#MostEvil | Katie Louise Oldridge, born 21 December 1985, of 10 Meadowbank Road, Hull HU3 6XW – left her dog to starve to death at her home.
Oldridge pleaded guilty to two animal welfare offences in relation to her abandonment of a Staffordshire bull terrier named Frank.
The pet was found lying dead in a kitchen next to an empty tin of dog food after being abandoned between April 10 and May 14 last year.
Oldridge had left a bowl of water but no food was found within his reach and the floor was covered in a large amount of dried out faeces.
RSPCA Inspector Jilly Dickinson said: “The kitchen door had a baby gate in the frame.
“I found a dog food tin on the kitchen worktop which contained mouldy remains of food in the bottom of it and an empty box of dog treats which appeared to contain faeces.
“There was an overwhelming smell of faeces and decomposing flesh in the property.”
As she placed Frank’s body into an RSPCA evidence bag, a large quantity of live maggots of various sizes dropped from his head. Frank was incredibly thin, and she could see all of his bones.
A vet report concluded Frank likely suffered for a number of weeks before his eventual death.
The investigation found that the level of emaciation coupled with the ingestion of foreign materials suggested he felt hunger and ate anything he could to try and offset that feeling.
The lack of fat and muscle tissue also suggested that his body had used up its internal energy resources rather than having adequate nutrition provided.
The court found that Frank’s basic needs were not met and he had suffered as a result.
The court heard mitigation put forward that Oldridge was dealing with personal issues before the offence and became dependent on alcohol.
In sentencing the 34-year-old, magistrates commented: “We consider this to be a deliberate act of neglect – one of the worst, if not the worst, we have had the misfortune to hear as a bench of magistrates.
“We are satisfied that this case justifies a sentence of imprisonment but for your guilty plea and lack of previous convictions in combination with your personal circumstances we are persuaded to suspend the sentence.”
Sentencing | 18 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for two years; 12 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days; 200 hours of unpaid work in the community. Ordered to pay a total of £428 in costs and charges. Lifetime ban on owning animals, which can be appealed after 10 years.
CONVICTED (2021) | Alexander Phillip Boyd, born 17 February 1986, of 167 Kirkby Road, Dartford DA2 6HD – left his elderly Staffy collapsed on the kitchen floor in her own urine and faeces.
Father-of-three Alex Boyd pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to his 13-year-old dog, Mercedes.
The court heard how RSPCA inspector Deborah Rutherford was called to Boyd’s flat in April 2021 after neighbours raised concerns about the welfare of the dogs.
She spoke to Boyd outside and he invited her to come and check on the dogs a few days later.
One of Inspector Rutherford’s colleagues returned that weekend but there was no answer at the door so he left a card.
She said: “On May 6 our national control centre had a call from Mr Boyd saying one of his dog’s back legs weren’t working and she was going to the toilet where she laid.
“He said he couldn’t afford vet bills so wanted to give the dog up.
“Myself and animal rescue officer Emma Byrne went to the property and Mercedes was collapsed on the floor.
“She was in very poor body condition with her hips protruding.
“She was barely responsive and was lying on a urine-soaked quilt under the window in the kitchen.
“There was food and water available in the kitchen but her condition meant she couldn’t access either.”
Boyd signed a euthanasia consent form and the RSPCA officers scooped Mercedes up and took her to a nearby vet surgery.
An RSPCA spokesman added: “Sadly, as expected, vets felt there was nothing they could do to help Mercedes and put her to sleep peacefully.”
In her statement, the vet who examined Mercedes, said: “Mercedes was unable to sit up or stand. She was extremely thin. Her muscle condition was poor over her lumbar spine and hind legs.
“There was a very strong smell of stale urine caused by the soaking of her fur and skin.
“Faecal material was present around her anus, perianal area and the base of her tail.
“When her head was lifted, she showed extreme pain by vocalising. The decision was made to euthanise Mercedes due to the fact that she was suffering and beyond veterinary help.”
Tests found that Mercedes was suffering a chronic urinary infection and chronic malnutrition. They believe she’d been suffering like this for at least a week.
A second dog – a male Staffy called Buster – was rehomed.
Speaking after the sentencing hearing, Inspector Rutherford added: “Part of owning a pet is ensuring that they receive prompt and proper veterinary attention at the first sign of illness, discomfort or injury.
