Monthly Archives: December 2021

Equine Abuse, farms / smallholdings, Food Production, horses and ponies

Poole, Dorset: Dave and Sue Boxall

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CONVICTED (2021) | David Charles Boxall, born 7 May 1960, and wife Susan M Boxall, born 28 January 1955, of 2 Turbary Close, Parkstone, Poole BH12 4HD – for neglect and starvation of two alpacas and a horse

Dave Boxall (pictured) and wife Sue neglected animals on their Dorset smallholding, including alpaca Leo, whose emaciated remains were discovered by the RSPCA.
Dave Boxall (pictured) and wife Sue neglected animals on their Dorset smallholding, including alpaca Leo, whose emaciated remains were discovered by the RSPCA.


The Boxalls refused to call in a vet after their alpacas – named Leo (pictured) and Reggie – fell into poor health due to the couple’s “prolonged neglect”.

When an RSPCA inspector carried out visits to their smallholding in Lytchett Matravers, Dorset, earlier in 2021 they found the alpacas severely underweight with overgrown nails and fleeces.

Leo had already died while Reggie had to be put down later.

A court heard the mammals died from either septicaemia or pneumonia which would have been preventable had the Boxalls sought help for them.

The RSPCA inspector also found a horse called Eddie in a poor state of health due to neglect.

Matthew Knight, prosecuting for the RSPCA, told the court: “The horse was severely underweight, had poor teeth and trouble eating.

“Mr Boxall told inspectors nothing was wrong, he was just old and had lost some muscle due to lack of exercise.

“A reasonable owner would always seek vet advice for that amount of weight loss. That degree of loss would have taken a considerable time to happen, at least a month, and could have been avoided with proper nourishment and suitable worming.

“Leo was very underweight and the coat was long, thick and matted, the nails were overgrown and twisted. The cause of death was either septicaemia or pneumonia and could have been entirely preventable if a suitable worming treatment had been put in place.

“Mr Boxall said he had kept horses for 50 years and alpacas for seven years. He disagreed with officers that the horse needed treatment and said ‘it wasn’t that bad’ and it was ‘old age’.

“These animals were patently in need of care and assistance but these defendants who think they know better resisted advice and that has led to the suffering of these animals.

The Boxalls denied any wrongdoing but were found guilty of eight offences each relating to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and duty of care for the animals.

Magistrates agreed the case passed the custody threshold, but decided to suspend the prison after hearing the couple were carers for their disabled son.

Sentencing: 18 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months. Ordered to pay £1,406 costs between them. Disqualified from owning horses and alpacas for five years (expires December 2026).

Dorset Echo

Equine Abuse, police horses, working equines

Harrogate, North Yorkshire: Robert Harland

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CONVICTED (2021) | farrier Robert Graham Harland, born January 1967, of Spring House Farm, Skipton Road, Harrogate HG3 2LT – attacked a police horse with a hammer.

PH George , who was attacked with a hammer by professional farrier Robert Harland from Harrogate.
PH George was attacked with a hammer by professional farrier Robert Harland from Harrogate.

Harland previously denied causing unnecessary suffering to West Yorkshire police horse George (pictured), while on force premises in Carr Gate, Wakefield, but changed his plea to guilty when he appeared in court.

The incident happened on December 12, 2020.

PH George recovered and is still on operational duty with West Yorkshire Police.

Sentencing: £3000 fine and £275 costs.

Pontefract and Castleford Express

Bestiality / Zoophilia, Paedophiles / Sex Offenders

Kirkby, Merseyside: Ronald Hardcastle

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CONVICTED (2021) | Ronald Hardcastle, born c. 1956, of Southney Close, Kirkby, Liverpool L31 1JR – downloaded dozens of indecent images showing bestiality and child sex abuse.

Ronald Hardcastle. Picture: Liverpool Echo.
Ronald Hardcastle. Picture: Liverpool Echo.

Former police officer Hardcastle was caught with almost 300 images on his mobile phone depicting the depraved sexual abuse of children and animals.

The 65-year-old married father admitted he had chosen the online user name of ‘Bad Uncle James’ “to attract other users who might have an interest in indecent images.”

Hardcastle’s sordid behaviour came to light during investigations by the child exploitation unit of the National Crime Agency (NCA) into illegal activity on a Kik Messenger account.

This led officers from Merseyside Police’s online child abuse team, armed with a search warrant, to his home in Kirkby on February 16, 2021.

During the searches various electronic devices were seized.

When his Samsung mobile phone was examined, a total of 275 indecent images – including 202 videos and 29 photographs of extreme porn – were found.

Another 18 images were in the most serious category of child abuse, which includes rape, and 17 of them were videos.

Hardcastle had worked for Merseyside Police for about 30 years and after retiring 11 years ago joined an agency supplying staff to police forces which resulted in him spending four years working as a civilian with Greater Manchester Police.

For some of that time he worked with their child protection department “and had been responsible for categorising images of this sort.”

