Category Archives: South Wales

Animal Abandonment, Animal Hoarding, Birds, Cats, Commercial / Institutional Exploitation, Denial of Veterinary Treatment, Dogs, East Midlands, England, Equine, Pet Profiteering, Small Animals, South Wales, Starvation / Malnutrition, Traveller Animal Crimes, Unfit Living Conditions, Wales, West Midlands

Leominster, Herefordshire: Joeline Hames & Noah Price

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Travellers Hames and Price, who are based in Raglan, Monmouthshire but have links to Derby and Hereford, were convicted of multiple animal welfare offences after prolonged neglect at a property in Leominster.

The case involved dogs, cats, horses, a duck and a guinea pig, all kept in conditions that failed to meet even the most basic welfare standards.

Both initially denied the allegations but changed their pleas to guilty on 1 September 2026.

The couple were found responsible for depriving the animals of adequate food, fresh drinking water and a suitable living environment.

Several of the animals were underweight, living in poor conditions and suffering from a lack of appropriate care.

Price also admitted separate offences relating to two horses — Moonshine, a piebald cob mare, and Mimi, a bay Dartmoor-type mare — whose welfare needs were not met due to inadequate hoof and dental care, parasite issues and malnutrition.

The prosecution was brought by the RSPCA, who described the animals as having suffered “significant neglect” while in the couple’s care.

Sentence

Court: Hereford Magistrates’ Court — 29 September 2026
Hames: 10‑year ban; community order (10 days of rehab); £50 fine; £114 surcharge; £350 costs; deprivation order for all five dogs.
Price: 10‑year ban; 150 hours of unpaid work; £114 surcharge; £350 costs.
Ban Expiry: September 2036 (no appeal for five years)
Prosecutor: RSPCA

At a Glance

  • Defendants: Joeline Cathlyne Violet Hames (born c. 1980), Noah Hendri Amos Price (born c. 1983)
  • Address: Abergavenny Road, Raglan, Usk NP15 2AA
  • Occupation: Price — scrap‑metal collector, gardener and home improvements
  • Offence Location: Leominster, Herefordshire
  • Animals Involved: 5 dogs, 2 cats, 2 horses, 1 duck, 1 guinea pig
  • Ban Length: 10 years
  • Ban Expiry: September 2036
  • Appeal Restriction: No appeal for 5 years
  • Prosecutor: RSPCA

Hereford Times

Animal Abandonment, Denial of Veterinary Treatment, Livestock Abuse, South Wales, Starvation / Malnutrition, Unfit Living Conditions, Wales

Southerndown, Vale of Glamorgan: Luke Morgan

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Sheep caught in dense brambles at Groes Farm during welfare investigation.
A sheep trapped in brambles at Groes Farm, rescued by officers during the inspection.

Case Summary

Luke Morgan, of Groes Farm, Southerndown, Bridgend, was convicted of serious animal‑welfare offences following an investigation by Shared Regulatory Services (SRS) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Officers attended the farm in October 2025 after concerns were raised about the condition of sheep on the grazing land.

During the inspection, officers found multiple welfare breaches.

A sheep with a severe eye injury was discovered unable to stand, lying in a field where 15 carcasses were also present in varying stages of decomposition.

Another sheep was found trapped in dense brambles and required immediate rescue.

Several animals showed signs of poor condition, including wool loss, scratching and evidence of ill health.

Investigators also identified widespread animal by‑product issues, with carcasses, bones and body parts scattered across the grazing land.

Morgan was unable to produce medicine records and admitted he had not checked the flock for approximately a week.

Formal notices were issued under animal‑welfare and animal‑by‑product legislation, requiring urgent action.

Follow‑up visits throughout November 2025 recorded improvements, including veterinary involvement, treatment for a significant worm burden, updated medicine records and relocation of the flock for closer monitoring.

Despite this, SRS determined that enforcement action was necessary due to the seriousness of the original findings.

