. Her hooves were long, with both front hooves split in several places indicating a lack of recent appropriate farriery care.
“I arranged for a vet to examine the mare who confirmed she was in a suffering state. Removing her bandage revealed an old infected wound that was green and smelt. Despite receiving treatment for her emaciated condition and injury, Bonny deteriorated further and sadly a vet recommended it would be in her best interest to put her to sleep”.
Challis confirmed he had not had a vet attend ‘for a long time’ and said he trimmed Bonny’s hooves himself. He denied being the owner or person responsible for Bonny but accepted that he had acted as her carer for the past 15-20 years by way of his daily feeding and maintenance of her.
Sentencing: 16 weeks imprisonment concurrent for each offence, suspended for 12 months; 180 hours of unpaid work; £1,000 costs. Banned from owning equines for four years (expires 2025).
CONVICTED (2021) | Ayla Gilchrist, born 18 October 1997, of Egreaves Avenue, Loscoe, Heanor DE75 5RS – left her pet dog alone without food in an empty property strewn with rubbish
Husky-cross Yogi was so emaciated that the RSPCA inspector who rescued her said she was the thinnest dog she had seen alive.
Described as a ‘walking skeleton’, she weighed just 8.75kg when rescued against a normal weight for her breed of around 30kg.
Yogi’s owner Ayla Gilchrist pleaded guilty to three animal welfare offences after admitting leaving the dog alone with no food.
The court heard how a housing officer attending the address called the RSPCA after seeing a very underweight dog in the property.
Inspector Rachel Leafe, from the RSPCA, visited the property on January 6 , 2020, and could see the weak dog through the window in the rubbish-strewn house which had dirty nappies, litter and dog faeces covering the floors.
In a statement she said: “She was walking but looked very weak and unsteady on her legs. I could visibly see, despite the thick fur, that the dog was grossly underweight. The outline of every rib could be seen through the fur, as could the spine and hip bones. The dog’s face was sunken in.
“Her stomach was so sucked in that it looked like somebody could easily wrap their hands around her waist. I could not see any food or water. I was very concerned that if the dog was to be left any longer she may not survive.”
Rachel accessed the property with help from Derbyshire Police and, by climbing onto a ledge through an open window, was able to safely lift the dog free as she was too weak to jump on the windowsill.
“I was so shocked at how light the dog was to pick up. It just felt like picking up an empty rucksack. I could feel her breast bone which was very sharp and prominent and there was no fat or muscle surrounding her body at all,” she said.
“She looked like a walking skeleton and I had never felt a dog this thin that was still alive in all my life and career as an RSPCA Inspector.”
Rachel rushed the dog for emergency veterinary treatment as she was underweight, dehydrated and appeared confused and weak.
Named and shamed: a local outs Gilchrist on Facebook as the owner of the abandoned dog
A scan of the dog’s microchip revealed her name to be Yogi, that she was aged five, and that she belonged to Gilchrist and was registered at the address where she was found.
Rachel was able to trace Gilchrist who allowed her access to the property where Yogi was found so she could make further investigations.
During her search, she found no available food and water for the pet but came across empty dog food tins wrappers.
Indications also showed that Yogi had been drinking water from the toilet bowl – which was left dry – and had eaten tubes of toothpaste to help stay alive.
A vet who examined Yogi said: “The only reason she perhaps stayed alive as long as she did was because she was able to access the water in a downstairs toilet. The dog was caused an unimaginable degree of suffering for a period of at least two months.”
After emergency treatment Yogi, who was renamed Honey because of her sweet nature and fur colouring, was taken to the RSPCA Chesterfield and North Derbyshire for rehabilitation.
She has since been rehomed.
Sentencing: eight-week custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months for each offence; ordered to a total of £328 costs and charges. Banned from owning animals indefinitely.
CONVICTED (2021) | Lee James Bradley, born 10 May 1980, of 3 Ascot Road, Kippax, Leeds LS25 7HT – subjected a Labrador puppy to regular beatings, causing him to suffer 30 rib fractures
Bradley inflicted cruel and violent attacks on helpless Labrador puppy Theo and didn’t seek help for a vet for two days despite the young pup struggling to breathe, suffering from a raised temperature, and being hunched up when walking.
