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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo