CONVICTED (2023) | Leslie Shooter, born c. 1966, of Constable Road, Hunmanby, Filey YO14 0LH – inflicted horrific injuries on a barn owl.
The barn owl suffered fatal injuries when it became caught in a rat trap set by Les Shooter.
On April 8, 2023, a dog walker discovered the badly-injured adult barn owl caught in a spring-operated trap in the allotments at Sands Lane, Hunmanby.
The bird was rescued and taken to a vet, but due to the severity of the injuries to its legs it had to be euthanised.
When spoken to by North Yorkshire Police, the tenant of the plot, Leslie Shooter, stated that he had set a number of traps to control rats. However, he had not covered the traps as required by law, resulting in the trapping of the bird.
In court, Shooter pleaded guilty to using an animal trap in circumstances for which it is not approved, causing a trap to be set to cause injury to a wild bird and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
Sentencing | 100 hours of unpaid work requirement; £199 in costs and surcharges.
Spring-operated traps, often referred to as ‘Fenn’ traps, can be legally operated in the UK, but their use and target species is strictly controlled by legislation. Potential offences include use whilst uncovered, neglect in checking and use to capture wild birds.
CONVICTED (2023) | Sonny-Joe Barney, born 18 March 2003, of 11 Summer Fields, Verwood BH31 6LG – goaded his dogs into attacking and killing a chicken.
Barney, a traveller, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a chicken by releasing dogs on it.
Dorset Police’s rural crime team found evidence of a dog being set on a chicken during an investigation into hare coursing. The chicken was killed in the incident, which took place in a field on 7 July 2022.
Sentencing | 12-month community order with 20 days of rehabilitation activity. 12-month disqualification order, which states that he must not transport or arrange transport, own, keep or take part in keeping dogs or chickens.
Barney was given a criminal behaviour order, banning him from owning wild animals or catapults, as well as to keep off private farmland.
Image: Dorset Police
He appeared at Poole Magistrates Court again on Friday 14 July, 2023, to be handed the criminal behaviour order. That states that for a five-year period, he must not:
Be in possession of a wild animal, wild bird or part of a wild animal or bird living or dead
Be knowingly in possession of a catapult or shot such as ball bearings or a hunting lamp including in a vehicle with a catapult or such shot in a place to which the public have access or private land as a trespasser
Allow a dog under his control off a lead except on private land with the landowners written permission which must be presented to a police officer on request
Be on private farmland, agricultural land or forestry land without written permission of the appropriate authority or landowner, this permission must be presented to a police officer on request
If Barney breaches any of the terms of the order, he can be arrested and taken back to court.
Police Constable Lauren Middleton, of Dorset Police’s Rural Crime Team, said: “Our investigation revealed evidence that Barney was believed to be involved in hare coursing and the offence for which he has been convicted shows that he has little regard for the welfare of animals.
“We have worked hard to compile evidence and secure this order from the court, which we hope will assist in stopping the defendant from reoffending in the future. We would like to send a special thank you to Dorset Council’s Community Safety Team for helping us secure this order.
“We hope this demonstrates to our rural communities that we will take decisive action against those who commit offences of this nature, and we would urge them to work with us by reporting any suspected breaches of the order to police so we can take further steps if necessary.”
CONVICTED (2023) | Jamil James Khan, born 1 September 1993, of 9 Mason Street, Colne BB8 9BU – subjected two kittens to multiple attacks, causing one to suffer fatal injuries.
Khan, who has links to Norwich and Bacup, Lancashire, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the kittens called Obi and Amidala, between April 1 and July 4, 2022.
The court heard how Khan took Obi to Stanley House vets where he claimed the kitten had been injured by a dog.
An examination revealed Obi had suffered fractures to his jaw and skull.
Two days later, on July 3, Khan phoned the vets again and said Obi was shallow breathing but still alive. He attended the vets within a few minutes by which time Obi had died, This time he said the kitten had been involved in a road traffic accident
The vet challenged Khan since the kitten’s injuries were not consistent with this account. Khan replied three times “I just can’t tell you’”.