Puppy Theo had been subjected to repeated violence at the hands of his owner, Lee Bradley
X-rays then revealed Theo had trauma to the chest area along with the six recent rib fractures causing him significant pain. They also revealed Theo had sustained 24 fractured ribs on both sides of his chest on an earlier occasion and were at differing stages of healing.
Vets felt they were likely to have been caused by blunt force trauma and the RSPCA were asked to investigate.
When questioned by the vet, Bradley claimed he was not aware of any circumstances that may have caused Theo to have sustained such severe injuries. However, when later questioned by RSPCA Inspector Danielle Grimshaw he stated Theo may have become injured as a result of a bin liner full of books having fallen on him.
RSPCA Inspector Grimshaw, who led the investigation, arranged for police to seize Theo and she took him to a vet for a clinical examination. Vets concluded Theo had suffered as a consequence of physical abuse and the fractures he had suffered were consistent with non-accidental injuries.
Theo has recovered and will be rehomed now that Bradley has been convicted
Bradley pleaded to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and a charge of failing to ensure the needs of an animal were met at an earlier hearing.
The abuse was said to have taken place between 23 December 2019 and 21 January 2020.
After the sentencing hearing, Inspector Grimshaw said: “To have had so much trauma inflicted upon him at such a young age is heartbreaking. Thankfully Theo can now find a loving forever home and not have to suffer in such a way again.”
Theo remained in RSPCA care during the investigation and has since made a full recovery from his injuries.
Sentencing: 300 hours of unpaid work; £390 costs and charges. Deprivation order on Theo meaning the RSPCA can now find him a loving new home. Indefinite ban on owning animals, which he can appeal after five years.
CONVICTED (2021) | Thomas James Eddinson, born 5 March 2000, originally from Gainsborough but now of Riverton View, Ermine, Lincoln LN1 3RA – beat a young dog to death in a fit of rage
Eddinson pleaded guilty to one count of causing unnecessary suffering under section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act.
The RSPCA were called after Jack Russell terrier ‘Oreo’ was taken to a vets after he had already died.
Eddinson had been looking after his partner’s dog ‘Oreo’ when he lost his temper with the animal and beat him in a sustained attack which led to the dog’s death.
A post-mortem on Oreo revealed a catalogue of injuries
A vet confirmed Oreo had extensive internal bleeding due to a ruptured liver as well as bruising over the neck, chest, abdomen and right leg. His right kidney was also bruised and there was damage to his brain and eye.
Dan Bradshaw, RSPCA inspector, said: “This was a vicious attack on a one-year-old defenceless animal left in Thomas Eddinson’s care.
“This attack led to the dog losing his life with a catalogue of bruising and injuries, he must have been in so much pain.
“It is distressing that Oreo’s life ended in such pain and suffering.”
After the attack Eddinson sent his ex-partner a video in which he taunted her about what he had done.
The court heard mitigation that Eddinson had lived in foster care, had some mental health issues and suffered with dyslexia.
Sentencing: 18-week prison sentence suspended for two years, 150 hours of unpaid work; costs of £250. Ten-year disqualification for owning animals (expires March 2031).
CONVICTED (2021) | Gwen McCarter, born 15 February 1978, and son Chris ‘Chrissy’ McCarter, born 30 April 1996, both of Irish Street, Londonderry BT47 – left two dogs to starve to death in an abandoned property; only one survived
Chrissy and Gwen McCarter were found guilty of cruelty over dog’s death
Mother and son Gwen and Chrissy McCarter were jointly charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a dog, failing to meet the needs of two dogs and abandoning animals on or before January 19, 2018.
A representative from Derry City and Strabane District Council read out the prosecution facts.
She said an animal welfare officer called to a house in Kingsmere Gardens on January 23, 2018 after a neighbour had raised concerns about barking dogs.
On entering the property the council worker discovered that the floor was covered in faeces and urine. She also observed a few pieces of dry dog food.
A terrier dog was discovered lying dead on the floor; his coat was matted and the worker could feel his ribs, hip bones and spine.
Another dog – a black and tan terrier – could be heard barking from under the table.
The council officer managed to coax the dog out and he was found to be emaciated. The dog, known as Toby, was given some water.
The court heard that rubbish was strewn around the house, there were empty packets of dog food and no electricity.
A vet determined that the surviving dog would suffer if his circumstances didn’t change and he was taken into the care of the council.
A post-mortem was carried out on the dead dog and found him to be ‘in very poor condition’.
Assessing the environment which he described as ‘a picture of neglect’, the vet found that there were ‘shocking levels of filth’ in the property and no food or water for the pets.
The vet believed the dead dog was ‘out-competed’ for food by his companion and the animal ‘suffered in its final days’.
Gwen McCarter’s workplace was identified and she was cautioned. She told police she did not believe the dogs were abandoned and thought her son and his friends were looking after them.
The defendant confirmed that she owned the dead dog along with her ‘since ex-partner’.
The other dog was only in the house for a short time, she said, and she had left two weeks previous.
Gwen McCarter was said to be ‘shocked’ that the dog had died but accepted that he had suffered.
Dog killer Chrissy McCarter with ex-girlfriend Julie McCartney, who in early 2019 was charged with an arson attack that killed two racehorses
Christopher McCarter was then traced in July 2018 and subsequently cautioned.
He confirmed that he had owned the surviving dog, Toby, along with his partner, Julie McCartney, but they had since broken up.
Incidentally, in January 2019, Julie McCartney was charged with starting a fire at stables, which resulted in two racehorses burning to death. The outcome of that case was never reported.
The outcome of the case against alleged horse killer Julie McCartney isn’t known
McCarter signed a voluntary transfer order for the council to rehome Toby.
The pair were convicted in their absence of all charges.
Sentencing (18 March 2021): four months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years; given 26 weeks to pay boarding costs, veterinary costs and legal costs totalling just over £2,600. Lifetime ban on ever holding or keeping any animals in the future.
CONVICTED (2021) | Colin West, born 5 October 1969, of Farquhar Road, Aberdeen AB11 – left his pet cat unattended for four days
Colin West from Aberdeen left his cat alone in an empty flat with no food or water for four days.
Colin West admitted leaving the cat, Rosie, alone in his flat for four days and making no attempt to provide food or water for her.
Scottish SPCA inspectors visited West’s flat after receiving a tip-off from a concerned member of the public. Inspectors visited the address on a number of occasions, feeding the starving cat through the letter box, and eventually gaining entry with assistance from the local authority.
Rosie had been so desperate for food that she had chewed open packets of dry rice and pasta in an attempt to find something to eat.
Scottish SPCA inspector Alexandra Campbell said: “I was shocked when I gained entry to the property as the condition of the flat was horrendous, with signs that Rosie had been consistently left unattended including a dirty litter tray, an empty food bowl and numerous chewed packets of food.
“No food had been left and the only water source available was dirty water from the toilet bowl.
“Rosie must have been so hungry that she had sought out food sources such as dry rice and pasta.
“However, I am delighted that the court has issued a ban in this instance which ensures another animal will not be subjected to this.
Callous West is only banned from keeping animals for five years
“No animal should be left unattended for a period of time without proper provisions being made for its welfare. Such provisions include food, water, warmth and that the animal is checked on at least every 24 hours.
Sentencing: £80 fine. Five-year ban on keeping animals (expires March 2026).
CONVICTED (2021) | Kerry-Ann Fretwell-Challenger aka Kerryann O’Malley , born 15 November 1979, of Brantwood Crescent, Cantley, Doncaster DN4 6LR – wilfully neglected her two dogs
Kerry-ann Fretwell Challenger failed to seek veterinary treatment for her two pet dogs, causing them immense suffering,
Fretwell-Challenger was investigated by the RSPCA in relation to her poor care of Staffordshire bull terriers Sasha and Roxy.
