CONVICTED (2022) | Terence Patrick Box, born 28 January 1954, and Melenie Jane Box, born 5 May 1976, of Hilltop, Brynawel Crescent, Swansea SA5 9DN – failed to get veterinary treatment for their dog’s ulcerated tumour and weight loss.
Terry and Melenie Box. The couple left their elderly dog in agony with an enormous ulcerative tumour on her stomach
Terry and Melenie Box pleaded guilty to one offence under the Animal Welfare Act. The offence was that they caused unnecessary suffering to their elderly Jack Russell-type dog Tilly-May by their failure to ensure that she received timely and appropriate veterinary treatment for a tumour and weight loss.
The emaciated pet had suffered terribly before she finally died.
The RSPCA were alerted to the 13-year-old dog’s ordeal when her owners took her body to a vets for cremation. Tilly-May – who had died at home – was found to be emaciated with a large, ulcerated and necrotic tumour.
In a written statement provided to the court by RSPCA inspector Gemma Cooper it was stated that Tilly-May had never been seen by a vet. She had not received any vaccinations as a puppy or any boosters as an adult.
She said: “No preventative veterinary treatment or advice had been sought over the course of her 13 years. Vets often recommend spaying female dogs to prevent diseases such as mammary gland tumours.
“When Tilly May started to develop a large mass, prompt veterinary treatment was not sought.”
In a written statement from a vet, who examined Tilly-May when her body was taken to the vets by her owners to be cremated, it stated that the most notable finding was a “large mass (tumour) seemingly associated with one of Tilly May’s mammary glands”.
The vet stated: “The mass was spanning the whole length and width of her abdomen and extended down to the level of her paws. There was evidence of ulceration and necrosis of the mass, most likely due to being in contact with the ground when Tilly May tried to walk, which in my opinion would cause pain.
“Tilly May had a body condition score of one out of nine (with one being emaciated and nine obese). This could be a result of the large tumour present (particularly if it had spread to other parts of her body) or of other chronic pathological processes ongoing which unfortunately would be undetectable on a deceased animal.
“In addition to these more significant findings, Tilly May also had very overgrown nails with one or two starting to curl round into the pads of the foot which I feel would have been painful. This is most likely because she was no longer able to walk, at least not for any significant distance, and the nails were no longer wearing down naturally.
“She also had fairly severe dental disease present with heavy calculus build up and marked gum recession particularly over her upper canines. In my opinion this would have been uncomfortable and may have contributed to her poor body condition if Tilly May was more reluctant to eat.
“In my professional opinion, Tilly May is likely to have been suffering for some time. As she was deceased on presentation and we have no history from the owner it is difficult to know exactly how long.”
Tilly-May in an image posted to Melenie Box’s Facebook account. The little dog never saw a vet during the 13 years she was alive.
After sentencing, RSPCA inspector Gemma Cooper, said: “Tilly-May had the biggest tumour that I or my colleagues had ever seen. It is so very sad that they left their beloved pet to get to this stage. It is so important to seek veterinary treatment at the earliest opportunity.”
Sentencing | Terence Patrick Box: 12 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months; 16-week curfew; 10 Rehabilitation Requirement days; £250 costs and a victim surcharge of £128. Melenie Jane Box : 12 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months; 10 Rehabilitation Requirement days, a 12 month mental health treatment requirement, 160 hours of unpaid work. She was also ordered to pay £250 costs and a victim surcharge of £128. Both were banned from keeping all animals for life and may not apply for the order to be terminated for a period of 5 years.
CONVICTED (2022) | huntsman Mark Anthony Pearson, born February 1960, of Chisel House, Hanford, Blandford Forum DT11 8HQ – found guilty of illegal hunting after he “encouraged” his out of control dogs to kill a fox.
Image source: Daily Echo
Company director Mark Pearson was observed by activists from Weymouth Animal Rights to shout “carry on” and “hunt on” at his hounds after they chased and attacked the animal during a trail hunt. The joint master of the South Dorset Hunt was then seen to carry the dead fox out of undergrowth where it had been cornered.
Pearson was found guilty of illegally hunting a wild mammal with dogs in violation of the Hunting Act 2004. Magistrates heard Pearson was leading the South Dorset Hunt through countryside in Bere Regis when the incident happened on December 13, 2021.
Another fox had been killed earlier that day by the same pack of dogs but that incident was dismissed as an unfortunate accident by police.
Image source: Weymouth Animal Rights
Two hours later, when the majority of the hunt had left, hunt saboteurs monitoring the event heard the hounds baying. One animal rights campaigner filmed the aftermath of the attack.
