CONVICTED (2021) | Ivan Eduardo Silva, born 18 September 1965, of 22 Farm Crescent, Mosborough, Sheffield S20 5BD, and Jessica Bland, born c. 1975, of 190 Abbeyfield Road, Burngreave, Sheffield S4 7AY – convicted of animal cruelty in relation to a dog found in a skeletal condition in their filthy home.
Jessica Bland and ex-partner Ivan Silva only received a 5-year ban on keeping animals despite Silva having a previous animal cruelty conviction and breaching his ban.
An RSPCA investigation was launched into the pair, who at the time lived together in Abbeyfield Road, following reports that their bull-breed dog, Turner, was being neglected.
The court heard how when Inspector Kim Greaves attended the property there was a large swarm of flies around the door and also a smell of “ammonia and general filth ”.
She asked to see Turner so Bland went inside to get him and brought him outside after several minutes.
Turner was starved and neglected by his cruel owners, but recovered in the RSPCA’s care.
Kim told the court: “The dog was squinting when he came outside to us, as if adjusting to the bright light outside.
“I noticed immediately that the dog’s collar was extremely loose on his neck, and I was concerned that he could easily escape by backing out of the collar, should he choose to.
“He was very underweight, I could easily see his spine, ribs, hip bones, and the bony part of his skull was easily felt.
“He smelt awful, his fur had patchy areas of fur loss, and his fur felt tacky and dirty.”
Bland agreed to let the RSPCA take Turner to a vet for an examination.
An independent vet who examined Turner found him to be severely underweight for his breed with his skull, ribs, spine and pelvic bones all protruding and stated this was because he was malnourished.
He weighed in at 34 kg and was given a bodily score of 2 out of 9 (with 1 being the lowest).
In his statement the vet said Turner was fearful and cowering when he was approached by humans and was also found to have alopecia and a flea infestation on his body.
Bland pleaded guilty to two animal welfare offences for failing to meet the needs of Turner while Silva admitted breaching a previous eight-year animal ban handed out by a court in 2015.
Turner remains in the care of the RSPCA Sheffield Animal Centre but it is hoped now the case has been concluded the branch will be able to find a home for him.
Kim added: “Turner came on really well in just a few days under veterinary care he put on 2.2 kilograms in weight and has continued to progress under the care of the Sheffield Animal Centre where staff will find him a new home.”
Sentencing: £150 costs. Five-year ban on keeping animals (expires July 2026). Bland was allowed to keep her four cats.
CONVICTED (2021) | illegal dog seller Lisa Walker, born c. 1979, of The Caravan Park, Sherdley Road, St Helens WA9 5DH
Lisa walker with husband Jimmy Price
Lisa Walker, a traveller, was estimated to have made £55,000 in just a few months from selling puppies. The mother-of-five admitted carrying out an activity without a licence and also engaging in unfair commercial practice.
Walker sold French bulldogs and Cockapoos for up to £2,800 a puppy after advertising them online. But she didn’t have a licence despite the fact she gave the “false impression” she had a legitimate business.
Walker was prosecuted by Animal Protection Services, after the charity investigated the unlicensed sale of puppies in Wirral.
She was not prosecuted for animal cruelty.
Walker and Price during the former’s recent court appearance
Walker was accompanied to court by husband James ‘Jimboy’ Price, who was prosecuted for animal cruelty in 2019 after ‘accidentally’ dragging a French bulldog to her death behind a trailer.
Animal Protection Services also recently prosecuted Walker’s in-laws and fellow puppy dealers David Price, 33, and Amos Price, 72, for selling puppies without a licence. The pair were fined and given a two-year ban on trading in dogs.
Sentencing | 12-month community order, with a three-month home curfew from 9pm to 6am daily. Banned from dealing in dogs for a year (expired July 2022).
#MostEvil | Jerome Anthony Lothian, born 1 December 1992, of Homewell Walk, Clifton, Nottingham NG11 8HA – battered a five-month-old puppy so hard she had to be put down, while girlfriend Danielle Toni O’Brien, born 24 November 1989, of Alfreton Road, Bobbers Mill, Nottingham NG7 5NU, allowed her to suffer.