The matter was referred to the police, who arrested and interviewed Khan that same day. He refused to answer any questions and responded with “no comment”.
A search of Khan’s property found another kitten, Amidala, who was handed over to the RSPCA.
She was taken to Greater Manchester Animal Hospital where it was found she had at least one fractured rib.
A post-mortem examination on Obi at the University of Liverpool found multiple fractures across his body and blood in his stomach, which shows he was alive when being subjected to the physical violence.
Joanne Daniels, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, said both animals had been subjected to blunt force trauma on multiple occasions, while Obi suffered from high energy blunt force trauma and was alive at the time.
Mitigating, Rhianydd Clement said Khan had spoken about being stressed at the time of the abuse. She said that he panicked when speaking to the vet and realised the gravity of the situation he was in, which is why he did not tell the truth.
She added Khan had taken full responsibility for his offending and he is extremely remorseful.
Khan had been studying a psychology degree at Burnley College but has abandoned his course after one year due to the prosecution case.
Sentencing, Recorder David Temkin said: “Over the course of three months you mistreated both of those cats.
“The vet pressed you on how Obi died and the police were called. You were arrested on July 3 and interviewed but provided no comment and the police searched your house.
“They found a second kitten and it was medically examined and found to have at least one rib fracture.
“Those kittens were subjected to blunt force trauma and on both occasions suffered pain from your abuse. You failed to meet their needs.
“Your behaviour was clearly violent and must have been regular. You continued until one lost its life.”
Sentencing | 18 weeks in prison suspended for 18 months; 35 rehabilitation activity requirement days; £300 fine to be paid at £30 for week. Disqualified from keeping, owning or caring for animals for 10 years.
CONVICTED (2023) | Ryan Seel, born 18 October 1994, and Debbie Slater, born 20 May 1990, of Peter Street, Blackpool – starved three of their six dogs until they were 24 hours from death.
Three of the six Jack Russells owned by Ryan Seel and Debbie Slater would most likely have died in 24 hours, if the RSPCA hadn’t seized them and taken them to an animal hospital for emergency treatment.
Staff from the local authority were first alerted to the dogs’ plight after a number of complaints about the dogs making noise.
All three dogs were so emaciated they were transported in a cat basket together
Council officers visited the home and later reported them to the RSPCA. The charity’s welfare team then investigated and removed the dogs after discovering how underweight they were .
“Three of the six were 24 hours from death ,” said prosecutor Paul Ridehalgh. “This was either due to long term poor diet or short term starvation.”
The couple’s emaciated dogs were ‘within 24 hours of dying’
Defence lawyer Gerry Coyle – representing Ryan Seel – said his client lived in a property which suffered from damp and leaks. He added that the pair were on Universal Credit and ‘living in poverty’ and unable to afford vets fees.
“What happened with the dogs was not because they don’t love and care for them, but for financial reasons,” he told magistrates.
Brett Chappell, defending Seel’s partner Debbie Slater, appealed for leniency and told the court about the couple’s other dog – a Shar Pei – who was fit and well.
“What happened was not a deliberate act of cruelty, but her efforts fell well short of what is acceptable,” said Mr Chappell.
Slater and Seel each admitted two offences of causing the Jack Russell dogs unnecessary suffering and failing to maintain the animals’ welfare by giving them adequate food and water.
The six dogs, two males and four females – Jack, Junior, Sasha, Angel, Coraline and Jazz – remain in the care of the RSPCA.
Sentencing | one-year community punishment with ten rehabilitation days. Seel must also complete 100 hours of unpaid work and Slater was given a four month curfew. The pair were each ordered to pay £414 in costs. Banned from keeping animals for 10 years (expires June 2033).
CONVICTED (2023) | Paul Wynne, born 27 October 1981, previously of Rockford Avenue, Kirkby, Liverpool and now Harris Drive, Bootle – for the abandonment of three dogs found starved to death and four neglected ferrets.