Pearson can be seen in footage dressed in the red coat of a master huntsman getting off his horse and walking to the barking hounds by the gorse.
Molly Mifsud, prosecuting, told the courtthat Pearson had failed to stop his hounds from killing the fox while unaware he was being filmed.
She said: “There was a hunt going on and the hounds went to ground.
“Actions of the huntsman prior to that point caused that fox to be killed.
“These actions were all in violation of Section 1 of the Hunting Act 2004.
“A person commits an offence if he hunts a wild mammal with a dog.”
Joanne Joss, one of the saboteurs, told the court she thought Pearson was encouraging the hounds.
Asked by the prosecutor what Ms Joss heard Pearson shouting after he got off his horse, she replied: “He got off his horse and joined the hounds in the gorse.
“He seemed to be encouraging them and I could hear him shouting ‘carry on’ and when he emerged from the gorse he kept saying ‘hunt on.'”
Miss Mifsud asked Ms Joss how many times Pearson ‘encouraged’ the hounds.
She said: “He was by the hounds on horseback. He told them to ‘carry on’ and said that four times as if he wanted them to carry on where the fox was.
“He got off the horse and joined them in the gorse, we thought he was leading them on.”
Derek Perry, defending, denied that Pearson had encouraged the hounds. He said his client tried to call the dogs back and was heard shouting at them ‘leave it’.
Mr Perry said: “The reality is that he blew his horn to call the hounds back.
“When the hounds didn’t all obey he got off his horse and came straight down the hill to tell them to leave it.
“The recording was taken from some fields away and in it you can hear Mr Pearson shouting ‘leave it’.
“He does not run away from the scene, he calmly takes the body to be taken away and continues on.
“At no point can Mr Pearson be heard saying ‘hunt on’.”
But in finding him guilty, presiding magistrate Justice Stephen Corben told Pearson that he should have had control over the hounds before they slaughtered the fox.
Mr Corben said: “The prosecution has shown us three video clips and called witnesses who have given evidence that is credible and consistent.
“Mr Pearson told the court that he had decades of experience with hounds.
“He stated that he tried to get the hounds to stop but it seems that they were already hunting in the gorse.
“We believe that Mr Pearson should have had full control of his pack.
“He told us he used a special call to bring them back but it didn’t work.
“We therefore find him guilty of the illegal hunting of a wild mammal.”
Sentencing: fined £6,000, victim surcharge of £190 and costs of £620.
Pearson had his conviction for illegal fox hunting overturned after a judge raised “significant concerns” over the Crown’s case.
In overturning the decision, His Honour Judge Stephen Climie said the Crown has ‘failed to prove’ it was Mr Pearson’s intention for the dogs to kill the animal but did say Pearson ‘could have done more’ to prevent the death.
CONVICTED (2022) | Philip D Stevens, born c. 1984, of 11 Lon Cadfan, Prestatyn LL19 8HJ – convicted for badger baiting and dog cruelty.
Stevens, owner of landscaping business Cut Above Tree & Landscapes, pleaded guilty to animal cruelty offences under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 and the Animal Welfare Act 2006. This included causing unnecessary suffering to his own dogs.
Image source: Naturewatch
A joint investigation by North Wales Police and the RSPCA was initiated by the investigations team at Naturewatch Foundation following the discovery of disturbing photographs showing Stevens’ brutality towards wildlife.
Photographs posted to social media showed Stevens posing with his badly injured dogs. He had attempted to cover his face with emojis but was identified anyway.
A warrant was executed at Stevens’ property during which it was found that he was keeping dogs with untreated injuries outside in poor living conditions.
A white Patterdale Lakeland cross terrier called Millie, had extensive facial scarring resulting in the partial loss of her nose and an area of fresh grazing and reddening below her left eye.
She was also more than five weeks pregnant.
Another kennel housed a black and tan female terrier called Jess, who was sheltering in a plastic barrel. This dog seemed reluctant to move and appeared withdrawn and lethargic.
She was suffering from an extensive injury to her chin, which had scabbed over, and a laceration to the lower lip on the left-hand side.
Both nostrils were also blocked, preventing her from breathing normally.
A male and female bull lurcher were also both removed from the premises.
All four animals have since been rehomed by the RSPCA after being signed over into the charity’s care.
Image source: Naturewatch
Stevens, who said he didn’t own the dogs but was responsible for them, was told that they were being seized, to which he replied: “Can I say goodbye to them? I love my dogs.”
Image source: Naturewatch
Analysis of his mobile phone revealed dozens of further disturbing images and footage, including:
Stevens digging at the entrance of a badger sett.