Danielle O’Brien and her dog-killing boyfriend, Jerome ‘Jay’ Lothian.
Lothian, who goes by Jay Lothian and has links to Croydon and Sydenham in London, left crossbreed bulldog pup Mula with multiple fractures to her leg, pelvis and spine during two months of horrific abuse.
A court heard how the thug tried to blame the injuries on the pooch falling from a sofa and a step before experts found she had suffered “severe blunt force trauma”.
Mula was barely able to stand due to the injuries inflicted by violent thug Jerome Lothian
Heartbreaking photos show little Mula barely able to stand with her leg in a bandage before she was put down by vets to end her suffering.
Lothian was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to the puppy and other animal welfare offences.
Lothian and his partner Danielle O’Brien were also found guilty of failing to provide vet care for the young puppy and allowing her to suffer.
The court heard the PDSA animal charity contacted the RSPCA following concerns that Mula had developed various injuries in the space of a few months – without a reasonable explanation.
The young pup had old fractures which had not been treated, plus a new fracture in her hind leg.
She was struggling to walk on her back legs and she was bleeding from her nostrils with wounds to her mouth and tongue.
Little Mula was put to sleep to end her suffering.
The vet felt the extent of Mula’s injuries, even with extensive treatment, meant that she would be left in chronic pain and felt the best option was to put her to sleep.
But police were called after O’Brien refused to allow Mula to be euthanised.
While they were waiting for the police, RSPCA Inspector Helen Mead sat with the helpless puppy, the court heard.
She said the dog barely moved, but after some time Mula used her front legs to move herself forward for a tummy rub and rested her head in the officer’s hands.
During the police investigation, it was found that Mula had suffered a catalogue of horrific injuries in the lead up to her having to be put down.
Neither Lothian or O’Brien could give reasonable explanations as to how most of the injuries happened and there were a number of discrepancies between their stories, the court heard.
Vets concluded Mula was caused to suffer as a result of physical abuse while Lothian was responsible for her.
In a statement, one vet said: “A puppy of this age should not be seen with multiple fractures.
“Elbow fractures can be seen in bulldog breed puppies following minimal trauma. However multiple femoral fractures, and certainly a pelvic fracture, would require much greater trauma than the owner reported.
“I can only conclude that the fractures and injuries seen are as a result of trauma.”
Following the hearing, RSPCA Inspector Helen Mead said: “This young dog endured repeated abuse at the hands of Lothian.
“I wanted nothing more than for her to recover but sadly the extent of her injuries meant this was not possible.
“Being with her as she was put to sleep, I hope myself and the lovely team at the PDSA gave her some comfort in her final moments.
“This case of deliberate cruelty will stay with me for a very long time.”
Sentencing: Lothian was jailed for 16 weeks; ordered to pay £2,000 costs and a £120 victim surcharge. Banned from keeping animals for life. O’Brien was given a 12-month community order with 20 rehabilitation requirement days and a deprivation order relating to another dog she owns. Ordered to pay £2,000 costs and a £85 victim surcharge. She was not banned from owning animals.
CONVICTED (2021) | serial animal abuser Orrin M Lloyd, born 24 November 1989, of 35 Scarisbrick Avenue, Southport PR8 1AX – left his cat crying in pain and in clear distress after she suffered a broken pelvis.
Orrinc ‘Oz’ Lloyd was charged with inflicting blunt force trauma on the tabby cat, named Puss, but was cleared following a trial.
Lloyd was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering when he didn’t seek help while the cat was clearly in distress.
The court heard vets considered putting Puss down due to the severity of the injuries, but after spending 15 days in an animal hospital she is now “doing well”.
Kyra Badman, prosecuting, said medical evidence stated the injury had been sustained by “blunt force trauma” but clarified Lloyd was found not guilty for inflicting the injury after a trial.
Ms Badman said Lloyd’s mum, Tracy Lloyd, went to his home with a cat basket after she “received a call from her son who said the cat was injured”.
Ms Lloyd said when she arrived the cat was “crying, in pain and barely moving”.
She took her to the vets the next morning where they discovered “multiple pelvic fractures” and her “heart and respiratory rates were elevated”.