“Sometimes, being a dog owner means making difficult and upsetting decisions, particularly when our pets are old and reaching the end of their lives.
“It’s completely unacceptable to leave a pet in such a condition such as Mercedes to suffer and languish in such pain.
“I’m so sad that we couldn’t save her but I feel relieved that we could be there with her at the end to show her love and kindness, and to allow her to slip away with some peace, so that she wouldn’t suffer any longer.”
Sentencing: 12 weeks in prison, suspended for two years; costs of £500. Disqualified from keeping dogs for five years (expires August 2026).
CONVICTED (2021) | serial animal abuser David Robert Davies, born 8 March 1959, of 1 Maes Dilen, Pentre-Cwrt, Llandysul SA44 5DF – left two ponies to suffer so badly that they had to be euthanised to end their pain.
An animal welfare officer from Carmarthenshire County Council found the two ponies being kept in the dark in waist-high soiled bedding with their hooves so badly deformed that the vet said it was the worst case he had seen in over forty years of practice.
Davies pleaded guilty to two offences of causing unnecessary suffering to two horses and breaching a disqualification order in respect of horses.
The case came to light in February 2020, when a council animal welfare officer carried out an unannounced inspection of sheep kept by Davies at fields he rents in Drefach Felindre.
Whilst waiting for him to arrive she noticed a shed covered with wood pallets and tarpaulin – and on peering through a hole could see two ponies standing in their own faeces.
Accompanied by a vet from the Animal Plant and Health Agency, she entered the shed to find the cob-type ponies in soiled bedding with their coats matted in dried faeces, their hooves badly overgrown and tails so short it appeared they may have eaten their own out of boredom.
The ponies had nothing to eat – one had no water and the other had faeces in his water bucket.
They were kept in the dark, unable to look out of the shed and were only able to touch each other over a wooden barrier that separated them.
The officer re-visited the ponies when the owner of the field agreed to state they had been abandoned on his land.
It was only when they were brought out into the daylight that their true condition became evident.
Both were taken away for treatment but just days later had to be euthanised, the vet saying he believed they had been suffering for at least 12 months.
The investigation that followed revealed that Davies was disqualified from owning, keeping or participating in the keeping of horses for life following a prosecution by the RSPCA in 2015.
Cllr Philip Hughes, Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Protection, said: “If it were not for the actions of our animal health officer, who acted on a hunch to check the shed, these ponies may still be suffering today.
“This is an awful, and entirely avoidable, case of shocking neglect.”
Sentencing: 12 weeks in custody, suspended for 24 months; 12-month community order with 250 hours of unpaid work and rehabilitation. Ordered to pay costs of £6,367 and a victim surcharge of £122. Already banned for life from keeping horses.
Davies appeared in court alongside partner Leanne Jane Summers after 16 horses in their care were found in “terrible state of neglect”.
Davies was sent to prison for 26 weeks after he admitted to causing unnecessary suffering to 16 horses. He was banned from keeping horses for life.
Summers was given a suspended prison sentence of 26 weeks. She was banned from keeping horses for five years and was ordered to pay a £4,000 fine.
Two horses were put down and two were found dead.
The RSPCA was called after concern was raised about the welfare of eight horses in the Rhydargaeuau area. Two were found dead and a third — a black colt — was put to sleep on veterinary advice.
“These horses were all in a terrible state of neglect,” RSPCA deputy chief inspector Julie Fadden said. “Two were already dead, and very sadly, the black colt was in such a bad state of health that nothing could be done to save him.
“The other five were Welsh mountain ponies and were ranging in condition from thin to emaciated.”
RSPCA inspector Keith Hogben attended another location at Capel Dewi where he discovered a further 10 horses.
“Sadly one of the horses was so weak that a vet said he had to be put to sleep,” he said. “It was horrendous and so sad. Six out of the ten horses were very thin.
“People have these horses and don’t understand how to look after them. These are their basic needs and they need to be checked daily.” The surviving horses were taken into RSPCA care.
#MostEvil | Jason Vernon Campbell, born 5 August 1988, of 24 Castle Mount, The Mount, Heswall, Wirral CH60 4RA – bought small animals from a pet shop to torture and kill.
On March 16, 2021, Campbell confessed to having urges to harm people and animals and had recently acted upon them by torturing and killing two hamsters and a guinea pig. He confessed the crimes to a mental health worker, prompting an RSPCA investigation.
