Monthly Archives: October 2022

Dogs

Musselburgh, East Lothian: David Watters

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CONVICTED (2022) | David Watters, born c. 1988, of High Street, Musselburgh EH21 6DE – let his family dog suffer from a painful eye condition which eventually left the animal blind.

Father-of-four David Watters paid £2,000 for the French bulldog named Tyson and watched as the dog’s health rapidly declined.

Tyson was put to sleep after being severely neglected by callous David Watters

The six-year-old dog was taken into care by SSCPA inspectors and was found to be in “severe discomfort and pain” with scarred eyes and a number of teeth missing.

Very sadly, he was put down following an attempt at surgery after it was decided to be the “most humane” option.

Watters initially visited a vet with Tyson, but claimed the birth of three children left him too skint to pay for treatment for three years.

In court, Watters admitted failing to provide adequate care and treatment for the dog, and not seeking veterinary help for his eye, ear and dental conditions.

Fiscal Depute Ruaridh Allison said concerns over Tyson’s welfare had been raised with SSPCA inspectors.

Mr Allison said he was taken to a vet who identified a condition which caused the dog “inadequate tear production”, leading to his eyes being “dry, scarred and inflamed”.

He added: “The dog was blind as a result. The vet stated that this condition appeared to have lasted no less than four months.”

Tyson had “several” teeth missing, the court heard, and there was “scarring and narrowing of the ear canal which indicated an infection”.

SSPCA inspectors spoke with Watters and it was confirmed Tyson had not been to see a vet in three years.

Mr Allison said: “Surgery was attempted but the decision was taken to euthanise the dog because of his condition. It was considered to be the most humane option.”

Watters admitted causing the unnecessary suffering to Tyson between May 14 and September 14, 2021.

Defence agent Cameron Tait said his client bought Tyson in 2015 and took him to a vet on a number of occasions for costly treatment for skin problems.

Mr Tait said Watters and his wife had added three more children to the family by 2021 and he was the “sole breadwinner”, earning £400 a week as a landscaper and labourer”.

Under the financial circumstances, the solicitor said Tyson’s “welfare was no longer the biggest priority”.

Mr Tait said: “He was aware the dog’s sight was affected. He appears to have stuck his head in the sand. He should’ve accepted that he could no longer look after the dog and surrendered him to the SSPCA or another charity. It’s a matter of regret.”

Sheriff John Cook told Watters: “This is a sad case where a family pet became too expensive to look after.”

Sheriff Cook said Watters should’ve dealt with this “rather than causing unfortunate suffering to an animal.”

Sentencing | fined £360. Banned from owning an animal for just three years (expires October 2025).

Edinburgh News
Daily Record

Update 14 November 2022: Scottish SPCA welcomes animal ban for Musselburgh man David Watters

June Chalcroft, Scottish SPCA inspector, said: “On September 14, 2021, I attended Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home in response to concern for a stray dog that had been handed into their centre that morning by a member of the public.

“I was shown Tyson, a grey and white male French bulldog.

“Scabs had formed on both of Tyson’s eyes and there was a white glaze over them.

“He appeared to be blind. His left ear was thickened and it was clear that he was in need of immediate veterinary attention.

“Watters contacted the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home stating that he was the owner.

“I then contacted Watters, who agreed to Tyson being taken to the vets.

“The veterinary examination confirmed that Tyson was suffering from dry eye, a painful condition where a lack of tear production had led to both eyes becoming dry, inflamed and chronically scarred.

“Tyson had sadly lost his sight due to his condition being left untreated for so long.

“The cauliflower-like thickening of his left ear was likely due to an untreated haematoma that had slowly reabsorbed alongside chronic ear disease, both of which are painful conditions causing unnecessary suffering.

“Tyson also had dental disease, several missing teeth, significant calculus deposits and halitosis.

“Due to the severity of his condition, sadly Tyson had to be put to sleep on welfare grounds.

“We are pleased Watters has been given this ban and we hope that he will seriously consider his ability to care for any animals in the future.

“Dry eye is a condition that’s normally manageable with appropriate medications prescribed by a veterinary surgeon.

“Any responsible person would have have noticed the changes in Tyson’s eyes and sought appropriate veterinary attention.”