The cat was also unable to stand on her hind legs and needed pain relief.
Ms Badman said there was a fracture where the pelvis attached to the cat’s spine and in the cat’s pubic bone adding “the animal was clearly suffering” which was “extended by the defendant’s failure to provide proper care”.
An expert said it was likely the injury was caused between 48 and 72 hours before being brought to the vet.
A vet said the cat was “clearly in distress” and in a “painful condition”.
Ms Badman said: “The veterinary team were discussing euthanasia at one point, such was the severity of the injuries.”
Lloyd had claimed he thought the cat was “in heat” rather than in severe pain.
Making an application to have Lloyd banned from keeping any kind of animal, Ms Badman said: “There was some concern in a statement of the defendant’s mother, in relation to other animals.
“In her statement his mother talks about concerns, on one occasion he had thrown a mouse down the stairs.”
She said he had also kept a rat in a cupboard and his mum had found it without food.
Ms Lloyd said he also kept a pet rabbit in a flat in Southport “without food or water” and “she was concerned in relation to a pet budgie which she described as being extremely thin”.
She said there had also been another cat which was “extremely nervy” and was found with “no food or water”.
Lloyd’s previous convictions included criminal damage and battery.
Nick Archer, defending, said in general the cat had been “well-looked after”.
He said: “It hadn’t been eating because of the injuries but prior to that if anything it was slightly over fed.
“In terms of general looking after there had been no neglect.”
Mr Archer said Lloyd eventually called his mum as he had “realised there’s a problem and taken steps”.
He said Lloyd works part time as a maintenance worker in Liverpool.
Mr Archer added that for some of the period the cat was suffering it was with Lloyd’s mum.
He said during his cross examination of an expert at the trial they said it “wasn’t uncommon for inexperienced owners to think an animal was in heat” and couldn’t “clearly differentiate”.
Mr Archer said the expert had also told a court it wouldn’t be possible to determine if the cat was in heat.
Lloyd was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
District Judge Duncan Birrell, sentencing, said: “It’s unclear precisely how those injuries came about but this is your cat and was in your possession at the relevant time.”
Sentencing: 12-month community order with 30 Rehabilitation Activity Requirements and 80 hours of unpaid work. Costs and charges of £595. Banned from keeping any animal for 10 years (expires July 2031).
CONVICTED (2021) | Daniel Mellors, born 20 May 1997, of 143 Lothersdale, Wilnecote, Tamworth B77 4HX – picked up his pet dog by her legs and slammed her onto the floor.
Mellors with the victim, Roxie.
Daniel Mellors was fined but not banned from keeping animals after the court ruled that a ban “would not be proportionate”.
Witnesses in Birmingham saw Mellors strike the dog, Roxie, before picking her up by all four legs and slamming her onto the ground.
He also dragged her aggressively in the incident.
The incident took place on August 31, 2019 and was reported by the British Transport Police (BTP).
On 25 September 2019 BTP issued an appeal for information following the incident and released photographs of Mellors and his girlfriend, Jemma Milton, who reportedly swore at members of the public that tried to intervene.
BTP released these images of Mellors and girlfriend Jemma Milton following the attack on the dog.
The charge, under the Animal Welfare Act, alleged Mellors “caused unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, namely a dog, by a failure to act, namely struck the dog a number of times, drag the dog aggressively and pick the dog up by all four legs and slam the dog into the the floor, and you knew or ought reasonably to have known that the act would have that effect or be likely to do so.”
According to the court register, the reason for not imposing a disqualification order was because ‘this was a short incident falling within the lowest bracket of harm and culpability and in these circumstances such orders would not be proportionate’.
Sentencing: fined £267; ordered to pay a £32 victim surcharge and £450 in Crown Prosecution Service costs bringing his total bill to £749.
CONVICTED (2021) | Tracey Atchison, born c. 1964, of East Howe Lane, Bournemouth BH10 – treated her pony’s “ulcerated, oozing” sarcoids with a cream she had mixed herself.
Chestnut gelding Sonny horse was found to have severe malignant sarcoids (tumours) that had not been appropriately treated for several years. Despite the suffering caused, Sonny’s owner wasn’t given a ban on owning animals and has gone on to get another horse.
