CONVICTED (2021) | poachers Lois Rupert Nicholas Whiteley (aka Loy Whiteley), born 28 August 1996, of 11 Marvel Street, Hull HU9 1DS, Jason Thacker, born 11 February 1992, of 8 Forber Avenue, Hull HU9 4RG, and Jordan Rispin, born 13 April 1997, of Portobello Street, Hull HU9 3NT
The trio pleaded guilty to poaching offences after being caught trespassing on farmland between Humbleton and Sproatley in East Yorkshire at around 11.30pm on February 18, 2021.
They stepped on to the land for the purpose of gaming and were caught in possession of equipment commonly used for poaching.
All three entered guilty pleas under Section 1 of the Night Poaching Act 1828.
They were each ordered to pay a £360 fine and £85 in costs.
Rural Task Force Police Constable Kevin Jones of Humberside Police said: “I hope this conviction sends out another strong message to those who are involved in wildlife crime.
“I am grateful to the local members of Farmwatch for their assistance and partnership throughout this investigation which has resulted in another conviction under Poaching legislation.
“We will not tolerate this illegal activity and will continue to pro-actively work alongside our partners and farm watch community tackling these crimes.
The men convicted of poaching are already well known in the east Hull area for bloodsports such as lamping. They are allegedly part of a gang that routinely engages in illegal hunting with dogs, targeting foxes and badgers. They also reportedly goad their dogs into attacking cats and many cats have been killed or gone missing in the area.
Another member, Callum Pullen, born 5 May 1999, of 11 Gainford Grove, Hull HU9 4ND has just been charged with badger baiting. We understand he has pleaded guilty and will be sentenced at a later date.
CONVICTED (2021) | Daniel Jason McCloud, born 18 July 1994, of 5 Bankside, Todmorden OL14 6LF – left dogs fighting in a filthy backyard.
Daniel McCloud pleaded guilty to two animal welfare offences. The court heard how there had been prolonged neglect and suffering to his three dogs – two Staffordshire bull terrier type dogs Elvis and Banksy, and Panda, a cross breed type dog – after they were kept in a dirty back yard for long periods of time and in all weather conditions.
Local residents often heard and witnessed the dogs regularly fighting with each other. One concerned witness said they could hear the dogs becoming more distressed and agitated. Another reported the dogs would regularly be barking and howling all day. Excrement was all over the yard often covering the dogs’ paws and witnesses described how this could be smelt from the side road.
During the court hearing RSPCA Inspector Demi Hodby who led the investigation for the animal welfare charity described the day she was called to the property following reports of dogs fighting each other.
She said: said: “I received a call from our National Control Centre to attend an emergency incident where it was said there were dogs fighting. It wasn’t difficult to locate the address as I could hear the dogs fighting from down the road. The noises I could hear were horrific. It consisted of barking and loud high pitched squealing and yelping.
“When I arrived I saw Elvis and Panda were covered in blood and I feared that if the dogs were not separated from each other they were going to cause more significant injury to each other – I feared for Panda’s life. I called for assistance from the police who used bolt cutters to access the yard.”
She described how further police officers had to attend the location and intervene when McCloud became aggressive.
Officers at the scene helped Demi to remove the dogs and get them to a place of safety.
A vet at the charity’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital who examined the three dogs said in his report that he found Panda’s claws were worn down suggesting they were in contact with hard ground. He also found her nails were oozing blood. Her coat was soiled with mud and she had a graze to her right shoulder.
In his report the vet went on to state that Banksy had a small bite wound and Elvis had to be sedated before his wounds could be safely examined.
Panda
All three dogs were admitted to the hospital and had their wounds treated and received their vaccinations and flea treatment.
Banksy was also pregnant when she came into the charity’s care and she has since given birth to puppies. All her pups have since been found loving new homes.
Banksy and her pup
Mitigation was put forward that at the time of the offences, McCloud was suffering from depression and he accepted he had not been able to look after the dogs properly.
Sentencing: 12-month community order requiring 120 hours of unpaid work and 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days; ordered to pay a total of £395. 10-year disqualification from keeping all animals, which can be appealed after three years.
CONVICTED (2021) | Stephen R Bouquet, born 05/01/1967 (deceased), of Rose Hill Terrace, Brighton BN1 4JJ – killed nine cats and maimed seven more during nine-month animal cruelty campaign
Brighton Cat Killer Stephen Bouquet, a security guard and former Royal Navy seaman was convicted of killing nine cats after stabbing at least 16 pets during an eight-month rampage.
Bouquet stabbed at least 16 pet cats and potentially many more.
He killed nine cats and seven more he left for dead survived. Some of his victims are shown in our photo montage.
Authorities fear Bouquet could be responsible for other possible cat attacks in the city.
Bouquet was tried in his absence after failing to appear at court. Police apprehended him in Brighton on the evening of 28 June 2021 after a tip off from a member of the public who saw him drinking and behaving oddly in a city park.
His location was kept secret from the jury who took three hours to find him guilty.
The court heard Bouquet had pictures of the cats he attacked on his phone. When they searched his flat, police found a knife stained with feline blood in his kitchen.
Phone data placed him at or near the scene when cats were attacked.
Bouquet obsessively searched online for coverage of his animal cruelty.
He copied reports from Brighton daily paper The Argus and The Guardian onto his phone as news of his crimes spread.
Bouquet was convicted of damaging and destroying property.
Sentencing, Judge Jeremy Gold QC said the crimes were ‘appalling’ and the impact on the owners and their families was ‘considerable and grave’.
‘No explanation for your behaviour has been put forward but no sensible explanation could be advanced.’
He jailed Bouquet for five years for the cat killings, three months for possession of the knife to be served concurrently and three months for failing to answer bail to be served consecutively – a total sentence of five years and three months.
Sentencing: jailed for a total of five years and three months.As he was not prosecuted under animal welfare legislation he was not banned from keeping animals.
CONVICTED (2021) | Seward Folland, born c. 1946, of Twenty Acres, Puddington, Tiverton EX16 9PE and Nathan Bowes, born c. 1995, of the Bothy Kennels, Station Road, Brixworth, Northampton NN6 9BP – filmed interfering with a badger sett as they tried to flush out a fox
Folland and Bowes were filmed by hunt saboteurs as they blocked entrances to badger setts at Chulmleigh, Devon, in November 2019.
Bowes was convicted of two offences, and fined £940.
Folland was fined a total of £732 for one offence.
Both men, from the Eggesford Hunt, said the setts were inactive at the time of the incident, but Deputy District Judge Roderick Hine ruled they were in use.
Bowes, who was a kennel man, told the court he was there to “humanely dispatch” a fox which had gone to ground.
Terrier man Folland, with 45 years’ experience, said Bowes laid nets to “bolt the fox in the net to be humanely destroyed”.
Judge Hine said their convictions were based on the grounds of “recklessness rather than deliberate interference”, and said they failed to carry out proper inspections of the setts as they were in a “hurry to get the fox out”.
Greg Gordon, prosecuting, told the court that four hunt monitors were watching the Eggesford Hunt when they filmed the two defendants in woodland.
He said both men were trying to flush out a fox and the footage showed them blocking the entrance to the setts with earth, debris and nets.
Alex West, defending both men, said Folland had made a mistake and said the conviction for Bowes would be significant as he still works in the hunting sector.
CONVICTED (2021) | Melissa Marshall, born 12 December 1977, and partner Terry Sutton, born 22 November 1969, both of 33 Thames Road, Hebburn NE31 2BX – prosecuted for animal cruelty in relation to a dog and two cats found “ravenous” and emaciated at their home.
The RSPCA were called to Melissa Marshall and Terence Sutton’s address after receiving reports about neglected animals from a concerned member of the public
A court heard RSPCA Inspector Trevor Walker was sent to the flat on a number of occasions during May 2019 but nobody appeared to be at home.
On May 19 2019 Marshall opened the door to Trevor and allowed him into the property after explaining he wanted to examine the pets.
In a statement given to the court Inspector Walker said: “As I went up the stairs I saw an emaciated tan greyhound bitch called Sheba.
“After stroking her I realised I had blood on my hand and initially could not identify its source. Eventually we found the injury to Sheba’s tail. It appeared to be an old injury which had reopened and started bleeding.
“Melissa Marshall advised she would authorise me to take Sheba and any other underweight cats to the vets for examination.
“Access to examinations was restricted but eventually permission was given to remove Sheba, and Flash and Jaspar who were all emaciated.”
During his time at the property Marshall’s partner, Terry Sutton, remained seated but continued to complain about the report made to RSPCA. Marshall then refused to allow any other animals to be taken for examination.
RSPCA Inspector Walker rushed the three pets to a nearby vet’s who confirmed they were all suffering unnecessarily. Sheba’s old injury to her tail continued to bleed during the examination as she wagged her tail.