East Lothian Courier

animal fighting / baiting, badger baiting, Dogs, foxes, hunting with dogs, Multiple Species, Organised Animal Crime, Wildlife Crime / Bloodsports, Worst of the Worst

Oxhill, Warwickshire: Luke Rix

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CONVICTED (2022) | Luke Rix, born October 1990, of Gilks Lane, Oxhill Warwick CV35 0QE – filmed himself hunting wildlife with dogs.

Rix admitted three offences following an investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA.

The animal welfare charity was contacted after videos and images were discovered on an iPad belonging to Rix by his former partner. They showed hunting and persecution of wild mammals using two dogs who were left injured as a result.

Inspectors from the RSPCA joined the officers from Gloucestershire Police when they carried out a warrant at an address in Broadwell Hill, Broadwell, Cheltenham GL56 0UE, where Rix’s phone was seized and his dogs examined by a vet.

A number of videos and photographs were found. One clip contained disturbing footage of Rix filming while two dogs – one being his dog Gunner – attacked a wild boar.

Rix can be heard to be encouraging the dogs saying “look at that boys – big pig – go on boys” and the dogs can be seen latched onto the neck area of the boar as it screams in pain and distress. The boar was already bleeding from a wound caused by Rix stabbing it.

Wildlife killer Rix also failed to care for his dog Gunner.

The vet who examined Gunner found he had a fracture of the upper right canine, missing upper incisors and had lower worn lower incisors and marked dental disease that was so severe the vet felt this would have caused pain for at least three years

Records showed he had not seen a vet since 2019, at which time Rix had been advised that the fractured tooth needed removing due to associated infection and dental disease was pointed out.

Following his rescue, Gunner had to have more than 20 teeth removed.
In an interview, Rix said he had always hunted and had previously been a gamekeeper.

RSPCA solicitor Lindi Meyer, who represented the charity in court, said: “Other seized videos and photos showed dogs ripping apart a fox, dogs with injuries, terriers tormenting a caged rat, and discussions of boar, badger and fox hunting, and conversations with people on social media regarding his hunting exploits.

“Whilst not the subject of criminal charges, all this relevant background information found on his devices shows that the incident with the boar was not an isolated incident and shows he has used his dogs in other situations to set upon a wild animal and that this is a game to him which he will glorify by filming and bragging by distributing it. It also shows that he is prepared to put his dogs at risk.”

In mitigation, it was said Rix was going through a difficult time in his life because of the breakdown of a relationship and issues with his business.

Sentencing | Jailed for 18 weeks; £628 in costs and charges. Disqualified from keeping dogs for 10 years.

ITV News
BBC News
Warwickshire World

Additional Information

Rix, a former gamekeeper and with links to several fox hunts, is now a tree surgeon by trade.

His company is named Simia Forestry Ltd. Facebook page here, Instagram here.

Dogs, Domestic Violence - Animals Targeted, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Brecon, Powys, mid Wales: Rhys Burgess

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CONVICTED (2022) | Rhys Burgess, born c. 1992, of Coryton Close, Brecon LD9 – threw his ex partner’s dog at a window in domestic abuse incident.

Rhys Burgess, who has a history of domestic violence-related offending, was jailed for more than three years after subjecting his ex-partner to a campaign of terror, which culminated in an incident in which he picked up a dog and threw her at a window.

Burgess admitted six charges, which included causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal in relation to the dog, a rescue named Roxy. She was described as “shocked” but wasn’t physically injured.

Roxy was said to be shocked but uninjured after she was picked up by Burgess and hurled with full force at a window. The serial domestic abuser had previously threatened to kill the dog in a campaign of terror against her owner.

He also admitted intentionally strangling his ex partner and unlawfully and maliciously wounding her70-year-old father, who is terminally ill.

He stole a mobile phone and subjected his ex to violence while doing so and is also said to have caused criminal damage to various items, including car wing mirrors, a mobile phone, fan, laptop, printer, desk, earphones, Perspex windows, internal doors and a lock mechanism belonging to the woman. All five offences are alleged to have taken place in Brecon on September 2.

He also pleaded guilty to engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour in relation to the ex partner between August 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022.

He continuously engaged in behaviour which was controlling or coercive, including constantly texting and calling the woman, threatening to kill an animal, family or himself if the relationship ended, and controlling her friendships and places she frequented.

