Clynton Nicolas Hagen, who violently shook a chihuahua to death, causing a fatal brain haemorrhage.
Case Summary
Chihuahua Ollie died on 15 June 2024 after being violently shaken by his owner’s then‑partner, Clynton Nicolas Hagen, inside their home in East Calder.
A post‑mortem confirmed Ollie suffered a fatal brain haemorrhage caused by extreme force.
Ollie, the tiny chihuahua whose life was taken by violent shaking inside his home in East Calder.
Hagen pled guilty to causing unnecessary suffering resulting in death. Despite the severity of the violence, he received only unpaid work and a five‑year ban on owning animals. No prison sentence was imposed.
Offender Overview
Name: Clynton Nicolas Hagen Born: 19 April 1994 Age at Conviction:32 Last Known Address: East Calder, West Lothian (previously Craiglockhart Terrace, Edinburgh EH14 1XH) Occupation: Company director Previous Convictions: None known Additional Information: South African national; sole director of CH Automotive & Offshore Ltd (SC737950), incorporated July 2022, with overdue filings and no visible trading activity
Incident Details
On 15 June 2024, chihuahua Ollie was violently killed inside the home he shared with his owner, Kara Davies, and her then‑partner Clynton Hagen.
Kara left for work that morning. An hour later, Hagen called her and told her to come home because “something had happened to Ollie.” When she arrived, Hagen placed Ollie in her arms. Ollie was limp, unresponsive, and not breathing.
South African Hagen avoided prison despite admitting to killing Ollie through violent shaking.
Kara and her father rushed him to the vet, where desperate attempts were made to resuscitate him — but Ollie could not be saved.
A post‑mortem examination revealed the truth: Ollie had been violently shaken to death, suffering a fatal brain haemorrhage caused by extreme force.
Ollie, deeply loved by his owner Kara Davies, who relied on him for comfort and strength after surviving cancer.
The Scottish SPCA attended Hagen’s address after Kara reported her concerns. Their investigation confirmed that Hagen’s actions caused immense suffering and a traumatic, violent death.
Kara, a cancer survivor, who relied on Ollie for emotional strength, has been left devastated. Ollie was her companion, her comfort, her safe place — and Hagen took him from her in the most brutal way imaginable.
Sentence
Court: Livingston Sheriff Court Date: 13 August 2026
Penalty:
Five‑year ban on owning or keeping animals
250 hours of unpaid work
No prison sentence imposed
Mitigation: None of substance. Hagen pled guilty.
Scottish SPCA Statement
Reacting to the sentencing, the Scottish inspector said: “We welcome the Sheriff’s decision. Hagen’s violent actions caused immense suffering to Ollie and left his owner devastated.
“He should never be allowed to take care of an animal again and a ban will help ensure he never does at least for the next five years. “
Connor James Stewart, who kept three dogs starving and living in extreme filth inside his Livingston flat.
Summary
Three dogs — Dobermans Ammo and Karma, and Staffie Kya — were found starving, dehydrated and living in extreme squalor inside Connor Stewart’s flat.
The living room inside Stewart’s flat — torn furniture, debris, filth and hazardous conditions where the dogs were forced to live.
Floors were thick with faeces, rooms soaked in urine, smashed glass scattered throughout, broken furniture everywhere, and shock collars charging in the kitchen.
Stewart fled with two dogs when confronted by inspectors. He was fined £200 and banned from owning animals for five years.
Offender Overview
Name: Connor James Stewart
Born: 30 November 1997
Age at Conviction: 28
Last Known Address: 19 Hazel Grove, Livingston EH54 5JW
Occupation: Backyard Doberman breeder; former director of The Tug Doctor 24/7 Recoveries Ltd (company now dissolved)
Previous Convictions: None known
Additional Information: Fled with two dogs during SSPCA intervention; deprivation order issued for Ammo and Karma
Incident Details
Scottish SPCA inspectors attended Stewart’s flat in December 2023 after concerns were raised about the welfare of three dogs in his care. The stench was detectable through the letterbox before entry.
Inside, inspectors found:
floors soaked in urine
thick layers of faeces, some moulding
smashed glass across rooms
broken furniture
shock collars charging in the kitchen
empty, bone‑dry food and water bowls
A Doberman puppy moments after being removed from Stewart’s flat — dehydrated, underweight and desperate for water.