Paul Wynne told the court he “couldn’t cope with what happened” after his three dogs died “extremely painful” deaths
Wynne, who is also a wildlife persecutor, pleaded guilty to three charges regarding the treatment of animals in his care. On October 29, 2022, two Merseyside Police officers, named as Lomax and Cohen, attended an address on Rockford Avenue, Kirkby, after concerns had been raised about the occupant, Wynne.
Horrific images released by the RSPCA show the conditions in which Paul Wynne left his helpless dogs to die
Neighbours had complained about a bad smell of decay coming from the flat and “maggots coming through the ceiling of the flat below”. The police officers forced entry to the flat due to concerns for human life, but upon examination of the property found the skeletal remains of three dogs in an advanced state of decomposition.
Peter Mitchell, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, told the court the property was registered in the name of Laura Martin – the partner of Wynne.
RSPCA inspector Louise Showering attended the address along with Merseyside Police on November 1 and re-entered the property with the permission of Ms Martin.
The court heard a black lurcher called Blue was found in a crate in the middle of the living room. Upon further inspection it was revealed there was also a second dog, also identified as a lurcher type and called George, in the cage. Mr Mitchell said the dogs were lying on filthy bedding and the floor was caked in white and black faeces.
There were no food or water bowls and the room was covered in a large amount of flies and other insects. The inspector noted the kitchen door was open and a dead puppy, a saluki cross type dog named Polly, was on the floor surrounded by a pool of dried blood. There were also four ferrets in two hutches found in the back of the garden.
The court heard Ms Martin, described as vulnerable with severe health difficulties, had moved out the flat and was tending to her sick mum. Wynne was the sole occupier of the flat during the time of the neglect. Wynne had told her Blue had died of a seizure and there were no other dogs inside the property.
One of Wynne’s dogs cannibalised another in a desperate bid for food, but ultimately all three perished
However, Ms Martin told inspectors she returned to the property with her sister on October 6 to find the locks had been changed on the door. She said she could hear dogs barking inside the flat. Wynne said the locks were changed because they were faulty. Ms Martin said the first she knew about the horrors inside the flat was when she was contacted by the RSPCA to gain entry.
Between November 2022 and February 2023 Wynne was repeatedly contacted by Inspector Showering but he would only communicate by text message, refused to take calls and cancelled scheduled appointments.
Source: Paul Wynne, Facebook. It’s not known if either of these dogs were among the victims
He eventually attended Kirkby police station on February 7 where he denied starving the animals and claimed he had previously fed them well. He also said the ferrets weren’t his but he had been looking after them for a friend. He added he left the animals because he “couldn’t cope with what happened”.
Mr Mitchell told the court only one of the dogs could have a post-mortem due to the severe emaciation. The lurcher Blue should have weighed between 27-32kg but only weighed 12kg. He added dog claw nails and hair were found in his stomach and small intestine suggesting the desperate animal had resorted to cannibalising the other dog, George.
In mitigation, Chelsey Kearns, defending, told the court Wynne accepted sole responsibility for the “prolonged cruelty and neglect”. She said he had long suffered from depression which he had managed successfully until now. She added the suffering of the animals “came from neglect instead of sadism”.
Ms Kearns also detailed the “immense burden” Wynne had to deal with – both in terms of his own health and the care of his partner and her mum, Marie. She said Wynne was fully responsible for the care of the two women – and also had a 13-year-old daughter called Lois who he spoke with every day.
Wynne pleaded guilty to three offences under the Animal Welfare Act: one of causing unnecessary suffering to Blue; one of failing to ensure the needs of Blue, George and Polly were met; and one of failing to ensure the needs of the four ferrets.
Sentencing Wynn, Recorder Michael Blakey noted the animals had “suffered considerably” and had “extremely painful” deaths. However, he took into account the fact that Wynne had “weighty caring responsibilities” and had realistic prospects of rehabilitation outside prison.
Sentencing | 30 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months; 20 rehabilitation days. 30 hours of unpaid work. Disqualified from owning any animal for 10 years (expires June 2033).
CONVICTED (2023) | serial offender Ewan David Wells, born c. 1959, of Bridge Farm, Hunningham, Leamington Spa CV33 9EB – for cruelty to sheep and cattle on his farm.