Morgan was interviewed under caution and the case was referred for prosecution. At court, magistrates described the situation as “the worst case of animal neglect” they had encountered, stating that Morgan “should be ashamed” of the conditions found.

Sentence

Morgan received a 24‑week custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months. He was ordered to pay £5,000 towards prosecution costs and a £154 victim surcharge.

Glamorgan Star
Wales Online

Denial of Veterinary Treatment, Dogs, Physical Violence, South Wales, Starvation / Malnutrition, Unfit Living Conditions, Wales, Worst of the Worst

Llanharan, Rhondda Cynon Taf: Robert Waldron

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Robert Waldron taking a shirtless selfie in a gym, holding a phone in front of a mirror.
Robert Waldron, who punched his dog Narla with such force that her face was left swollen and bruised.

Case Summary

Bull terrier Narla suffered significant facial injuries after being subjected to blunt‑force trauma. A text message presented as evidence suggested the dog had been beaten with such force that the perpetrator, Robert Waldron aka Robert Thomas, injured his own hand.

Tan bull terrier Narla standing indoors with visible swelling around her left eye and cheek, held by a person at the vet.
Narla’s facial injuries were consistent with being punched with force, according to the examining vet.

The RSPCA found Narla with a swollen face, bruising around her left eye and ear, and pain on examination.

Waldron had not sought any veterinary treatment.

A vet concluded her injuries were consistent with being punched with force, causing at least 24 hours of pain, fear and distress.

Screenshot of a text message sent by Robert Waldron to a relative, in which he admits hitting his dog Narla and injuring his own hand. The message is aggressive in tone and was used as evidence in the case.
A message Waldron sent to a relative, admitting he had beaten Narla with such force that he hurt his own hand.

Investigators also recovered a message Waldron sent to a relative, where he admitted he had beaten Narla and hurt his own hand in the process. This screenshot formed part of the evidence and directly supported the vet’s conclusion that her injuries were caused by blunt‑force trauma.

Screenshot of a Facebook comment posted after Robert Waldron’s conviction, in which a witness states they had seen him beat his dogs multiple times and had reported him more than a year earlier.
Witness says they saw Waldron beat his dogs “many times”.

A Facebook comment posted after Waldron’s conviction stated that the witness had personally seen him beat his dogs “many times” and had reported him more than a year earlier. The comment expressed frustration that action had only been taken now, after Narla had already suffered blunt‑force injuries.

Offender Overview

  • Name: Robert T Waldron aka Robert Thomas
  • Born: N/K
  • Age at Conviction: Not stated
  • Last Known Address: The Old School House, Tredegar Avenue, Llanharan, Pontyclun CF72 9BW
  • Occupation: Unknown
  • Previous Convictions: Not stated
  • Additional Information: Court heard he had depression and anger issues.

Incident Details

On 15 February 2026, RSPCA Deputy Chief Inspector Gemma Black and Animal Rescue Officer Kerry Clemett attended Waldron’s flat following a report of an incident involving Narla.

Close‑up of Narla’s face showing a swollen left eye, bruising around the cheek, and a small lesion near the muzzle.

They found a large metal dog crate in the bathroom with no food, water or bedding.

Narla’s left eye was swollen, bruised and partially closed. The left side of her face was visibly swollen, and she yelped in pain when her jaw and eye were examined. A lesion was present on her left cheek, and bruising was noted inside her left ear.

Adult man wearing a light‑coloured cap and a dark jacket with a fleece lining, leaning toward the camera indoors, with two younger individuals beside him, one holding a smartphone displaying a numeric keypad.

Waldron claimed the dog had been involved in an accident on a nearby road and had not received any veterinary treatment. He consented to the RSPCA taking her to a vet.

The examining vet concluded Narla had been caused to suffer unnecessarily for at least 24 hours, experiencing pain, fear and distress. Her injuries were consistent with being punched with force, with striated bruising matching the knuckles of a fist.

Close‑up of Robert Waldron wearing a black and white cap and chain necklace, raising his hand toward the camera.

Police took Narla into possession and placed her in RSPCA care for treatment and boarding.

