CONVICTED (2024) | Sara Holland, 27 (born 29 August 1996), of 33 Garden Street, Hyde, Tameside, Greater Manchester SK14 4AU – left a rabbit to starve to death in a filthy hutch.
In February 2022 the RSPCA were called to Sara Holland’s home in Garden Street, Hyde, due to concerns over the welfare of a pet rabbit. There they found the young female Lionhead rabbit called Bing dead in her hutch.
The ‘filthy’ hutch had no food or water in it.
A post-mortem found the animal had died of ‘prolonged malnutrition.’
In a written statement RSPCA Inspector Beth Fazackerley said she visited the property on February 22, 2022, and was shown into the back garden by Holland.
“Against the rear wall of the property within the garden stood a large, pale blue two-storey hutch. The hutch was approximately a metre from the rear door into the kitchen” Ms Fazackerley said.
“The top floor of the hutch was bare except for some faeces and an overturned log tunnel/bridge-type structure. Attached to the mesh door pointing into the hutch was a roller-ball water bottle. It was completely empty.
“On the bottom floor of the hutch was an empty and dry green bowl, an empty and dry human food tray, multiple faecal droppings – collectively covering around a third of the bare wooden floor – and a rabbit laying on its right side on top of some faeces on the right-hand side of the hutch.”
Holland told Ms Fazackerley that she had ‘gone outside the previous evening and found Bing dead.
She said she assumed the rabbit had suffered a heart attack as she’d been scared by one of her dogs a few days previously.
She allowed the inspector to take Bing to a vet so she could be examined.
The vet gave the animal a body score condition of one out of five.
They said there were no obvious signs of bruising, swelling or abnormalities of the mouth which would explain any potential reason for the rabbit having difficulty in eating.
“Suffering has occurred as a result of the poor body condition, which will have caused debilitation, hunger and extreme weakness. I believe this suffering will have occurred over several days,” said the vet.
The post-mortem showed the rabbit had had ‘severe’ and ‘chronic’ muscle loss, soiling of the fur around her feet and thickening of the skin on the hocks, which both pointed to unhygienic living conditions.
No digestible material was found in her stomach and there were no pathological causes which could explain her weight loss, with ‘prolonged malnutrition’ the most likely cause of her death, said the report.
Holland was found guilty in her absence of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and failing to take steps to ensure the needs of an animal were met to the extent required by good practice.
The court was told she had mental health issues and had had relationship troubles in the past.
Sentencing | 12-month community order with 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days; fined £120. Disqualified from keeping any animal for a period of 10 years.
CONVICTED (2024) | Yassar Hussain, born May 1986, of 46 Aldred Street, Rotherham S65 2AL – left a Belgian Shepard in pain with multiple untreated injuries.
The two-year-old dog, named Deli, had extensive scratches and bites on all four limbs and infected wounds on her front legs. These had been present for several days. She had also reportedly birthed a litter of puppies just days before, who all sadly died.
Deli’s owner, Yassar ‘Yass’ Hussain, sole director of vehicle recovery firm S60 Recovery and Transportation Ltd, admitted one offence contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006 at a hearing in December, 2023.
The court heard how Hussain had taken the injured dog to a PDSA clinic in Sheffield on June 30, 2022. The examining vet subsequently contacted the RSPCA over concerns for her welfare.
In a written statement, RSPCA Deputy Chief Inspector Sara Jordan said Deli was “in lean body condition” when she saw her five days later. She noted “extensive wounds on both front legs – notably a large open wound on her right foreleg and an open, draining abscess to the armpit region of her left foreleg”.
DCI Jordan added: “She was on pain relief and antibiotics and had a lot of criss-cross scratches and bite wounds to all limbs.”
Speaking to DCI Jordan on the same day, Hussain said four days before he took Deli to the vet, she was jumping up at him and playing. He said she then gave birth at a property on Sheridan Drive, Rotherham on 28 June 2023 and it was at that point he noticed a wound on her right foreleg.
The PDSA vet said in a written court statement: “On examination she was underweight with milk expressible from all nipples. From the size of the nipples I would suspect this was not the first litter of puppies.
“The fur coat was matted with purulent material and other dark matter over the entire body. She was clearly uncomfortable on both forelimbs despite having pain relief overnight.
“The left forelimb was very swollen and purulent material was dripping down it. Several wounds were visible over all four limbs, not all fresh. The largest wound was present on the centre of the right forelimb near the elbow, which couldn’t be fully assessed conscious.