Dobermans Ammo and Karma, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier Kya, were all underweight, dehydrated, and suffering from neglect. Ammo’s ribs and hips were clearly visible; nails were overgrown. Kya drank desperately when offered water.
Stewart arrived at the flat, removed two dogs, and fled — resulting in a deprivation order for Ammo and Karma. Kya was taken for veterinary care.
The SSPCA described the conditions as “some of the worst the inspector had found animals living in.”
Sentence
Court: Livingston Sheriff Court
Date: 15 July 2026
Penalty: £200 fine
Mitigation: None recorded
Disqualification: 5‑year ban on owning or keeping animals (expires July 2031)
Victims
Ammo
Breed: Doberman
Age: Unknown
Condition: Underweight, ribs and hips visible, overgrown nails
Fate: Subject to deprivation order
Karma
Breed: Doberman
Age: Unknown
Condition: Underweight, dehydrated
Fate: Subject to deprivation order
Kya
Breed: Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Age: Unknown
Condition: Severely dehydrated, smelled strongly of urine and faeces
Fate: Taken into SSPCA care
Additional Information:
Fled with two dogs during SSPCA intervention; deprivation order issued.
Stewart promoted dog‑walking services while neglecting his own dogs.
As recently as January 2026 he publicly advertised dog walking and training services (“Northern Strides Dog Walking & Training”) despite keeping his own dogs in squalid, starving conditions.
CONVICTED (2026) | Kudzai Mukahadzi, born November 1996, of Glasgow Road, Bathgate, EH48 2AJ – neglected two dogs by leaving one tethered to a radiator with an embedded collar wound and keeping the other confined in a bare cage.
Mukahadzi pictured in this 2012 photograph, shared for identification purposes
Zimbabwean national Mukahadzi received a five‑year ban on owning dogs and community payback order for failing to provide veterinary treatment, an adequate diet, and a suitable living environment for his two dogs, Shadow and Bruno.
In March 2024, Mukahadzi contacted the Scottish SPCA Animal Helpline seeking to rehome the dogs.
When inspectors attended his West Lothian property, they were met with a foul, rotting‑flesh smell coming from the living room where both dogs were being kept.
Shadow, a Staffy cross, was found tied to a radiator. Once untethered, she approached inspectors, who saw a large wound on her neck where her collar had become embedded into her skin.
Mukahadzi became defensive when questioned, claiming he had contacted a vet but could not afford treatment and had not pursued any care.
Bruno, an American Bulldog, was being kept in a cage covered by a sheet. Inside, inspectors found only a plastic tray liner and no bedding, leaving the dog confined in stark conditions.
Both animals were removed due to serious welfare concerns and taken for veterinary assessment. A vet confirmed that Shadow required immediate treatment for her neck wound.
A Scottish SPCA Inspector said: “Mukahadzi failed to provide even the most basic standards of care for Shadow and Bruno.
“He also failed to seek the necessary veterinary treatment for a significant wound on Shadow’s neck, caused by her being tethered to a radiator with an ill‑fitting collar.
“Both dogs were clearly suffering, and I am extremely relieved that we were able to remove them from those conditions.”
Sentencing | 90 hours of unpaid work. A five‑year ban on owning dogs (expires June 2031).
CONVICTED (2026) | violent career criminal Daniel Springer born c. 1985, originally from Streatham, London, but with a last known address of Pennywell Gardens, Muirhouse, Edinburgh EH4 – launched a vicious attack on a defenceless dog.
Springer, whose previous convictions include manslaughter, admitted to the brutal abuse of his dog, a Staffy called Angel.
The attack took place in Pennywell Gardens, Edinburgh, on 18 January 2024. As well as being caught on CCTV, it was witnessed by a member of the public, who alerted the Scottish SPCA.
A Scottish SPCA Inspector attended the property and later reviewed the CCTV footage. This showed Springer repeatedly kicking and verbally abusing Angel before going inside the building. He’s then seen in the lift yanking her off the ground by her paw and stamping on her.
The Inspector said: “Angel can be seen attempting to give her paw to Daniel Springer, showing loyalty and affection. In return, he grabs her leg, uses it to lift her up off the ground and stamps on her.
“There is no dispute that Springer acted cruelly, and unjustifiably in an unprovoked manner.
“He tormented Angel, abused her, and caused her unnecessary suffering both in a physical and mental capacity. She was visibly fearful; I have no doubt this has been a repeat occurrence.”
Given the extreme violence captured in the video, the Inspector immediately removed Angel from the property. Springer reacted aggressively, making it impossible to conduct an interview at the scene.
Despite numerous attempts to contact Springer, no further engagement was made, and Angel was later signed over into the care of the Scottish SPCA, where she received the care and affection she deserved.
The Inspector added: “We are pleased with the Sheriff’s decision. Springer failed Angel on the most basic welfare requirements – to be free from pain, fear, and distress. It is clear animals are not safe in his care.
Just two months after abusing Angel, Springer carried out a violent assault on a man, resulting in a separate seven-year custodial sentence in March 2026.
Prior to these offences, Springer had already served a 12-year prison term for manslaughter in London.
Sentencing | eight-month custodial. No mention of a ban.
CONVICTED (2026) | Mark Redford, born 6 August 1990, of Moncrieffe House, Moredunvale Bank, Edinburgh EH17 7JU but with family links to Lasswade, Midlothian – repeatedly hit, kicked and stamped on a young Golden Retriever.
A Scottish SPCA inspector attended Redford’s property on January 25, 2024 to investigate an allegation of dog abuse received by the charity’s Animal Helpline.
Star was physically unharmed but, according to vet, would’ve experienced stress and fear during the vicious attack by Mark Redford.
CCTV footage showed Redford physically abusing one-year-old Golden Retriever Star in the lift and corridor of the building. The video showed Redford repeatedly kicking, hitting and swinging the dog around, causing her to lose control of her bladder.
He is also seen yanking and lifting Star in the air on multiple occasions and later stamping on the retriever’s head.
Spot
Scottish SPCA Inspector June Chalcroft, said: “It was beyond heart-breaking to see Star be subject to such abuse. It was unnecessary brutal behaviour that left the poor dog terrified. No responsible owner would think carrying out such severe attacks is a suitable way to treat an animal.”
Inspector Chalcroft removed Star from the property, along with a second dog in Redford’s care – a Jack Russell named Spot.
Redford claimed he was only looking after the dogs, as they originally belonged to his siblings.
Star and Spot were taken to a vet in Loanhead for examination. While both dogs were found to be physically healthy, the vet stressed the attacks would’ve caused Star significant distress and fear.
The vet said: “The video shows what appears to be unprovoked and inappropriate handling of the one-year-old Golden Retriever. This includes excessive force applied to a lead secured to the animal’s neck, striking of the animal, and standing on the animal.
“In my professional opinion the actions displayed in the video had the potential to cause serious bodily harm to the animal. It is also of my opinion that these actions would have caused undue fear and distress to both dogs as well as causing unnecessary suffering.”
Following the vet examination, both dogs were transported to the Scottish SPCA’s Edinburgh and Lothian Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre at Balerno.
The Society then contacted Redford’s siblings, who ultimately signed both dogs into the care of the Scottish SPCA.
Reacting to the sentencing, June Chalcroft said: “We are pleased with the Sheriff’s decision. Redford’s extensive abuse caused both serious physical and psychological harm to the animal.
“This sentencing will send a clear message that animal cruelty and neglect will not be tolerated in Scotland.”
Sentencing | £590 fine. Five-year ban (expires April 2031).
CONVICTED (2026) | Dean Mackay, born 27 March 1988, with a most recent known address of Fernieflat Neuk, Calders, Edinburgh EH11 4NJ, and accomplice Daniel Devlin, born c. 1988, with a most recent known address of Woodhall Drive, Juniper Green, Edinburgh EH14 5BT – beat a dog to death with a metal pole in vile revenge attack against her owner.
Edinburgh men Dean Mackay (left) and Danny Devlin brutally killed a Geman Shepherd in a twisted act of revenge against her owner.
Mackay and Devlin launched the savage attack on the female German Shepherd named Goldie after they chased the animal’s owner Kyle Pugh into a local shop on 31 May 2024.
The vicious attack was caught on CCTV.
Mackay kicked the dog to the body before killing her by smashing her over the head with the metal pole resulting in the pet suffering a broken neck.
Mackay and Devlin then fled before police officers – including an armed response team – raced to the scene and sealed off the area surrounding the supermarket.
Danny Devlin failed to show up for his sentencing hearing.
Devlin was traced and arrested soon after, while Mackay handed himself in to a local police station four days later.
The pair pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by approaching Kyle Pugh while in possession of a hammer and a knife at Calder Park in Edinburgh when they appeared in court in March 2026.
Dean Mackay is banned from having animals for the rest of his worthless life.
Mackay admitted causing an animal unnecessary suffering by kicking the dog on the body, striking her on the head with a metal pole causing her death during the incident on May 31, 2024.
Allegations of striking the dog with a knife and a claw hammer were deleted from the charge*.
Prosecutor Rachel Hill told the court Mr Pugh was attending the Premier Store with his two Alsatians, Goldie and Buddy, at around 3.30pm on May 31, 2024.
Ms Hill said Mackay was seen “shouting, swearing and making threats” towards the man while Devlin aggressively confronted him while “carrying a plastic knife and claw hammer”.
Mr Pugh managed to take refuge inside the store and “both accused have left for a short time before returning” to the area. The fiscal said: “When the accused Mackay returned he was in possession of a metal pole and kicked the dog Goldie before swinging the metal pole down, striking the dog Goldie to the head, causing her death.”
The court heard shocked shopkeepers who witnessed the attack had “activated the panic alarm to alert the police” and Mackay and Devlin fled the scene.
Police officers including armed response and a dog unit descended on the estate and sealed off the supermarket and a vet from a local practice was requested to attend.
Ms Hill said: “The [vet] has inspected Goldie and found no puncture wound to the body although there was instability to the neck vertebrae suggesting the blunt force trauma during the incident resulted in a broken neck.”
During a police interview Mackay told officers: “He set his dug (sic) on me, he said to the dug ‘get um’.
“So aye I admit I got the pole and hit the dug.”
Mackay returned to the dock for sentencing on Friday 10 April 2026.
Solicitor Addison Baker for Mackay told the court her unemployed client had “not intended to cause the dog’s death”.
Sheriff Alison Stirling said: “You have to accept you have pled guilty to two extremely serious offences. You struck an Alsatian dog and killed it and you did that in a public place.
“There is no option other than custody.”
McKay was jailed for 27 months and given a lifetime ban on keeping or owning animals.
Sheriff Stirling added: “The purpose of the disqualification is for the future protection of animals.”
Devlin failed to appear for sentencing and a non-appearance warrant has been issued.
Sentencing | Dean Mackay: jailed for 27 months. Lifetime ban on keeping or owning animals. Daniel Devlin: sentencing to follow if he can be bothered to show up for court.
Original news reports stated that Kyle Pugh and his dogs were chased by FOUR men who were said to be “wielding hammers and steak knives”.
A report in the Daily Record dated 5 June 2024 stated that both dogs were “stabbed, slashed and bludgeoned with hammers”.
One eyewitness told the Record: “This was terrifying. There were at least four young men – all dressed in black and with masks – chasing one guy and his two dogs all around the Calders estate.
“They were tooled up with hammers and knives.
“They cornered the guy at a local shop and he managed to sort of close the door and barricade himself inside
“But these two Alsatian dogs were still outside the shop trying to protect their owner.
“That’s when the gang decided to set about the dogs.
“One was stabbed to death and the other looked touch and go.
“I live nearby and I can tell you people are disgusted and shocked that this happened in broad daylight.
“This was a row of busy shops in the middle of the estate and there were kids around looking on. It’s horrific.”
One of the gang members appeared to film the incident on his mobile phone.
A second witness said: “I was waiting in the queue when a man came running in with his two dogs saying he was being chased by four guys.
“All of a sudden the four men came storming in carrying large knives and metal bars.
“What happened next will live with me for the rest of my life.
“The men started beating the man and then when he jumped behind the counter they began attacking his two dogs.
“The dogs were barking but one of the guys just plunged a knife into one the Alsatian’s neck and slashed the face of the other one.
“They were battering the dogs with metal bars too.
“The first dog just slumped to the ground and was making gurgling noises and the four guys just ran away.
“Who does that to two dogs in broad daylight? It is just sickening.
“There was a group of children in there at the time too, but we managed to usher them out of the shop before they could really see anything.
“I tried to help the dog but as soon as I got to it I knew it was dead.
“Its eyes were glazed over and there was blood everywhere.
“It was a total bloodbath in there.