Officers interviewed the owner of Pets Paradise on Seaview Road in Wallasey, who confirmed a man had bought two hamsters and one disabled guinea pig, who did not have the use of her rear legs, over a five-week period.
In an interview Campbell said he had been in pain due to a prolapsed disc in his spine which had caused him to suffer depression and anxiety.
On the first occasion Campbell, using a fake name, bought a hamster and while in his car tortured the animal, dismembering her.
Two weeks later Campbell went back and bought another hamster and began flicking her before breaking her neck.
After another two weeks he went back to the pet shop and bought a guinea pig at a reduced rate because she was disabled as her rear legs weren’t working.
The court heard he broke all of the animal’s legs, her ribs and then her neck.
Campbell admitted three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal on December 25, 2020 and on January 16 and January 27, 2021.
Sentencing: jailed for eight weeks and banned from keeping animals for 10 years.
#MostEvil | Esha Rebekah Proudlove, born 5 December 2000, of 46 Conway Court, Ellesmere Port CH65 5DZ – battered a 16-week-old puppy, breaking her ribs while partner, Craig Shingler, born 5 November 1996, of the same address failed to tell vets what had really happened.
Mother-of-one Esha Proudlove claimed she had tripped over Maya, a brindle cross breed, which resulted in the puppy breaking three ribs.
Her boyfriend Craig Shingler also failed to tell vets what had really happened.
On another occasion Maya was taken to the vets with symptoms of head trauma, which Proudlove claimed was caused when the puppy fell from the sofa.
Prosecutor Peter Mitchell told the court that neighbours overheard Proudlove abusing the puppy.
Victim Milo
Mr Mitchell said that before she bought the puppy Proudlove had owned a dog named Milo, and an upstairs neighbour of her Neston flat heard “loud arguments going on”.
Mr Mitchell said they later saw a “urine soaked carpet being taken out and being left in the communal hallway”.
He said a few days later they heard a dog “yelping” and screaming.
Proudlove obtained Maya, the puppy, in October 2020 and a neighbour said on one occasion they “heard a bang” before Proudlove shouted “quick before she dies, quick she’s dying”.
Mr Mitchell said other neighbours witnessed similar behaviour with one saying she “believes she heard a dog being hit on several occasions”.
One neighbour said between October 31 and November 1 they “heard a dog being kicked” and on another occasion Proudlove was seen holding the puppy saying “Craig, look what you’ve done”.
Maya was taken to a vet on October 16 where she presented with a head trauma. The vet was “advised the dog had fallen off the sofa”.
Mr Mitchell said after being kept in overnight the dog had a bleed on her right eye the following morning, a symptom of a head injury.
Two days later Maya was taken back to the vets as Proudlove claimed to have performed CPR but the animal had no signs of having CPR performed on her.
Mr Mitchell said the dog was discharged but on November 12 she was taken back to a vet where she had swelling on her thorax which an expert said was indicative of “very strong force or strangulation”.
After being discharged Proudlove took the dog back the same day with three fractured ribs, which she claimed had happened when she “squeezed out of her crate”.
When interviewed Proudlove made up various lies to cover the abuse.
An instructed expert said there had been “significant violence” and the injuries said there had been two episodes of “severe head trauma”.
Lesley Herman, defending Shingler, said: “This is very sad for all involved.”
She said Shingler wasn’t the owner of the dogs and didn’t live at the address when the first dog was there.
Ms Herman said he is in work but is currently suspended pending the outcome of the court case.
She said Shingler has physical problems in relation to his hip and walks with an aid.
Shingler admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal between October 15, 2020 and November 13, 2020
.He also admitted not taking reasonable steps to ensure the needs for an animal in relation to Milo between April 9 and April 13, 2020.
Suzanne Payne, defending Proudlove, said a pre-sentence report and psychiatric report details her “very difficult and traumatic upbringing” during which she was the victim of an offence.
She said Proudlove suffers from PTSD and borderline personality disorder.
Ms Payne said Proudlove was at a “very low ebb” and was the subject of harassment and threats from neighbours which had an “ongoing detrimental effect” on her.
She said since moving home she is in a “better place” and has a two-year-old child who lives with his paternal grandmother but is seen by Proudlove regularly.
Ms Payne said Proudlove has now received an appointment with the community mental health team and it is hoped she will have a community mental health nurse.
Ms Payne said there was an “argument to say she had been failed by the mental health services over the last two years”.