“I believe Deli was caused unnecessary pain and suffering by not having these wounds treated earlier, for this degree of swelling and purulent material these particular wounds had been present for several days most likely. All limbs, once clipped, showed wounds which appeared to be even older than the deep wounds present on the forelimbs.”
In mitigation the court heard that Hussain had since rehomed another dog he owned and it was to his credit that he did eventually recognise, albeit very late, that Deli needed veterinary intervention.
Deli, who was signed over to the RSPCA by Hussain during the course of the investigation, was cared for at the charity’s Hull & East Riding Branch animal centre. She made a full recovery and has since been happily rehomed.
Sentencing | 18-month community order, with 120 hours of unpaid work and up to 15 rehabilitation activity days; costs of £750. Banned from keeping a dog for 10 years.
CONVICTED (2024) | Brian Hughes, born 27 September 1982, of 69 Lister Avenue, East Bowling, Bradford BD4 7QR- beat a German Shepherd with a broom causing injuries so severe the dog lost a leg.
Hughes was found guilty after a trial in a prosecution case brought by the RSPCA.
Caesar’s leg was broken beyond repair after enduring a brutal beating by his owner, Brian Hughes
The court heard that the dog – a German Shepherd-type called Caesar – was taken to a vets by a member of the public on September 8, 2022, after he was found tied to a fence.
The examining vet said in a written statement: “[The member of the public] worried that he (the dog) was going to be killed if left with his owner.
“Caesar was carried into the surgery unable to walk. On arrival he was unable to stand, however, he could do so with support though he tired easily.”
Due to concerns for his welfare, Caesar was handed over to the RSPCA, who began an investigation.
A second vet examination confirmed that Caesar had a broken leg, which later had to be amputated.
Caesar was nursed back to health by the RSPCA and rehomed
The vet’s statement said: “[Hughes] describes being bitten by the dog when trying to remove him from his bed. A sustained attack by the dog is described – during which the owner admits to having beaten the dog with a brush handle over the head and possibly the back, before then tying the dog to a gate.
“Blunt trauma such as that described would be a consistent finding with the injuries and bruising noted in the initial witness statement around the neck (from being tied to a gate forcefully) and being beaten with the broom on the body.
“The fracture and the significant amounts of fresh bruising present on both hind limbs would be consistent with a severe blunt force trauma – likely from ‘in front’ of the dog.
“The fractured limb has likely taken the main impact, with the other limb bruising as a result of more minor contact from the same blow.”
They added: “I would also suggest that it is very unlikely for this dog to have reacted in such an aggressive manner towards the owner solely as a result of being in pain when trying to be moved.”
“Whilst in my care, in an unfamiliar veterinary environment, despite being in considerable pain and discomfort, the dog at no stage showed any signs of aggression, even upon manipulation and examination of the affected limb.”
During sentencing, the judge told Hughes he was “not fit to be near animals”.
Inspector Jo Hartley, who investigated for the RSPCA, said: “Caesar was in a bad way when he arrived in our care and he had been so badly injured that he needed his leg amputated. Thankfully, he has made an amazing recovery and has been happily rehomed.
“We’re really grateful to everyone who helped in our investigation.
Caesar has now got a second chance at life and he is a happy boy now.”
Sentencing | two-year custodial. 15-year ban on keeping animals.
CONVICTED (2024) | wildlife persecutor and backyard breeder Riley Jay Ronald Leigh-Shaw, born 16 April 2001, of Southern Cottages, Horton Road, near Stanwell, Staines-upon-Thames TW19 6AG – kept two lurchers, a Patterdale terrier and a Jack Russell in dilapidated and filthy outdoor cages.
Riley Leigh-Shaw, an animal abuser from the Spelthorne district of Surrey.
Surrey Police officers found the four dogs after conducting a warrant at an address in Stanwell on May 11, 2023. The animals, who all appeared neglected and malnourished, were kept in dilapidated wooden cages within the garden of the property.
Two of Leigh-Shaw’s dogs. All four were malnourished and kept in ramshackle cages full of rubbish and excrement.
The dogs were seized under section 18 of the Animal Welfare Act and taken to a vets for assessment. At least one of them needed urgent medical treatment.
In court, Leigh-Shaw pleaded guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering and four counts of keeping the dogs in unsuitable conditions.
Investigating Officer PC Duncan MacKenzie said; “This was a shocking case where the dogs were kept in appalling conditions. Fortunately, the dogs have all now been placed in loving homes and will be able to live as they should.
“If you think someone is mistreating or neglecting animals in their care, please make sure to report it to us.”
Sentencing | 75 days in prison. Ten-year ban on owning animals.