Sentence

Court: Cardiff Magistrates’ Court
Date: 5 August 2026

Penalty:

  • Five‑year disqualification from keeping animals (expires August 2031)
  • 18‑month community order
  • £80 fine
  • 10 days Rehabilitation Activity Requirement
  • 26‑session programme requirement
  • £739 costs
  • £114 victim surcharge

Mitigation: Court heard Waldron had depression and anger issues.

Animal Victim

Light brown bull terrier Narla sitting on grass outdoors wearing a black harness, looking attentively toward a person in a red shirt with their face pixelated, with another person sitting nearby.
Narla as she once was: bright, alert and healthy. Her injuries at the vet told a very different story — one of pain, fear and blunt‑force trauma.
  • Name: Narla
  • Species: Dog
  • Breed: Bull terrier
  • Age: Unknown
  • Injuries: Blunt‑force trauma to left side of face; swelling; bruising; pain on jaw and eye examination; lesion on left cheek; bruising inside left ear
  • Fate: Taken into police possession; placed in RSPCA care for treatment and boarding.

RSPCA Statement

Following sentencing DCI Black added: “We’d like to thank those who helped us with the case from vets and members of the public who contacted us with the initial report.

“Members of the public are our eyes and ears and we rely on their information to investigate.

“It is heartbreaking to imagine what Narla may have gone through.”

Nation Cymru
South Wales Argus
Carmarthenshire News Online

Animal Hoarding, Cats, Denial of Veterinary Treatment, Lifers, Small Animals, South Wales, Starvation / Malnutrition, Unfit Living Conditions, Wales

Duffryn, Newport: Helen and Michael Weston

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Case Summary

On 12 August 2026, Helen Elizabeth Weston and Michael Bernard Weston, both of Sir Charles Square, Duffryn, Newport NP10 8QP, were convicted of five offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 after RSPCA officers discovered 145 animals living in catastrophic conditions inside their home.

A dirty bathroom with grime covering the sink, bathtub, tiles, and floor. Two cats are present — one sitting on the bathtub edge, the other standing near the sink. A pet carrier and fabric lie on the floor among dirt and clutter.
Cats forced to live in a filthy bathroom coated in grime, faeces, and hazards — no ventilation, no hygiene, no care. One of several rooms the RSPCA described as “overwhelming” and unfit for any animal.

The property contained 114 guinea pigs and 31 cats, living among faeces, filth, flies, hazards, broken enclosures, ammonia fumes, and severe overcrowding.

Both offenders were disqualified from keeping animals for life, with no right to appeal for 10 years.

Offender Overview

Helen Elizabeth Weston

  • Born: 30 October 1964
  • Age at Conviction: 61
  • Last Known Address: Sir Charles Square, Duffryn, Newport NP10 8QP
  • Occupation: Unknown
  • Previous Convictions: None reported
  • Additional Information: Long‑term RSPCA concerns had been raised for years; offers of help and neutering were repeatedly refused.

Michael Bernard Weston

  • Born: 31 May 1953
  • Age at Conviction: 73
  • Last Known Address: Sir Charles Square, Duffryn, Newport NP10 8QP
  • Occupation: Unknown
  • Previous Convictions: None reported
  • Additional Information: Jointly responsible for all offences and conditions within the property.

Incident Details

The RSPCA, accompanied by vets and Gwent Police, executed a warrant at the property in May 2025 following concerns for several cats. Officers had previously attempted to help the couple for years, but access was denied and offers of support were refused.

