CONVICTED (2022) | Gideon Stewart, born 23 July 1997, most recently of Halkett Crescent, Dunfermline KY11 4PH – drop-kicked a nine-week-old kitten while in a drunken rage.
Big hard man Gideon Stewart takes out his aggression on women and small animals
He spat in her face and called her a “slag” when she told him to stop.
Stewart appeared in the dock from custody to admit the offending, which took place on December 14 2020.
Sheriff Charles Macnair told him he was lucky not to have killed the defenceless animal during the violent outburst.
Procurator fiscal depute Laura McManus told the court Stewart was in his girlfriend’s home, where she was drinking with friends.
He began drinking alcohol and began acting aggressively as he “got drunker”.
At around 2am, he began to make sexually explicit abusive comments towards the group.
When his girlfriend asked him to stop, he spat in her face and verbally abused her.
Ms McManus continued: “The accused stated: ‘I’m going to smash all of you. You are all getting it’.
“He punched a wall and went into the hallway and picked up the complainer’s nine-week-old kitten and dropped it on his foot and kicked into the kitten.
The fiscal depute said her friends described him as “drop-kicking the kitten.”
Stewart then punched a hole in a wall, threatened to “put his girlfriend through a window” and told her “she was nothing.”
Police were called to the scene and found Stewart hiding in bed. He was arrested and handcuffed and taken to Dunfermline police station. When a constable tried to remove the cuffs, he spat on his arm.
Stewart pled guilty to kicking a kitten and causing it unnecessary suffering and assaulting his then-partner.
He also admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and assaulting a police officer.
Defence lawyer Brian Black said his client was “ashamed” and acknowledged anger management and alcohol have been problems for him.
Sheriff Charles Macnair told Stewart: “You kicked a defenceless animal and it was fortunate that animal seems to have survived the experience.”
Sentencing | 405 days in jail, backdated to January 27, 2022, when he was remanded in custody. He was also placed on a supervised release order for 200 days. A non-harassment order was also made to not contact the complainer in this case for 18 months.
CONVICTED (2022) | Callum Ruane, born 8 June 2001, of 10 Bewsey Road, Bewsey, Warrington WA2 7LW – blamed steroid addiction for his systematic abuse of a puppy.
Ruane was seen on multiple occasions punching, kicking and throwing the four-month-old American Bully dog, called Dice, at his then home in Savannah Place, Great Sankey, Warrington. Disturbing and upsetting mobile phone footage was captured by horrified neighbour Susie Perry who passed it on to the RSPCA.
Victim Dice – notice the cropped ears.
Liverpool Crown Court heard when inspectors interviewed Ruane at his mum’s home, he became tearful and told them he attacked Dice because he had “just completed a cycle of steroids and his head was fucked”.
Ruane admitted a charge of cruelty to a protected animal but initially claimed he had only abused Dice on one occasion. The RSPCA rejected his basis of plea and he later admitted the full facts of the prosecution case.
He was also charged with cruelty to another dog, Kilo, which he denied, but the prosecution allowed that charge to lie on the file in light of his guilty pleas.
Carmel Wilde, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, told the court Ms Perry and another neighbour, Kerry Liggett, first became concerned on September 25, 2021, when they heard the sounds of a dog “screaming”. Ms Perry ran to look out of an upstairs window which overlooked the patio door of the defendant’s property, offering a view into the kitchen area.
Ms Wilde said: “She could see Dice in his crate and the defendant was punching Dice to the head. Kerry Liggett, the same day, heard a horrible yelping sound lasting 10 seconds at least, and thought it was odd.
“Her neighbour called round 10 minutes later saying the defendant had strangled the dog by putting it in a headlock and punched it. They reported matters to the RSPCA and were advised by the control room to try and obtain videos of the abuse.”
On October 3, Ms Perry noticed that Dice had got out of his crate and had chewed a bag, some money and a pair of sunglasses in Ruane’s kitchen. Fearing his reaction, Ms Perry began filming on her mobile phone.
Dice’s owner Phoebe Jones allowed her pet to be abused by her steroid-addicted boyfriend
Initially Ruane’s then partner and the owner of Dice, Phoebe Jones, came into the room and began cleaning up the mess. The court heard Ms Perry thought Miss Jones “looked worried”.
A short time later Ms Perry heard Dice “screaming” so ran to the window again. Ms Wilde told the court: “She described the defendant beating the dog. She became petrified and shaky and could not understand why Miss Jones was not stopping it.”
Ms Perry heard the dog yelping and spotted Ruane holding Dice fully off the floor by his head and neck. The couple’s other dog, Kilo, was also present and was “spinning around agitated”.