Atchison’s New Forest pony Sonny had to be put down as a result of his severe, malignant sarcoids, which had not been appropriately treated for years.
She was found guilty of one count of causing unnecessary suffering.
RSPCA officers investigated after concerns were reported about Sonny.
Inspector Tina Ward said: “Sonny had large areas of skin covered with sarcoids of different types and sizes on his chest and between his front legs, between his back legs and around his sheath. Some had thick rough scabs with deep cracks that appeared to be oozing, others were bulbous with angry red areas, which were also oozing.”
Two independent vets concluded that Sonny had to be put down as a result of his condition, owing to the fact he had not had appropriate treatment in time. Atchison had been treating him with a cream she had mixed herself.
One of the vets said in a report: “He was clearly showing signs of pain around these sarcoids and would anticipate that someone touching them would be painful, and would step away and clench his muscles.
“The sarcoids on this horse were ulcerated, bleeding, oozing pus and serum, they ranged in size from approximately 14cm down to 0.5cm and there was significant invasion of the local tissues around the sarcoids. Many of them were pendulous, rubbed on the adjacent sarcoids or limb as the horse walked. Sonny smelt of necrotic tissue when up close.
“In my professional opinion, this horse was suffering from pain associated with sarcoids in multiple locations on its body and was likely to have been ongoing for a minimum period of two years. This owner failed to meet this horse’s needs by failing to seek veterinary attention when this horse required it as a result of a chronic, malignant cancer.”
Sentencing: fined £120 and ordered to pay £200 costs. She was not banned from keeping equines owing to the length of time since the offence was committed, from 2017 to 2019, during which she had proved she could look after another horse, and because she was, supposedly, of previous good character.
#MostEvil | Thomas Robert Fowler, born c. 1993, of Periwinkle Close, Swindon SN2 2QH – inflicted horrific injuries on two cats and a puppy during repeated attacks, while his partner, Claire Louise Willis of the same address, turned a blind eye to the cruelty.
British Army soldier Tom Fowler was jailed for animal cruelty after inflicting “cruel” and “horrific” injuries on two cats and a puppy that later died or had to be put down.
Fowler owned cats Jessie and Shadow as well as 10-week-old pup Rolo, who all suffered multiple injuries while he cared for them alone when his partner was at work– including several rib fractures on all three pets.
District judge Joanna Dickens described the violence suffered by Rolo, Shadow and Jessie before they died as the most serious she had seen, adding that it was “gratuitous and horrific” as well as “cruel and sustained”.
Despite initial denials, Fowler later admitted the offences and said he couldn’t say why he had acted the way he had.
Lurcher puppy Rolo was subjected to a litany of physical abuse by his sadistic owner, Tom Fowler, from which he ultimately died.
Concerned vets raised the alarm in August 2020 after noticing suspicious injuries on the animals during frequent visits from Fowler and his partner Claire Louise Willis.
Fowler took female black cat Shadow to the vets on March 11 2020 when she was lethargic with a scratched head and a fractured tooth. She returned the next day disorientated and with laboured breathing and was then sent to hospital after medics noticed a neck wound, chest bruises, multiple rib fractures and a bruised lung.
Shadow left hospital on March 15 but was back with different injuries on May 7, this time a lame left hindleg and swelling.
She received pain relief medication and returned to her owner’s care – but was dead when the vets saw her again the next day.
Fowler’s partner adopted another cat, Jessie, on May 31 and it was not long before the new pet had to receive medical attention. Less than two weeks later, she would be dead.
On June 12, a different vet to Shadow’s examined Jessie because the poor cat had not drunk anything for 36 hours and was not eating properly.
An x-ray revealed six recently-fractured ribs – five on one side and one on the other – so vets placed her in an oxygen tent to assist her breathing and had to feed her via a tube. Sadly, Jessie failed to respond to treatment and to be humanely euthanised.
Unfortunately, the campaign of cruelty continued with another pet on August 3, when 10-week-old male Lurcher pup Rolo had laboured breathing and bruised eyes.
