CONVICTED (2021) | Derek Raymond Wallace, born c. 1972, of 4 Haddon View, Brompton Regis, Dulverton TA22 9NW – caught on CCTV viciously attacking a helpless dog
In the short film, Wallace can be seen carrying seven-year-old terrier Darby, before he tips him over in his arms and drops him.
Darby falls, but catches by the neck on his lead before landing on the ground.
Wallace is then partly hidden by parked cars but then is seen to turn Darby, who is now crouching or lying on the ground.
Light from a torch he is holding obscures the image for a few seconds, but then he can be seen to kick Darby twice on the right hand side of his head and neck.
Darby recovered and was rehomed
RSPCA Inspector Jo Daniel, who investigated for the charity, said: “A vet who watched the footage confirmed that the actions of Wallace in the footage had caused Darby to suffer, both by causing pain and potential injury, and also by causing fear and distress.”
In mitigation it was said it was an isolated incident and that Wallace had been drinking alcohol, with which he has issues, at the time of the offence.
Darby was signed over into the RSPCA’s care at the time of the investigation and has since been found a new home.
Sentencing: six-month curfew order; £690 costs and charges. Unspecified ban on keeping animals.
CONVICTED (2021) | Kris Conroy, born 5 May 1984, of 41 Brisbane Road Weymouth DT3 6RB – broke a puppy’s leg and failed to take her to the vet even though she was screaming in pain
Kris Conroy was only banned from owning dogs for 18 months despite leaving this one in agony for 18 days
Conroy pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal after “accidentally” breaking the leg of six-month-old American bulldog Karma on December 22, 2019, leaving the animal in considerable pain.
Prosecuting for the RSPCA, Matthew Knight, said: “The police were called to [Conroy’s] home after the dog was heard screaming. Police recommended he should take the dog to the vet. He did so within a 24-hour period.
“Dogs have similar pain thresholds to people. The lack of action left the dog in a state of considerable pain and suffering.”
Mr Knight read a statement in court from the RPSCA inspector Marie Griffiths which said:
“I have never seen such a traumatised dog.”
The court heard how veterinary scans revealed the puppy’s leg was broken.
The dog was seized by the RSPCA on January 8, 2020, and has been in boarding care with the charity since.
Sentencing: 12-month community order; probation; costs and charges of £300. Banned from keeping or caring for any dog for 18 months (expired October 2022).
#MostEvil | Martin Stewart, born c. 1988, of Rokeby Crescent, Strathaven ML10 6EG – put a dog in a headlock, hanged him from a door handle and stabbed him twice in the abdomen with a knife
Musician Stewart subjected black Lab Fergus to a frenzied attack which the dog miraculously survived
Twisted Martin Stewart, a musician in a band called Another Filthy Weekend as well as a hairdresser and personal trainer, carried out the horrific attack on his partner Kelly Steedman’s Labrador, Fergus.
The brute pleaded guilty to threatening and abusive behaviour and causing the dog unnecessary suffering and assault.
The court heard how Fergus survived the ordeal after receiving emergency treatment following the bloodbath.
Stewart is founder and singer with an up-coming band Another Filthy Weekend
Depute fiscal Jennifer Cunningham said: “On the day libelled both parties retired to bed after being outside for the NHS clap and were in the company of pet dog Fergus.
“Both the accused and the complainer fell asleep and at some point she woke up and went downstairs.
“While she was downstairs she heard a squealing noise and ran back upstairs and found the accused with the pet dog in a headlock.
“He was applying pressure to the dog’s neck and described the dog’s eyes as rolling to the back of its head. She attempted to pull the dog away from the accused and break his grip.
“The dog ran from the room but she was unable to calm the accused who ran downstairs and put a dog chain around its neck and tied the other end on the handle of the front door.
“He then pulled the chain to the ground resulting in the dog being lifted off the ground and suspended by its neck.
“The witness placed her arms under the dog in a bid to release the pressure while screaming for him to stop what he was doing and noted the dog was choking.”
Miss Cunningham added: “She opened the door and went outside to phone 999 but saw the accused with a kitchen knife stab the dog twice in the abdomen.
“The witness intervened and attempted to wrestle the knife from the accused but the accused then stabbed himself in the neck.”
The prosecutor also told how when police arrived Stewart told them “I’m God. I’m being commanded to kill you, you have come here to die demon” before making threats and lashing out at them.