Ms Wilde said: “The defendant could be seen throwing Dice into the crate. He then gets into the crate with the dog and can be seen hitting it. The dog can be heard yelping.”
Ruane left the dog in the crate, but not before aiming a kick at it as it cried.
Later that day Ms Perry captured another video showing Ruane using “random objects” to jab and poke Dice, although the crate was covered with a blanket which obscured the full extent of the abuse.
Perhaps most disturbingly, further footage captured by Ms Perry showed Ruane luring Dice out of his crate by pretending to offer him affection, only to punch him and throw him back into the crate by his throat.
Juice-head Ruane pictured outside court
RSPCA inspectors attended Ruane’s address and confronted him with the footage. He confirmed he was the man in the video and admitted his behaviour was unacceptable, blaming steroids for making his head “fucked”. The court heard he became tearful and said “if I could change it I would”.
Both Dice and Kilo were removed and Dice showed behavioural problems which experts said were linked to the abuse. Vets also noted he was slouching and struggled walking, leading to a diagnosis of hip dysplasia caused by an underlying genetic disorder.
Dice and Kilo
The court heard the RSPCA believed the long-lasting behavioural issues caused by the abuse were a danger in a dog capable of causing life-changing injuries to humans and other dogs, and combined with the suffering caused by his pre-existing conditions, a decision was made to put Dice to sleep. The court heard the abuse did not directly cause severe injuries leading to Dice’s death, however.
Peter Gilmore, defending, highlighted his client had no previous convictions for violence or animal cruelty and was a young man. He said: “This offending was out of character for him. It occurred at a time when he was abusing steroids; that’s not an excuse but it is an explanation as to why he was unable to control his anger at that time.
“His anger was unfairly and wrongly directed at the dog; that he regrets and is horrified by. He’s no longer using steroids and he realises now on reflection they changed him and his behaviour was worse when he took them.”
Mr Gilmore said “as hard as it is to believe” Ruane’s relationship with the dogs had “another side” and he “loved them”. He said his client had experienced an emotional toll over losing them because of his own behaviour.
The judge, Recorder Richard Leiper, QC, said: “It was harrowing to see Dice being lured out of his crate by you purporting to offer affection only to abuse him. It was a complete betrayal of a young puppy seeking comfort. I am told you were capable of being loving and caring towards the dogs, but that would make your conduct towards Dice all the more distressing towards the dog.”
However Judge Leiper said in an pre-sentence assessment by the Probation Service an officer had suggested there was a “realistic prospect of rehabilitation” and prison could store up more problems by exposing Ruane to “more sophisticated offenders”.
He said the defendant’s guilty plea, remorse and lack of previous convictions meant he could spare him immediate jail time.
Sentencing | 16-week prison term, suspended for 12 month; 150 hours of unpaid work; 20 Rehabilitation Activity days with the Probation Service; £1,800 in prosecution costs. Banned from owning or controlling any animal for five years unless a court lifted the disqualification order, which could not be for a minimum of two years.
Callum Ruane is the son of Paul Ruane, who in October 2019, was charged alongside others in relation to the import of class A and B drugs. He was said to be part of the UK’s biggest drugs and organised crime gang. The outcome of the case has not been reported and it may still be ongoing.
Phoebe Jones, who based on the evidence presented in court was complicit in her boyfriend’s routine dog abuse and was seen by a witness to do nothing to intervene, owns a beauty salon named Enhance by Phoebe Jones. The shop is located at 141 Bury New Rd, Whitefield, Manchester M45 6AA. She has over 21,000 followers on her (now private) Instagram account ‘Faces by Phe‘. Facebook business page (also currently deactivated) is here and her website is here.
CONVICTED (2022) | hare coursers Callum Raw, born 22 April 1991, of 2 Fenton Court, Boosbeck TS12 3BG, Jamie Dewing, born 6 April 1989 of Valley View, Wharton Place, Boosbeck TS12 3AH and Mike Berry, born c. 1971, of Avon Court, Saltburn-by-the-Sea TS12 3EB
Callum Raw (left) and Jamie Dewing
The three men were convicted of hunting a wild mammal with a dog and trespassing in search of game in East Yorkshire.
Officers from Humberside Police’s Rural Taskforce arreted the trio on private farmland in Arnold after they were spotted by a member of the public acting suspiciously with lurcher-type dogs.
Berry was fined £300, ordered to pay £300 in costs and a £34 victim surcharge. Raw was fined £900, ordered to pay £300 in costs and a £90 victim surcharge. Dewing was fined £200, ordered to pay £300 in costs and a £34 victim surcharge.
Callum Raw makes no secret of his lust for animal cruelty. Image: Facebook.
Berry and Raw were also issued three-year criminal behaviour orders, prohibiting them from entering Humberside Police’s Force Area and entering any private farmland in England or Wales with a sighthound or lurcher type dog.
CONVICTED (2022) | Neal Davies, born c 1965, of Queensmere, Hadleigh, South Benfleet SS7 3XP – failed to treat an infected wound on his pet dog’s leg and allowed him to lose weight.
Neal Davies is banned from having anything to do with animals until 2032. Picture source: Facebook
Davies failed to obtain “proper and necessary” vet care and attention for an infected wound on the leg of a Staffordshire bull terrier-type dog named Scrappy.
Scrappy was badly neglected by his owner and left to suffer. Picture source: Facebook
He also failed to later investigate and address the causes of Scrappy’s poor bodily condition and weight loss.
It would appear that Scrappy has sadly died but no details are known.
Sentencing | six -month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. Banned from dealing in, owning, keeping and participating in keeping all animals for 10 years.
CONVICTED (2022) | Cheryl Ann Dowd, born 30 October 1991, and Joel Paul Shepherd, born 13 September 1990, both of Walters Road, Ogmore Vale – failed to treat their dog’s skin disease and secondary infections.
Neglectful pet owners Joel Shepherd and Cheryl Dowd walked free from court with a financial penalty and paltry 12-month ban on keeping dogs.
Dowd and Shepherd, who are parents, both pleaded guilty to one offence under the Animal Welfare Act in relation to a border collie-type dog named Charlie.
In a witness statement presented to the court from RSPCA deputy chief inspector Gemma Black, she said when she first met Charlie on 7 April 2022, he was “alert and active and in reasonable bodily condition however was missing fur in a lot of areas around its body”.
She said that a large section of Charlie’s back was bald, with thickened black skin.
Gemma added: “The paws all looked like the skin surrounding them was red, sore and inflamed. There was reddening around the eyes as well. Areas of the body that the fur was missing was warm to touch and the dog was scratching constantly.
“I also noticed that under the neck of the dog and stomach area was very pink and warm to the touch. Some areas of the skin that were exposed from no fur were thickened, especially around the top of the tail and rump area.”
Speaking to Dowd about Charlie, Gemma said: “They advised that he had not been taken to the vet for treatment as he was microchipped to another address and they had feared they would lose him. She told me she had flea treatment delivered monthly and that this month’s course had arrived that day and she was yet to administer it.”
Charlie was taken to a vet by Gemma where a veterinary surgeon examined him and confirmed that she believed he was suffering.
Charlie was taken into possession by police and placed into RSPCA care. Gemma, who visited him on 26 April, said: “He looked a lot better from when I had previously seen him on the 7 April. His skin looked a lot calmer and a normal skin colour. He was also a lot more comfortable and wasn’t scratching.”
Good-natured Charlie’s severe skin condition has improved in the RSPCA’s care.
Charlie, who has been transformed in RSPCA care will be made available for rehoming in the near future.
Following sentencing, Gemma added: “Charlie is just the sweetest collie dog and I just can’t wait for him to get his happy ever after.”
Sentencing | £334 in fine, costs and charges each. 12-month ban on keeping dogs. Deprivation order for Charlie.
CONVICTED (2022) | Brendan Robert Marshall, born 13 December 2000, of 43 Donaldson Street, Hamilton ML3 0NT – left a cat to die in agony after he hurled him to the ground in a fit of rage.
Marshall screamed that “fucking cat has pissed everywhere” before he grabbed the pet by the scruff of the neck. He then launched him out of the living room into the hallway. The cat, named Shiro, let out a loud ‘miaow’ as he hit the ground but then lay ‘lifeless’ on the floor.
Callous Marshall then left Shiro lying and went to bed with his partner. But when she awoke she found the injured animal was still lying in agony and a vet was phoned. The couple went to the surgery where they were told Shiro had suffered a head injury and had high blood pressure.
Despite the best effort of the vet Shiro was put down and police were called in.
When he was charged, Marshall replied: “I’m sorry.”
Marshall admitted causing the cat unnecessary suffering in April 2022 and was banned from keeping animals for five years.
Marshall was due to face a further sentencing hearing on 26 July 2022 but the details have not yet been published.
CONVICTED (2022) | Wayne Shepherd, born c. 1981, and Kimberley Thompson, born c. 1995, both of Dividy Road, Bentilee, Stoke-on-Trent ST2 0AA – left emaciated horses to starve in a frozen field.