Upon entry, officers encountered:

  • An overwhelming ammonia smell throughout the house
  • Extreme clutter, rubbish, grime, dust, cobwebs, and both live and dead flies
  • Multiple rooms sealed shut, trapping cats inside
  • No ventilation, no natural light, and filthy litter trays
  • Cats displaying flu‑like symptoms, respiratory issues, and general ill health
  • Bedrooms overflowing with clothes, cat food, and mouldy faeces
  • Bathrooms used as cat confinement areas, blocked by carriers and debris
  • A hallway enclosure containing a guinea pig standing on compacted faeces, with broken wiring and no working water supply
  • Two additional broken enclosures nearby
  • A living room containing over 100 guinea pigs, loose and confined, in what inspectors described as “the worst environment” they had ever seen
  • Ground‑down faeces forming a “mud carpet” across the floor
  • Furniture rotted through, exposing springs and hazards
  • Empty water bottles, overcrowded cages, broken mesh, and no hides or enrichment
  • The room swarming with insects and “moth‑type creatures”
Several guinea pigs packed together inside wire cages, with bedding and debris scattered beneath them. The cages appear cramped and dirty, showing severe overcrowding and neglect.
Guinea pigs crammed into filthy, broken cages — overcrowded, unsafe, and surrounded by debris. This is the environment Helen and Michael Weston kept over a hundred guinea pigs in.

Furniture disintegrated when moved, revealing more filth, grime, and insects. It took multiple officers, a vet, and a vet nurse hours to locate and confine all animals.

Animal Victims

Guinea Pigs (114)

  • Many loose, others confined in broken enclosures
  • Overcrowded cages, stacked or collapsed
  • No clean water; bottles empty
  • No hides or enrichment
  • Exposed to hazards including springs, broken mesh, and rotted furniture
  • Five euthanised on welfare grounds; one died
  • Many pregnant at rescue, increasing numbers in care

Cats (31)

  • Confined in sealed rooms with no ventilation
  • Dirty litter trays, dirty bedding, no natural light
  • Flu‑like symptoms and respiratory issues
  • Six euthanised due to ongoing health problems

Sentence

Court: Newport Magistrates’ Court
Date: 12 August 2026

Penalty:

  • 12‑week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months (each)
  • Lifetime disqualification from keeping animals
  • No appeal permitted for 10 years
  • £200 costs each
  • £154 victim surcharge each

    Mitigation:
  • Mr Weston was reported to be suffering from ongoing health issues, and Mrs Weston had become his full‑time carer. The couple stated that the situation had “got out of hand” and apologised for not engaging with the RSPCA sooner.

RSPCA Statement

Chief Inspector Emma Smith described the property as containing:

  • “An extremely overwhelming smell of ammonia”
  • “Dust, cobwebs, dirt, grime, live and dead flies all in abundance”
  • Rooms “in no way fit for purpose”
  • The living room as “the worst I have seen”
Several guinea pigs packed together inside wire cages, with bedding and debris scattered beneath them. The cages appear cramped and dirty, showing severe overcrowding and neglect.

She thanked all staff involved and confirmed that the rescued animals have since been rehomed.

UKACF Commentary

This wasn’t “hoarding.” This was catastrophic, deliberate neglect on a scale that defies belief.

The couple kept 145 animals in conditions so extreme that officers described the living room as the worst environment they had ever encountered. A “mud carpet” made of faeces. Furniture rotted through. Cats sealed into rooms with no ventilation. Guinea pigs running through holes in collapsing sofas. Animals drinking from empty bottles, living among insects, filth, and hazards.

The couple refused help for years. They refused neutering. They refused rehoming. They refused access. And all the while, the number of animals grew — and suffered.

A lifetime ban is not just appropriate; it is essential. No appeal for ten years is the bare minimum.

This case is a reminder that neglect can be just as devastating as overt cruelty — and that refusing help is often the first warning sign of a disaster waiting to happen.

BBC News
South Wales Argus
RSPCA

Animal Abandonment, Denial of Veterinary Treatment, Dogs, Lifers, Psychological Abuse, South Wales, Starvation / Malnutrition, Unfit Living Conditions, Wales, Worst of the Worst

Bonymaen, Swansea: Kim Richards-Miller

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Portrait of Kimberley Richards‑Miller, the offender in the case involving the starvation death of her Dalmatian.
Kimberley Richards‑Miller, who received a lifetime ban from keeping animals following the death of her pet Dalmatian.