Proudlove admitted two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal between October 15 and November 13, 2020, in relation to Maya and not taking reasonable steps to ensure the needs for an animal in relation to Milo before October 15.
Chair Magistrate Carmel Stewart and magistrates David O’Malley and Colin Vallance-Owen handed Proudlove and Esha suspended sentences.
Sentencing Proudlove, Chair Magistrate Stewart said: “We do feel the custody threshold has been passed however we have also heard you have mental illness which requires long term intervention.”
Magistrate Stewart said there was a “real prospect of rehabilitation” and noted her previous good character and the current impact of the pandemic on prisoners.
Proudlove was handed 12 weeks suspended for one year and ordered to complete 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirements and an eight week curfew to run from 7pm to 7am.
She was ordered to pay £250 in costs and a victim surcharge of £128.
Sentencing Shingler, Chair Magistrate Stewart said: “We feel you acted together in that you were complicit and did nothing to prevent the harm caused to the dogs.”
She said they felt there was also a realistic prospect of rehabilitation in his case and handed him 10 weeks suspended for one year.
He must complete 10 Rehabilitation Activity Requirements and 150 hours of unpaid work.
Shingler was also ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge for the same amount.
Both Proudlove and Shingler were banned from keeping animals for 10 years.
CONVICTED (2021) | puppy farm dealer Stacy Mcphee aka Ashley Dentley, born 27 August 1997, of 25 Aquhorthies Circle, Inverurie AB51 3NB – sold seriously ill dogs on Gumtree.
Stacy McPhee, a traveller, sold puppies Brodie, Alfredo and Roxy claiming they had all been checked by a vet – but all three suffered from serious illnesses including heart murmurs.
One was even left “shaking uncontrollably” with pneumonia, which McPhee brushed off as a “cough” due to her having a “short nose”.
Witnesses paid hundreds of pounds for the dogs and quickly discovered the health problems after taking the puppies home – but McPhee ignored their attempts to contact her.
Sheriff Margaret Hodge declined to hear a narrative of events read in open court, but the document, seen by local newspaper the Evening Express, states a witness and her partner replied to an advert on Gumtree advertising cockapoo puppies for sale in the Inverurie area on December 10 2019.
The advert, posted by McPhee under the false name “Sarah”, stated all puppies were microchipped and vet checked and were selling for £600.
Later the same day the witness attended an address in Ellon to view the puppies.
After asking about vaccination details, McPhee said she would speak to the vet who would send on the information.
McPhee, who was still using the name Sarah, then handed the couple a microchip card and number.
After buying the puppy, who they named Brodie, the couple returned home but quickly noticed he was “constantly itching his ears”.
They took Brodie to Ashgrove Vets where he was found to have ear mites and a heart murmur, as well as not being microchipped.
The vet’s suspicions were raised and there were fears Brodie may have originated from a puppy farm.
Brodie was given treatment but three days later his owner noticed he was suffering from diarrhoea and passing blood.
A second visit to the vet confirmed Brodie was suffering from Giardia, a parasite of the gut lining, and the vet suspected he had not been vaccinated.
The vet concluded Brodie had “likely been in considerable discomfort for some time while on the breeder’s premises”.
The couple shelled out £455 in vet fees and received no response from McPhee when they tried to inform her Brodie was ill.
They also never received the promised vaccination information.
In a second incident, a witness replied to a Gumtree post advertising “Cavachon puppies”, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Bichon Frise cross, for sale in Inverurie for £550.
The post, this time under the name “Arron”, said the puppies were microchipped and vet checked.
The witness and her husband went to see the puppy at the same Ellon address on December 29 2019 and were met by McPhee, who told them the little dog was chipped and vaccinated.
They bought the animal, who they called Alfredo, for £550 and took him home on January 3, soon after noticed he was suffering from bloody diarrhoea.
The puppy was taken to Mintlaw veterinary practice and diagnosed with a heart murmur, Giardia and also Isosproa, an intestinal infection.
The vet concluded Alfredo “suffered unnecessarily as a result of his poor start in life”, adding: “His poor body condition and low bodyweight indicate that he had likely been suffering from the diarrhoea before he was sold, probably for at least a few days.”
There was no indication any vet attention had been sought before Alfredo was sold, with his new owners not being advised of his condition and having to pay almost £300 for treatment.