Shepherd and Thompson were banned from keeping equines for life after one of the horses was found dead and frozen in the snow while the other was starved and neglected.
The pair were prosecuted after the young thoroughbred horses, called Mr Eddy and Mr Winston (pictured), were discovered malnourished in Slaters Lane, Werrington, on February 8, 2022.
RSPCA inspector Natalie Perehovsky visited the field following a call by a concerned member of the public.
She could see Mr Eddy – a bay coloured horse – in the distance and could tell he was thin, despite the fact she was standing at least 10 metres away.
Inspector Perehovsky said: “He seemed young and was emaciated. All his ribs were visible and his spine and hip bone were prominent.
“He had no access to any water; all he did have was a small amount of haylage on the cold floor. There was a fresh bale of hay by the gate but the horses didn’t have access to it and it was still in its grey wrapper.”
The dead body of another horse – Mr Winston – was found curled up and frozen in snow nearby.
She added: “The dead horse, Mr Winston, was a palomino. He was in a cordoned off part of the field and was laid curled up on some haylage with a blue rug on. In front of him was a bucket of food that seemed to contain some form of liquid and grains. I lifted up the rug and could clearly see his ribs and hips. He had been there for sometime and had gone into rigor mortis so it was hard to move him to get a clear look under the rug. Plus the weather was extremely cold that day, it was snowing, so he had probably also frozen overnight.”
The landowners were tracked down and told inspector Perehovsky that they rented their field to Shepherd and Thompson. Police and vets were asked to attend and both horses were seized by officers, with arrangements made for Mr Eddy to be transported to an equine veterinary clinic.
Thompson and Shepherd later arrived at the field and expressed their shock that Mr Winston had died. Shepherd said the horse had been collapsed the day before and he’d managed to get him sitting up, but he’d not called a vet and had left him where he was overnight.
He said he was going to call the vet that morning but had been waiting on an appointment. Inspector Perehovsky told him that it was now 2pm and he had still not rung one.
The horses had been fed linseed, barley, cranberry and apple juice as they had not been drinking the water, added Shepherd.
An equine vet who examined both horses gave them a body condition score of just one out of nine. He said it was his opinion that Mr Eddy had been subjected to unnecessary suffering due to a lack of good husbandry and veterinary care and that this could have been prevented if adequate feeding and regular monitoring had been provided.
Mr Eddy has made a good recovery and will now be rehomed by the RSPCA.
Sentencing | 12-month community order with 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement Days. They were each fined £240, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £95 and costs of £400. Lifetime ban on owning equines.
CONVICTED (2022) | smallholders Nicholas Shearmon, born 21 July 1966,, and Diane Shearmon, born 19 July 1981, of Spiders Paddock, Rusty Lane, Seend, Melksham SN12 6NS for a string of animal cruelty charges in relation to cattle.
On November 19, 2019, officers from Wiltshire Council’s animal health team and vets from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) visited the couple’s smallholding.
They discovered three of their 12 cows had died. Many of the remaining cows were weak and in poor condition. One weakened cow became stuck in a muddy pool and had to be freed by Shearmon.
The court heard that on another visit on November 27, 2019, an animal health officer instructed the Shearmons to call a vet within 48 hours to a cow which appeared to have laboured breathing. A vet was not called and an officer from the animal health team subsequently attended the holding.
The cow was found in a collapsed state and required urgent veterinary attention. This animal was eventually euthanised by the couple’s private vet.
The offenders pleaded guilty to the following charges in court:
Causing unnecessary suffering to three cows, which at post-mortem were found to be chronically malnourished and having a lungworm infection
Causing unnecessary suffering by failing to seek veterinary attention for a cow which was anaemic, dehydrated and extremely thin
Failing to isolate ill or injured animals in appropriate accommodation
Failing to care appropriately for a cow which appeared ill or injured by failing to seek veterinary advice
Failing to protect nine cows from risks to their health by preventing access to a muddy bog/pond containing debris
Failing to report the movement of four cattle
Failing to hold three carcases in such a manner that no animal or bird had access to them
Sentencing | 100 hours of unpaid community work; ordered to pay £8,000 costs plus victim surcharge of £190. Banned from keeping, owning, dealing in or transporting cattle for 10 years.
CONVICTED (2022) | cattle farmer Wesley Gracey, born c. 1960, of Tehillah Farm, Moss-side of Gight, Fyvie, Turriff AB53 8LY – set about a distressed cow with an electric cattle prod.