Hairdresser Kelly Steedman is standing by Stewart despite him almost killing her dog. She even lodged a letter of support with the court.
Stewart’s lawyer said his client was examined by a psychiatrist and was found fit to plead to the charges.
After studying a criminal justice social work report, Sheriff Thomas Millar told Stewart: “This was a bizarre episode.
“You have made good progress addressing your issues since, but I want to ensure that continues through an extended period of supervision.”
Sentencing: two-year supervision order and no ban or deprivation order for Fergus.
CONVICTED (2021) | backyard breeder Damien Firth, born 10 November 1987, of 3 Granston Close, Callands, Warrington WA5 9RZ – allowed a dog he was in charge of to be dangerously out of control
Backyard breeder and animal exploiter Damien Firth and Apollo, who was given a reprieve from destruction despite attacking a woman and her small dog
Firth, who breeds American pocket and XL bullies under the name Block Muzzle Bullies, was banned from owning or looking after dogs for five years after a woman out walking her small dog was bitten by an American bulldog named Apollo. Firth was looking after Apollo while his owner, Thomas Nightingale, was in prison.
But the canine attacked a woman and her pet after Firth left his garden gate unlocked.
Firth pleaded guilty to a charge of being in charge of dangerously out of control dog which caused injury. He also pleading guilty to two counts of failing to prevent unnecessary suffering to an animal.
Many of the dogs sold by Block Muzzle Bullies on Facebook have cropped ears, which is illegal in the UK
Simon Green, prosecuting, explained how on July 4, 2020, Apollo ran towards the victim and latched onto her wrist in an attempt to reach the dog in her arms. She fell to the floor, dropping her dog in the process, who was subsequently attacked and left with puncture wounds. The woman also suffered puncture wounds and bruising to her wrist.
After learning what had happened, Firth ran out, grabbed Apollo and took him back to the house, all without saying a word to the woman.
She went to Warrington Hospital, where she received a tetanus jab and antibiotics.
Apollo was seized by police, who discovered on inspection that he was suffering from an ear infection.
Around three months later on October 21, the RSPCA received an anonymous call that a second dog – Stella, a German shepherd – had been attacked in a garden by two pitbull-type dogs.
After attending Firth’s address, a charity officer found the dog to be bleeding and spoke to defendant, who refused to let her go to the vets.
Following the attendance of police, Stella was taken to the vets and was found to have suffered a number of wounds and lost a lot of blood.
In defence of his client, Gary Schooler referred to a report compiled by a police officer who examined Apollo after he had been seized, describing him as a ‘friendly and happy dog’.
Mr Schooler said that the gate being unlocked was a ‘momentary lapse in concentration’ and that Firth had acted ‘as any responsible dog owner would’ by taking Apollo back inside immediately.
He explained that when Firth returned outside to see if he could offer any assistance to the victim and apologise, she had gone.
German shepherd Stella suffered appalling injuries after being attacked by “two puppies” but Firth failed to take her to a vet for treatment
Referring to the injuries to Stella, which had been caused by two puppies, Mr Schooler said that Firth used his armed forces medical training to treat the dog, having not appreciated the full extent of her injuries.
Thomas Nightingale, the owner of Apollo, spoke on behalf of his dog via videolink from HMP Nottingham.
He said: “I would like to express my remorse over what happened and I am glad the victim did not suffer any long-term injuries.
“It is not in Apollo’s nature to attack anyone – he is a loving member of the family with no signs of aggression to people or other animals. I will do anything to keep him alive.”
Chair magistrate Robin Bradshaw disqualified Firth from being a custodian of dogs for five years and ordered him to complete a community order for 12 months, 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 100 hours unpaid work.
He also decided against the destruction of Apollo, instead imposing an order requiring him to wear a muzzle and be on a lead at all times in public places.
Despite the prosecution asking for compensation for Cheshire Police to pay kennel fees of more than £6,000, Firth was only asked to pay back less than £300.
In typical greeder style Firth is happy to sell pups for between £3000 and £5000 a time to anyone with the cash, but ‘after-care’ service is non-existent. Firth tells his customers that his pups are registered with the American Bully Kennel Club but frequently fails to produce registration documentation.
CONVICTED (2021) | Karl Daniel Haden, born c. 1986, of 32 Hunton Road, Erdington, Birmingham B23 6AH – repeatedly stamped on his pet dog’s head
Staffy Hunter was injured after his vicious owner stamped on his head
Paramedics were attending an incident in Hunton Road, Erdington, on April 2, 2020, when Karl Daniel Haden walked in with his dog, named Hunter, on a lead.