Summary

Richards-Miller was banned from keeping animals for life after her one‑year‑old Dalmatian, Darcy, was found dead in an emaciated condition.

Deceased Dalmatian named Darcy lying on a veterinary surface, showing severe emaciation and muscle loss.
Darcy, the one‑year‑old Dalmatian, photographed after her death. Her emaciated condition was central to the RSPCA investigation.
Deceased Dalmatian named Darcy lying on a veterinary surface, showing severe emaciation and muscle loss.

She pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering under the Animal Welfare Act and was sentenced at Swansea Magistrates’ Court on 29 July 2026.

Offender Overview

Name: Kimberley Richards-Miller
Born: circa 1988
Age at Conviction: 38
Last Known Address: Bonymaen Road, Bonymaen, Swansea, SA1 7AS
Occupation: unknown
Previous Convictions: unknown
Additional Information: Online evidence suggests multiple previous dogs — whereabouts unknown.

Summary of Offence

The RSPCA was contacted after Darcy’s body was presented to a veterinary practice on 14 November 2025.

Kimberley Richards‑Miller posing with an unnamed basset‑hound‑type dog; the dog’s identity and current whereabouts are unknown.
Richards‑Miller with an unidentified basset‑hound‑type dog. The fate of this dog, and others previously in her care, remains unknown.

Inspector Keith Hogben reported that Darcy scored 1 out of 9 on the body condition scale. The court heard that Richards‑Miller had been advised several times to seek veterinary treatment in the weeks leading up to Darcy’s death, but failed to do so.

A post‑mortem examination found:

  • Severe loss of fat and muscle tissue
  • Almost no gut contents
  • Stomach ulceration (Wischnewsky spots) linked to stress and hypothermia
  • No underlying illness to explain the weight loss
Portrait of Kimberley Richards‑Miller, the offender in the case involving the starvation death of her Dalmatian.

The examining vet stated that the findings were consistent with long‑term starvation, noting that an adult Dalmatian dropping from a normal weight of around 20kg to 7kg would take approximately five months on water alone. For a young, growing dog, the process would still take a number of months, with continuous suffering throughout.

The offence period covered 18 September to 15 November 2025.

Sentence

Richards‑Miller was sentenced to:

  • Lifetime disqualification from keeping all animals
  • 12 months’ custody, suspended for 18 months
  • 25 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days
  • 150 hours unpaid work
  • £400 costs
  • £187 victim surcharge

In mitigation, the court heard she was “genuinely remorseful”.

RSPCA Statement

Inspector Hogben said: “It is heartbreaking to imagine what Darcy may have gone through. All animals deserve to be treated with kindness and should have their needs met. Anyone who is struggling should seek help.”

Sources

Animal Abandonment, Dogs, Lifers, South Wales, Starvation / Malnutrition, Wales, Worst of the Worst

Mayhill, Swansea: Annasha McCarthy

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CONVICTED (2026) | Annasha Cara McCarthy, aka Neesha McCarty, born c. 1998, of High View, Mayhill, Swansea SA1 6US – allowed her dog to starve to death.

Swansea woman Annasha McCarthy allowed her dog to become severely emaciated by failing to feed him properly or seek veterinary help, resulting in his death from starvation.
Annasha McCarthy neglected to feed her dog adequately, causing him to become severely emaciated and eventually die.

McCarthy has been permanently banned from owning animals after a bulldog in her care died from severe starvation.

The mother-of-two admitted in court that she failed to seek help as her dog, Chico, rapidly lost weight, breaching the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Swansea woman Annasha McCarthy allowed her dog to become severely emaciated by failing to feed him properly or seek veterinary help, resulting in his death from starvation.
Chico died from starvation, weighing only 10.9kg — half of what he weighed nine months earlier.

The three‑year‑old bulldog was already dead when brought to a Swansea veterinary practice on October 20, 2025.

Records showed he had lost more than half his body weight in just nine months.

Swansea woman Annasha McCarthy allowed her dog to become severely emaciated by failing to feed him properly or seek veterinary help, resulting in his death from starvation.