One of the severely injured terriers with injuries consistent with those seen at the time they were seized.
A live badger recently stunned and disabled but still kicking above ground with one of the dogs attacking it and another present.
Two of the dogs being used to dig underground.
Stevens holding one of the terriers who has significant injuries to her nose and face.
One of the dogs being encouraged to attack a badger.
One of the dogs attacking a fox, which is thought to be alive, with Stevens’ voice heard in the background.
Stevens and an unknown male with one of the dogs and a dead fox.
Naturewatch Foundation’s investigator tasked with this case said, “We commenced our investigation into Phil Stevens and suspected badger digging in early 2021 and were determined to seek justice for the animals who suffered so terribly at his hands.
“Wild mammals suffered a violent and protracted death and Stevens’ dogs sustained serious injuries, purely for his entertainment. He failed to provide his dogs with veterinary treatment for their wounds, causing them to suffer further. The images of the conditions these poor dogs were found living in speak for themselves.”
Sentencing | two years in jail suspended for 12 months; 180 hours of community service; £628 in costs and surcharge. Disqualified from keeping dogs for five years (expires October 2027)
CONVICTED (2022) | David Farrow, born c. 1951, of Thorne Road, Doncaster DN1 – tortured squirrels by trapping and drowning them.
Farrow pleaded guilty to one offence of causing unnecessary suffering to a squirrel under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. He also admitted using a Fenn trap in circumstances for which it was not approved for.
He was reported to the RSPCA by several people for trapping and drowning grey squirrels at his former home at Ranworth Close in Cusworth, Doncaster.
He said he’d used Fenn traps to catch the squirrels because they were pests, even though he was told the manner in which he was trapping them was unlawful.
RSPCA inspector Tamsin Drysdale visited Farrow’s bungalow on June 27, 2021 where the defendant showed her a humane trap he had set up in a lean-to.
Farrow explained he took the ensnared squirrels and drowned them in a water butt.
Inspector Dysdale said in a written statement presented to the court that she explained to Farrow that although his trap was legal, the drowning of squirrels was an offence.
He said he wasn’t aware of this and that he would now dispatch them with an air rifle,” said the inspector.
“He then said that he would get his nephew to kill them with a shotgun. I got the impression that he was not taking the situation seriously.”
Two weeks later the inspector paid another visit to Farrow’s bungalow with a police officer when he told them he was still trapping squirrels, but not drowning them.
He was told to stop his actions, but when RSPCA inspectors paid a further visit on October 15, 2021, a critically-injured squirrel was found dangling in a Fenn trap. The animal was put to sleep by one of the inspectors to end his suffering.
“The squirrel was hanging by its front leg from the trap, which was suspended with rope from the roof of the lean-to. The squirrel was alive, screaming and clearly in pain and distress,” said inspector Drysdale.
An expert report presented to the court by a veterinary surgeon said one of the squirrel’s front legs had been crushed by the trap and he would have been in “considerable pain”.
Fenn traps should be set in an artificial or natural tunnel and a person is guilty of an offence under the Pest Acts 1954 if they do not do so.
In mitigation, the court was told Farrow checked the traps twice daily and it was said had he known the animal was there he would have despatched it much earlier. He claimed he was unaware of the trap requirements and was trying to control the local squirrel population because they caused problems in his loft.
Magistrates fined Farrow £160 and told him his actions were incompetent, but were not those of “someone looking to deliberately ill-treat the animals”.
They said as he was now living in a bedsit without access to outdoor space he was unlikely to have an opportunity to continue this type of behaviour.
Farrow was also told to pay a £34 victim surcharge and £100 court costs.
CONVICTED (2022) | Ryan Schlaubitz, age unknown, of Ballysillan Crescent, Belfast BT14 8HR – threw a kitten against a wall.
Kitten abuser Ryan Schlaubitz
In a Belfast City Council prosecution case that took five years to come to court, former postman Schlaubitz was convicted of failing to ensure the welfare of a kitten and causing unnecessary suffering to a kitten at an address at Ballysillan Crescent in 2017.
According to newspaper reports the kitten sustained injuries to his or her face and “later required veterinary treatment”. It’s not known if the kitten survived.
Schlaubitz, whose now defunct LinkedIn profile described as a “parcel courier”, was given a suspended prison sentence and five-year ban on keeping animals. He was also ordered to pay costs of £176.
CONVICTED (2022) | fraudulent puppy sellers Stacey Jane Hayward, born 20 October 1980, and boyfriend Steven Gilmore Foster, born 14 February 1980, both of Colliford Road, West Thurrock, Grays RM20 3BN; Kelly Jean Bennett, born 8 June 1978, and husband Ricky Jay Bennett, born 15 April 1980, both of Weymouth Drive, Chafford Hundred, Grays RM16 6BX – bought in sick and diseased puppies from Welsh puppy farms and sold them on to unsuspecting members of the public for vast sums.
L-R fraudsters and animal abusers Stacey Hayward, Kelly Bennett, Ricky Bennett. An RSPCA investigation found the gang had sold 500 mostly unwell puppies over a three-year period.
The RSPCA launched an investigation into puppy selling in the Essex area after being contacted by members of the public who had bought puppies in Billericay, Grays and Thurrock.
The charity’s Special Operations Unit (SOU) – a specialist taskforce which investigates serious, organised and commercial animal cruelty, such as the high value trade in puppies – started looking into a premises at Crays Hill in 2019.
In the case summary, RSPCA prosecutor Hazel Stevens said: “Members of the public had made complaints to the local authority and the RSPCA about puppies being purchased from said premises – which soon became ill after sale.
“Twelve witness statements were taken in relation to puppies with health problems which were sold from the Billericay address between June and September 2019, and one in March 2019.”
Hayward
The court was told that Basildon Council had licensed Stacey Hayward to sell puppies but the licence was revoked in July 2018 due to complaints about sick puppies. Her breeding licence ran out in December 2018.
Hayward and her partner, Steven Foster, moved to a new home and, in October 2019, complaints began coming into the RSPCA related to an address in Weymouth Drive, occupied by Kelly and Ricky Bennett.
Hayward pictured with partner Steven Foster during an earlier court appearance. He will be sentenced separately in November.
An RSPCA officer visited in August 2019 and gave advice about licensing but no licence was ever issued for this address, the court was told. Weymouth Drive was linked to an address in Colliford Road via a witness and this was confirmed as the new residence of Hayward and Foster.
Both sellers were advertising puppies who were described as being “bred at home” but it appears a number of puppies were sourced from Wales, with Welsh vaccination cards containing details cut out or erased.
Kelly Bennett
Ms Stevens added: “In addition, adverts were placed on the selling sites with various names and numbers. Visitors to the Hayward address were still shown her licence documents despite its revocation.
“Search warrants were executed at both properties and puppies were found to be present at both with some adult dogs. Dead puppies were also found at both properties in the freezer (two at Weymouth and one at Colliford).
“Seizure of paperwork and phones further demonstrates the links between the two addresses and there is evidence of Hayward delivering to Bennett’s address.”
Nine puppies were found living in a shed at the rear of the garden at Colliford Road, they were all seized and taken into care. One tested positive for parvovirus and sadly died but the others, who were suffering from Giardia and other health problems, made full recoveries and were rehomed.
At Weymouth Drive, officers found three adult spaniels, five cocker spaniel puppies and two dead spaniel puppies which “appeared to have been dead for days”, Hazel said.
The court heard that the litter of spaniel puppies tested positive for Giardia, a small parasite that attacks the intestines.
RSPCA officers worked closely with the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit’s financial investigator who analysed financial records linked to the sellers, and attributed approximately £850,000 of income linked to the sale of puppies.
Seized phones were analysed and showed many messages responding to adverts for puppies, using different names.
Bank statements showed payments with the reference: “Puppy”.
At Weymouth Drive. Officers found four Rolex watches, a Chanel handbag, receipts for jewellery in excess of £20,000 and over £43,000 in cash.
Both Hayward and Kelly Bennett had been breeding dogs at home. Recovered vet records show continuous caesarean sections, “with some of these dogs being bred back-to-back with no thought for their welfare,” the CPS said.
The pair also regularly travelled to Swindon to collect puppies from unlicensed puppy farms and transported them in vans back to Essex.
Messages between them unveiled the callous way they set out to make money. In one text, Bennett said to Stacey Hayward: “Hurry up, sell them a dodgy dog and put another ad up. Lol.”
Other messages showed both Hayward and Kelly Bennett were sourcing puppies on a regular basis and placing adverts online using fake names and details, and claiming the puppies had been bred and reared in a family home.
Messages showed that both Hayward and Kelly Bennett were placing adverts online using fake names and details, and claiming the puppies had been bred and reared in a family home.
Messages on the phones also showed that Ricky Bennett had taken payments for the puppies, while witnesses had paid money into Foster’s bank account for puppies too.
RSPCA officers analysed the adverts and estimated that at least 100 adverts had been placed, advertising around 500 puppies, between December 2018 and March 2020, across Gumtree, Preloved and Pets4homes.