Prosecutor Georgia Donohue told the court the defendant had been in a relationship with the woman for two years.

“It was initially positive but turned toxic,” said Ms Donohue.

“The defendant moved into her property in August of 2021, which is when the relationship turned violent.”

Rescue dog Roxy is believed to have come from Brecon Dog Rescue

Ms Donohue said Burgess first assaulted the woman in August 2021, punching her to the face and strangling her.

A further assault took place in August 2022.

“At the end of the evening he asked her if he could stay the night, but she said he must leave and this angered him,” said Ms Donohue.

“He strangled her and she nearly lost consciousness. He accused her of cheating with her friend; [the woman] said he headbutted her and threatened to kill her, her dad and her dog.”

A further assault occurred at the Brecon Jazz festival the same month when Burgess headbutted the woman outside the Bank pub following an argument and later followed her home, assaulting her in the garden.

The most recent incidents occurred on September 2, with Burgess triggered by a text message he received from the woman after he had been abusive to her over text following a night out.

“He turned up at her property in a highly agitated state,” said Ms Donohue.

“He was shouting and began causing damage, he pushed her across the kitchen; her father attempted to intervene but the defendant pushed [him], causing him to fall and hit his head; he was bleeding heavily from the head.

“He then went into the garden and smashed up an outhouse. [The woman] attempted to call 999 while the defendant disarmed [her father] who had picked up a chopping board.

“He then picked up her dog, Roxy, and threw it at full force at the window. He kicked the bathroom door, making a hole, then grabbed [the woman] by the throat and strangled her until she felt faint.

“He only stopped when [the father] intervened, hitting him with a metal pole. He threw her mobile across the road then ripped out the phone line and internet as he left, causing damage to a wing mirror on her car.”

A danger to women and animals: father of two Rhys Burgess has a history of domestic violence dating back to 2013.

Acting for the father-of-two, Nick Strobl said his client knows there is “something wrong with him”.

“There is very little that can be said in mitigation,” he said. “He is aware his actions that night were a disgrace.

“He works hard and is respected at work, but there is clearly an issue about him in relationships. He told me today he knows there is something wrong with him and he has already taken action to address this while in custody so when he is released he can become a better person.”

Of the September 2 incident, Mr Strobl said: “He went to the property in a rage and damaged as much as he could. The dog was shocked but fine after the incident and no injuries were caused.”

Recorder David Harris said Burgess had previously received a suspended jail sentence for assault and harassment and breaching a restraining order, both in 2013; another suspended sentence in 2018 for criminal damage and threatening behaviour; and he served 12 weeks in prison for assaulting an ex-partner in 2019.

He told Burgess: “The pre-sentence report says there are a number of concerns. It says you need to feel in control and exertion of authority over others bolsters your self-esteem.

“It says you will use strangulation as a way to punish and regain control. The risk you pose to partners has escalated and the commission of these offences is your most grave to date.”

Sentencing | jailed for a total of three years and five months. Nine weeks were added for the animal cruelty charge to be served concurrently. Five-year restraining order, banning him from contacting his ex partner or her father.

County Times

Additional Information

On 27 November 2022 Wales Online published an article in which Burgess’s ex, Natasha Morgan ( Roxy’s owner) gave details of her and her dog’s ordeal at the hands of serial domestic abuser Rhys Burgess. The following extract describes the incident where Roxy was targeted by Burgess:

Natasha said Burgess knew her dad was terminally ill with cancer. She said he was aware that in May her father had been given a “few months to live”.

She continued: “As I was getting a towel for my dad’s head he was smashing up whatever he could. He tried to smash the glass in both the front and back doors but he wasn’t able to. He headbutted them so many times. He kicked the doors inside the house. Two doors downstairs had holes in them and one was completely falling off the hinges.

“He went into the living room where the dog was cowering. She’s a rescue so she’s afraid of any shouting and she would get afraid of him when he was angry. As he was shouting he shouted [at the dog]: ‘Oh, and you’ and he picked her up and threw her into the window. I thought she was going to go straight through the window. She bounced off and she didn’t know what to do – she looked so scared. Then she ran away. By the time the police came she was gone. I looked around as I thought she might have been in the garden and she wasn’t.”