A vet assessed his body condition as one out of nine — the lowest possible score — noting that his bones were clearly visible due to extreme loss of fat and muscle. He weighed only 10.9kg, having dropped 11.3kg since his previous check‑up in January.

Swansea woman Annasha McCarthy allowed her dog to become severely emaciated by failing to feed him properly or seek veterinary help, resulting in his death from starvation.
McCarthy posted online saying how much she loved Chico, presenting herself as a devoted owner.

The RSPCA traced the microchip and contacted McCarthy. She acknowledged that she was responsible for Chico, despite the dog being registered under the name of her former partner, Omar Ahmed.

Swansea woman Annasha McCarthy allowed her dog to become severely emaciated by failing to feed him properly or seek veterinary help, resulting in his death from starvation.

The vet concluded that Chico had been starved for at least a month before his death.

The District Judge said McCarthy had allowed the dog to waste away, though he accepted her pathetic excuse that she had financial difficulties and “feared being judged”.

Swansea woman Annasha McCarthy allowed her dog to become severely emaciated by failing to feed him properly or seek veterinary help, resulting in his death from starvation.
Chico was full of love and trust, before his cruel owner decided to abandon him to waste away.

RSPCA Inspector Jemima Hanks‑Martin described the case as “horrible,” stressing that any responsible owner would have sought veterinary help. She added that financial hardship is never an excuse for allowing an animal to suffer and highlighted the RSPCA’s cost‑of‑living support services for pet owners who are struggling.

Sentencing | four‑month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months; 14 days of ‘rehabilitation’;100 hours of unpaid work; £150 in courts. Lifetime ban (the court issued a lifetime prohibition order, meaning she can never legally own or care for animals again).

Carmarthenshire Newsletter
Nation Cymru

Animal Abandonment, Denial of Veterinary Treatment, Dogs, Pet Profiteering, South Wales, Starvation / Malnutrition, Wales

Neath, Neath Port Talbot: Matthew Andrews

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CONVICTED (2026) | backyard breeder Matthew Mark Andrews, born 9 May 1995, of Henry Street, Neath SA11 1PG – for severe animal starvation and neglect, resulting in the euthanasia of a pregnant dog.

Matthew Andrews from Neath, Wales, admitted severe animal neglect resulting in the euthanasia of his pregnant dog, Pandora.
Matthew Andrews is banned from owning animals for a decasde following his callous neglect of a dog who died from extreme emaciation and a twisted intestine.

In an RSPCA prosecution case, prolific backyard breeder Matthew Andrews pleaded guilty to failing to address the severe weight loss, chronic skin infection, and deteriorating condition of five-year-old Shar Pei-cross, Pandora.

Matthew Andrews from Neath, Wales, admitted severe animal neglect resulting in the euthanasia of his pregnant dog, Pandora.
Pandora was extremely underweight with her spine and ribs clearly visible.

Vets found Pandora completely emaciated with a body condition score of one out of five. Her muscle wasting was so severe that an advanced, near-term pregnancy of seven to nine puppies went completely unnoticed until a medical scan was performed.

Matthew Andrews from Neath, Wales, admitted severe animal neglect resulting in the euthanasia of his pregnant dog, Pandora.
Pandora was found with severe muscle wasting, a skin infection, and an undetected near-term pregnancy.

Pandora underwent emergency surgery for a twisted intestine but had to be euthanised due to post-operative complications and her chronically weakened state, resulting in the loss of her unborn litter.

Matthew Andrews from Neath, Wales, admitted severe animal neglect resulting in the euthanasia of his pregnant dog, Pandora.
Greeder Andrees used social media to flog countless puppies.

Following sentencing, RSPCA Deputy Chief Inspector Gemma Cooper said: “This is a very sad case with a tragic ending for Pandora and her puppies.

“All animals deserve to be treated with kindness and should have their needs met.”

Sentencing | 12-week custodial, suspended for 12 months; 20 days of ‘rehabilitation’; £400 prosecution costs. Disqualified from owning or keeping any type of animal for 10 years (expires July 2036).