The medic spotted 34-year-old Haden aggressively shouting at Hunter before stomping on his head at least four times.
The dog was left with a wound above the eye as a result of the attack and was seized by police.
The RSPCA were informed and launched a prosecution.
Haden was found guilty of one count of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and a count of failing to care for an animal.
RSPCA Inspector Kate Levesley, who investigated for the animal welfare charity, said: “A vet concluded that Hunter had suffered unnecessarily as the actions of Haden were unnecessarily excessive and violent.”
Sentencing: rehabilitation activity requirement; 16-week home curfew; six month alcohol treatment programme. Banned from owning animals for eight years (expires 2029).
CONVICTED (2021) | Monika Listos aka Moniczka Listos, born 21/09/1994 of 66 Lauderdale Avenue, Coventry CV6 4LL – ran an illegal kitten farm and neglected the animals in her care.
Monika Listos ran an illegal kitten farm from an unoccupied house in Coventry
Polish national Listos, who traded under the name Cashmere Touch Ragdoll and is a known associate of notorious breeder Lizzie Scarrott, kept a number of very young and sick kittens in a squalid empty house before selling them on the internet.
Listos would purchase the kittens from online adverts before flogging them on Gumtree for a profit.
She was investigated by the RSPCA following 46 complaints about her actions from concerned members of the public.
Prospective buyers reported that kittens were being sold which were too young to be away from their mum and many were gravely ill.
The Polish national was jailed and banned from keeping all animals for life
Listos was found guilty of two animal welfare offences following a three-day trial and was jailed for 20 weeks. She was also banned from keeping animals for life.
Animal welfare inspectors attended the address where the kittens were being sold from on Lillington Road, Wood End, on April 27, 2019.
Numerous kittens could be seen in the barely furnished living room including one which was very small and was not moving.
Inside there were 18 kittens – believed to be in three separate litters – who were living in poor conditions.
RSPCA Inspector Louise Marston said: “I noticed a very bad smell of illness, diarrhoea and filth.
“There was a small tupperware tub present containing some dry kitten food, an empty plate and an empty plastic double bowl.
“There was no water at all, no bedding and no toys for the kittens to play with. There were no adult cats seen and each room was empty of all furnishings. . “The smallest kitten was on the couch huddled between two other kittens. She felt very thin and her bottom was very dirty, covered in diarrhoea.
“There was no way that she could physically access food, water and the litter tray without being taken on and off the couch as she was too small and clearly too weak to climb herself.”
The pets were taken to a nearby vets who found the kittens to be in a suffering state so Louise contacted Listos for her to be interviewed under caution.
Sadly, the smallest kitten found at the address died overnight while in veterinary care.
Listos and her partner are known associates of Lizzie Scarrott, whose illegal breeding operation was exposed by BBC Watchdog in 2018
Some of the other kittens were found to be aged four and five weeks old – which is too young to be away from their mum. This would usually be aged around eight weeks.
Twelve of the 18 were found to be suffering from feline parvovirus and also died.
The pair have much in common, not least a callous disregard for the kittens they breed
Louise said: “Sadly, kittens infected with feline parvovirus is something we do see, when kittens’ mothers were not vaccinated before becoming pregnant.
“These kittens were found in a house on their own and many were far too young to be away from their mum and were also at risk from the spread feline parvovirus via contact with contaminated faeces.
“Anyone looking for a new kitten should take time to make sure they have been bred responsibly, to avoid health and behavioural issues further down the line.”
Sentencing: jailed for 20 weeks; ordered to pay a total of £10,115. Banned from keeping animals for life.
Monika Listos’s fiancé is Arek ‘Adam’ Palka, also very good friends with Lizzie Scarrott and her husband Chris.
Monika Listos with Arek Palka.
Listos also has a pet sitting business (possibly now defunct) aimed at her fellow UK-based Poles. Its name is ‘Opieka nad zwierzętami Anglia’ which translates as Animal Care England.
CONVICTED (2021) | Marc Jones, born c. 1978, and son Neil Jones (aka Neil Ieuan Davies), born 26 April 1998, both of Ferntree Drive, St Mellons, Cardiff CF3 0AA – starved and neglected their pet dog
Marc Jones and his son Neil Jones / Davies were ordered to undertake rehabilitation activity after pleading guilty to animal cruelty
The dog owned by Marc Jones and Neil Davies was found to be very thin, infested with fleas and had “undergone a period of starvation”.
The male red Staffordshire terrier, named Rocky, was seized by the RSPCA and has now been rehomed.
He was examined by a vet and found to have an ear infection. Tests showed he was also anaemic
Rocky was very underweight, blind from cataracts and suffering a severe ear infection.
In the vet’s opinion, Rocky had been provided with an inadequate or inappropriate food supply for at least fourteen days.
He said that the owners’ failure to get treatment for Rocky’s ear infection resulted in him suffering pain and discomfort, adding that his overall condition was serious enough to constitute unnecessary suffering.
RSPCA Inspector Christine McNeil said: “When I first saw Rocky, he was in very poor condition. Although he was very friendly and affectionate, it was clear he wasn’t being looked after properly. The vet reported that he was very underweight, blind from cataracts and had awful ear problems. He also seemed very hungry; he tried to get into a plastic food bin, and when he was given food, he really wolfed it down.
“Rocky was immediately given veterinary treatment to address his infected ears, and the skin problems which had been caused by fleas and put on a gentle feeding regime of easily digestible food. We were so glad he was transferred into our care, as he really needed some TLC. Rocky has now reached an appropriate weight and we’re happy to confirm that he has been rehomed with a caring family.
“The neglect suffered by Rocky could have been easily avoided but he was simply left to suffer without the care he needed and deserved. We encourage people who can no longer cope with caring for their pets to contact us for help and advice to avoid unnecessary distress and suffering being caused.”
Sentencing: Marc Jones – ordered to pay £185 costs and charges. 12-month community order with 20 days of rehabilitation activity; three-month curfew. Disqualified from keeping animals for three years (expires April 2024).
Neil Davies – ordered to pay a total of £330 fines costs and charges; 12-month community order with 25 days of rehabilitation activity. Disqualified from keeping animals for five years (expires April 2026)
CONVICTED (2021) | Richard Frank Giles, born April 1951, of Adber Court, Adber, Sherborne DT9 4SG – drowned a neighbour’s cat and dumped her body in a ditch
Retired businessman Richard Giles callously drowned tabby cat Ruby because she was “ruining” his vegetable patch.
When Ruby’s worried owner, Shirley Gear-Evans, asked Giles if he had seen her pet after two days of searching for her, he said: “you won’t find her. I’ve killed her.”
Giles later blamed Ms Gear-Evans for Ruby’s demise, telling RSPCA investigators the widow should have trained her not to go after birds.
The court heard that Giles became fed-up with Ruby coming onto his property and causing a nuisance.
He and his late wife Judy had created a wildlife haven in their garden for birds and he became angry whenever the cat attacked them.
Giles was also annoyed at Ruby for ruining his seed bed in his garden.
The last straw came on September 19, 2020, when he found Ruby in his kitchen after he had left some food out. He caught her and killed her.
Matthew Knight, prosecuting, said Giles fell out his Ms Gear-Evans after he discovered she had taken in a rescue cat to keep her company in her retirement.
Mr Knight said: “On September 21st she bumped into the defendant and asked if he knew where Ruby was. He told her ‘well you won’t find her, she’s gone, I killed her’.
“He said he tried calling her on the 19th to tell her what had happened and there was a blocked number call at 8.27 that day.
“In interview he fully admitted he had drowned the cat in his water butt and dumped the body in a ditch. He said he killed her because he was concerned with germs and the effect of the cat on local birds.
“He criticised the owner for getting her from a rescue centre and criticised her for not training the cat.
“It is clear Mr Giles was under the impression his actions were justified.”
Vet Katrina Knill said that Ruby would have suffered terrible stress. She said: “In my opinion death by drowning is a cause of extreme and unnecessary suffering to an animal and one of the most distressing states in which to see an animal.
“In water an animal will either hold its breath or its airway goes into spasm.
“Both cases are extremely stressful and cause the animal to thrash around.
“When the animal is exhausted and no longer able to hold its breath, water rushes in.
“Brain activity continues for around three minutes prior to death.”
In a victim impact statement Ms Gear-Evans, a retired NHS manager, said the event had a “huge impact” on her life.
She said: “I am now looking at making security arrangements and the police have advised me to take out a civil injunction. I no longer feel I can have another cat.”
Magistrate Richard MacRae said: “It is a very serious offence and has caused a lot of distress, not just to the owner but to the general public as well by all accounts.”
