CONVICTED (2023) | Gayle McCrea, born 4 March 1982, of Park Mill, Park Street, Congleton CW12 1EN – caught on camera hurling a puppy to the floor at a train station.
Gayle McCrea is banned indefinitely from keeping animals after her vile attack on a helpless young Patterdale. Image: Gayle McCrea, Facebook.
McCrea was about to board a train home at Macclesfield station when she lost her temper and grabbed Patterdale terrier Theo by the neck.
She shouted at the pup before throwing him to the floor in a fit of frustration following a meeting with her ex.
Seven-month-old Theo landed on all fours and was not thought to be injured in the incident – but a passer-by filmed the incident on a mobile phone and immediately posted it to social media.
Image credit: Manchester Evening News
Police were alerted to the post and McCrea was arrested at the station just as she was about to get the train back to her home in Congleton.
Theo was seized and placed in kennels.
The court heard in mitigation that McCrea had “significant mental health issues”.
At Crewe Magistrates’ Court, McCrea broke down in tears and said ‘I am losing my baby doggy!’ as magistrates imposed a deprivation order on Theo and banned her from keeping animals indefinitely.
Sentencing | £600 towards kennelling costs. Indefinite ban applicable to all animals.
CONVICTED (2023) | Abraham Andemariam, born c. 1992, of Asbridge Street, Toxteth, Liverpool L8 0UG – callously drove through a gaggle of geese and left the injured birds dying in the road.
Abraham Andemariam callously ran over a gaggle of geese.
Eritrean national Abraham Andemariam was captured on smart doorbell footage killing seven geese on Omega Boulevard in Great Sankey, Warrington, in July 2023.
Witnesses were distressed by the suffering of the birds, a court heard.
Tom Quirk, prosecuting, said the incident happened at about 07:00 BST on 15 July.
The Greylag Geese are a familiar sight in the Great Sankey area of Warrington
Andemariam “drove through a flock of geese killing seven of them” then carried on to work, he told the court.
Mr Quirk said “there was clear disregard for the animals in the road”.
A witness saw “the birds suffering on the floor causing her some distress”, he said.
“The birds were dying and also had dramatic injuries with skin torn away from their limbs.
“There were passengers inside the vehicle and residents were caused distress by what they witnessed and this was after aggressive driving.”
The horrifyingly cruel incident was captured on a Ring doorbell camera
Mr Quirk said when police went to Andemariam’s work they saw feathers on the front of his bonnet and identified him as the driver.
He was subsequently sacked from his job with Amazon.
Andemariam was found guilty in his absence in September 2023 of seven charges of intentionally killing a wild bird, a Greylag Goose, and also driving without due care and without an MOT certificate.
Rebecca Templeman, defending, said Andemariam had admitted the offences in interview and was convicted in his absence after the death of his 16-year-old brother.
The defendant had travelled to the scene and emailed the court asking for an adjournment but he did not receive the postal reply and missed the hearing, she said.
On his return he saw in a newspaper he was wanted and surrendered himself to police.
Miss Templeman said Andemariam “was appalled when shown the CCTV footage and visibly upset at what he did that day”.
Andemariam pleaded guilty and was given a suspended 12-week jail term.
Sentencing | 12-week custodial, suspended for one year. 50 hours of unpaid work and 10 days of rehabilitation activities; £154 victim surcharge and court costs of £120. A collection order was made for deductions from benefits. Banned from driving for six months.
CONVICTED (2023) Jason Woodford, born c. 1980, and Toni Woodford, née Toni Rabson, born 3 May 1985, of Lade Fort Crescent, Lydd-on-Sea, Romney Marsh, Kent TN29 9YF – left their dog with a maggot-infested nose injury that was so severe he had to be put down.
The Woodfords, who pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering, told RSPCA inspectors they did not know how their Yorkshire terrier, Samson or Sammy for short, suffered the wound and claimed not to have noticed the maggots.
Little Samson was put to sleep due to the severity of his condition
But the court heard the injury was probably caused by a muzzle being left on too long and too tightly, or something had been tied around the little dog’s nose.
Magistrates were also told the pair had another dog – a pug called Bobby – who will now be removed from them and taken into the RSPCA’s care.
Bobby the pug, who had a cancerous growth on his lip, was seized by the RSPCA
The court heard that by the couple deliberately delayed in getting treatment for Samson. When they finally took him to a vet, his condition had deteriorated to a point where he couldn’t be saved.
Sophie Read, prosecuting, said: “An [RSPCA] inspector went to their home a couple of days after the vet visit and Mr Woodford told them the dog had been missing for nine days and had come back in that state.
“There was another dog at their home and a grey parrot in a cage and the inspector noticed the cage was dirty.
“The other dog, a pug, also had a cancerous growth on its lip.”
Mrs Read said RSPCA inspectors continued to investigate how Samson came by his injury. The couple were questioned further separately and their stories didn’t match up, with inconsistencies about how long the dog had been missing.
Samson / Sammy in healthier times
She added: “The vet thought the injury had been caused by the nose being tied or a muzzle left on for too long and too tightly. There were maggots in the wound – it was a deliberate delay in getting treatment.
“Three or four days later the couple were questioned separately and denied they had tied anything around Samson’s nose. Mrs Woodford said the dog had been missing for 24 hours and she thought it had either been stung or had suffered a snake bite.”
She also told the bench that when Mr Woodford was interviewed he changed his initial account of what he told inspectors.
He instead said Samson had been missing for four or five days and upon their pet’s return they had tried to care for him and fed him chicken and rice. He said they did realise the wound had an awful smell and that they had given the dog cuddles, love and prayers in the hope it got better.
Lewis Holloway, defending, said his clients did try to care for Samson after the dog came back after disappearing – but when the wound didn’t improve they took him to the vet.
He said: “There were well intentions, but incompetent care. They have had eight dogs in 20 years and have never had any issues before.
“They did have another dog too, but that passed away today of old age.
“Their parrot has also passed of old age, but they still have her parents’ dog – the pug, Bobby.
“He is 12 years old and he does have a cancerous lump on his lip but they had it checked out by a vet.”
The court also heard Toni Woodford had never been in trouble before – but her husband had convictions, albeit from 24 years ago.
Sentencing | 12-month community orders with 15 rehabilitation sessions. Ordered to pay £200 costs each at a rate of £20 a month. Banned from keeping animals for four years (expires November 2027).
CONVICTED (2023) | Bradlea Ann Clay, born c. 1996, previously of Landrew Road, St Austell PL25 3UQ, but now thought to be in Tickhill, Doncaster, South Yorkshire – punched and kicked a poor pony that was struggling under the weight of her daughter and left two poorly rabbits starving in their own filth.
Mother-of-three Clay pleaded guilty to three animal welfare charges.
The court heard how Clay’s next door neighbour could see from her bathroom window into a field outside. One day she heard a lot of shouting and looked out to see Clay’s daughter on a pony.
Clay was shouting at her daughter and the pony before she punched the pony several times and aggressively grabbed the reins. The pony didn’t want the child on his back and was ducking his head. Clay then walked over and kicked at the pony before punching him on his jaw.
The RSPCA was contacted and attended and when inspectors arrived they found two severely underweight rabbits. They were on wet hay and one of the rabbits had a parasitic condition which would have been easily treated.
The rabbits had to be euthanised and the cause of death was poor diet and environmental conditions.
Sentencing Clay, Judge Simon Carr said: “Those who choose to take on the responsibility for animals take on an enormous task. They are responsible for making sure they are safe, well fed and properly treated. You failed in all of these tasks.
“To hit an animal is unforgivable and shows poor character.”
Judge Carr said the rabbits had “just been ignored”, adding: “If you can’t look after animals you take them to a sanctuary, not leave them to die which is what you did.”
It was reported that the pony is “under different care”.
Sentencing | four-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. Five-year order banning her from taking on new animals. She is allowed to keep her pet bulldog due to his age as well as mice and fish.
We understood that Bradlea Clay’s conviction in relation to rabbits and a pony are, according to one local, “the tip of the iceberg.” In a Facebook comment, they wrote that Clay “owned sheep, cattle, ponies, rabbits, ferrets, chickens, ducks, geese, quail, guinea pigs dogs and cats. With little income and definitely no knowledge of animal husbandry whatsoever, these creatures died/escaped, starved one by one.”
Another wrote: “She kept her horses nearby from where I lived. She left them for days without checking on them. They had no food and water. She still has cattle which are not looked after and are left for days with no food. She claims she’s knows about farming but she hasn’t got a clue. She should never have animals again.”
CONVICTED (2023) | backyard breeder Jonathan Sharples, born 27 November 1996, of Mavor Drive, Bedworth CV12 0HD – caught on camera beating one of his dogs with a baseball bat.
Backyard breeder and violent dog abuser Jonathan ‘Jonny’ Sharples from Bedworth, Warwickshire.
Sharples violently struck a Presa Canario called Pablo several times after separating him from another dog in kennels at his home in Mavor Drive, Bedworth.
A police investigation also uncovered how he had failed to seek treatment for a painful cruciate injury suffered by another dog, bull breed Santorini, that caused lameness in her right hind leg.
In the video a large brindle-patterned dog can be seen latched onto another dog through the bars of kennels.
Two women are heard shouting and calling out in distress before they are joined by two men, including Sharples, who separate the dogs using a plank of wood and a baseball bat.
The video then shows Sharples repeatedly hitting Pablo long after he had moved away from the other dog.
The footage was sent to the local authority’s animal warden licensing inspector who then contacted the RSPCA.
A copy of the video was also shared with the police dog legislation officer who organised a warrant and seized the dogs in Sharples’ care.
In court, Sharples admitted to charges of animal cruelty and neglect.
RSPCA Inspector Herchy Boal said: “Sharples inflicted unnecessary suffering by repeatedly and violently hitting his dog with the baseball bat long after the two dogs had been separated. There is never an excuse for treating an animal in this way.
“I’m grateful to the police dog legislation officer Craig Leach and local authority animal warden licensing inspector Louisa Cullen for all their support during this investigation. It helped secure the safety of Sharples’ dogs.
“A dog called Santorini was found at the property with an untreated cruciate injury which is very painful and required surgery. She’s also now fully recovered.
“It’s essential animal owners make sure they always receive care and treatment from veterinary experts when they need it. They are completely reliant on their owners to ensure their needs are met and that they are kept safe and healthy.”
Sentencing | two-year community order with 200 hours of unpaid work and 30 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days; victim surcharge. Banned from keeping dogs for four years (expires November 2027).
CONVICTED (2023) | Stuart Connolly, born c. 1991, of Headwell Avenue, Dunfermline KY12 0JY but with family links to the Fife village of Oakley- “accidentally stood” on his puppy and left her with an untreated broken leg for days.
Stuart Connolly pictured outside court. Photo credit: Courier
Persistent petty criminal Connolly’s unnamed Staffy-type pup was only taken to the vet after police went to his house with a search warrant on February 21, 2022.
He was caught that day with more than 10g of heroin at his Headwell Avenue home.
He appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court for sentencing, having earlier admitted drug possession and failing to take reasonable steps to ensure the needs of the animal were met to the extent required by good practice.
Prosecutor Laura McManus told the court police went to Connolly’s home to execute a search warrant and found it in disarray.
Officers found a very small puppy resembling a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, who seemed to be walking irregularly, with her right hip protruding.
The fiscal said: “When asked about the pup he stated he stood on it accidentally about five days ago and intended getting it to the vet at some point but because the dog could walk on it he was not overly concerned and stated he had saved up to buy the dog.”
An x-ray of the animal showed there was a leg fracture and the vet said the injury was about two weeks old.
The vet said the break appeared to be healing and no treatment was thought to be necessary but the dog should have received medical treatment at the time to fix the injury with pins.
Ms McManus continued: “It was apparent the accused did not particularly think his behaviour had caused unnecessary suffering to the animal.”
The fiscal depute said police also found 10.7g of heroin inside silver wraps in a Kinder egg and other plastic wraps, with an estimated value of £550.
Defence lawyer Alan Davie said Connolly does not have the dog anymore as the Scottish SPCA removed her from him.
The solicitor said his client had bought the dog and ensured she had vaccinations about two weeks before the offence.
Mr Davie said after Connolly stepped on the dog he noticed she had a limp and did not appreciate how serious a case it was and, rather than address the issue immediately, he waited to see if it would improve.
Mr Davie said Connolly was a heroin addict and at the time of offending was using a considerable quantity – now reduced from two-to-three grammes per day to 0.3g per day.
The fiscal depute called for a court disqualification order in relation to Connolly keeping animals.
Mr Davie said Connolly would be opposed to this and has now got another dog which he has had for eight months.
The solicitor said the offence, though serious, was nearly two years old and his client seems to have looked after the new dog.