“The dog owner was inconsolable when he realised the dog was dead and I heard he rushed the other dog to a local vets because it had serious injuries to its face and head.
“There’s rumours the gang had beef with the guy for the past couple of nights but nobody deserves that happening to them.
“There are plenty of cameras in the shop, and the men were not wearing masks so they should be easily identifiable.”
While one dog, Goldie, was pronounced dead at the scene, the second dog, Buddy, had life-threatening injuries and was rushed to a vet for emergency treatment. It is believed he or she survived.
Update | 8 May 2026
Daniel Devlin was given a 12-month cudtodial sentence, backdated to his remand date of April 11, 2026.
The court heard that Devlin took part in the horror attack by brandishing a knife and a claw hammer at Kyle Pugh during the incident in May 2024.
Devlin pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by approaching Kyle Pugh while in possession of a hammer and a knife.
While accomplice Dean Mackay also admitted to a charge of causing an animal unnecessary suffering, Devlin has not been convicted of animal cruelty. Allegations that Goldie was struck with a knife and a claw hammer were deleted from the charge. He is not, therefore, banned from keeping animals.
CONVICTED (2026) | kitten farmers Deborah June Hopwood, born June 1976, and son Clayton Hopwood, born July 1999, previously of Glendevon Lodge, Faucheldean, Winchburgh, Broxburn EH52 6PS and with links to East Craigs, Edinburgh EH12 – kept 12 malnourished and dehydrated kittens in a dark and dirty shed.
Clayton Hopwood and his mother kept cats and kittens in cramped, unclean spaces. Some had ear mite infestations, others were forced to breathe in strong ammonia fumes from filthy conditions in sheds with no windows or ventilation.
Clayton Hopwood, former owner/operator of Glendevon Poultry, and his mother, a co-director of Edinburgh firm Avante Media Ltd, pleaded guilty to failing to meet the needs of the 12 cats. Clayton Hopwood also admitted breeding kittens without the required licence.
Much to the disappointment of the Scottish SPCA, who investigated the case, Clayton Hopwood received a paltry fine and woeful eight-month ban on dealing in animals while his mother was merely admonished.
On October 18, 2024, the Scottish SPCA visited the pair’s address – a substantial rural property, which has since been sold for around £700,000 – after receiving a call to their helpline from a concerned member of the public who had purchased a kitten from Clayton Hopwood.
All of the kittens the buyer saw at the property appeared to have diarrhoea and smelled strongly of faeces. The kitten became very unwell within hours of being taken home and was taken to a vet.
The online advert had described the kittens as 15 weeks old, but the vet estimated she was closer to five weeks old.
Malnourished, dehydrated, and gravely ill, this kitten’s short life ended in heartbreak when her condition quickly deteriorated.
The tiny kitten was found to be malnourished, dehydrated and had a body condition score of 1/5, indicating a severe lack of food or significant underlying disease.
Very sadly, her health deteriorated rapidly and she had to be put to sleep.
A Scottish SPCA Inspector made a number of visits to the Hopwoods’ home requesting contact be made to discuss the matter.
When Clayton Hopwood finally responded, he claimed that he and his mother, who traded under the name Glendevon Kittens, were hobby breeders and had bred three litters that year.
Hopwood agreed to a visit and all remaining kittens were found to be healthy at this time.
An Animal Welfare Notice was issued advising Hopwood to ensure that no animal was sold when unwell. The notice also explained the licensing and welfare requirements that breeders should meet, with any trader who breeds three or more litters a year being required to register with their local council.
In May 2025, another call was made to the Scottish SPCA Animal Helpline by a potential buyer who flagged concerns that several litters of kittens were being advertised by Clayton Hopwood.
The buyer had visited the premises and been shown kittens who smelled strongly of urine and faeces.
The Scottish SPCA attended with a West Lothian Council Enforcement Officer and were met by Deborah Hopwood.
She showed them a small dog cage which was housing one adult cat and two kittens. The litter tray inside the cage was dirty and the water bowl was empty.
Hopwood insisted there were no more cats at the property but the Scottish SPCA inspector found four more adult cats and a further litter of ragdoll kittens in dark, unclean and poorly ventilated sheds and chicken coops within the detached property’s spacious grounds.
The smell of ammonia within the sheds was pungent and there were no windows allowing the animals any natural light.
The space allocated to the number of cats in the sheds was described as barely adequate.