CONVICTED (2024) | John Cameron Lindop, born 20 March 2000, of 7 Albion Hill, Epworth, Doncaster DN9 1HU* but with family links to Gainsborough, and Lucy Elizabeth Melrose, born 20 June 2000, of Hawthorne Road, Ferryhill DL17 9DP but originally from Gateshead – killed and burned a puppy and abused other animals in a campaign of horrific cruelty.
John Lindop and Lucy Melrose were convicted of a litany of cruelty offences against numerous animals including three dogs, one of whom was sadistically killed by one or both defendants, a chicken and a Shetland pony
John Lindop and Lucy Melrose committed a series of sickening offences against defenceless animals. These included killing a puppy and burning the remains, beating a second dog, riding a small lame pony, and setting a dog on a chicken while filming the carnage.
At the time the pair lived together in a flat in Fifth Street, Horden, County Durham.
It was said in court that the pair were in a tempestuous relationship and took out their frustrations on their pets.
Lurcher Max, who was described as subdued and withdrawn, had suffered injuries to his abdomen. He required treatment by the PDSA for muscular damage and other injuries
They appeared at Durham Crown Court on Friday 16 February 2024 and were given suspended prison sentences.
The crimes came to light following an RSPCA investigation led by Inspector Clare Wilson, which spanned two years and involved multiple animals.
The charity was first alerted to the couple in February 2022 when a member of the public contacted the RSPCA after bringing Max, a lurcher they had recently rehomed, into the PDSA Gateshead with injuries to his abdomen, and blood in his urine.
Inspector Clare Wilson said: “Max was very subdued and withdrawn, he was hanging his head and was attached to drips when I first saw him.
“I immediately noticed that his muzzle was very swollen as was his right side near his shoulder. There was blood visible in the white of his right eye too. I was told that he had been weeing blood.
“There was bruising visible on his abdomen and sheath and there were blood marks on his legs and I saw old scars on his rear legs near his feet. His nails were not scuffed as we would expect if he had been hit by a car so the vet told me that they thought he had been beaten or kicked.”
The member of the public who brought the dog into the vets had rehomed him from Melrose and Lindop the day before and she had brought the lurcher to the vets as soon as she realised he was injured.
Tally had inflammation of an ear which should have been treated by a vet
A vet report found Max had suffered blunt force trauma injuries, brought on by physical abuse.
The report said: “Max was bleeding from both nostrils which were dripping blood. He had soft tissue swelling around his left eye and bruising on his neck. He also had visible bruising and swelling on both sides of his ribs and thighs and heavy bruising on his abdomen. The injuries suffered by Max are consistent with low energy impacts, such as kicking, being hit by fists, or thrown from a few metres down or falling down the stairs.
“Out of each of these scenarios it is my opinion that being kicked is most likely due to the placement of all his injuries. In my opinion, he has been hit or kicked to the muzzle and kicked repeatedly – possibly multiple times to his abdomen as bruising and injuries were more extensive there.”
When interviewed, Melrose claimed that Lindop had, “kicked him like a football and stamped on his head.”
It was later revealed that during the investigation, the couple had hid other dogs from the RSPCA, including a lurcher called Bambi and a German Shepherd dog called Tally.
Melrose later showed these dogs to the RSPCA’s investigating officer. Tally was underweight and her right ear was crooked and inflamed with a severe ear infection.
Durham Crown Court heard how the vet found Tally suffered due to the ear condition which would have caused irritation and pain for at least 10 days or longer.
A report stated that the person responsible for Tally had failed to seek veterinary advice for her ear condition and therefore had failed in protecting her from pain and suffering.
During the investigation, Melrose’s phone was seized and found to contain shocking videos depicting more animal welfare offences. This included Bambi, a fawn coloured lurcher, being baited and set on a chicken. Lindop claimed Melrose was responsible for this but “accepted he found it funny at the time, but did not know if the chicken had died as he had gone to the chip shop”.
A video on Melrose’s phone showed her riding a lame Shetland pony called Dinky, who was much too small for her
A series of other videos on her phone showed Melrose riding a Shetland pony called Dinky who was struggling under the weight of carrying her and was clearly lame in one leg.
Analysis of the videos by a vet revealed: “The female was far too large for both the saddle and the pony and as a result her body overhangs the back and sides of the saddle. The female is carrying a whip in her right hand and trying to force the pony to trot forwards.”
The 16-second video showed her hitting the pony with a stick 10 times.