The court heard that the selling of puppies continued throughout lockdown, until May 2021.
The court heard devastating accounts from families that had spent between £600 and £800 on new puppies in 2019, only for them to develop serious illnesses within the first week.
One family shared how they claimed to have bought a puppy from Hayward in Billericay in July 2019, only to tragically lose her to parvovirus days later.
In her statement, read to the court by prosecuting barrister Hazel Stevens, the woman said she purchased her puppy, who her family named Mabel, from Hayward in Billericay on July 13, 2019 for £650. She noticed when she was there that the puppies were “nervous, scared and clinging to each other”, and that looking back now, “all the warning signs were there”, but despite this, she had fallen for Mabel and wanted to give her the best life possible.
The woman said: “At the time of purchase, Hayward said she wasn’t in possession of a vaccination card but it would posted to me on Monday morning. While on the journey home Mabel was sick in my car. I gave it the benefit of the doubt and thought it was just motion sickness. She was nervous, backing away from me and not eating or drinking.”
The woman said Mabel did improve but would sleep for long periods of time. She said Hayward never posted the vaccination card to her. On July 19, Mabel deteriorated and was taken to a vet, which confirmed she had parvovirus. The woman continued in her statement claiming that Hayward had been “dismissive” when she called her telling her about the virus, and allegedly said it was “a load of rubbish, the vets always say parvovirus”.
However, the next day, the vet called the woman to say Mabel had deteriorated overnight. The woman continued: “When I saw her she was lifeless. It will be an image I will never get out of my head. I said to the vets that it was best to put her to sleep.”
The court heard the woman’s partner contacted Hayward after Mabel’s death demanding a refund, as “they were sold a puppy with an illness that would end her life”. The woman added: “Stacey Hayward still hasn’t issued the refund.”
Ms Stevens read out various other statements to the jury from other families, including one whose puppy ended up being healthy, however, they described the vaccination card given to them for the dog as “a joke” due to it “having a big hole in the back” with no reference to who had actually jabbed the dog.
Another family, who bought a puppy they named Jack, said he was “terrified of anything” and that he would “eat so fast he almost choked himself”. His owner said “I felt like I was terrorising him”. When he was taken to the vet, no microchip could be found, which led the owner to think the original paperwork “was a scam”, the jury heard.
Another account was heard from a family who bought a puppy from Kelly Bennett, claiming that it was quickly diagnosed with giardia, which can cause diarrhoea, vomiting, weight loss, poor condition, or death. However, their dog managed to improve and became “the love of their life”.
The family said: “There was no remorse from Kelly Bennett, or any offer of a refund. We paid £650 plus dozens of pounds in vets bills. Kelly Bennett was very aggressive and evasive, saying she must have got like that after handing her over.”
In May 2022 the two couples admitted offences relating to the fraudulent sale of puppies, some of which were found dead in freezers. In May 2022 all four entered guilty pleas: two to fraud and two to acquiring criminal property. Kelly Bennett also indicated guilty pleas to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act while Ricky Bennett indicated a guilty plea to one animal welfare offence.
Sentencing |
Stacey Hayward – sentenced to 47 months in jail. Lifetime ban. on owning animals Kelly Bennett – 49 months’ imprisonment. Lifetime ban on owning animals. Ricky Bennett – jailed for three years for the fraud and animal welfare act crimes, plus for separate assault, criminal damage and money laundering charges, the former where he had physically attacked his wife and children while high on cocaine
Steven Foster was due to be sentenced on 10 November 2022 but no update is publicly available.
The four pleaded guilty to the following offences:
KELLY JEAN BENNETT, between 30 July 2019 and 2 May 2021, committed fraud by making false representations to members of the public as to the condition, breeding and history of puppies for sale, through advertising with false names and locations intended to represent the private sale of a home bred puppy, thereby intending to make a gain for yourself or another or to cause loss to another, contrary to Section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006.
KELLY JEAN BENNETT, on and before 9 January 2020 at Chafford Hundred, Grays, you, being jointly concerned with Ricky Jay Bennett, did not take such steps as were reasonable in all the circumstances to ensure that the needs of a number of dog and puppies for which you were responsible were met to the extent required by good practice in that through the introduction of puppies not bred at the premises you failed to meet the need to protect the animals from pain, injury, suffering or disease by failing to establish a full and effective biosecurity disease control programme including the identification and treatment of ill health, and failed to provide them with an appropriate environment contrary to Section 9(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006;
KELLY JEAN BENNETT, between 3 October 2019 and 19 October 2019, in the vicinity of Grays, Essex, you, being jointly concerned with Ricky Jay Bennett, did cause unnecessary suffering to a certain animal namely a Cavachon puppy now known as Kaila by failing to provide veterinary care in respect of the animal’s ill health and by selling the animal in an unfit state when you knew or ought reasonably to have known that your failure to act would have that effect or be likely to do so, contrary to Section 4(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
STACEY JANE HAYWARD, between 1 December 2018 and 2 May 2021, committed fraud by making false representations to members of the public as to the condition, breeding and history of puppies for sale, through advertising with false names and locations intended to represent the private sale of a home bred puppy, thereby intending to make a gain for yourself or another or to cause loss to another, contrary to Section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006.
RICKY JAY BENNETT, between 29 March 2019 and 13 September 2019, acquired criminal property, namely £39,900 paid into his bank account from puppy purchasers knowing or suspecting it to represent in whole or part and whether directly or indirectly the proceeds of crime, contrary to section 329(1) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
RICKY JAY BENNETT, on and before 9 January 2020, at Chafford Hundred, Grays, you, being jointly concerned with Kelly Jean Bennett, did not take such steps as were reasonable in all the circumstances to ensure that the needs of a number of dog and puppies for which you were responsible were met to the extent required by good practice in that through the introduction of puppies not bred at the premises you failed to meet the need to protect the animals from pain, injury, suffering or disease by failing to establish a full and effective biosecurity disease control programme including the identification and treatment of ill health, and failed to provide them with an appropriate environment contrary to Section 9(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
STEVEN GILMORE FOSTER, between 18 December 2018 and 2 May 2021, acquired criminal property, namely £38,613 paid into his bank account from puppy purchasers knowing or suspecting it to represent in whole or part and whether directly or indirectly the proceeds of crime contrary to section 329(1) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Sentencing for FOSTER was adjourned until 10 November 2022.
Stacey Hayward has been on the radar of anti-puppy farm campaigners since at least 2009 and was even exposed in a TV documentary on illicit puppy selling. You can learn more about her here.
During her court hearing, Kelly Bennett asked for a jury member to be removed after they became upset when shown the video of the dead puppies in the freezer at Bennett’s address. Bennett felt the juror was “biased”. The judge dismissed the request saying he will not ask someone to not show natural human emotion.
CONVICTED (2022) | donkey breeder Zoie Celena Burton, born April 1983, of 142 Heol Llanelli, Pontyates, Llanelli SA15 5UH – for cruelty to 24 donkeys one of whom had to be put to sleep.
Zoie Burton, co-owner of breeding business Donkeys of Wales with her mother Lynn Burton, who was not prosecuted, pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act.
These were that she caused unnecessary suffering to 24 donkeys, by failing to ensure adequate hoof care for them and failing to provide a sustainable environment for 22 donkeys and a pony.
Burton was prosecuted following a multi-agency operation in February 2021 where 72 donkeys and one horse were taken into possession by police on welfare grounds..
There were around 100 equines on site during the warrant execution – and following veterinary examinations, 72 donkeys and one horse were taken into possession by police.
One donkey – a rare mammoth named Sue – was crippled by laminitis. After being examined by one of the vets on site, she was put to sleep by the owner’s own vet on welfare grounds.
In one barn, a skewbald female donkey was found with “deformed and twisted” overgrown hooves.
The vet statement said: “There was white line disease and thrush in all four feet due to lack of adequate hoof care and lack of suitable environment.”
A chestnut roan female mammoth donkey was found in the same barn, with its “right hoof rocking laterally due to the overgrowth.” She was weight shifting on her limbs when stood still, and was given pain relief to travel to the donkey sanctuary.
The donkeys were placed into the care of The Donkey Sanctuary, and the pony is now in the care of the RSPCA.
Following more than a year of patient rehabilitation, many of the donkeys are thriving, although some continue to require specialist care and treatment.
Since their arrival, 20 foals have been born to the pregnant mares among the group.
Sentencing | 18-week prison sentence – suspended for two years. 25 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days; £1,128 in costs and victim surcharge. 10-year ban on keeping equines.
We are advised that Zoie Burton was prosecuted by the RSPCA previously though no details of the case are available.
Donkeys of Wales (DoW) made the local papers in January 2020 in relation to the mis-selling of a pony named Arthur. DoW were ordered to pay £459 in compensation to a couple after they bought Arthur, who was misadvertised as a two-year-old colt in good condition. In reality, he was aged between 12 and 12 years and suffering severe dental problems.
Zoie and Lynn Burton have apparently been breeding and selling pygmy goats in the months leading up to the former’s conviction. They have several different usernames on various selling sites. Including Coco1960 and Poo Bear.