Natasha said her dog had never run away before and she worried she might run into the road. However luckily the police found her and she was returned without any obvious injuries.

Dogs, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders, Worst of the Worst

Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent: Julie Newcombe

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CONVICTED (2022) | puppy farmer Julie Elizabeth Newcombe, born 28 January 1978, of Pen-Ay-Byd, 1 Trefil Road, Tredegar NP22 4ET – kept 90 dogs in atrocious conditions contaminated by faeces and urine.

Newcombe, who traded under the name Unigryw Francesca’s Fluffy Frenchies, subjected dogs to horrendous cruelty – depriving them of food and water – while also having the bodies of decomposing puppies at her home.

She had denied failing to take steps to ensure the needs of 90 dogs were met but was found guilty after a trial.

She was found to have:

  • accommodated the animals in a filthy environment contaminated by faeces and urine;
  • failed to provide an adequate quantity of fresh clean drinking water;
  • failed to accommodate the animals in accommodation of sufficient size;
  • failed to enable the dogs to express normal behaviour patterns;
  • failed to provide required veterinary treatment;
  • failed to provide adequate nutrition for the animals’ needs;
  • failed to provide adequate and clean bedding.

On 1 September 2020, RSPCA inspectors were asked by Gwent Police to attend a property on Trefil Road in Tredegar.

Police had found a vast number of dogs there and had already called out a vet who had given treatment where it was needed.

The vet on the day estimated 60 adult dogs and approximately eight litters were inside the property, with various breeds including Dachshunds, Labradors, French Bulldogs, Poodles and Bichon Frise.

RSPCA inspector Darren Oakley said he was confronted by “horrendous” scenes when he arrived.

Inspector Oakley said: “The dogs had no food or water, the only few that did have water were the ones with outside access due to the rain.

“When food and water was placed down for the loose dogs, they ate/drank ravenously. The conditions inside the house were horrendous; the floors were covered in faeces with dogs in cages living in their own filth.

“Every room contained more dogs and pups, the whole house had become one large disgusting kennel. The smell and sights were clearly having an affect on the police who were in attendance.

“The outbuildings were worse than the house. On entry the stench coming from them was overpowering. It was hard to see into any of the outbuildings due to no lighting. The noises from inside them were horrific.”

Police secured the property and RSPCA officers attended the following day again as part of a police warrant.

On that day 95 dogs were seized by police. One dead dog was also found in the property.

That evening the first of the dogs were transported to vets/kennels. This operation continued the following day. One of the dogs – a dachshund – died at the vets that day.

Newcombe operated a puppy farm, in which dogs were subjected to shocking levels of neglect, from this property in Trefil Road, Tredegar

In a written statement RSPCA inspector David Milborrow said he assisted in handling and loading of the remaining dogs into RSPCA vehicles for transport to their boarding facilities.

He said: “When it came to the removal of the dogs from the outbuilding on the top tier of the garden I spent 90 minutes inside the building passing each dog in turn out of the missing window to an officer waiting outside.

“After that length of time in the building my overalls were smothered in dog faeces and, despite sticking my head out of the window whenever possible, I began to feel nauseous and the onset of a headache.”

In a written witness statement from RSPCA inspector Simon Evans, who had also been in attendance, described what he saw in two rooms in particular that contained a large number of dogs who were trying to get their attention through the bars of child-proof gates.

He said: “The conditions within these two rooms were by far the worst in the entire house and were, perhaps, amongst the worst I had encountered in my 20 year career within the RSPCA.

“The room to my left was in darkness with apparently no electric lights working.

“Inside was a chocolate labrador bitch and five puppies. The floor was covered in a thick layer of faeces; there was a plastic basket for the dogs to sleep in but this too was completely covered in faeces.

“The puppies’ coats were crusty with dried faeces and their underbellies were soaked in urine.”

In the second room behind him he said it appeared to be a utility room but unlike the last, there was lighting available.

“The room was alive with dogs,” he said.

“Loose in the room, which was full of faeces, flies and rubbish were three adult French Bulldogs. There was an empty cage in the room, open access and which was soaked in urine and faeces with no bedding provided whatsoever.

“At the back of the room were four more of the pod kennels stacked two on top of two. In the top left hand kennel were two dachshund puppies, one black and tan, one tan.