The pony tries to avoid having to move forward and only moves forward at a trot once she has been repeatedly smacked with the whip and this is due to the fear and pain of being hit. The mouth of the pony is often open due to her discomfort and the pony is visibly lame on the right forelimb.
Text messages between Lindop and his mother were also discovered in which Lindop asks “If a dog’s been hit and nearly dead am I not in the right to finish it off so it’s not in pain or does that mean I killed it?”.
With the reply: “She killed it, you put it out its misery but you would both get done as should have been done by a vet humanely.”
Lindop then replied to his mother: “Won’t find it now like coz burnt it (sic).”
The burned remains of Welsh herder puppy Hades were found on scrubland near a railway line in Horden, County Durham
The charred remains of Hades, a 12 week old Welsh Herder puppy, were also found close to a railway line in an area of scrubland in Hordon, Peterlee, where there were burnt patches on the ground and fragments of Hades’ bones were discovered by the RSPCA.
Lindop claimed in graphic detail that Melrose had killed him whilst Melrose told investigators that Lindop had “hung him from a door until he was brain dead.”
The prosecution said they were unable to say who killed Hades but the method of his death was “sadistic” and involved him being hung from a door and killed with a hammer.
Lindop, whom it was said in court is living with his family in Gainsborough in Lincolnshire, admitted two counts each of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and permitting or failing to stop unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
Melrose admitted two counts each of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, and permitting or failing to stop unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, plus one of causing an animal fight to take place by baiting a chicken with a dog.
In mitigation, the court heard how the pair had challenging backgrounds and it was felt that rehabilitation is possible, given their young age.
Philip Morley, for Lindop, said he was, “not a sophisticated man”, having had “limited education” and is thought to suffer with an undiagnosed learning difficulty.
He said despite that, he has held down a variety of jobs and, “largely kept out of trouble”.
Mr Morley said at one stage Lindop formed a relationship with Melrose which he described as “toxic” and for which there is, now, no prospect of any reconciliation.
“It was clearly an unhealthy relationship for either party and not a good environment for those animals to be kept in.
“He’s deeply sorry and ashamed for what happened.
“The relationship got on top of him and he clearly took his eye off the ball.
“Both have now moved on and he has a new life in Gainsborough, working with his step-father in roofing and window cleaning.”
Mr Morley said, ironically, Lindop has a background of looking after animals and won a number of rosettes for training dogs in his younger days,
But he added that his client does not accept responsibility for the death of Hades, for which he has shown “genuine upset and remorse.”
Aspiring Only Fans skank Melrose shows off her tacky tattoos
Katie Spence, for Melrose, said her previous employment involved working with animals, but the entire experience of what went on during her relationship with Lindop has put her off any future involvement, regardless of the punishment and bars put on her by the court.
“She is extremely remorseful for any behaviour and wishes she had dome more than she did in these circumstances (to prevent it).”
Judge Peter Armstrong also mentioned mental health issues and commented that Lindop was now in a secure relationship with a baby on the way.
He said due to their age, their immaturity, and lack of previous offences, he was “just” able to suspend the inevitable prison sentences on both defendants.
He said, given the volatile relationship the pair were involved in, “I suspect you were taking out your frustrations on these animals in your welfare.”
He said he would not try to pinpoint who was primarily responsible for, “this catalogue of most unpleasant offending.”
Speaking about the case, RSPCA Inspector Clare Wilson, said: “This has been the most challenging case of my career so far and has been extremely distressing to investigate. It is clear that many animals suffered untold pain and mental torture at the hands of these defendants and I am immensely relieved that they will not be permitted to care for animals again for a long time.”
The RSPCA said Dinky was owned by a third party and is doing better now after recovering from her mistreatment. The dogs were brought into the care of RSPCA Felledge Animal Centre in Chester-le-Street where they have now been rehomed.
Sentencing | each were given 16-month prison sentences, suspended for two years. Both will undergo 40 days of rehabilitation and Lindop was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work. Both were disqualified from keeping all animals for 15 years.
CONVICTED (2024) | Jade Taylor, born c. 1996, and Matthew Drake aka Boop Drake, born 23 January 1992, both of Brooklyn Terrace, Brighouse HD6 2PF – did nothing to help their poorly dog who died as a result of their neglect.
Boop Drake and Jade Taylor failed to provide vet treatment for their 10-year-old dog’s flea infestation, which caused an allergic skin reaction .
Jade Taylor and the ridiculously monikered Boop Drake failed to seek veterinary treatment for their ten-year-old Staffordshire bulldog Misha.
She had a flea infestation which caused a severe allergic skin reaction so bad she ended up being put to sleep because of “self trauma from her chewing and scratching at her skin”.