Sheriff Francis Gill sentenced Connolly to a 145-day curfew order but was persuaded a disqualification order is not necessary.
Connolly thanked the sheriff as he left court.
Sentencing | meaningless 145-day curfew order and no ban.
CONVICTED (2023) | Tyler Steele, born 27 May 1996, of 14 Tiverton Road, Bentilee, Stoke-on-Trent ST2 0AY – caught physically abusing dogs on two separate occasions.
Stoke thug Tyler Steele sparked national outrage after being filmed beating a dog in the Hanley area of the city
A video of self-styled hardman Tyler Steele hitting a puppy several times was circulated on social media in July 2023 after the footage was caught on a doorbell camera in Hanley, stoke. Steele is seen dragging the female XL Bully, known as Bo, along the pavement and striking her repeatedly.
A second video believed to have been filmed in the Berry Hill area in May 2023 showed Steele throwing a French bulldog from a car, sending her skidding across the road.
The videos sparked outrage from people up and down the country, and prompted both the RSPCA and police to launch an investigation.
In the immediate aftermath of his exposure on social media, Steele turned up at the door from which the later footage was taken and left a message on its doorbell camera.
In it, he was heard to say: “I don’t give a fuck about the video. I’ve told everyone it was me. I don’t give two flying fucks.I’ll treat my dog how I want to treat it.”
In the video featuring Bo, Steele is seen walking along the street on a Hanley housing estate. The pup appears to sit down on her haunches and refuses to budge. Steele then yanks the lead, pulling her towards him, and rains down several blows on her head as she yelps.
He can be heard muttering “Don’t want it no more. He [sic] can fuck off.”
Bo is understood to be back in the care of her original owner but the whereabouts of the French bulldog are unknown.
Appearing at the North Staffordshire Justice Centre in November 2023 Steele pleaded guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering. He is to be sentenced in January 2024 after his case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report – but district judge Kevin Grego warned him that a custodial sentence was ‘highly likely’.
Claire McGowen, prosecuting, said that although there were no veterinary reports detailing the animal’s injuries, the suffering caused to the dog could be seen in the footage.
She said: “There were repeated instances of the use of substantial force causing a substantial level of suffering to a very young animal.”
Colin Drew, mitigating, told the court that Steele had been ‘under the influence’ of cocaine at that time and had since become drug-free.
He said: “He has no previous convictions for this kind of thing. He does have a very bad record and he wouldn’t deny that.
“He was under the influence of cocaine at that time. This last incident on July 7 put him in a situation where he has now become totally drug-free in the last couple of months. He has also benefitted from the assistance of his lady friend.”
Steele was bailed to appear in court in January with the condition that he must not own or possess a dog or any other animal.
District judge Kevin Grego warned Steele that it was ‘highly likely’ that he would face a custodial sentence and be disqualified ‘for a lengthy period’ from keeping an animal at his next court appearance.
Ordering a pre-sentence report, he said: “It is highly likely that custody will follow, and highly likely that the court will disqualify you for a lengthy period from keeping an animal.
“The court will deal with you having regard to the sentencing guidelines of up to 12 months in custody for each offence. It may be that you will be sent to crown court.”
CONVICTED (2023) | Paul James Roberts, aka Paul Wood or Paul Bennett, born c. 1981, of Broadoak Road, Wythenshawe, Manchester – starved his loyal family dog to death over several weeks.
Roberts, who runs a hard landscaping business called Revolution Custom Landscapes, pleaded guilty to two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, namely that he failed to ensure the eight-year-old dog, Delboy, was provided with adequate nutrition and failed to investigate and address his poor condition and weight loss.
Tragic dog Delboy before his owner decided to starve him to deathDelboy was a much-loved family pet
Roberts was prosecuted by the RSPCA after Delboy was taken dead to a veterinary practice on February 22, 2022. He weighed just 27.1 pounds and pictures (not published in the source article, the Manchester Evening News, due to their upsetting nature) show his emaciated condition that a post-mortem examination concluded was due to starvation.
Roberts had owned Delboy since he was a puppy
The RSPCA said the court heard how Delboy was collected alive from Roberts’ home on 21 February by someone who knew the defendant after it was reported the dog had ‘been starved and wasn’t in a good state’. He died overnight before he could be seen by a vet.