All the animals were then given food and were all ravenous, particularly the cats who attacked the food bowls.
Sheba, Jaspar and Flash were then taken to the RSPCA’s Felledge Animal Centre to be rehabilitated.
An independent vet who examined Sheba, aged seven, said she was in poor bodily condition with bones protruding and no body fat.
She noted the dog also had a chronic skin condition with scabbing on her skin caused by fleas and she had an old injury to her tail which was split at the end and bleeding.
She explained: “This is a relatively common injury seen in dogs with long tails and is particularly common when dogs are confined to small spaces, such as kennels.
“These injuries are difficult to treat and can often only be dealt with by amputating part of the tail. This appeared to be an old wound which I estimate had been present for at least two weeks, possibly one to two months. This open wound would have caused Sheba suffering due to discomfort and irritation.”
Both cats, aged eight, were also found to be in poor bodily condition with bones prominent and had no body fat and a loss of muscle.
After Sheba, Flash and Jasper were seized and placed into RSPCA care the animal welfare charity continued to work with Marshall and Sutton to maintain the welfare of the other six cats which remained at their home.
However, following the court hearing the district judge issued a deprivation order and said that these pets should also be placed in the care of the charity.
Inspector Walker attended the property on two occasions before he was able to seize the other cats.
Both Flash and Jasper remain at Felledge and it is now hoped they can be rehomed soon along with Sheba who had to have her tail amputated but is doing really well in foster care.
Marshall and Sutton were found guilty of five animal welfare offences but failed to appear in court for their sentencing.
They were brought before the court the following day after warrants were issued for their arrest.
Homes will now also be found for the other six cats once the appeal period is over.
Sentencing: both received a 12-month community orders and must complete 150 hours of unpaid work; ordered to pay £295 each. 10-year ban on keeping animals (expires July 2031).
CONVICTED (2021) | Nichole Louise Hall, born 10 July 1991, of the Caravan Park, Baltic Road, Gateshead NE10 0SB – neglected four horses and two dogs.
Gypsy Nichole Louise Hall received a 5-year ban on keeping horses but is free to have other animals.
Hall was taken to court after four horses and two dogs were found in a neglected state in a compound in Gateshead.
Three of the horses were in a poor condition and were found in stables full of droppings, without access to water.
In addition, two dogs were discovered in a small metal pen full of faeces.
An investigation was launched by the RSPCA after they received a video from a concerned member of the public which showed a black cob in poor condition with the hips, ribs and spine clearly visible on the footage.
RSPCA inspector Heidi Cleaver went to a compound at Low Heworth Lane, in Gateshead, where she was told the horse was living on February 12, 2020.
She was accompanied by two independent vets and a police officer and they found three of four horses belonging to Hall to be in poor bodily condition.
In her statement Insp Cleaver said: “All four of the horses were found without access to any water and were being kept in stables which were full of droppings. There was no clean, dry bedding for them to rest on.
“There was only a minimal amount of hay found in some of the stables and what hay they had was dirty and had been walked into the muck. The compound in general was untidy, with many hazards lying around.”
They also came across two dogs belonging to Hall at the site – a tri-coloured Jack Russell called Patsy and a pale and brindle whippet called Gracie.
Despite cruelly neglecting these two dogs, gypsy Nichole Hall was only banned from keeping horses.
Both dogs were being kept in a small open-topped metal pen, which was full of faeces, with access to a plastic kennel.
On the day of the visit the weather was freezing and there were snow showers. The dogs were found to have bedding but this was damp.
There was no food and little water available for them. The water appeared to be rainwater in dirty bowls.
The police seized the dogs under the Animal Welfare Act as their needs were not being met and handed them into RSPCA care.
All four of the horses were then individually examined by the vets.
Nancy, a black cob mare, was so thin her hip, ribs and spine were prominent and the vet said she was suffering unnecessarily.
Next was Django, a skewbald cob, who was visibly underweight with long hooves and was given a body score of two out of five.
Another skewbald cob called Jake was found to be in poor bodily condition and was give a score of 1.5 out of five.
Finally Dusty, a cob filly, was found to be in reasonable body condition and was given a score of 2.5 but the vet was of the opinion she was likely to suffer if her circumstances didn’t change and was found to have very overgrown hooves.
The horses were also seized and taken into the care of the RSPCA but Nancy was so weak she collapsed as she was led away, the court heard.
All four horses and the two dogs are now thriving with the RSPCA and it is hoped they will be rehomed soon.