Nation Cymru
Swansea Bay News

Denial of Veterinary Treatment, Dogs, South Wales, Wales

Hafod, Swansea: William Johns

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CONVICTED (2026) | William Ron Johns, born 22 January 1958, of Lime Court, Hafod, Swansea SA1 2DY – allowed his two dogs to become dangerously obese.

RSPCA prosecution of Swansea man William Johns who allowed his two dogs to become dangerously obese and failed to treat their health issues.

Johns pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

On September 24, 2025, an RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer visited Johns’ home and discovered Jack Russells Cai and Lily living in a state of gross neglect and danger.

Both dogs were severely, dangerously obese.

RSPCA prosecution of Swansea man William Johns who allowed his two dogs to become dangerously obese and failed to treat their health issues.

Cai was in a collapsed state and had urine stains over his body. Johns agreed to allow the officer to take the dog to a vets.

Sadly, he was found to be suffering from severe heart failure and was in such a poor physical state that veterinarians had to put him to sleep.

On a follow-up visit Johns was advised to take Lily, to a vets to be weighed and placed on a diet, but he refused to cooperate with the charity’s officers.

RSPCA prosecution of Swansea man William Johns who allowed his two dogs to become dangerously obese and failed to treat their health issues.

RSPCA Inspector Gemma Cooper attended at Johns’ home with police on December 14 when Lily was seized.

In a statement presented to the court the inspector admitted she was shocked by how large Lily was.

“When I went to take her from the police officer it was difficult to hold her like a normal dog as her torso was just so rounded and solid. In my fifteen years as an RSPCA Inspector I have never seen a dog so overweight,” she said.

RSPCA prosecution of Swansea man William Johns who allowed his two dogs to become dangerously obese and failed to treat their health issues.

A vet who examined Cai said the dog was in the end stage of heart failure. He was extremely overweight with a body condition score of nine out of nine (when five is a healthy weight).

Lily also had a body condition score of nine out of nine. A vet who examined her said that she was out of breath most of the time she was at the clinic.

“She weighed 14.2 kgs and the level of obesity was one of the worst I have seen,” he stated.

“She had difficulty moving around and by keeping a dog in this abnormal state the owner failed in their duty of care to provide a suitable diet and control their pet’s weight. The dog suffered for a prolonged period of at least a month if not longer.”

Fed a proper diet by the RSPCA Lily lost more than 2kg in weight and went on to make a good recovery. She will now be rehomed by the charity.

In mitigation, the court was told the defendant was unable to care for the dogs because of a range of health issues, including suffering from Parkinson’s and reduced mobility after having had a leg amputated.

Speaking after the sentencing, RSPCA Inspector Gemma Cooper said: “These poor dogs were allowed to balloon in weight by the defendant’s inability to provide a balanced diet for them. One of them became so ill that he had to be put to sleep and had we not returned to the property, the second dog may also have become seriously unwell.”

Sentencing | eight-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years; £400 court costs and £187 victim surcharge. A15-year disqualification from owning or keeping animals (expires July 2041).

Carmarthenshire Online
Swansea Bay News
Need to Know

Animal Abandonment, Animal Hoarding, Cats, Denial of Veterinary Treatment, Dogs, Rabbits, Small Animals, South Wales, Starvation / Malnutrition, Unfit Living Conditions, Wales

Pontrhydyrun, Torfaen: Louise Price

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CONVICTED (2026) | Louise Ann Price, born 28 February 1985, of Ffordd Tir Brychiad, Pontrhydyrun, Cwmbran NP44 1DH – left neglected pets to starve inside her filthy abandoned home.

RSPCA prosecution of Louise Price from Pontrhydyrum, Cwmbran, Wales, for neglecting the needs of multiple pets.

Price p;eaded guilty to three animal welfare offices for failing to meet the needs of a chihuahua named Lola, a rabbit named Thumper and six cats.

RSPCA prosecution of Louise Price from Pontrhydyrum, Cwmbran, Wales, for neglecting the needs of multiple pets.