“In the kennel next to it, were two white, bichon frise type dogs with coats stained black due to the faeces the dogs were being forced to live amongst. In the lower kennels were a single blue coloured French Bulldog and next to it, a black French Bulldog.

“I found the conditions within these two utility rooms to be completely overpowering. I was soaked with sweat and, due to the high levels of ammonia in the air, my throat began to get sore.”

Inspector Evans in his statement states that on September 6 he was contacted by one of the vets who had been looking after some of the dogs, to say that a puppy had developed symptoms of parvo virus and had deteriorated to the extent that it needed to be put to sleep.

Three other puppies were also suspected of coming down with the disease. Inspector Evans informed Ms Newcombe and, having spoken with the vet dealing, she authorised the euthanasia of the sickly puppy.

Over the next few days a number of other puppies became sick and either died, or were put to sleep to prevent suffering.

Two litters were also born, one with five puppies and a labrador had a litter of eight puppies, one of which sadly died.

Shortly after the dogs came into RSPCA care numerous litters of puppies were born leading to the animal welfare charity having a total of 137 dogs which included all the pups born in their care.

Alex Weller, defending, said Newcombe had been suffering from “horrific” personal circumstances and had been a victim of domestic abuse around the time the offences took place.

He said she would be in a difficult position to pay any costs from the trial due to the fact she wasn’t working and received income support and disability living allowance.

He disagreed with prosecution concerns that Newcombe would be at risk of breeding dogs again, adding that she had had some cats returned to her after the offences took place.

“If there was [a] risk to animals, then the cats would not have been returned to her,” he added.

However, in finding her guilty, the judge said he struggled to accept that she was compelled to fail to look after the dogs’ needs and had to consider if a reasonable person in the same situation would have done the same.

Sentencing | 12-month probation order with 20 days of women-specific programmes. Ordered to pay just £1,000 towards the RSPCA’s estimated costs of £200,000. Banned from keeping dogs for five years but can apply for a review after 12 months.

South Wales Argus
BBC News
Wales Online

Update | August 2023

Newcombe appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday 25 August 2023 to appeal against her conviction and her sentence. Her appeal was dismissed and she was ordered to pay £1,200 in court costs.

Wales Online

Cats, Dogs, Hoarders, Multiple Species, Reptiles / Exotics

Cardenden, Fife: Patricia Steven

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CONVICTED (2022) | hoarder Patricia Steven, born 9 December 1968, of Carden Avenue, Cardenden, Lochgelly – kept a menagerie of neglected pets in her filthy home.

During a search of Steven’s home on November 5, 2020, Scottish SPCA officers discovered two dogs with infections and an underfed snake, as well as 11 cats in the attic.

Steven had failed to provide necessary veterinary treatment for dogs Shadow and Cordy, both of whom were infested with fleas and suffering a chronic skin condition. Shadow, an elderly black Labrador, eventually had to be put to sleep on welfare grounds.

She was also found to have failed to provide a “safe environment” for 11 cats and kittens, alongside an underweight adult corn snake.

Scottish SPCA inspector Stephanie Ross said, “On 5 November 2020, we attended Patricia Steven’s property in response to concerns for two dogs and a number of cats and kittens.

“Steven was continually uncooperative and she claimed the animals were no longer at the property, despite multiple credible witnesses reporting their concerns.

“A warrant was executed to search the property on 23rd November 2020. Due to Steven’s hostile nature, Police Scotland assisted Scottish SPCA inspectors.

“We went up the stairs and immediately saw an open hatch on the ceiling leading to the attic where a group of cats and kittens were being kept. We were concerned that the felines could have fallen from this height and become injured.

“The loft was partially floored and very unsafe. There was lots of exposed insulation and the cats were covered in this material.

“The cats were scratching themselves incessantly. They appeared distressed and were behaving erratically.

“We found two dogs living in filthy conditions in the kitchen. Shadow, an elderly black Labrador, was lying in amongst rubbish bags. He was emaciated with very prominent hair loss down his back and legs.

“Cordy, a white Staffordshire bull terrier type dog, was frantically foraging in the bin bags looking for food. She was also emaciated and had an obvious skin complaint, with hair loss, and thickened areas on her back.

“A corn snake was also found living in a makeshift enclosure in a living room cabinet.

“All animals were removed from the property. A vet confirmed both dogs were severely malnourished and underweight. They also confirmed both dogs were suffering from a severe flea infestation and ear infections. Shadow also had inflammation and infection in both eyes.

“The cats were taken to one of our animal rescue and rehoming centres where they were treated immediately for their severe flea infestation. Most of the cats had varying degrees of flea allergy dermatitis. Some cats had hair loss and some areas of scabs.

“One of the cats, Fred, required dental treatment and was found to have a grade four heart murmur.”

A vet later assessed both dogs to have a body condition score of two out of nine – with one being the most emaciated – and said it would have taken at least three weeks to reach this state.

Steven admitted causing suffering to two dogs, 11 cats and the snake by failing to provide adequate care between August and November 2020.

Solicitor Peter Robertson, defending, said Steven was an animal lover who had found herself “overwhelmed” by trying to care for so many animals on a limited income.

“She thought she could solve the problem herself. She’s very upset by it all. She’s been in tears going through it with me – almost hysterically so.

“She’s not deliberately set out to harm animals.”

Sheriff Timothy Niven-Smith hit back saying: “It doesn’t cost anything to lift faecal matter from your back doorstep.

“There’s homeless people who have dogs and beg on the streets who, with no funds whatsoever, manage to feed and care for their animals.

“I don’t see how this is solely down to lack of finance.”

Sentencing | 108-day curfew. Banned from keeping animals for 10 years.

STV News
Central Fife Times

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Adam Wardle

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CONVICTED (2022) | Adam Wardle aka Adam Lancaster, born c. 1999, of Bondfield Crescent, Wombwell, Barnsley – caught on CCTV attacking dog with mop handle.

Wardle was filmed punching and kicking the three-year-old tan mastiff cross, called Bobby, before continuing his cowardly attack by using a mop handle to beat the dog.

The court heard how the dog had thankfully escaped serious injuries, but a vet found he had sustained grazes, bruises and a bloodshot eye from the beating beside a bin store outside Wardle’s former flat at Holden Court in Barnsley.

Victim Bobby

In a witness statement, RSPCA inspector Vannessa Reid said postal workers reported seeing the dog being beaten outside the property on April 25, 2022, and they had spotted a man walking away.

After discovering the incident matched a report to the charity by South Yorkshire Police, the inspector went to an assisted accommodation block, where a housing officer went through CCTV footage recorded by a camera opposite Wardle’s flat.

Inspector Reid accompanied a police officer to Wardle’s home, where he admitted the attack and when asked why he had done it, replied: “He (Bobby) toileted inside and I got angry. Then he did it again and I got doubly angry and that’s what you’ve seen.”

Bobby was collected later from the property of a friend of the defendant, where Wardle claimed he’d taken the dog ‘for his own safety’.

The inspector took Bobby to a vets where he was checked out and treated with painkillers. A vet stated in his expert report that he found several bruises to the dog’s face, elbows and hocks, while Bobby also had a small cut on his left eye. He will now be rehomed.

Sentencing | 12-month community order with 20 rehabilitation activity days and 240 hours of unpaid work; £495 in costs and victim surcharge. 10-year ban.

Yorkshire Live
Sheffield Star

Cats, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Chester, Cheshire: Artur Zakowicz

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CONVICTED (2022) | Artur Zakowicz, born c. 1976, of Brook Street, Chester CH1 – caught on CCTV repeatedly slapping his pet cat.

Artur Zakowicz

The upsetting footage showed Polish national Zakowicz grabbin/img the black and white cat named Bashik by his skin and slapping him violently six times with his hand while pushing him to the ground.

He then picked up the cat roughly by the skin on his back, before the feline managed to escape.

The horrific act of mindless cruelty took place on March 24, 2022, in Charles Street, Chester, near to the defendant’s home.

Zakowicz was tracked down and the RSPCA and Cheshire Police attended his property on April 16.

When Bashik was examined later that day at RSPCA Greater Manchester Animal Hospital, there were no apparent injuries from the attack.

Abused cat Bashik

A vet said any soft tissue damage may have healed in the time that had elapsed between the incident and the medical. After viewing the attack, the vet concluded that Bashik would have been “in pain for a period of several hours, possibly longer”.