In total, 12 cats were discovered at the address, four of whom were suffering from moderate to severe ear mite infestations.
All the cats were taken into the care of the Scottish SPCA and have since recovered and been rehomed.
An Scottish SPCA Inspector said: “I am very disappointed with the sentencing in this case.
“The Hopwoods did not appear to lack the resources to provide their animals with a good quality of life, with ample land at their property to ensure the cats had sufficient space.
“This was a lucrative business with the pedigree kittens being advertised for more than £1,000 each. It appeared that very little of this profit was being spent on the welfare or wellbeing of the cats.
“A complete ban on owning, keeping and breeding animals would have removed the potential for this to happen again. The Hopwoods could have bred cats to a much better welfare standard but chose to keep them in dark, dirty sheds with no human interaction or even natural light”.
Sentencing |
Clayton Hopwood: fined £730 plus victim surcharge. Banned from dealing in animals for eight months (expires November 2026 – just in time for Christmas). Deborah Hopwood: admonishment.
CONVICTED (2025) | Keenan Watson, born 4 September 1998, from Pilton, Edinburgh EH4* – starved and neglected the needs of a dog and her eight tiny puppies.
Watson, who is originally from North London, admitted causing one adult dog and eight puppies unnecessary suffering by failing to provide them with an adequate diet or veterinary care.
The animals were found to be significantly malnourished when they were rescued following a month of monitoring by the Scottish SPCA back in 2023.
Calls were received to the charity’s helpline after dogs were heard yelping from within the property. A Scottish SPCA Inspector attended in March 2023
Watson was given advice on a suitable feeding schedule for the dogs and advised to seek veterinary attention. The Inspector told Watson that they would return in a week to follow up but was unable to reach him despite repeated attempts
When Watson finally made contact, he left an abusive message with the Scottish SPCA helpline for the Inspector.
A warrant was executed by the Scottish SPCA and Police Scotland in April 2023 and the nine dogs were discovered in the bathtub with the shower running.
Prior to opening the door, Watson was seen wearing latex gloves and heard to be using a vacuum cleaner.
The dog cage in the living room contained one puppy pad which was heavily soiled with urine and faeces. No other bedding was provided.
The adult dog and her eight puppies, aged between just eight and nine weeks old, were taken for urgent veterinary examination.
The five-year-old crossbreed dog was categorised by a vet as emaciated with no visible body fat, bald patches and multiple bones visible. The vet concluded that mum and all of her litter were of an unacceptably low body condition score of just 1/9.
One puppy was suffering from such a significant underbite that his teeth were causing trauma to his lower palate. Others were found to have heart murmurs, an umbilical hernia and swollen abdomens.
The vet established that Watson had failed to provide an adequate diet for his pets and failed to seek veterinary care, despite being advised to do so by a Scottish SPCA Inspector.
Speaking after the court hearing, Scottish SPCA Inspector Fiona Thorburn said: “We are pleased with the outcome and the court’s decision.
“Keenan Watson failed to follow the advice that had been given to him and left an abusive message with the Scottish SPCA Helpline. He repeatedly failed to engage with the Scottish SPCA and was given the opportunity to seek vet advice or remedy his female dog’s poor body condition after our initial visit but instead continued to chronically underfeed his dogs.
“Issuing a ban on custody of animals is the only way to ensure this does not happen to any other animals.”
Sentencing | 90 hours of unpaid work, 13-week restriction of liberty order. Five-year ban from owning, keeping and controlling all animals (expires November 2030).
*we are advised via an anonymous source that Keenan Watson lives in either Inchcolm Court, West Pilton Grove, Pilton, Edinburgh EH4 4BZ or Inchgarvie Court, Ferry Road Drive, Edinburgh EH4 4DA.
The source also alleges the following:
“[Watson] is a known crack and heroin dealer in the area and already known by police and had multiple charges for dealing as well as this animal abuse and has never once been put in jail.
“People are saying he has police protection because it doesn’t make sense the amount of times he’s been caught dealing drugs and abusing animals as well as having multiple rape and domestic abuse against woman charges too.”
CONVICTED (2025) | prolific and unscrupulous backyard breeders Paul Robertson, born 1 April 1986, and Alexander Myers, born 16 February 1994 based in Edinburgh – ran an unlicensed ‘canine fertility clinic’ from a shed.
Appearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court were Paul Robertson, co-owner with partner Fiona Wilson of Braveheartbullyz, and her son Alexander ‘Ally’ Myers. Wilson wasn’t prosecuted despite her promoting the puppies in various Facebook posts.
Myers ran a dog breeding and fertility clinic operation out of the family home, despite holding no breeder’s licence and not being registered as a veterinary practice.
Birthday collage of Ally Myers shared on Facebook by his mother Fiona Wilson. She is pictured with him in the top image.
A shed was used as a makeshift canine fertility centre where procedures such as artificial insemination, drawing of blood from to monitor ovulation and microchipping were performed by an unqualified individual.
Police Scotland alerted the Scottish SPCA after attending the property on an unrelated matter and raising concerns for the welfare of the dogs.
Fiona Wilson flogs chow chow puppies on Facebook for her partner and son.
A Scottish SPCA Inspector said: “There was an overwhelming stench of faeces and urine coming from the kennels and shed areas. The sheds were dark, poorly ventilated and coated in faeces. In total, 32 dogs were found at the residence. Three were living in the house as pets, while the remainder were kept in unsanitary kennels.”
Triage examinations revealed multiple health concerns including
Ocular disease
Dermatological disease
Musculoskeletal disease
Respiratory disorders
One dog, a female French Bulldog named Miss Piggy, was found collapsed, shivering, and with fresh wounds to her ears and face.
Miss Piggy had been left with an array of painful health conditions but had never been seen by a vet. She was too poorly to be saved.
She also had an untreated ingrown toenail embedded into her paw. Despite urgent efforts, Miss Piggy’s condition was too advanced and she was euthanised to prevent further suffering.
A further five dogs had to be euthanised due to their poor condition. Both parties plead not guilty to these charges and no convictions were made in respect to them.
The inspector added “We respect the court’s decision but are disappointed the sentencing was not stronger. Even so, this case is a step in the right direction in highlighting the risks of unregulated fertility clinics and the neglect of animal welfare that so often accompanies them.”
“Robertson and Myers have failed to ensure the welfare of the many dogs in their care and we are increasingly seeing people operating fertility clinics from their homes.
“These clinics are completely unregulated, pose serious risks to animal welfare. In some cases, animals are seriously injured after having blood drawn by unqualified individuals.”
Sentencing | Robertson: £270 fine. Myers: 180-hour community payback order; £90 fine. Banned from owning dogs for three years (expires September 2028).
CONVICTED (2025) | Richard Douglas Montgomery, born February 1963, of 90E High Street, North Berwick EH39 4HE – terrorised seal pups with a large wooden stick.
Richard Montgomery
Montgomery, sole director of golf hospitality firms Montgomery Golf Ltd and Monty’s Golf Tours and according to his website bio a “deep sea diver”, used an eight foot fence post to “prod and push” the vulnerable animals back into the sea at the harbour in North Berwick.
Prosecutor Iain Batho told the court the two seal pups, aged between six and eight weeks old, were being monitored by a member of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue for around one week before the incident.
Mr Batho explained to the court when seal pups leave their mother they usually find dry land for a short time where they have to shed their baby fur before they can safely re-enter the sea.
One of the two seal pups harassed by North Berwick man Richard Montgomery.
At around 3.25pm on November 24, 2024, Montgomery had been cycling past the area when he stopped and approached the seal pups .
Mr Batho said Montgomery picked up the fence post and use it to “prod and push” one of the seal pups towards the edge of the harbour walkway forcing it to jump eight to 10 feet into the water.
Montgomery then used the large stick to push the second seal from under a bench and the court was told “the seal attempted to run away but was pursued by the accused”.
The fiscal depute said the animal was heard making “screeching noises” and had showed “clear signs of distress” throughout its ordeal.
The court was told horrified office workers rushed out to confront Montgomery and he fled the scene on his bike.
He was later traced and during a police interview said: “I caused no harm to their skin or bodies and the wooden post was used to prod them and not harm them in any fashion.”
Montgomery pleaded guilty to conducting himself in a disorderly manner by harassing the seal pups, causing one to leap “eight to 10 feet into the air” and committing a breach of the peace at North Berwick harbour.
Sheriff Derek O’Carroll described Montgomery’s behaviour as “extremely foolish” and “very unpleasant” and said his actions by wielding the fence post had been “inept and ignorant”.