Misha was suffering from a serious skin condition, which included skin reddening and open scratch wounds.
The couple pleaded guilty to one charge of causing unnecessary suffering to the dog under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
RSPCA inspector Adam Dickinson went to the couple’s home on September 17, 2023, to investigate after being tipped off by a member of the public. He found Misha suffering from a serious skin condition, which included skin reddening and open scratch wounds.
The inspector said in a statement presented to the court: “Misha had a lot of missing fur and her skin was tough and wrinkly. It looked quite pink with numerous areas showing fresh blood. She was running around in the yard, frequently scratching her skin.”
Misha was taken to the RSPCA Greater Manchester Animal Hospital where she underwent antibiotic and steroid treatment.
A vet at the hospital said she was extremely itchy, which led to “self trauma from her chewing and scratching at her skin” which was so damaged, it looked like ‘elephant skin’.
After signs of showing an improvement in her condition, Misha developed a gastro-intestinal bleed, which is a potential side effect of steroid treatment.
A 2016 social media image of Misha
Despite the withdrawal of the steroids and treatment with gastroprotectants, her condition worsened and it was decided the best course of action to end her suffering was to put her to sleep.
The court heard the defendants had not taken the dog to see a vet since 2019.
The vet stated: “It should have been clearly evident to the owner that Misha required veterinary assessment and care. She was frequently scratching and chewing at herself which again would be easily noticeable.
“Skin issues were flagged up by the owners’ veterinary surgeon in 2015 and 2019, but the dog was not presented to a vets again after this date. A reasonable owner would have sought veterinary care on seeing their pet with these symptoms.”
The court heard that Boop Drake was receiving therapy for “mental health issues”, while Jade Taylor apparently needed to support her sister, who was a full-time carer for her mother.
Sentencing | 12-month community order with 10 days of rehabilitation; each must pay a victim surcharge of £114 and court costs of £400. Banned from keeping animals for five years (expires February 2029).
CONVICTED (2024) | backyard breeder and wildlife persecutor Gregory Peter Cashmore, born 19 May 1985, of Churchill Road, Cheadle, but with strong family links to Longton Road, Knenhall, Stone, Staffordshire ST15 8TW and the Meir area of Stoke on Trent – allowed dogs to fight and left one so badly injured she had to have a leg amputated above the shoulder; failed to treat dogs injured during organised fights with wild animals.
Cashmore, a violent career criminal whose previous convictions include serious domestic violence and firearm possession, failed to take several injured dogs to vets for treatment. He was prosecuted by the RSPCA following an investigation.
One of the offences related to Star, a blue and fawn female French bulldog, who had been badly hurt while fighting with another dog.
Although Star received initial emergency treatment from a vet she was discharged with her owners failing to follow advice to follow up with further care. As a result, Star lost a leg above the shoulder.
Cashmore, ,whose father Darren Cashmore is a convicted badger baiter, also failed to meet the needs of a dark brindle bull lurcher known as Django and also failed to failed to arrange veterinary examination and treatment for a tan and white bull lurcher known as Thor, both of whom had injuries consistent with wild animal fighting.
In a statement provided to the court, RSPCA officer Jason Bowles, who led the charity’s investigation, said he entered the back garden in March 2022 after securing a police warrant via a side gate and saw a number of well-built kennels in good condition containing dogs.
Cashmore with notorious Stoke breeder and a convicted animal abuser in his own right, Alex Johnson who already has two separate entries on our database here and here. Johnson has rumoured links to dog-fighting rings.
One kennel held Thor, who had scarring to his muzzle and a swollen, inflamed joint to the right front paw.
Another kennel housed Django. He had scarring to his nose and muzzle and a healed lower jaw injury to the left side of his mouth.
Both Thor and Django were seized by police.
Cashmore with former partner Millie Moult. She was also prosecuted in relation to Star and sentenced in August 2023.
The court heard that inspector Bowles was then made aware of an incident on June 17, 2022 involving a French bulldog called Star – who he said he later recognised from being at the property on the day of the warrant. It was confirmed that Star sustained injuries after fighting with another dog.
In a written statement, attending officer Rachel Leafe said she met a woman who showed her Star. She said the dog looked ‘extremely lame on her left foreleg and was hardly weight bearing on it at all’.
She continued: “There was a discoloured fluid around the top of the left foreleg which was running down the leg and chest. The fluid looked very unpleasant. My first thoughts were that the injury looked infected.”