Fowler claimed Rolo had been playing with a toy, banged his head on the coffee table and then landed on the floor with his neck twisted.
Radiographs revealed Rolo had air abnormally surrounding his right lung on the right side as well as a bruise on the right side of the chest and swelling to his face.
He received pain relief, with intravenous fluid therapy and a chest drain removing the air from the pneumothorax.
After three days in hospital, Rolo returned to his owners but received fresh injuries within the eight hours before his owners brought him back again to the vets.
This time, he showed signs of physical trauma including a fractured rib as well as swollen red eyes that vets suspected had been caused by strangulation and also a fractured rib.
After these injuries were treated, Rolo suffered more trauma from which he could not recover.
Fowler and Willis returned to the vets on August 11 and 12 with Rolo sporting new injuries. A scan revealed fractures to the left side of his jaw as well as to his right cheekbone, both shoulder blades, two vertebrae and both hips, plus a total of 15 rib fractures, nine on one side and six on the other side of his chest.
Sadly, Rolo did not recover from his injuries and, after failing to respond to treatment, had to be put to sleep by a vet.
Sentencing Fowler, Judge Dickens added that she could not sentence him to more than 20 weeks’ custody even if she wanted to do so, because the law caps the prison term for animal welfare offences at 26 weeks’ custody.
She went on to explain that Fowler was entitled in law to have a reduction in his sentence because he had pleaded guilty to the offences.
She imposed a lifetime disqualification in relation to all animals which he cannot apply for this to be lifted for 10 years, and ordered he pay a £122 victim surcharge.
Fowler had served in the British Army for the past nine years and was supported in court by a representative from the armed forces. It was said he would be leaving the military as a result of these convictions and sentence.
Willis was sentenced for three charges having failed to exercise reasonable care and supervision in respect of protecting the animals from harm. She received a one-year community order and 10-year ban.
In mitigation, it was said that Willis was remorseful and that she had buried her head in the sand about what Fowler had been doing and continued to bring more animals into the home which were then abused by her partner.
RSPCA inspector Miranda Albinson, who investigated for the animal welfare charity, said: “The facts of this case are about as serious a case of cruelty as can be imagined and the extent of the injuries caused to these pets is heartbreaking.
“The animals in Fowler’s care suffered repeated violence as reflected in the horrendous extensive nature of their injuries and in the case of Rolo he was beaten within an inch of his life.
“It is heartbreaking to find this level of physical violence being inflicted upon so many animals in such a short space of time – and no sooner was Rolo brought home from the vet having treatment- he was further attacked.”
Sentencing:
Tom Fowler: 20 weeks in custody; £122 victim surcharge. Lifetime disqualification in relation to all animals but can appeal after 10 years.
Claire Willis: one-year community order with 120 hours of unpaid work and 12 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days; £195 costs. 10-year disqualification order but can appeal after five years.
CONVICTED (2021) | Alison Middlebrook, born May 1982, of Highwoods Crescent, Mexborough, Doncaster S64 9HB – left her pets locked inside a filthy abandoned house with no food.
Junkie animal abuser Alison Middlebrook
Middlebrook pleaded guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering after a court heard how she left her elderly dog called Jake locked in a dirty house along with a pet cat called Ginge.
In March 2021 RSPCA Inspector Vanessa Reid attended a house in Marton Road, Toll Barr, Doncaster to investigate reports that some cats had been abandoned.
Cruel Alison MIddlebrook abandoned16-year-old Jake and Ginge, aged two.
Through the window she could see the house was dirty with faeces on the kitchen floor and dead flies on a windowsill. A bowl was visible in the kitchen but there was no food in it.
When she went into the rear yard she could see the back door moving and an extremely underweight dog began to head towards her.
Vanessa said: “All his ribs, spine and hips were visible, and he was very wobbly on his back end, falling to one side regularly as he walked.
“There were multiple neighbours outside, one of whom advised they believed the dog to be ‘Jake’, an elderly pet they believed the owners to have rehomed years ago.”
Vanessa took 16-year-old Jake for emergency veterinary care and alerted South Yorkshire Police for assistance.
As she waited in her van Middlebrook turned up at the house and gave Vanessa access to the property.