Wells, who was convicted of similar offences in 2011 and 2020, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a sheep, failing to clean out the areas where his animals were housed and failing to protect his animals from pain, suffering, injury, and disease.
The prosecution was brought by Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards.
The offences, which spanned a period between 1st March 2019 and 1st March 2022, were discovered following visits to the farm by Trading Standards Animal Health Officers and APHA Veterinary Inspectors.
One offence related to causing unnecessary suffering to a ewe and the other two to failing to take such steps as were reasonable in all the circumstances to ensure that the needs of animals for which he was responsible were met to the extent required by good practice.
The court heard that there was a heavy accumulation of muck on the farm, three feet deep in some areas, which would make it difficult for animals, including young calves to walk. In some places muck had reached the same height of the rims of water troughs leading to constant contamination of the water within.
Old, rotten hay and silage had been left at the bottom of a feed ring from which animals were seen eating and in some areas silage and fodder beets were fed from the floor where they were contaminated with faeces.
A shed containing around 200 ewes and some new born lambs had insufficient numbers of water buckets or other water provisions.
Cattle buildings were in poor repair and cattle had access to areas of the farm that had barbed wire on the floor and piles of scrap metal.
Wells’ farm was inspected after he had been prosecuted in 2020 for causing unnecessary suffering to a cow. When problems were found, the tenant farmer was given an opportunity to put things right but failed to do so.
Sentencing | 16 week custodial sentence suspended for 12 months; 15-day rehabilitation requirement; contribution of £6000 towards prosecution costs and £122 victim surcharge. Disqualified indefinitely from owning, keeping or participating in the care of any animals except domestic dogs and cats (can appeal after 28 June 2028).
CONVICTED (2023) | Katie Margaret Lynch, born 28 July 1991, previously of Bogroy Crescent, Cornhill, Banff and now 1 Wood Place, Portknockie, Buckie AB56 4NJ – refused to feed her ex’s dog after they broke up, leaving the dog to become skeletal.
Katie Lynch left a dog to become skeletal after a bad break-up
Lynch admitted to Scottish SPCA inspectors that she had nothing to do with the dog – a lurcher called Dexter – after the split and just assumed her eight-year-old daughter was taking care of him.
When a vet examined the starving dog, he had a body weight of 15kg against a normal body weight for his breed of 25kg-28kg.
He was was given a body score of 0 out of 9 – a rating rarely used as it describes “skeletal cases”.
Dexter was only saved from certain death after Lynch’s mother intervened and rang the SSPCA, albeit lying that the dog was a stray.
The SSPCA collected Dexter and took him to a vet where it was concluded that he had suffered months of malnutrition.
The animal welfare charity issued a public photo appeal in a bid to trace Dexter’s owner. Multiple tip-offs named Katie Lynch as having the dog in her home.
They paid Lynch a visit and found she had two other dogs, a Staffordshire bull terrier and a schnauzer, running around her garden in good condition and enjoying a large run and kennel.
Charity inspectors interviewed Lynch and she denied ownership of Dexter, indicating he had belonged to her ex-partner.
When asked if she’d fed the dog herself, Lynch replied: “I think my daughter did. She kept sneaking out with food”, adding that she was “too busy with the break-up” to check.
She signed Dexter over to the SSPCA, who spent two months caring for him. After being nursed back to health and fed a proper diet, he was happily rehomed.
In court Lynch pleaded guilty to causing an animal unnecessary suffering.
Her defence agent Stephen Carty said she had been suffering from mental health issues at the time.
‘She was somewhat aware the dog was there’
“The break-up had a massive effect on her mental health,” he said. “The end of the relationship has probably been a positive thing for Miss Lynch.
“It appears at the end of the relationship her former partner has left the dog at the house.
“She has been somewhat aware that the dog was there but in her view, the responsibility for the care of the animal fell to her ex-partner, not her.
“It’s a matter of regret to her. If she had phoned the SSPCA I am sure they would have come out and helped.”