Zakowicz pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a cat under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Bashik has been taken into the care of the RSPCA, along with Zakowicz’s other cat Kalpik, and the animal charity will rehome them.

Sentencing | 12-month community order with 15 days of rehabilitation activity and 200 hours of unpaid work; £614 in costs and victim surcharge. Banned from keeping animals for five years (expires October 2027).

Chester Standard
ITV News

Dogs

Belleeks, County Armagh: Jamie Gallogly

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CONVICTED (2022) | violent ‘gangster’ Jamie Gallogly, born c. 1994, of Main Street, Belleeks, Newry BT35 7PH – kept seven starving dogs in squalor.

Serial animal abuser Gallogly, who is a known associate of an ultra-violent organised crime gang led by the Dublin-based Shebani brothers, was found guilty of one animal welfare offence.

The case was brought by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council after its animal welfare department received a complaint concerning the welfare of dogs at Cortamlat Road, Newtownhamilton, Newry.

The dogs’ living accommodation was described as “extremely unhygienic”.

Outside pens were covered in faecal matter and urine. No clean or dry bedding and no fresh food or water were available.

The inside of the property was also heavily contaminated with dog faeces and urine resulting in a strong, heavy smell of urine throughout.

The officer said the chewing of doors and furniture indicated signs of the animals’ prolonged stress and presented ingestion hazards.

A vet assessed the environment and determined the dogs were suffering. They were therefore removed from the property by the animal welfare officers.

The court was also told Gallogly had been the subject of previous animal welfare investigations and repeatedly failed to provide and maintain a clean and safe environment for the animals.

Sentencing | ordered to pay a fine of £350 and costs totalling £7,072. Disqualified from keeping animals for five years (expires October 2027).

ArmaghI

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Dumbarton, West Dunbartonshire: Patricia Goffin

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CONVICTED (2022) | Patricia Goffin, born 25 October 1992, of 6 Maryland Road, Bellsmyre, Dumbarton G82 3DH – repeatedly kicked a dog on the body.

Goffin also admitted grabbing hold of a child and repeatedly hitting her partner. The attacks took place at a flat in Cornock Street, Clydebank, on May 30, 2022.

The mother-of-five admitted causing a dog unnecessary suffering by repeatedly kicking him as well as assault charges relating to the partner and child while shouting, swearing and uttering threats of violence.

The dog’s condition has not been reported.

Following Goffin’s guilty plea, sentencing had been deferred until Tuesday, October 11 to allow social workers time to prepare a background report. But on reading the contents of that report, Sheriff William Gallacher told Goffin’s lawyer that he needed to know more about her background before passing sentence.

Goffin will return to court for sentencing at a later date.

Sentencing: to follow

Dumbarton Reporter

Dogs

York, North Yorkshire: Nick Oakland

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CONVICTED (2022) | Nicholas Brian Oakland, born c. 1992 (since believed deceased), of Cecelia Place, Holgate, York YO24 4BG – caused the death of a specialist support dog after he stole a car with the animal inside.

Doberman Jake was in the boot of the Range Rover Sport when junkie career criminal Nick Oakland took the vehicle on a 124mph police chase.

Eventually Oakland lost control and the car barrel rolled into a field.

Jake then fled the scene. He was tracked down by police but died from neck or spinal injuries a few weeks later.

Oakland pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, aggravated taking of a car, animal cruelty, driving whilst disqualified and driving without insurance, all committed on February 24, 2022.

Oakland was banned from driving and had previously served prison sentences for other dangerous driving which included damaging a Park&Ride bus, driving through a line of cones into a stretch of road closed off for roadworks, speeding at 70mph through Tang Hall at night without lights and ramming a police car.

“When you are in drink or drugs, you are a one-man crime wave,” the Recorder of York, Judge Sean Morris, told Oakland. “On this occasion you drove like a lunatic. You could have killed people and you caused terrible suffering to someone’s precious friend and pet, who had to be put down.”

He said Oakland had a “shocking record for driving” but the maximum sentence he could pass was two years and he had to reduce that by a third for Oakland’s guilty plea.

The judge concluded: “It is quite clear that this defendant’s mental health ebbs and flows depending on his imbibing of illicit drugs. His period in custody has done him a power of good.”

Sentencing | jailed for 19 months and given a driving ban.

Northern Echo
ITV News