Known aliases for Zoie Burton are Nerys Rhys and Paula Howells.
Her partner Luke Alan Rees is also believed to be involved with DoW.
CONVICTED (2022) | |Nicola Sabrina Alexandrea Wright, born July 1977, of 4 Carmelite Walk, Harrow HA3 5NQ – mistreated her elderly cat over several weeks
Wright was convicted of causing ‘unnecessary suffering’ to her 15-year-old cat named Fendi.
RSPCA inspector Nicole Broster found the male tabby in a ‘distressing’ condition in a garden in Harrow after she received reports of concern.
Speaking about the case, she said the cat was “in a terrible condition”.
She added: ‘His fur was absolutely saturated in fly eggs, and there was pus and blood coming out of his nose and eyes – I couldn’t see his face as there were so many flies on him.
‘He was lethargic, struggling to breathe and appeared very congested. He was also moving quite slowly and he was very thin – I could feel his hips, spine and ribs were very prominent when I stroked him. He also had bad hair loss on his rear right leg.’
Inspector Broster rushed the poorly cat to an RSPCA animal hospital in London to be examined.
There, a vet reported multiple serious medical conditions that would have caused suffering to Fendi.
The cat had a discharge of pus and blood on his face, was severely emaciated, his coat showed a bad fly egg infestation over his back, he was dehydrated and had anaemia.
In the vet’s professional opinion, Fendi’s ‘multiple comorbidities’ painted a picture of ‘avoidable, severe, active neglect’ over a period of four to eight weeks.
After treatment and investigations, it was concluded that the best course of action was for the cat to be put to sleep to end his suffering.
Inspector Broster added: ‘There is no excuse for causing an animal to suffer. No matter what the reason, neglecting an animal is completely unacceptable.
‘If someone is struggling to cope there are lots of organisations that can provide support and we would urge people to seek help.’
‘These aren’t irresponsible owners, they simply can no longer afford to feed their pets’
Sentencing | 12-month community order with 80 hours of unpaid work; £200 costs. Banned from keeping cats for 10 years.
CONVICTED (2022) | William Derrick Perriton aka Herbie Perriton, born 21 June 1980, and Rebecca ‘Ree’ Heath, born 29 November 1982, of 138 Church Road, Three Legged Cross, Wimborne BH21 – ran an illegal dog breeding business and failed to meet the needs of the animals they greedily exploited.
Perriton and Heath pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, failing to take steps to ensure then needs of animals were met and carrying out a dog breeding and selling business for 14 months without a licence.
When Dorset Council officers and a vet visited the couple’s address in Three Legged Cross, it was found that the canines did not have a suitable environment and diet, they were not able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns and they were not protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
The court heard the couple were advised on four separate occasions in 2019 that they needed to apply for a licence to run a dog breeding business.
However, when the local authority executed the warrant in March 2020, no application for a licence had been made.
Prosecuting, Syan Ventom said the breeding operation took place at the defendants’ home address.
He said the needs of 39 of the of the dogs found on the premises were not being met.
The council first had contact with the couple in October 2017 when an officer visited following a complaint.
At the time, they told the officer they were considering dog breeding and advice was given on what they required to carry out that activity
A complaint about dog barking in September 2019 saw the council return to the address.
In October 2019, the defendants advertised a litter of German Shepherd puppies.
They did not act on further advice and continued to trade commercially, advertising on social media the court heard.
Mr Ventom said there was evidence of puppies being sold for between £900 and £1,200.
A telephone was seized after the warrant and conversations on WhatsApp showed Perriton being told he should advertise a puppy for sale at £3,500, to which he replied did not have a licence and the dog warden was “keeping an eye on him”.
The court heard the dogs were kept in two windowless, single-storey outbuildings. There was a strong smell of ammonia and bedding “ringing wet with urine”.
Mr Ventom said the conditions were described as “extremely unpleasant for dogs and humans”.
While the vet had sufficient evidence to make an order to seize the dogs, the defendants voluntarily handed over ownership.
The canines were taken into the care of the council, provided with veterinary treatment and eventually rehomed.
Mr Ventom said one of the Cane Corso bitches, Jet, had since been put down but there was no evidence before the court as to why this action had been taken.
Mitigating for both defendants, Laura Collier said: “In short they meant well and they did it badly and they disregarded to a huge extent the suffering that was caused to the animals.”
Ms Collier said the couple had four domestic dogs, who were well looked after.
Ms Collier said there was a “wealth of evidence” that her clients were “well-intentioned but incompetent in their conduct” adding that they had been “overwhelmed” by everything involved with running the operation and they had not been able to cope.