McPhee again did not respond to attempts to contact her by Alfredo’s owners.
In a third incident, another witness replied to a Gumtree ad for “King Charles” pups for sale in Aberdeen for £550.
The witness arranged to see the puppy on January 27 2020 and McPhee said the animal had been vet checked.
When viewing the puppy, the witness noticed she had a cough, but McPhee said it was because she had a “short nose” and that her mother was the same.
McPhee said the puppy, named Roxy, was microchipped and the witness bought her for £550 and took her home.
The witness became increasingly concerned about the “chesty” cough on the way home, and on arrival Roxy began to “shake uncontrollably”.
An emergency vet appointment was made, and a surgeon was concerned Roxy was suffering from “severe aspiration pneumonia” and recommended she remain at the clinic as she could become “oxygen dependent”.
There were also signs of the Giardia antigen.
Roxy spent days being being nursed in a hospital at a cost of £500 and “may end up having lifelong consequences from this poor start in her life”, the vet predicted.
Again there was no evidence that McPhee had sought vet attention for Roxy, and again ignore calls from the buyers.
McPhee pled guilty to three charges of causing puppies unnecessary suffering by failing to provide appropriate care and treatment or get veterinary advice.
During the hearing at Aberdeen Sheriff Court, defence agent Jennifer Pritchard said her client’s partner left her feeling like she had “no option” other than to breed the puppies and assist him with that.
She added: “It’s not a relationship where she would be in a position to question him.
“She fully accepts, despite that, she should have paid greater attention to these puppies.”
Ms Pritchard said McPhee was “extremely regretful” and “ashamed” that the animals had suffered ill health and the buyers suffered distress.
She added her client had experienced “negatives” after her address was published on social media.
Sheriff Hodge told McPhee: “I’m persuaded you’re perhaps a vulnerable person and perhaps being taken advantage of.”
She ordered McPhee to be supervised for six months and banned her from keeping dogs for three years.
Following the hearing McPhee hid her face as she left court and, asked if she was sorry for causing the dogs suffering, remained silent.
An SSPCA spokeswoman said: “We welcome the sentence and the three-year ban is an ideal disruption tactic for someone such as McPhee who was a prolific offender and caused immeasurable heartbreak to people who bought sick animals from her.
“We would urge members of the public not to buy from individuals like McPhee as no thought is given to the welfare of the animal; only how much money can be made.”
Sentencing: six-month supervision order. Three year ban on keeping dogs (expires August 2024).
CONVICTED | Conrad Choy Mills, born 16 April 1976, of 53 Angus Drive, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK3 7ND – failed to treat his dog’s unexplained severe burn injuries
Company director Mills, who according to Companies House is a Jamaican national, was found to have caused unnecessary suffering to a male mastiff dog called Sampson by failing to get his wounds treated properly by a vet.
The cause of the dog’s injuries remain unexplained and it’s not known if he survived his ordeal.
The court heart how between December 26, 2019 and January 7, 2020, in Bletchley, Mills failed to get Sampson treatment for severe burns he had suffered, despite knowing how this could negatively affect the dog’s health.
Mills had denied wrongdoing, but the magistrates thought otherwise and found him guilty.
Sentencing: three-year conditional discharge; £371 costs. Banned from keeping any animals for 10 years (expires August 2031).
CONVICTED (2021) | Chris Van Souwe who goes by the nickname ‘Chop’, born 24 December 1965, of Hackwood House, Hartlebury Road, Oldbury B69 1EG – left his cats to starve to death.
After concerns were raised to the RSPCA, inspectors found two dead cats at Christian Van Souwe’s home in Oldbury in 2019 as well as an alive but emaciated cat called Abbarth.
A vet determined the two deceased cats, named Homer and Azrael, had died from a starvation-induced disease.
RSPCA inspectors also found black foam in vomit passed by Abbarth as well as bite marks in a mat found inside the home.
Inspectors concluded the cat had likely been eating the mat because there was no other food available.
Surviving cat Abbarth was badly emaciated but recovered in the RSPCA’s care.
At Dudley Magistrates’ Court on August 11, 2021, two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal on or before March 2019 were proved in Van Souwe’s absence.
The charges stated that Van Souwe knew, or ought reasonably to have known, that his failure to ensure the cats were provided with a sustainable diet would cause them unnecessary suffering.
In mitigation, it was said that Van Souwe was experiencing mental health issues and that his partner was suffering from ill health and was in hospital.