The case prosecutor queried whether looking at the images in that role had distorted Hardcastle’s thinking or whether he had sought it because of a pre-existing interest.

The job ended after he was involved in a serious accident which left him with broken bones and in hospital for some months. Hardcastle told how “he ended up on anti-depressants and became isolated from his ‘police family’ and became curious about that sort of material having worked in that area.”

In interview Hardcastle said he was not aware possession of the bestiality material was an offence “and found it amusing rather than gratifying.”

Hardcastle pleaded guilty to seven offences involving possessing and making indecent images of children; possessing extreme porn for and distribution, all in January and February 2021.

Hardcastle said he was ashamed of his behaviour and denied having sexual interest in children.

Hardcastle, who attended court on crutches and holding medication, was being supported by his wife and son, who both sat in the public gallery.

Sentencing: 12 months’ imprisonment suspended for 18 months; four-month curfew; 10 days of rehabilitation activity; participation in a sex offenders programme. Given a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register, also for ten years.

Liverpool Echo

Animal Abandonment, Dogs

Roehampton, South-West London: Rosie Moore

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CONVICTED (2021) | Rosie Moore, born 24 September 1997, of Norley Vale, Roehampton, SW London – failed to ensure the welfare of a dog found riddled with disease and living in her own filth.

Rosie Moore only received a 5-year ban after magistrates decided her animal neglect was "not deliberate" ...
Rosie Moore only received a 5-year ban after magistrates decided her animal neglect was “not deliberate” …

Cali, a female boxer cross, was found cowering under a table soaked in her own urine as police carried out a warrant at Moore’s address.

Prosecutor Beata Murphy told the court how on June 18, 2020, police entered the property and found two dogs alone surrounded by faeces and urine.

One of these dogs, Cali, belonged to Moore, while the other belonged to a separate occupant of the flat.

Ms Murphy told the court: “Police entered the property while nobody was home and found two dogs who were understandably scared.

“The officers were also met by the overwhelming stench of faeces and urine.”

The court heard how the balcony had been used as a place for the dogs to go to the toilet for several weeks and was covered in faeces.

The flat, which was also home to two children aged seven-months-old and three at the time, was described by as being in disarray.

Ms Murphy said: “There was dog faeces and urine all over the flat, as well as vomit.

“It was clear to the officers that the dogs had been searching for food in open bin bag and had resorted to eating the contents of used nappies.

“It was not clear how long the dogs had been in the flat without food and water.

“One of the dogs cowered under the table in fear until police managed to coax it out.

“Cali’s rear leg was entirely soaked with urine when officers found her.”

Rosie Moore. Picture: Facebook.
Rosie Moore. Picture: Facebook.

The dogs were seized by the police and taken to a vet who found Cali had been suffering from lung worm for at least four weeks and would have been in pain.

The court heard that the lung worm may have been caused by, or made worse by, the appalling conditions she was living with.

They also found she had ingrowing eyelashes in one eye which would also have been uncomfortable for her.

Moore pleaded not guilty before being convicted at a trial.

In mitigation, the court was told Moore had only left the dog alone for one night and that the faeces that had accumulated in the flat was only two weeks’ worth.

Moore also claimed she had noticed the dog’s eye and had called a vet, but decided against getting it checked out after being told the price.

The court heard Moore had suffered with her mental health and at the time had stopped taking her medication, explaining the conditions the dogs were left in.

The bench of magistrates decided the harm she caused to Cali was not deliberate, but disqualified her from owning any animals for the next five years.

Moore will also be subject to a 12 month community order including electronic monitoring.

Cali and the other dog were seized from the property and are being re-homed.

My London

Animal Torture, hedgehogs, Other Mammals, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Bonnyrig, Midlothian: Niall Sheridan

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CONVICTED (2021) | Niall S Sheridan, born 14 May 1999, with a most recent known address of Lothian Street, Bonnyrigg EH19 3AE but with links to the towns of Loanhead, Lasswade and Gorebridge, Midlothian – tortured and killed a hedgehog by stamping on her, stabbing her with a knife and striking her with a pool cue.

Niall Sheridan, who tortured a helpless hedgehog to death.

Sheridan also played football with the female creature in the corridor of his homeless accommodation in Midlothian and hit her with a ‘wet floor’ cone.

He used a knife to stab the hedgehog around ten times during the harrowing incident caught on CCTV.

As Sheridan laughed and joked with another man and filmed the abuse on his mobile phone, the hedgehog suffered an agonising 20 minute ordeal.

Police were called by concerned staff at the Kilbreck House homeless unit and officers were forced to restrain Sheridan using handcuffs, leg restraints and a spit hood.

The court heard he shouted threats including saying he would “slit their throats” and “harm their families”.

A postmortem conducted by a vet found the hedgehog likely endured “significant and unnecessary pain and suffering” as death wasn’t instantaneous.

Sadistic animal abuser Niall Sheridan

The thug pleaded guilty to a number of charges including causing a protected animal unnecessary suffering before killing it on July 12, 2021.

Sheridan also pleaded guilty to charges of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, knife possession, and making threats of violence to police.

Sheridan’s lawyer, David Storrie, told the court his client was high on a mixture of drink and drugs at the time.

The court heard he had consumed an “alarming amount of vodka and Buckfast” as well as Valium before the incident.

Storrie added that Sheridan is now clean of drugs due to being on remand and the period of custody has “done him the power of good”.

But Sheriff Daniel Kelly told Sheridan he had committed a “cruel and prolonged” attack on the animal and had “caused significant injuries and ultimately its death”.

He added: “It does have to be recognised that this was horrific, and a horrific way to treat an animal.

“You were admitted to Kilbreck House and you did go out and return with the hedgehog so there is some intent there.”

Sentencing: jailed for 20 months and banned from owning or keeping any animal for the next 10 years.

Edinburgh Evening News

Dogs, ear cropping and tail docking, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders

Wavertree / Anfield, Liverpool: Leslie Christopherson and Calum Reid

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CONVICTED (2021) | Leslie Christopherson, born 30 December 1991, of Picton Road, Wavertree, Liverpool, and backyard breeder Calum Reid, born January 1985, of 7 Donaldson Street, Anfield, Liverpool L5 1UY – subjected puppies to cruel ear cropping procedures.

Leslie Christopherson and Calum Reid who were found with two puppies who had both been subjected to cruel ear-cropping procedures. Picture: Facebook.
Leslie Christopherson (left) claimed he was looking after the two mutilated dogs for his backyard breeder pal, convicted domestic abuser Calum Reid (right).

Christopherson and Reid both admitted causing unnecessary suffering to two bull-breed puppies when they appeared before Liverpool Magistrates.

The court heard how the RSPCA were called to investigate after receiving a report from a concerned member of the public who said Christopherson was in possession of two puppies with cropped ears.

Ear-cropping is illegal in the UK under the Animal Welfare Act unless it is carried out for medical reasons.

The RSPCA described the practice as a painful cosmetic procedure in which part of the ear is cut off with a knife or razor blade to make the dogs look fiercer.

Blue was subjected to cruel ear cropping
Blue

Inspector Naomi Norris was sent to the address in Picton Road in Wavertree on April 29, 2021, when Christopherson showed her the grey male puppy called Blue and the female puppy called April.

April was also subjected to cruel ear cropping
April

Naomi said: “Both had cropped ears that looked quite freshly done. They were red and sore looking and I could see bits of stitching that just looked like cotton. There was something clumped around the ears, that he later told me was talcum powder and the ears appeared infected.

“He confirmed there had been no veterinary treatment and said “I know the ears are illegal, I’m looking after them for a mate.”

He then identified Reid as the owner of the puppies.

Both dogs were seized by the police and they were taken for veterinary treatment at the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital where the ears were found to be painful and infected.

Naomi then visited Reid who said he had bought the dogs with their ears already cropped and told her he didn’t know the procedure was illegal.

An independent vet, who examined Blue and April told the court: “The tissues of the ear pinna are sensitive and surgical intervention will result in acute inflammation and an experience of pain for the animal.

“In my opinion Blue and April have been caused to suffer as a consequence of having their ears cropped. Suffering will have been experienced by these animals via mechanisms of pain and irritation for a period of at least 5 days, possibly longer.”

Naomi said: “The RSPCA is opposed to ear cropping – a process where ears are removed or surgically altered. It is painful, wholly unnecessary and often done only for the purposes of appearance.

“Dogs should never be mutilated for cosmetic purposes and ear cropping can actually be detrimental to their health, behaviour and welfare.

“There’s a growing trend for cropped dogs among some celebrities and sadly we’re seeing more and more dogs with cropped ears on social media and advertising too. Celebrities have a responsibility to set a good example to their fans but we fear the cropped look is being normalised and even glamorised, particularly among certain breeds.

“We feel people in the public eye should not be endorsing a procedure that causes pain and suffering to dogs, whether it’s being carried out illegally in the UK or legally overseas. We’d urge celebrities to stop popularising this look and, instead, ask them to promote responsible dog ownership and champion good animal welfare.

“We’d urge people never to buy a dog with cropped ears and to report any concerns about ear cropping to the RSPCA by calling 0300 1234 999.”

Sentencing:
Christopherson – eight-week jail sentence suspended for 12 months; 20 rehabilitation days, 100 hours of unpaid work; £278 in fines and surcharges. Two-year ban on keeping animals (expires November 2023).
Reid – one-year community order with 120 hours of unpaid work and 30 rehabilitation days, £345 costs. Three-year ban on keeping animals (expires December 2024).

Liverpool Echo

Additional Information

In May 2021 Calum Reid started a company named LC Bu11ys Ltd. Companies House gives his address as 34 St. Andrews View, Liverpool, L33 1ZF.

In February 2014 Reid was given a 28-month custodial sentence after threatening his estranged partner (now wife and mother of his young daughter) Danielle Hinnigan with horrific violence.