An investigation was then launched by the RSPCA. One vet said in evidence: “Delboy’s physical condition on presentation was emotionally distressing and upset a number of staff members.”
Speaking after the case, the RSPCA said: “The images of Delboy are so distressing and it is clear from them he had been woefully neglected for some considerable time.
“We would urge anyone who is struggling to look after their pets to seek appropriate help and advice in a timely manner. It is totally unacceptable to allow pets to deteriorate into the appalling condition that Delboy was found in.”
Sentencing | 21-month custodial, suspended for two years; four-month curfew. Disqualified from keeping any animal as a pet for 10 years (expires November 2033).
Paul Wood is active on TikTok, where he uploads videos promoting his hard landscaping business and others showing zany miming and dancing performances. His usernames are goofystyle1 and revolutioncustom (the latter account is currently deactivated).
Wood’s apparently successful business, which he promotes as ‘Revolution Custom Landscapes Ltd’ (there is no trace of this ‘company’ on Companies House), offers flagging, fencing, blockpaving, turfing, pressure cleaning and regrouting.
CONVICTED (2023) | puppy farmer Virginia Nelson aka Virginia Mahon, born 30 October 1978, a traveller from Hallbankgate, Brampton CA8* – for animal welfare and fraud offences relating to unlicensed breeding.
Greedy, cruel and dishonest puppy farmer Virginia Nelson, who is better known by the name Virginia Mahon, is disqualified in dealing in animals until November 2026.
Nelson admitted failing to be licenced for the activity of selling animals as pets in the course of a business.
Investigations into Nelson started in August 2022, following a report of the sale of a six-year-old dog, who was advertised as a one-year-old. The buyer also reported that the dog had ear and skin infections. A vet later concluded that the animal could have avoided unnecessary suffering with timely vet treatment.
A separate report was made after Nelson sold a five-week-old puppy that was too young to be away from her mother and did not have the appropriate vaccinations.
This activity is a breach of Lucy’s Law, legislation which prohibits the sale of animals without a licence.
Sentencing | fined £140, ordered to pay £2,500 costs and a £56 surcharge. Disqualified from dealing in animals for three years (expires November 2026).
CONVICTED (2023) | Lisa Doolan, born 19 February 1976, of On the Waves, Crooklets, Bude EX23 9NF – for the starvation and neglect of several ponies.
Five ponies suffered terribly following months of neglect neglect by their owner, Lisa Doolan. The Bude hotelier was prosecuted after ignoring repeated warnings that the ponies needed to be fed properly.
The ponies, who were kept in a field with four others in the Bude area, had been caused suffering by to “a simple lack of suitable food” as well as “being left in a wet and cold environment”. Four were emaciated while a fifth was very thin. Some of the animals had untreated medical needs such as parasites.
RSPCA investigators told Doolan during multiple visits that she had to address her animals’ needs but she failed to take any action.
In court Doolan pleaded guilty to five animal welfare offences.
Mother of four Doolan was visited by an officer from World Horse Welfare who also issued advice.
The ponies were severely underweight and not rugged. There wasn’t sufficient food or grazing and they had only been kept alive due to the intervention of a third party who attended each day to feed them.
The ground was heavily waterlogged and inspectors noticed a clear deterioration in the ponies over the two months between October and December 2022.
Ultimately all nine ponies were signed over to the RSPCA.
Sentencing her, Judge Simon Carr said: “Those who take on the responsibility of animals take on an enormous responsibility and burden. They are responsible for the care and feeding for the animals and whatever else is going on, that never moves.
“You had nine ponies under your care. I have read the vet reports and seen photographs and it would have been obvious that these animals were suffering terribly. The conditions they were kept in were appalling and they were simply not being fed. Most of them would have died if they were left there.
“This was not a momentary failure. It was months of neglect of animals who suffered terribly as a result of what you did.”
Representing Doolan, Feleena Grosvenor said: “She has shown genuine remorse and is horrified at the vet’s report. His circumstances at the time of the offending were devastating.”
Ms Grosvenor went on to tell the court that Doolan’s step father was dying from cancer at the time of the offences, and another family member had also passed away.
Doolan’s marriage was said to have been having difficulties and she was struggling with her mental health at the time.
Sentencing | four-month prison sentence, suspended for two years; £9,173.78 costs. Banned from keeping equine for five years (expires November 2028).