RSPCA Inspector Vicki Taylor, who investigated the case on behalf of the animal welfare charity, said: “Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, it is the duty of the person responsible for an animal to ensure its welfare needs are met, including its need for a suitable diet, and its need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
“The suffering endured by these cats could have been avoided by the owner taking reasonable steps to ensure fresh food and water was offered daily to the cats.”
She added: “Pieces of black foam matting were seen in vomit passed by Abbarth. The irregular edges and bite marks present in the foam suggested the pieces had been chewed off a larger foam mat, of which the material is inedible and has no nutritional value.
“It is possible this material was ingested due to a lack of alternative food sources.
“Veterinary findings from all three cats were supportive of the owner failing to provide adequate nutrition, resulting in the emaciation of Abbarth, and the deaths of Homer and Azrael through starvation and starvation-induced disease.”
Abbarth has since recovered and has been found a new home by the RSPCA.
Sentencing: ten weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months; 24 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days; £615 in costs and charges. Lifetime ban on keeping animals but can appeal after five years.
CONVICTED (2021) | former breeder Kenneth Joseph Martin, born 15 March 1967, previously of Muirkirk Road, Cumnock and as of August 2021 of John Weir Avenue, Cumnock KA18 1NJ – abandoned a property, leaving three dogs behind to starve.
Former breeder Kenny Martin starved his dogs so badly that one died and was eaten as she lay dead in a garden. He neglected his two Dogue de Bordeaux breeds and a Japanese Akita over several weeks.
The court heard that a Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) investigator found the property covered in dog mess. The animals were so thin and dehydrated that they would have died had the charity not arrived when it did.
The details of the horror discovery emerged when Martin, who previously pleaded guilty to three animal welfare charges, returned to the dock to be sentenced.
Prosecutor Rosalind Walsh told the court that the SSPCA had been called due to a report of “a dead dog being seen in the garden”.
She said: “There was a deceased female Dogue de Bordeaux which appeared to have been partly eaten.
“There was an emaciated dog of the same breed.
“Once inside the property, investigators found a third dog, a female Japanese Akita, which was also in an emaciated state.”
The animals were examined by a vet who found they had “no body fat reserves”, were “severely dehydrated” and had “muscle wastage”.
The living Dogue de Bordeaux had “infected sores on its body, possibly producing a rotting smell”, while the Akita was displaying signs of “repetitive behaviour” – an indication it was suffering from “ammonia inhalation or confinement stress”.
Walsh added: “They endured unnecessary suffering and were at risk of dying if not for the intervention of the SSPCA.”
Martin was not at the property but investigators located his sister, who told them he had abandoned the address.
Solicitor Tony Curry said Martin had raised the animals, who have since been rehomed, from pups.
But he said his client had endured “a personal crisis” which led to “a rapid decline”.
He added: “He was not looking after himself and was in absolutely no condition to be looking after animals.”
Sheriff Colin Pettigrew said it was “a fairly sad and sorry story” which had come about due to Martin’s “personal difficulties – health and otherwise”.
Sentencing: fined £2,075. Banned from keeping dogs for life.
CONVICTED (2021) | backyard breeder James Jason Haydon, born 6 November 1998, previously of Mount Park, Higher Bebington, Wirral and now Island Road, Reading RG2 0RP – sold sick puppies on Facebook and kept dogs in a cupboard under the stairs.
James Joseph Haydon, who now lives in Reading in Berkshire, kept 11 dogs and puppies, some of which were living in crates filled with faeces and urine.
Haydon pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act.
The case against Haydon’s partner Kirsty Jayne Burke, who appeared in court alongside him, appears to have been discontinued.
RSPCA officers were called to an address in Higher Bebington in December 2019 and January 2020 after concerns were raised by members of the public about skinny dogs. Officers were concerned about their weight and the conditions they were living in so left an improvement notice.
The court heard how inspector Naomi Norris was called to a local kennels a few weeks later to see a dog called Freyer who had been handed over by Haydon.
Six dogs were kept in two pens in the garden, where they were “walking in faeces”.
Naomi said: “She was very thin and had saggy teets that still contained milk. It appeared as though she’d recently had puppies and I was concerned for their welfare. “I returned to the house two days later to follow up on the improvement notice. Haydon shouted out of a window, became aggressive and refused us access to the dogs.”