She told Vanessa that she was not living at the house but said she came back to feed the animals.
She stated she had recently rehomed two cats but claimed no-one would take Jake and Ginge, although she confirmed she had not contacted the RSPCA. She immediately signed over both pets into RSPCA care and Vanessa took Ginge for a veterinary examination.
A vet found Jake was emaciated with a body score of 1/9 (with one being the lowest) and at 14.6 kg was about a quarter of his expected body weight.
He also had hair loss, scabs on his body and had untreated fleas on his skin.
Two-year-old Ginge was found to be in better bodily condition but had live fleas on her coat.
The vet concluded: “Keepers of dogs and cats have a responsibility to provide for their animal’s basic needs providing a suitable environment for the animal to live in and a suitable diet. This has clearly not been met by the owner given the poor conditions the animals were kept in.
“If an adequate appropriate diet had been provided then Jake would have been of a better body weight and not severely malnourished.”
The court was told that in RSPCA care Jake went on to put on 4 kgs in weight in 18 days and has since gone on to be rehomed.
Vanessa added: “Jake did so well in RSPCA care and I am pleased he has now found a lovely home to spend the rest of his days. For an older dog he is lively and jumps around.
“Ginge was also rehomed and is also doing well.”
In mitigation the court heard Middlebrook had a difficult upbringing and had previously had a drug addiction.
Sentencing: 10-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months; 10-week curfew; £278 in costs and charges. Five-year ban on owning animals (expires July 2026).
CONVICTED (2021) | Maureen E Charlton, born 13 January 1965, previously of Newbridge in Penzance – set fire to her house, killing her elderly German shepherd inside.
Maureen Charlton set her home on fire with her elderly German shepherd inside. The dog, Layla, was euthanised at the scene.
Maureen Charlton also mistreated the 13-year-old dog, named Layla, not taking her out for walks and urging her to lick her blood after she self-harmed.
Charlton pleaded guilty to animal cruelty alongside arson and being reckless to whether life is in danger.
The court heard how Charlton had been grappling with poor mental health and alcohol dependence for many years, leading to several encounters with police and a neighbour.
Concerns about Layla had been raised with the RSPCA regarding poor living conditions, the presence of urine and faeces, Charlton self-harming and getting Layla to lick the blood, a lack of walks and general neglect.
Charlton was living in an end-terrace property in Newbridge and on April 23, 2021, she rang the emergency services to say that she’d doused herself in white spirit and was going to set fire to the property.
Fire crews arrived and found the property well alight with flames coming from the window. Charlton’s neighbour was evacuated from her bed and the road closed.
The prosecutor told the court: “The defendant was found in the rear courtyard showing obvious signs of distress and was treated at the scene.
“Layla was located inside and carried out. She was treated by a vet but the decision was made to euthanize her to ease her suffering. The defendant was transferred to Royal Cornwall Hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.”
At the scene a bottle of white spirit was found almost empty and when interviewed Charlton described drinking a bottle and a half of wine and not really remembering what happened.
Charlton was jailed for 32 months but the judge didn’t impose a ban on keeping animals because having a pet will provide her with some form of company when she leaves prison.
CONVICTED (2021) | puppy farm fraudsters Betty Chanelle Burton, born 12 August 1985, and Jeff James McDonagh, born August 1982,of McDonagh Lodge, Arleston Brook, Telford TF1 2LA – bred and sold sick dogs to the public.
Irish travellers Burton and McDonagh conned unsuspecting members of the public out of an estimated £250,000.
A court heard that many of the dogs, which included cavapoos, French bulldogs and cocker spaniels, died a short time after being sold.
Out of the 42 puppies which were sold by the pair, 15 tragically died, and all required veterinary treatment for different illnesses and health problems.
The pair were found guilty of conspiracy to commit fraud.
They also pleaded guilty to animal welfare offences including causing unnecessary suffering to a certain animal and failing to meet the needs of animals.
Both Burton and McDonagh were spared jail for their evil crimes, with McDonagh said to be suffering from mental health issues.
The RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit – a specialist team which investigates serious and organised animal crime – launched an investigation in 2017 after reports were received from people who had bought sick puppies in the Greater Manchester area.