She asked the woman if Star had received veterinary treatment for the injuries and she showed her an email from a pet insurer authorising a claim which was dated June 15. 2022 and an email from a vet who saw and treated Star on June 5. 2022.
Inspector Leafe phoned the vets who confirmed Star was seen and treated – and they gave her initial emergency treatment and recommended that she was admitted for further treatment. However, this advice was not followed. Although it was said that Star went to another vet at a home address – no evidence of this was given.
It was agreed for Star to be taken for a veterinary examination by the RSPCA. After a full vet assessment it was found that she was suffering and was subsequently seized by police and placed into the care of the RSPCA.
In a written statement provided to the court, the vet who examined Star said: “In my experience the combination of staples and stitching present seems unlikely from a qualified experienced vet. The stitches removed of a thick black material, possibly cotton thread rather than recognised modern veterinary suture.
“Although some veterinary medicines (injectable antibiotics) and equipment (stapler) were at the premises it is my understanding that there were no oral medicines in appropriately labelled packaging or proof of veterinary care such as invoices presented to the inspector.
“In view of this, my findings and subsequent developments with the wound it is my professional opinion that this dog has been caused unnecessarily suffering from the June 7, 2022 onwards.
“The failure to seek professional ongoing prompt veterinary care (after the first initial treatment) with ongoing monitoring has resulted in a deep seated infection and bone pathology, directly leading to bone fracture and the necessity for urgent radical surgery.”
Cashmore is a prolific backyard breeder trading under the name Cash Bullyz
The court heard Star remained in intensive care from June 17 to July 4 while staff treated her for multiple infections. Sadly vets could not save her left foreleg which had to be amputated along with her shoulder blade in order for her to be saved. Star has since made a good recovery.
Cashmore flogs an item of equipment commonly used by dog fighters
Cashmore pleaded guilty to three offences under the Animal Welfare Act. In mitigation it was heard that Cashmore has “struggled with his mental health”.
Before being sentenced, Cashmore signed over all three dogs into the RSPCA’s care. Star, Django and Thor, who has been in kennels, can all now be rehomed.
Following the hearing, RSPCA officer Bowles, said: “Star and Django have been in RSPCA foster care and both have been doing really well; Star has adjusted well to life with three legs.
“Despite going through a lot she is such a lovely dog and has really settled in with her foster carers; I’m so pleased she can now start her new life. When you have a pet you are responsible for ensuring they get the correct veterinary attention should they injure themselves or become sick. There’s no excuse for leaving an animal in such pain.”
Sentencing | 22-week custodial term, suspended for 12 months; 20 days of rehabilitation activity; 150 hours of unpaid work; £600 in costs and a £128 victim surcharge. He was banned from keeping all animals for just five years (expires February 2029).
A second person, believed to be Cashmore’s now former partner Millie Moult, was sentenced in August 2023 after pleading guilty to one offence of causing unnecessary suffering by failing to follow veterinary recommendation to seek further professional veterinary treatment for the injuries Star had sustained.
She said she did not own Star or the dogs that caused her injuries and claimed she was told that others would be taking responsibility for Star. She was handed a 12-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work and 10 RAR days and was ordered to pay £300 and a £95 victim surcharge.
In March 2023 Cashmore announced on Facebook that he was now in a relationship with a woman called Lea M Webb. Webb, who appears to be from Sale, Trafford, Greater Manchester. A photo of the happy couple suggested that the pair had at least one thing in common: a love for persecuting wildlife with dogs. Webb’s dog evidently bears scarring to his face, legs and body – all of which are injuries consistent with animal fighting most likely foxes and/or badgers.
Since Cashmore’s current relationship status on Facebook is ‘single’ these two may have gone their separate ways.
Additional Information
Following his animal cruelty conviction, a former neighbour of Greg Cashmore contacted us and alleged the following:
“A couple of years ago Cashmore and his then partner Millie Moult beat a puppy to death with a shovel. A neighbour came outside after hearing a dog screaming and saw them do it. The puppy was only about four weeks old. It looked like they were doing it for fun.
“The neighbour reported what she had seen to police but officers came out a week later, by which time there was no evidence that it had ever happened.
“No other witnesses came forward because everyone’s so scared of him.
“The neighbour was brave to ring police because that Greg is a full-on psychopath. He’s got a gun and tried shooting someone before.
“He is the type to set fire to his house with his own kids inside just to make a point.
“He pushed his ex, who he has two children with, down stairs while she had a new-born baby in her arms.
“He always gets off lightly because he makes a deal with the prosecution and grasses up drug dealers.”
CONVICTED (2024) | Colin Birch, born c 1956, of Auden Close, Clayton, Manchester M11 4WD – for the mistreatment of several reptiles.
Birch was found guilty in his absence of two offences. The first – which took place in February 2022 – involved the neglect of three iguanas and a spiny-tailed lizard; while the other involved the neglect of five further iguanas in June 2022.
The RSPCA first visited Birch’s flat in February 2022 after concerns were raised about the welfare of ‘lizards’ in the property.
The RSPCA officer – accompanied by police – entered the property and found three iguanas and a lizard being kept in very worrying conditions.
One of the iguanas was roaming free around the dangerously cluttered and overheated flat and another two iguanas plus a spiny-tailed lizard were crammed into a very small fish tank with only rotten or dried up food.
There was no source of UV (crucial to the health of iguanas), no temperature controls and no thermometer.
Given these conditions, the police seized all four reptiles and after being checked by a vet, the RSPCA organised for them to be cared for at a specialist boarding establishment.
In June 2022, the RSPCA was called back to the same property – now unoccupied – to check on five more iguanas who had been left alone to fend for themselves in the flat.
This time, two very young iguanas were found in a pet carrier, one adult was found in a fish tank with no access to drinking water, and two were found roaming loose in the hazardous flat.
Again, the animals had no access to UV or appropriate food or water.
These additional five iguanas were also taken away to be safely cared for in a specialist boarding establishment.
A specialist in exotic pets was provided with photographs from both incidents and stated that the property was full of potential dangers, and the tanks were not not the right size to provide an appropriate environment for these types of animals.
From the February incident, there were too many animals in one tank. In addition, the temperature and humidity required for the reptiles’ needs would not have been met.
RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer, Dan Tomlinson said: “Pet reptiles rely on their owners to provide an environment in which their welfare needs are met, which sadly didn’t happen in this case, even after detailed advice was offered to the defendant.
“The needs of exotics can be challenging to meet by members of the public because the pet animals’ needs are just the same as they would be if they lived in the wild and require conditions that can be difficult to replicate in a home.
“The RSPCA advises that prospective owners of exotic pets should thoroughly research the needs of the particular species and what is required in the care of the animal, using expert sources, and only consider keeping one if they can ensure they are fully able to provide for these needs.”
He added: “Every year, my colleagues and I are called out to rescue many hundreds of exotic pets which have been neglected or abandoned. These are wild animals and meeting their needs in captivity can be incredibly challenging. We believe that people may buy exotic pets with little idea of how difficult they can be to keep. They often end up in our care after people realise they’re not easy to care for, or once the novelty wears off and the commitment hits home.”
Exotic pet owners need to make sure they can give their animal the environment it needs and that they have the facilities, time, financial means and long-term commitment to maintain a good standard of care, as required under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Sentencing | nine-month community order with 15 days of rehabilitation activity; fine of £100 and a victim surcharge of £95. Banned from owning animals for five years (expires February 2029).
CONVICTED (2024) | Simon Thomas, born 29 August 1982, of 1 Pembury Place, Hackney, London E5 8LX – caught on camera repeatedly beating an XL Bully with a shovel.
Horrific footage captured by a resident on Wednesday 8 November 2023 showed a man, later identified as Simon Thomas, repeatedly striking the young dog in the head with a large tool in a rear garden at a block of flats.
Volunteers from XL Bully Rescue and Foundation went to the animal’s aid. They were joined at the scene by police officers.
The dog, whom rescuers named Zeus, was taken by police to an animal hospital where he was treated for severe head injuries, bleed to the brain, smashed teeth and fractured ribs.
Thomas later handed himself into into a police station and was ultimately charged with animal cruelty.
Traumatised but friendly Zeus, who was only around 8 months old, was euthanised by police because of breed
Zeus, seemingly good-natured despite his ordeal, was initially held in police kennels pending their investigation, but was ultimately put to sleep because of his breed.
In court Thomas pleaded not guilty, with his defence being based on claims that he was not identifiable in the video footage. He was convicted after a short trial, however.
His sentencing hearing was on 2 February 2024.
Despite public outrage over the sadistic cruelty inflicted on a helpless animal and a Lady Freethinker petition urging the British justice system to impose an appropriate sentence on Thomashe walked free with his sole punishment a contribution towards costs and a ONE-year ban on keeping dogs.
A Met Police spokesperson said: “After a viral video of a man beating a dog, Ace, with a shovel, Status Dogs Unit officers arrested and charged a male. He was remanded and pleaded not guilty.
“At trial the charge was altered to a Section 4 (2) person responsible for allowing suffering, as he claimed it wasn’t him hitting the dog. He admitted that the dog was his.”
Speaking about the case animal rescue volunteers said that the brutal attack on Zeus was one of the worst things they’d ever witnessed.
The group said that the abandonment and abuse of XL Bullies had skyrocketed off the back of the UK Government’s banning of the breed, which was announced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in September 2023.
One volunteer said: “Because [XL Bullies] are on the banned list, people are getting rid of them and this is where they’re ending up. There are loads more like him out there.”
The group said the government’s pledge to ban the breed had immediately sparked a rise in the dogs being abandoned and abused, with some owners threatened they will be evicted if they do not get rid of their dogs.
They said that many had been given away for free leading to them ending up in the hands of “the wrong people”.
One volunteer, who said rescues like theirs were overwhelmed, broke into tears as she described some of the cases they had been dealing with. She said: “We seized one from police last Monday that had been chained up outside and beaten.
“Yesterday we had two cases where they were thrown out of a car and abandoned.”
Sadly it is growing increasingly difficult to find safe places for the dogs.
“We are full,” the rescuer said. “No kennels are taking them now. Where do these animals go?
“There are hundreds and hundreds of XL Bullies suffering, and being put to sleep, and being abandoned.
“If something does not happen now, we are going to be seeing much, much more of this. This is absolute animal brutality.”
On the rise in attacks by the breed, she said: “It is not the dogs, it is the owners.
“These are dogs that are being beaten, severely abused, and when we take them after two days they are a completely different dog.
“They show no aggression, they don’t want to harm anybody, they just want you to love them.”
Sentencing | contribution towards costs. 12-month ban on keeping dogs (expires February 2025).
CONVICTED (2024) | Nicola O’Neill, born 10 February 1984, and James McWilliams, born c. 2003, of Felden Place, Newtownabbey BT36 7FL – for the neglect and starvation of nine filthy bull-terriers who resorted to eating another already dead dog.
Evil backyard breeders James McWilliams and Nicola O’Neill abandoned 10 dogs with one being eaten by the others after dying
Mother and son Nicola O’Neill and James McWilliams admitted failures to ensure the needs of the severely malnourished animals were met but blamed a lack of money.
In March 2022 an animal welfare officer from Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council attended the family home on the outskirts of north Belfast to investigate a report that a dead dog was being eaten by others.
The officer discovered a mixture of puppies and full-grown dogs, some severely underweight and kept in filthy pens without access to bedding or water.
“Through the fencing she could see a dead dog on the ground that appeared to be half-eaten,” prosecution counsel said.
Five pups, believed to be American XL Bully breeds, were being held in a crate in the kitchen area, covered in urine and faeces and with their ribs and spines clearly visible.
Some other dogs were in the back garden, close to the dead bull terrier.
Based on post-mortem examination and a lack of blood spattering on the ground, prosecutors believe he had already died when the others began to eat the remains.
All nine surviving dogs were seized and examined by the Council’s vet.
McWilliams later told the welfare officer he did not usually live at the property, but had previously helped his mother take care of the dogs.
He also claimed they were struggling for money to feed the animals.
Counsel added: “Before this incident he was advertising six-week old American XL Bully pups for sale on Facebook, believed to be the five puppies that were seized at the time.
With the costs of caring for the remaining animals now in excess of £2,000, they are all still alive and have gained significant weight since their seizure.
Defence barrister Jonathan Browne acknowledged the circumstances were “deeply unpleasant”.
“Any right-thinking member of the public will find the facts truly abhorrent,” he said.
Mr Browne told the court the dogs had belonged to O’Neill’s late husband James McWilliams Sr – a prominent member of paramilitary group the Irish National Liberation Army. The court heard that he lived elsewhere but visited every day to tend to the dogs.
After McWilliams Sr’s sudden death in August 2021 O’Neill “neglected to look after the dogs”.
He added that James McWilliams Jr had an emotional bond with the animals and felt that giving them away would be a disservice to his late father’s memory.
“It’s a romantic notion, but in reality it costs money,” Mr Browne submitted.
“He found himself wanting to care for them but financially not able to.”
Urging District Judge George Conner not to send either defendant to jail, Mr Browne predicted they will carry the stigma of offences with them for the rest of their lives.
Judge Conner told them: “For those who enter a responsibility to look after animals, a very high standard (is required).
“Unfortunately in this case you both failed very badly.”
Sentencing |
Nicola O’Neill: four-month custodial suspended for a year; £250 towards costs. James McWilliams: 100 hours of community service; £599 costs. Both are banned from keeping dogs for 10 years.