Patsy and Gracie and the rescued horses have all thrived since being taken into the RSPCA’s care.
Hall pleaded guilty to four animal welfare offences when she appeared at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.
She admitted causing unnecessary suffering to two horses by failing to investigate and address their poor condition, and not taking steps to ensure the needs of all four horses and two dogs were met.
In mitigation, Hall said she was caring for a relative at the time and that she was “spinning too many plates”.
Sentencing: 12-month community order with a requirement to carry out 15 days of rehabilitation activities and 180 hours of unpaid work. She was also ordered to pay £500 costs. Five-year ban on keeping horses (expires July 2026).
CONVICTED (2021) | Gail Vines, born c. 1957, of Kinnear Square, Laurencekirk AB30 1UL – banned from keeping horses after pony found in terrible condition covered in lice and open wounds
Vines is well known to the SSPCA who have dealt with her in the past and provided guidance on how to care for her animals.
Vines, who is originally from Shapinsay in Orkney, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to her pony, Eve, who would have died without treatment.
She pleaded guilty to failing to provide adequate care and treatment, including nutrition, leading to the pony becoming emaciated and suffering from poor body condition, chronic diarrhoea, skin lesions and an infestation of lice.
The court heard Vines had been juggling a divorce, childcare and work, so had only been checking on her field of nine horses on the way home, shining a torch to check they were all there.
Eve was emaciated and suffering from skin lesions and lice when SSPCA inspectors found her,
She failed to notice Eve had become unwell and underweight due to redworms causing digestive issues and diarrhoea.
The SSPCA arrived at Sunnyside Farm in Drumoak, Aberdeenshire, on Sunday February 28, 2021, after a receiving a call from a concerned member of the public.
Inspector Fiona McKenzie said: “On attending we noticed the field was in a state of disrepair with numerous hazards that the ponies could become injured by such as loose fence posts and electric fencing wire on the ground.
“It also immediately became apparent that one of the ponies, Eve, was in extremely poor condition.
“She was standing on her own by the hay ring feeder with her head hanging down. Eve was emaciated and her hip bones and spine were clearly protruding. She was so weak, she had no energy and was listless.
“Eve was also covered in lice and had skin lesions. She was suffering from severe diarrhoea, which was later found to be caused by a heavy worm burden.
“It would have taken some time for Eve to get into this condition and it would not have happened overnight. She is incredibly lucky that she was found when she was as had she not received treatment she would have died.”
Eve is now doing well at an SSPCA animal rescue and rehoming centre and it is hoped she will be able to find a forever home soon.
The Inspector continued: “We are pleased that Vines has been banned from keeping horses for five years and hope she will seriously consider her ability to look after any animal in future.
“I was absolutely shocked and disappointed by this case. Vines had received advice and assistance from the Scottish SPCA previous to this and should have prevented or recognised issues with her horses and addressed them.
“Eve was undoubtedly caused immense suffering over a period of several months. This suffering could have easily been avoided had the owner displayed good horsemanship. Her lack of daily care and feeding, along with routine worming, is good practice known by responsible horse owners.
“Vines’ failure to adhere to Scottish SPCA advice shows total disregard for her animal’s health and wellbeing.”
Sentencing: banned from keeping horses for five years (expires July 2026). Deprivation order in respect of Eve. The sheriff otherwise admonished Vines, meaning she faces no further punishment.
CONVICTED (2021) | Hannah Olivia Wilkinson, born 29 December 2000, of Kitchener Terrace, Ferryhill DL17 8AX – neglected 121 animals with her late girlfriend.
Hannah Wilkinson (front) with ex-girlfriend and co-defendant Rio-Anne Dickinson (deceased)
Wilkinson and Rio-Anne Katie Jane Dickinson, who has since died, failed to look after numerous species while leasing farm land in an attempt to make money.
The pair, who were in a relationship at the time, kept hens, chickens, quails, ducks and guinea fowl on Bog Hall Farm, in Mordon, near Sedgefield, County Durham.
They were also responsible for two sheep, two hamsters, four guinea pigs, two budgerigars as well as a goat and a rabbit.
Teesside Magistrates’ Court in Middlesbrough heard how they sold animals and operated without a licence or vet support.
Alex Bousfield, prosecuting, told the sentencing hearing how “two people were involved”.
Mr Bousfield told the court how the neglect came to light after customers raised concerns that the animals they had bought were covered in lice.
He said that the operator of the farm, who leased it to the defendants, contacted the RSPCA after carrying out three spot checks in two-week period.