Referencing background and psychiatrist reports he added his client’s mental health was poor and “she had suffered a great deal herself”.
He added the first offender had acted “out of character” but had recently moved back in with her mother who was providing a “great source of support”.
Sheriff Robert McDonald, who was shown photos of Dexter at his thinnest, said the images and the body score were “shocking”.
He said he took into account Lynch’s personal circumstances at the time but that “doesn’t excuse the offence”.
He said he ordinarily “wouldn’t hesitate in imposing a disqualification order” in a case like this, but said he trusted the SSPCA would have acted if they had any concerns over the care of Lynch’s other two dogs.
SSPCA senior inspector Lesley Crocket said she would have liked to have seen Lynch banned from keeping animals.
She added: “Lynch claimed the dog belonged to her ex-partner, who she had last seen two or three months prior and that she was unaware if Dexter had been left behind in her garden.
“She claimed never to have heard the dog barking and thought her ex-partner had taken him away or sold him.
“We’re pleased that Lynch has received a sentence for the suffering she caused to Dexter. However, it’s disappointing that she has not received a ban on keeping animals in this case.
Sentencing | 90 hours of unpaid work; six-month supervision order. No ban or deprivation order.
CONVICTED (2023) | Emily Mace, born c. 2000, of Little Barton, Kingsteignton, Newton Abbot TQ12 3QS – trained a dog to become aggressive leading to savage attacks on other dogs.
Emily Mace’s large Mastiff-type Conan attacked other dogs – one fatally – and also bit a woman after her extreme training methods led to him becoming aggressive.
The first incident happened in August 2021 when Janet Collins was walking her miniature schnauzer Lola in Long Barton playing fields. Mace was throwing a ball for Conan, an Alsatian/Mastiff cross and a third dog called Honcho.
As Miss Collins walked by, Conan bit Lola on the rear. She picked her dog up to keep her safe but Conan continued to jump up and bit the woman on the arm, puncturing the skin and causing significant bruising. She also suffered injuries to her hand.
Mace left the scene without showing much interest – telling Miss Collins to stand still during the incident – and was arrested later by police.
She told them her dogs made her feel safe.
The victim said in a statement she had never been so terrified in her life by the incident and could not believe Mace’s cold and uncaring attitude at the scene. She said it was clear her dog was dangerous and could cause serious damage.
A few months later, Mace agreed to re-home a greyhound named Blake but when she put the animal in with Conan and her other dog they went into ‘prey mode’ and fatally injured him.
Conan was under a dog behaviour order and required to be tethered in the garden. But Mace had placed a ‘totally inadequate’ loose collar around the animal.
She ignored a warning that Blake was unhappy in the larger dog’s presence and put them together, along with another pet, a Staffordshire-type dog named Luna.
“Luna and Conan began to savage Blake,” said RSPCA prosecutor Ms Susan Cavander. The attack was captured on video by a neighbour.
The two dogs went into ‘prey mode’, holding the greyhound down, locking their jaws and ripping at his throat, said the prosecutor.
Mace pulled the bleeding greyhound away and put him in a shed while she called vets.
The prosecutor said she seemed more intent in clearing up the mess than paying attention to the dog that was bleeding profusely and losing consciousness.
Blake lost a litre of blood and had to be put down by vets.
Mace posted videos on Facebook of her aggressive training techniques.
The court heard that she demonstrated a ‘total lack of understanding of the risk’ her pets posed or how to train them properly.
Mace pleaded guilty to having a dog dangerously out of control that caused injury.
She was convicted after trial of a separate offence of causing unnecessary suffering to a greyhound by failing to prevent him being attacked by other dogs.
Mace, who is pregnant, has since left her address and job as a result of online abuse. She was described in references as an animal lover and a kind person who is keen to work with probation. A pre-sentence report said she had shown superficial remorse.
Judge Anna Richardson said Mace had trained her dogs to be aggressive and could and should have intervened at the scene of the first ‘utterly terrifying’ incident.
An application for the destruction of Conan was to be considered at a later date but the outcome isn’t known.