She referenced reports from a vet about healthy litters belonging to the couple since 2017, courses undertaken by Heath in canine health and puppy care, and positive reviews on social media from people who bought puppies.
The couple had applied for planning permission to change the use of the premises for dog breeding but “could not wait any longer” to start breeding due to the financial investment they had made, Ms Collier said.
The barrister said it was not necessary, appropriate or proportionate to impose a disqualification order.
The court heard the defendants made admissions when interviewed via post due to the pandemic and they had insisted they would not get involved in breeding again.
Judge Mousley ruled it was a case of high culpability but lesser harm despite the number of dogs involved.
The judge decided against imposing a disqualification order, which had been applied for in relation to owning dogs by the prosecution.
Sentencing | 12-month community order, with a requirement to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work each.No ban.
Perriton and Heath returned to court to hear details of the financial penalties – confiscation order and court costs – being levied against them following their conviction for illegal puppy selling.
A confiscation order is made against a convicted defendant ordering them to pay the amount of their financial benefit from crime. In this case, as the defendants were selling puppies without a licence, the income they made from selling puppies needs to be paid.
For the confiscation order, Perriton was ordered to pay £115,000 or risk 18 months in prison. Heath was ordered to pay £34,840 or risk nine months in prison. Both will also need to pay £4,500 each in prosecution costs, with a victim surcharge of £85 each.
Dorset Council are set to receive 37% of the confiscation order funds, which amounts to £55,440. This will go into the Community and Public Protection budget to be spent for the benefit of the community on general prevention and enforcement measures. The rest is split between central government and the HM Courts & Tribunals Service.
CONVICTED (2022) | prolific wildlife killer Ryan Chad Warner, born c. 1992, of Alexandra Terrace, Cwmaman, Aberdare CF44 6NP – failed to treat his terrier’s severe facial injuries.
Warner pleaded guilty to one offence of causing unnecessary suffering to a black and white male Patterdale-type terrier called Grafter by failing to provide proper and necessary veterinary care and attention for his serious injuries.
He was not charged with any wildlife crimes despite the nature of his dog’s injuries, coupled with photographic evidence on Warner’s social media accounts that he hunts foxes and possibly badgers with dogs.
Grafter had suffered an extensive degloving injury to his jaw. Bizarrely the cause does not appear to have been explored in court.
The case was heard at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates Court on August 31, 2022, before it was referred to Merthyr Crown Court on Friday, October 7.
In a written statement provided to the court, RSPCA inspector Gemma Cooper said she attended Warner’s address on March 7, 2022. She met Grafter in the back garden and found him to have scars all over his head, muzzle, neck and ears.
Inspector Cooper said: “His right ear had a large, healed tear and his left ear had a large, recent tear as there was dried blood on the inside. The bite type wounds all over his head and muzzle, some appeared to be older and healed and others seemed to be newer and scabbed over.
“A large proportion of the skin from the lower jaw was hanging away from the bone, revealing the flesh part of the jaw. The flesh looked red and sore and it smelt really bad, like infection.
“There were bits of dirt and grass sticking to this bit of open flesh and Grafter appeared really uncomfortable when I touched around the area in order to get a better look. He appeared uncomfortable by repetitively moving his head away from me when I tried to look at the injury. I asked Ryan Warner if the dog had seen a vet and he said that he hadn’t.”
Warner then told inspector Cooper he’d only just bought Grafter the previous evening from an advert and that he had the injuries when he bought him. However, Warner was unable to provide her with the seller’s details. A transfer of ownership form was then signed for Grafter by Warner.
A written witness statement from a vet – who examined Grafter on March 7 – was also provided to the court. The vet said there were “extensive and severe injuries” on Grafter’s head and neck, the most severe of the injuries being an “extensive degloving injury” of the flesh of the lower jaw.
She said: “A degloving is a type of traumatic injury where a large portion of skin and tissue is detached from the underlying muscle or bone and is extremely painful.”
The vet added that in her opinion Grafter “had suffered enormously and unnecessarily as a result of his extensive and severe wounds.”
She added: “This unnecessary suffering would have been alleviated by seeking and following appropriate veterinary treatment.”
At the vets, Grafter was hospitalised and given painkillers and antibiotics and later given surgery to try to salvage the wounds on his face. Sadly, he will carry a permanent disfigurement. However, Grafter has recovered from his injuries and has since been successfully re-homed.
Sentencing | 12 months of custody suspended for 18 months; 120 hours of unpaid work; costs of £2,065 Banned from keeping dogs for five years (expires October 2027).