Mr Bousfield said she found animals without food and water and some in plastic bags ready to be burnt, despite it being illegal to dispose of them this way.
He told the how there were a total of 121 animals were not cared for by Wilkinson and Dickinson.
He said: “A lot of animals were found to be sick and starving. Many of the animals were emaciated.
“Some animals still needed to be euthanised.”
Among the injured animals which had to be put to sleep was a chicken with a plastic ring inside her leg and a guinea pig who had developed teeth which were too long.
Mr Bousfield said that there were quail and chickens found in large number which had feather loss and plucking damage and were emaciated, having been kept in a state of starvation.
Mr Bousfield that the defendants failed to care for the animals for at least 48 hours prior to the RSPCA attending the farm.
He said that the defendants tried to pass the blame for their wrongdoing onto the landlord but there was an agreement making it clear that they were responsible for all the care of the animals they looked after.
The prosecutor said: “In this case the suffering led to the death of numerous animals. Birds seemed to be more specifically affected.”
Distressing pictures show the filthy farm where Hannah Wilkinson and Rio-Anne Dickinson starved up to 121 animals in a lockdown cash-making scheme
The court heard how the RSPCA had already previously spoken to Dickinson, while Wilkinson was in attendance, about their chickens as they were found to be managing more than they were capable of.
Mr Bousfield said that Dickinson admitted in interview that she had sold 500 birds in one week.
He said: “The defendants appeared to have plans to expand their business. There was suggestion of plans to open up a mini animal park.”
Wilkinson sobbed as Mr Bousfield asked the judge to disqualify her from keeping all animals.
He said that social media suggested she may have access to a dog and added: “Clearly we would be concerned if there was a dog in her care.”
During a previous hearing in June 2021, Wilkinson and Dickinson pleaded guilty to five counts of unnecessary suffering.
The charges relate to 52 red ex battery hens, 19 various type chickens, 10 quail, one guinea fowl, a red ex battery hen, a pale brown and white juvenile duck and a white Bantam hen.
They also admitted a sixth charge of not taking steps that were reasonable in all the circumstances to ensure the needs of an animal for which they were responsible.
These included one rabbit, four guinea pigs, two hamsters, two sheep, one goat, 15 ducks, two budgerigars and one guineafowl. All of the offences took place in July 2020.
Paul Watson, defending Wilkinson, acknowledged how Dickinson was not in court and would not be able to speak for herself or respond to anything that is said.
He said: “At the same time I want to put some context on what Miss Wilkinson says was her involvement within this.”
Mr Watson told the court how Dickinson was the sole proprietor of the business and the full beneficiary.
H said: “Any plans to create a mini park or to expand were the plans of Ms Dickinson rather than Ms Wilkinson.
“The background was she was in a relationship with Miss Dickinson. They lived together and in fact Miss Dickinson looked after Miss Wilkinson. Everything was indirect, it was whatever Miss Dickinson decided to provide to Miss Wilkinson.
“She’s now 20, she regards herself as a minor part of this in that she didn’t make decisions. She accepts that some matters are matters of common sense. In her own words ‘no animals deserve this’.
“She was not a signatory to the contract that’s been referred to and she was very much directed, she would say, by Miss Dickinson in regards to what was done and what was not done.
He said that Wilkinson knew what was required for a dog but not quail or chickens and she was learning as she went along.
He said that Wilkinson was of previous good character and has no previous convictions or cautions.
Sentencing: 15 weeks’ detention in a young offenders institution. suspended for 18 months; 100 hours of unpaid work; £428 in costs. Banned from keeping all animals with the exception of dogs for six years (expires July 2027).
CONVICTED (2021) | Reece Peter Stubbs, born 12 December 1999, of 1 Hillerby Lane, Hornsea HU18 1AR – punched a dog three times, leaving her screaming in pain.
Career criminal Stubbs, who at 21 is already a father of two (but lives with his mummy), was charged with assault causing actual bodily harm, criminal damage and unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
He admitted the assault and criminal damage and was found guilty after trial of committing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
The court heard how a man was walking his dog in Hull on December 30, 2020, at around 5pm when a small black dog came running up playfully. However, Stubbs and another man came up and Stubbs picked up the dog by the scruff of the neck and then punched her several times. The dog screamed and howled.
The dog walker took exception to this and crossed the road to challenge Stubbs.
But Stubbs picked up the dog crate in his possession and threw it at the man which hit him in the nose and wrist.