Giles pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
Elisa Allen, a director for the animal rights organisation PETA, slammed the decision not to jail Giles as a ‘mistake’.
She said: “Giving a self-confessed animal abuser a suspended sentence may result in more suffering and even pose a threat to the entire community.
“It is a mistake with potentially fatal consequences. Anyone capable of taking out their frustration on a cat by killing the animal should be locked up and barred from having any future contact with animals.”
Sentencing: 12-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months; £1,000 compensation to Ms Gear Evans; £728 court costs.
CONVICTED (2021) | Che Osiris Lord, born c. 1983, of Meare Road, Glastonbury BA6 – arranged for three puppies to have their ears cropped
One of the puppies rescued from Che Lord
Lord, who is originally from Biggin Hill, Westerham, Kent, allowed three of his dogs to be subjected to the painful and illegal procedure in December 2020.
A veterinary report presented to the court explained that in addition to the acute inflammation and pain associated with the cropping process there may also be a number of longer term welfare concerns related to the tissue removal and altered ear posture.
In the report, veterinary surgeon Dr Sean Taylor said: “As with any tissue removal there will be associated chronic scarring and stimulation of associated nerves which may result in chronic pain.
“Dogs communicate with each other via body language in a similar way to humans and part of this communication involves ear movement and position.
“Mutilation of the ear pinna results in a dramatically altered ear shape which may hinder the dog’s ability to communicate effectively.”
RSPCA Inspector Miranda Albinson, who investigated the case, said: “Ear cropping is illegal in England and Wales, under Section 5 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
“While it is still legal in some European countries and US states, it is illegal here which means owners cannot crop their dogs’ ears, or send them to have their ears cropped by someone else.”
All three of Lord’s dogs, described as American XL bulldogs, will now be rehomed.
Sentencing: 12-month community order, with 40 hours of unpaid work; total of £195 costs and charges. Deprivation order on his three dogs but not disqualified from getting more.
CONVICTED (2021) | David R Thompson, born 8 January 1970, of Harwich Road, Colchester CO4 3LD – kept animals in atrocious conditions at his so-called sanctuary
Dave Thompson
When an RSPCA inspector arrived at Dave Thompson’s shelter, D+K Fuzzy Ferrets + Fox Rescue in Harwich Road, Colchester, in November 2019, she could see flies around the letterbox.
Police officers and RSPCA inspectors entered the property and found horrifying conditions within, with one police constable reporting she was almost sick due to the smell.
In total, 44 ferrets and polecats, four foxes, three jackdaws, two pigeons, a dove, two crows and a hedgehog were removed from the premises.
During the raid, the conditions were described as filthy, with many of the birds covered in faeces and suffering ragged feathers as a result of their squalid habitats.
Also seized were a large number of dead ferrets, a dead barn owl and some unidentified dead animals.
All of the ferrets and polecats bar three were found to be underweight, and were suffering from a variety of conditions – some of which were felt by the vet to be the result of poor feeding.
Nine animals had swelling to the eyes and required antibiotics, a number had gingivitis, thinning fur and bald patches which resolved once in care.
One ferret had to have an eye removed, with the vet asserting the painful condition had been present for a minimum of 21 days.
Several birds had to be euthanised.
Many of the animals made a full recovery following veterinary intervention.
Thompson admitted charges of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and failing to take all reasonable steps to ensure the needs of an animal for which he was responsible are met.
Prosecutor Hazel Stevens told the court: “This was supposed to be a rescue organisation, holding itself out as having knowledge and experience of ferrets and foxes.
“There was prolonged neglect and ill-treatment, and animals were suffering and others were likely to suffer had they been left in that situation.
“Animals required euthanasia, some birds having been left with broken and dislocated bones.”
Banning Thompson from keeping animals for three years, chair of the bench David Murtagh said: “You’ve got no relevant previous convictions, you were unwell at the time with mental health difficulties.
“We note your lifelong commitment to the care of animals, we take all of that into account.
“Nevertheless we cannot get away from the fact that what we saw in the photographs was absolutely appalling.
“We heard the police describe it as absolutely disgusting, we’ve heard the neighbours at the time were unable to open their windows because of the smell, and several animals were found dead during the inspection – either found dead or had to be put down at some later point.”
Sentencing: 250 hours of unpaid work; £710 in costs. Banned from keeping animals for three years (expires April 2023).