“Over-exuberant” farmer Gracey, a partner in livestock firm W&J Gracey, misused an electric cattle prod on a “stubborn” cow, who suffered multiple lesions and bruising all over her body.
Gracey used the device on both sides of the animal’s neck, her ribs. and hind quarters during a cruel incident, which lasted approximately four minutes.
The cattle farmer resorted to the unlawful action after the cow refused to leave his truck at a slaughterhouse.
Gracey had driven six cows to the Scotbeef abattoir in Inverurie, where all but one of the cattle left the transporter.
Despite attempts to “cajole” the animal after she had sat down in the truck, she would not be moved.
But in turning to the use of a cattle prod, Gracey went well beyond what is legally allowed.
Fiscal Deputy Lewis Devoy told the court that the prod can only be used on an animal’s hindquarters and only for a maximum of one-second bursts.
The animal was eventually slaughtered in situ. A post-mortem found “multiple lesions” and bruising around the shoulders, neck, back and hindquarters, as a consequence of the electric prod.
Gracey admitted a charge under the Welfare of Animals (Transport) (Scotland) Regulations 2006 and the Animal Health Act 1981, of repeatedly applying the electric prod, causing suffering.
The farmer had also faced a charge under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, of causing the cow unnecessary suffering with the prod and by repeatedly kicking it, but the Crown accepted his plea of not guilty.
A not guilty plea to a third charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner was also accepted.
Defence agent John McLeod said his client had “been a farmer for decades” adding that he buys and sells a “large volume of cattle” throughout the year. On this occasion he had been “overexuberant” in his use of the prod.
He concluded “There are half a dozen people visible in the CCTV observing all this going on, as if to suggest it’s a process not entirely unheard of.”
Wesley Gracey’s son James Gracey, a vet at the Meadows Veterinary Centre with branches in Oldmeldrum and New Deer, Aberdeenshire, has had his licence to practice suspended for six months by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). His suspension came after he was found guilty of dishonesty and animal welfare charges in relation to cows owned by his father.
Corrupt vet James Gracey
The RCVS found Gracey had signed Food Chain Information forms in relation to the cows without declaring any conflict of interest.
It was also found he had signed an emergency slaughter form stating a cow had not been administered treatment within the previous week when it had. On a separate occasion, he also signed a form stating a cow was fit for travel when it was not.
The RCVS found his conduct in relation to the proven charges risked undermining public health and animal welfare, and in relation to the emergency slaughter form his conduct was dishonest and misleading.
Gracey, who was born in Northern Ireland, lives at the Tehillah Farm, Turriff, Aberdeenshire AB53 8LY.
CONVICTED (2022) | Reece Armstrong, born 4 February 1996, of no fixed abode but originally from Guildford, with links to Stanwell, Camberley and Folkestone – lunged at a police dog with a zombie knife.
Career criminal Reece Armstrong told a police officer “I’m going to kill your dog” when they responded to an incident in Folkestone.
After swinging the blade and catching PD Blue’s collar, Armstrong fled but was located by firearms patrols in the town centre five days later.
Image source: Kent Police / Twitter
He again tried to flee but was caught with the help of a police drone and detained.
Armstrong’s “utterly abhorrent behaviour” began on the afternoon of March 23, 2022, when police responded to reports of an altercation between two men in Endrook Valley.
An officer attended the area with PD Blue and approached Armstrong at around 4.20pm.
After initially interacting well, his mood changed and he brandished a large zombie knife from his hoodie.
He became very aggressive and moved towards the officer and Blue, threatening to kill the animal.
Fearing for his safety and for Blue’s, the officer shouted at Armstrong to stop and step back. He ignored the commands and swung the knife at Blue, with the blade catching his collar.
Armstrong then fled the scene. Fortunately, Blue was not harmed.
He was arrested days later following the use of a police drone to follow his movements across town.
Following his arrest officers located the zombie knife he had used in his attack on Blue.
After being interviewed in custody and charged in relation to the offences committed, Armstrong was immediately recalled to prison for breaching the terms of his licence in relation to a separate conviction. He was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on 7 July 2022.
Investigating officer PC Sophia Lateu said: “Armstrong’s behaviour was utterly abhorrent; PD Blue and his handler were extremely lucky to be able to walk away from this incident unharmed.
“Every day our officers are required to attend unpredictable, challenging and sometimes volatile situations. However, like any other job, officers should be able to perform their roles without being the subject of such disgusting and potentially dangerous actions.
“Any assaults on police officers, staff or our police dogs are completely unacceptable, and we will not hesitate to prosecute those who put their safety and the safety of other emergency workers at risk in this way.”