The victim’s glasses fell off and Stubbs and the other man stamped on them and threatened the man further.
They walked away but when the victim’s torch was turned on Stubbs thought the victim was filming him on his phone. He went up and threw three ‘haymaker’ punches at the victim.
Stubbs previously appeared at Hull Magistrates’ Court in February last year.
That court had heard how Stubbs had moved to Kingswood in Hull from Hornsea to be with his partner and their children.
Despite having no previous convictions, Stubbs ended up committing five offences in just six months.
He committed his first offence of assault at the Co-op in Kingswood on August 28 2019 when he threw a can at a woman.
Between October 9-20 Stubbs, together with other males, also committed two theft offences.
The first involved syphoning petrol from cars in which £230 worth of fuel was stolen. Stubbs also admitted stealing two vacuum cleaners and a transformer from the new homes being built near to his home.
On New Year’s Eve 2019 Stubbs committed a public order offence in a street in Kingswood.
Then on January 12, 2020, Stubbs was involved in a violent confrontation with a neighbour in Kingswood, punching his victim in a “sustained attack”.
But rather than walk away, Stubbs punched the man to the ground and continued to hit him on the ground.
The magistrates’ court heard how Stubbs had not been able to cope with the responsibility of being a dad while he also mixed with the wrong crowd and made some poor decisions.
Shameless: persistent violent offender Reece Stubbs posed for a picture outside Hull Crown Court during his appearance for sentencing, with several Facebook friends, including his own mother Debbie Burke, wishing him luck/
Catherine Kioko-Gilligan, mitigating, again reiterated the fact Stubbs had previously had no convictions before the series of offending in the last 18 months.
She said: “The defendant became associated with a number of negative influences. But he has since made positive steps to address these issues and he now has casual employment.
“He wants to become a positive role model for his young children who are just one and four years old. He knows he must change or he will end up in prison.”
The court also heard how Stubbs had not engaged with the previous community order, only completing 15 hours of the 300 hours of unpaid work he should complete.
But, despite this, Judge Ahmed Nadim was prepared to give him one last chance.
He told Stubbs he will defer sentence for six months – until January 17 – during which time he must complete his unpaid work and 17 rehabilitation activity days.
“You had everything going for you but your behaviour over the last couple of years and significantly compromised your life potential,” he said. “It is appropriate for you to be sent to prison for this disgraceful behaviour.
“But I will give you one last opportunity to demonstrate that you are capable of and willing to curb your ways and embrace a law-abiding lifestyle. Your attempts to complete the last community order has been woeful.
Judge Nadim told Stubbs he must complete all the unpaid work, do the rehabilitation days and stay out of trouble until January 17 otherwise he can “expect to be in prison for a substantial period of time”.
CONVICTED (2021) | illegal dog breeder Christopher J Mae, born 23 January 1989, of 66 Habershon Street, Splott, Cardiff CF24 2DY – mutilated the ears of puppies.
Mae, who traded under the name Bulletproof Bullies, pleaded guilty to four offences and was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison. He will have to pay more than £11,000 for the cost of housing his dogs, fines and a victim surcharge.
The court heard Mae caused unnecessary suffering to two dogs when he “cropped” their ears, which is an illegal practice in the UK.
The ears were cropped for “financial gain”, with the dogs worth between £1,000 and £1,500 more after the banned procedure, the court heard.
Mae sold dogs through a Facebook page for between £1,000 and £5,000 each, “depending on quality and bone structure”.
The court heard he was an unlicensed breeder and he pleaded guilty to the illegal landing of a dog in the UK called George, which could have come from China or Spain.
George was examined and had difficulty walking.
Council officers investigated Mae’s Facebook page and discovered multiple references to dog breeding and offering dogs and puppies for sale.
His home was searched and eight adult dogs and eight puppies were found.
All eight adult dogs had their ears cropped.
Vet records revealed more than 60 dogs had been registered.
The court heard five females were his breeding bitches and he owned two stud dogs, and that Mae had a “special bloodline” that he had developed for certain colours.
Mae’s dogs were seized and three adults and two puppies had to be taken to quarantine because they had no passports.
The court heard Mae sold to “unsavoury people” and had 13 convictions for 21 previous offences from 2004 to 2017 including assault, possessing a controlled drug, dishonesty, handling stolen goods and criminal damage.
Sentencing: jailed for 16 weeks; ordered to pay £11,000 in costs. Disqualified from having any animals for eight years and prohibited from applying for revocation of that order for five years (ban expires July 2029).