On February 5, 2020, Naomi and her colleagues joined police as they executed a warrant at the address. Naomi said: “In a cupboard under the stairs in the hall we found four six-week-old puppies. “I could see their ribs and spine and the vet said they needed to come out as soon as possible.
“They were on a cold floor with no bedding, no light and no ventilation.
“There was a large fawn-coloured dog in a small cage in the lounge. He had no bedding, food or water and the cage was far too small for him.
One dog was found in a crate so small he was unable to turn around in it.
“Outside, there were six large dogs in two runs in the garden. They all looked thin and the runs were thick with faeces.
“As the dogs were moving around the faeces was splashing up into the air. There were upturned buckets but no water available to them.
“These dogs appeared to have deteriorated since the last time I had seen them through the gate on January 3 and I was immediately concerned about them.
“While we were outside I heard a male voice shouting aggressively at something inside. I went into the kitchen but the police were in control, as far as I could see.
Many of the dogs appeared to be dehydrated and two were considered seriously underweight.
“An officer said Haydon had shouted at the dog in the cage in the lounge, Aries, and the dog had cowered in response and defecated. At that point I looked through the serving hatch and noticed a hammer hanging next to the cage.”
Some of the dogs had cropped ears and docked tails and another, Storm, had a swollen untreated wound to his led and was found wearing a shock collar, which was removed by officers. Eleven dogs and puppies – all cane corso types – were seized by police and taken into RSPCA care.
The adult dogs – Aries, Winter, Brille, Artemis (female), Diosa, Storm and Akhira (or Hera) – were all taken into the charity’s rescue centres.
The puppies Deloris, Ginny, Hermione and Luna – named after Harry Potter characters having been found in a cupboard under the stairs – were all rehomed by one of the charity’s branches. Haydon said Storm and Artemis belonged to two other individuals, one of whom confirmed that he’d been looking after his dog while his child was in hospital.
The dogs were signed over for rehoming but, sadly, Artemis was put to sleep on medical grounds due to serious health problems. Storm and Hera were rehomed together where they’re getting on really well with their new family.
Aries (now renamed Acer), Brille (now called Lola), Diosa (now called Callie) and Winter (now Roxy) also all found loving new homes.
The dogs, who all have new names, spent a year in the charity’s care before being signed over for rehoming. Callie and Lola were more nervous and wary of people, possibly as a result of their cropped ears and docked tails, and Acer and Roxy were more confident.
Haydon was also sentenced for three offences relating to a Cane Corso puppy, called Max, who was sold to a member of the public in September 2020 and was so poorly he had to be put to sleep.
The court heard how Andrew and Samantha Hood saw two Cane Corso puppies, Max and another dog named Storm, advertised on Facebook and paid £1,800 for both.
Haydon and a woman drove to the North East to take the puppies to the new owners and when they met he provided some registration documents.
Mr Mitchell said they noticed Storm had a mark on her head and some fur had fallen out, and Haydon claimed she had been bitten and had an abscess, handing them coconut oil to treat it.
He said the puppies were put in a crate and immediately suffered diarrhoea and Max appeared “in pain”.
They took him to a vet who discovered the puppy weighed just 1.9 kilograms when he should have weighed between eight and nine, and had “severely reduced muscle mass”.
Max also had multiple sores on his left ear and infected cuts and all four of paws had infections, which a vet said was as a result of “poor living conditions”.
Mr Mitchell said: “[The vet] felt the only available option was to euthanise that particular puppy.”
Sarah Griffin, defending, said Haydon “did the best he could” and had moved to a larger home “at great expense to himself” in efforts to care for the dogs.
She said he had “overcommitted himself financially” and as a result compromised the health of the dogs.
Ms Griffin said Haydon was £25,000 in debt and a “significant portion” was from trying to improve living conditions for the animals and added they weren’t “totally neglected” as he attempted to look after them.
She said after he pleaded guilty to the offences he signed the animals over to a charity.
Ms Griffin said Haydon has made “positive changes” and is “doing well” with the requirements of a current suspended sentence, which he received for the cultivation of cannabis.
She said he had an “incredibly difficult background”, had made an attempt on his life and has been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome.
The court heard he has casual employment as a mechanic and lives with his partner, who is pregnant.
Sentencing: 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months; 30 days of rehabilitation activity and thinking skills; £250 in costs. Disqualified from keeping all animals for five years (expires August 2026).