The adverts for the puppies had all appeared on the Pets4Homes website.
RSPCA SOU officer Kirsty Withnall – who led the investigation, said: “All of the adverts suggested that the puppies were the offspring of a family pet, had been born in the home and socialised with the family.
“We spoke to 11 people in connection with the first address – linked to Burton – that came to our attention.
“All of the buyers had been directed to a public phone box to call when they arrived to see the puppies.
“One person refused to buy the puppy when it didn’t resemble the dog she’d been sent a photo of, wasn’t with its mother and appeared scared and whimpering. Others bought cockapoos, cavapoos, dachshunds and pomeranians.”
A second Manchester address was then used and officers spoke to six members of the public who had bought puppies from the property, which is linked to both Burton and McDonagh.
Of these six dogs, three died.
From 25 October 2017, the operation expanded to a third Manchester property and five properties across Telford, all linked to Burton and McDonagh.
Beagles, French bulldogs, cavapoos, dachshunds, cocker spaniels and cavaliers were all sold.
Some payments were made into bank accounts in McDonagh’s name while telephone numbers were linked to Burton.
“These sellers were incredibly professional and clever,” Ms Withnall added.
“They sold puppies from one address and moved onto the next before arousing suspicion. They used different names in adverts and on paperwork, different numbers and false postcodes which were either completely made up or were linked to local fast-food restaurants.
“Vaccination cards were falsified with Tippex so they could be re-used and buyers were misled about the source, breed, age and health of the puppies they were buying.”
The court heard that members of the public also raised concerns about a property in Telford, and the condition the dogs were being kept in.
A warrant was executed by West Mercia Police in November 2019 and 55 dogs and puppies were removed from the property on welfare grounds.
A further 26 puppies were born in RSPCA care, bringing the total number of dogs to 81.
The court heard that the dogs were being kept in inappropriate, dirty conditions.
Some of the animals were underweight and had health problems such as skin issues and untreated eye conditions.
Betty Chanelle Burton
Burton and McDonagh arrived at the property and were subsequently arrested.
Cash, mobile phones and paperwork were seized from the property and officers were also able to identify several items which matched items used in pictures of puppies from the online adverts.
Analysis of the adverts from November 2015 to October 2018 showed that 22 different names were used to advertise 439 puppies with a total sale value of more than £253,885.
RSPCA officers took statements from members of the public who had bought 42 puppies for a total price of £21,580.
Fifteen of those puppies died and all of the dogs needed veterinary treatment for different illnesses and health problems.
The court heard that since the trial McDonagh has been mentally unwell and remains seriously ill and in need of treatment and this treatment would unlikely be available in custody.
The dogs were signed over to the RSPCA in December 2019 and have since all been rehomed.
A third person – Luke Gilman – is due to be sentenced for offences in connection with this case later in 2021.
Following sentencing, Ms Withnall said: “Burton and McDonagh were the brains behind this sophisticated operation which, at its height, had eight associated addresses across Manchester and Telford.
“They used different names and different phone numbers to falsify paperwork, create adverts which wouldn’t rouse suspicion and con potential buyers out of hundreds of pounds for puppies they were claiming were much-loved, family-bred pets.”
Sentencing:
McDonagh was sentenced to two years’ custody, suspended for 24 months. He was also disqualified from owning dogs for life and cannot appeal the ban for five years.
He must also undertake a community order including a mental health treatment requirement and 30 days rehabilitation requirement activity days.
Burton was sentenced to six months’ custody, suspended for 12 months, 30 rehabilitation activity requirements days and ordered to pay a victim surcharge.
She was also banned from keeping animals for life and can not appeal her disqualification for two years.
During a proceeds of crime meeting at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Thursday 28 April 2022, Jeff McDonagh was ordered to pay a general lifestyle benefit sum of £31, 231 within 28 days or he would go to prison for nine months. Burton was ordered to pay £1 within 28 days or she would go to prison for seven days.
Judge Peter Barrie, presiding took into account how much both were able to pay and Stuart Cooper, defending said the victims of the crime would receive at least £22,090 of the proceeds of the fines.