Inspector Sarah Jordan was called to the mother of six’s address on May 21, 2021, to collect an injured dog she claimed had been found behind some shops by her daughter. The dog, later identified as Sasha, was unable to bear weight on her left foreleg due to a deep wound which appeared to be infected.
Sasha was unable to bear weight on her left foreleg due to a deep wound which appeared to be infected.
Inspector Jordan said: “Throughout my conversations with Ms Fretwell-Challenger I had my suspicions that the dog may have belonged to her.
“A search on social media found a number of photos of Sasha on Ms Fretwell-Challenger’s Facebook page over the period of a number of years and on the June 10, last year, I made a call to her to put this evidence to her which she denied..”
The RSPCA then received a tip-off that another dog in poor condition was being kept at Fretwell-Challenger’s address. An inspector attended with police and a second Staffy, Roxy, was seized. She was suffering from severe skin disease with significant hair loss, crusting and scabbing as well as marks of self-mutilation.
Fretwell Challenger’s other dog Roxy was suffering from a severe skin condition with extensive hair loss to her lower back and tail.
A vet report produced in court stated that Sasha was suffering from a large open wound to her left forelimb with puncture wounds consistent with a dog bite. The bone itself was visible, her leg was swollen and she was unable to bear weight on it. The vet stated the injury to her leg would have been at least three to five days old.
The vet report for Roxy stated that she was suffering from severe skin disease with significant hair loss, crusting and scabbing as well as marks of self-mutilation.
The report added: “The severe skin disease Roxy was suffering with was clearly a source of notable discomfort and pruritus, leaving her not only in pain with her sore and damaged skin but with the mental anguish of always feeling itchy.”
The vet stated that this would have been going on for several weeks and it would have been ‘plainly obvious’ that she needed veterinary treatment.
“By not seeking that and leaving her untreated, her owner has caused her unnecessary suffering,” the report concluded.
Speaking after the sentencing, Inspector Jordan said: “This was a sad case that could have so easily been avoided if the owner had sought veterinary treatment for her two dogs.”
Both dogs were signed over into the charity’s care last August and have now been re-homed.
Sentencing: 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months; 80 hours of unpaid work; a total of £478 in costs and charges. Five year ban on keeping animals (expires March 2026).
#MostEvil | Chris McCormick, born c. 1971, of Harrowby Road, Wallasey CH44 8BY – battered his rescue dog to death and dumped his body in a bag in the garden
Evil Chris McCormick subjected rescue dog Charlie to multiple violent attacks, eventually killing him.
Chris McCormick hit the Jack Russell, known as Charlie, over the head and then abandoned his body outside his Birkenhead home.
Police came across the beaten dog when they were at McCormick’s home for a different matter, and called the RSPCA.
McCormick told inspectors during his interview that the dog had bit his hand, so he pushed Charlie off the sofa.
He claimed the dog “seemed fine” afterwards, but the next day found him dead with blood coming from is mouth.
But a post mortem examination revealed Charlie had suffered a blunt force trauma to the head and a further injury afterwards which caused his death.
The animal had a fractured skull and had suffered a brain trauma.
Veterinary surgeon Sean Taylor said Charlie would not have died immediately from the first trauma and said the injuries were consistent with “physical abuse in the home environment”.
Dog killer Chris McCormick with wife Karen Proctor
In a statement he said: “In my opinion the evidence in this case indicates that the dog sustained injury to his head after which he remained conscious and capable of suffering allowing him to swallow the blood that had been caused by that injury.
“This injury was later followed by a further injury to the left side of his head that rendered him unconscious with death following soon after.
Inspector Jenny Bethel, from the RSPCA, said: “During my interview with McCormick he admitted that he had taken on Charlie a year before after taking him from previous owners who beat him. McCormick also admitted to me that he had hit Charlie before.
“It is so sad to think about the suffering Charlie had endured.”
Sentencing: jailed for 16 weeks. Banned from keeping animals for 10 years.