Sentencing | 22-month custodial suspended for two years; 20 days of rehabilitation activity. £500 compensation. .Banned from keeping dogs for 15 years.
CONVICTED (2023) | Chloe Hill, born 9 June 1997, of Graham Avenue, Airlie Street, Boulevard, Hull HU3 3JQ – allowed her dog to fall into a state of such neglect, experts couldn’t even tell her breed.
Chloe Hill was banned from keeping animals for eight years for the shocking neglect of an elderly Shih Tzu
Hill was prosecuted by the RSPCA after taking the “mummified” remains of the nine-year-old Shih Tzu, named Porsha, to a vet for cremation. Veterinary staff were so concerned over the deceased animal’s poor condition, they contacted the charity.
Porsha had been severely neglected for months before she died
Inspector Laura Barber went to look at Porsha’s body. Giving evidence at Hull Magistrates’ Court, she said: “On top of the freezer was a pitiful, shocking sight of a deceased dog. It was unrecognisable what breed of dog it was.
“I was informed she was a female Shih Tzu dog called Porsha. On first look, she appeared to have the appearance of a mummified animal. Every bone could be clearly seen on her little body, including every rib, pelvic and spinal bones. It was very upsetting to see.”
Porsha was almost completely bald and was given a body condition score of just one out of nine. Veterinary records showed that the dog had not been seen by a vet since October 2020 and an appointment had been missed in April 2022.
Porsha in healthier times | Chloe Hill, Facebook
The vet on duty on the day Porsha was brought in dead told the court: “It was difficult to immediately identify which breed of dog she was, though on subsequently checking her file, she was seen to be recorded as a Shih Tzu. Her body was that of an emaciated female dog and she was almost completely devoid of hair. There were several live fleas present on the body.
“The nails on all four paws were severely overgrown, several of them had grown right round and into the pads, which would have made walking very painful, if even possible. The right eye was milky white and appeared to have been suffering with a severe cataract, with Porsha unlikely to have been able to see with this eye.
“Her teeth were in a better condition than the 15 years of age which was stated when the body was handed in. A subsequent review of her records indicated she was nine years and 11 months of age.”
Porsha with Hill in an image uploaded to social media in November 2022; just one month later Porsha had died
The vet went on to say that Porsha’s “significant” weight loss likely spanned months, rather than weeks. She believed that if the defendant had sought treatment sooner, any underlying condition could have been identified. If the condition was not treatable, Porsha could have been humanely put down, rather than being left to suffer.
Hill pleaded guilty to failing to protect Porsha from pain, suffering, injury or disease by not seeking veterinary care.
She told the court that she was remorseful and had loved her dog. She had acted in good faith, but had been let down by bad advice from others.
The deputy district judge who heard the case said the offending crossed the threshold for custody. It was only the defendant’s early guilty plea, her lack of previous convictions and her caring responsibilities that had prevented an immediate term of imprisonment from being imposed.
Speaking after the case, Inspector Barber said: “I’ve been an inspector for over 17 years but I’ve never seen a dog that was so unrecognisable I couldn’t tell the breed.
“It would have been clear that Porsha needed help well before she was taken to the vets, yet her plight was ignored. The shocking sight of her lying there, emaciated and almost completely bald, is something that will stay with me for some time.”
Sentencing | 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months; 150 hours of unpaid work; costs of £400. Banned from keeping any animals for eight years (expires June 2031).
CONVICTED (2023) | Matthew Stuart Stark aka Matthew Pinfold or Matt Ilett, born March 1981, from Peterborough – killed his partner’s two dogs during a relationship that left his victim ‘living in fear’.
Stark poisoned and strangled German Spitzes Ronnie and Tiki while his partner was out at work.
Ronnie and Tiki
She realised something was wrong when she came home that evening and the animals weren’t waiting at the door to greet her. She found her pets in their beds and covered in faeces.
The dogs were rushed to the vets but nothing could be done to save them and they died as a result of their injuries.
Veterinary reports suggested that the dogs could have been poisoned and there was bruising around the chest and neck of the animals.