The RSPCA attended the address in October 2025 to investigate a report that there were abandoned animals inside. Officers placed tape seals on the door but these remained intact after three days.

A housing officer arranged for a locksmith to attend, allowing the RSPCA and police officers access.

In a written statement, RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Sian Burton said: “On entry to the property it was clear that the flat was filthy. There was faeces all over the floor, flies everywhere and household items and rubbish all over the floor and sides.

“The room straight ahead of the front door was piled high with furniture and you were unable to access it. Cats and kittens came running towards us as we entered the property and I could also hear a dog crying from behind a door which was to the right hand side of the hallway.

“Behind that door was the bathroom and within it was a small Chihuahua type dog, female and fawn in colour.”

RSPCA prosecution of Louise Price from Pontrhydyrum, Cwmbran, Wales, for neglecting the needs of multiple pets.

ARO Burton said the dog was bright and alert and had access to a large tub of dry biscuits but no water. She added that the bathroom smelt strongly of urine and there were some faeces present amongst the screwed up blankets.

Also within the bathroom was a grey and white rabbit in an indoor plastic cage.

ARO Burton said: “… the rabbit was unable to stand up on its hind legs and it couldn’t hop more than twice across the length of the cage. It was unsuitable and usually these types of cages are used as a temporary measure. There was dirty substrate in it, lots of faeces, an empty bowl and the rabbit didn’t have access to any food or water.”

Three adult cats, three kittens, the chihuahua type dog and the rabbit, were taken into possession by police and handed them into RSPCA care.

RSPCA prosecution of Louise Price from Pontrhydyrum, Cwmbran, Wales, for neglecting the needs of multiple pets.

All the animals were transferred to RSPCA Merthyr Tydfil Veterinary Clinic for care and treatment. The dog and cats were boarded at the RSPCA and the rabbit was transferred to a boarding establishment used by the animal welfare charity.

RSPCA prosecution of Louise Price from Pontrhydyrum, Cwmbran, Wales, for neglecting the needs of multiple pets.

In her statement, ARO Burton said: “The vet examined and said the rabbit does have some changes to its teeth, and advised that the rabbit walks in a strange way.

“Its feet are further forward than normal and her feet splay out to the side. She can hop but she was not happy about having her back end and spine checked.

“These symptoms are consistent with being kept in a small enclosure, the vet then issued pain relief and suggested further diagnostics would need to be carried out within two to four weeks.”

Sadly a vet advised for the euthanasia of the rabbit on welfare grounds.

All the animals were signed over into the care of the RSPCA by the owner. All of the cats have since been rehomed while Lola is currently in foster care until she finds a home.

Sentencing | 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months; 12-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement; £85 court costs. A 5-year disqualification from keeping any animals (expires June 2031)..

Nation Cymru
South Wales Argus

Dogs, Physical Violence, South Wales, Wales, Worst of the Worst

Morriston, Swansea: Tom Wilkinson

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CONVICTED | violent career criminal Tom Wilkinson, born c. 2000, from the Morriston area of Swansea SA6 but with family links to Abercrave, Powys SA9: deliberately drove over his enemy’s elderly spaniel, causing unsurvivable injuries.

Dog killer Tom Wilkinson from Morriston, Swansea

Wilkinson first attacked Jamie Evans with a log, hockey stick and a knife before driving over and killing his dog in a vicious act of spite.

A “verbal altercation” between the two men turned physical when Wilkinson threw a log at Mr Evans from inside his van before getting out of the vehicle armed with a hockey stick.

Wilkinson struck his victim to the side of the head with the weapon. A struggle then developed on the ground before Wilkinson produced a Stanley knife-type blade and slashed Mr Evans to the arm with it.

Dog killer Tom Wilkinson from Morriston, Swansea

Mr Evans got up and walked off along Cwmbath Road assuming the incident was at an end, but Wilkinson got back into his van and drove at speed towards him. The van slowed down as it approached Mr Evans but sped up again and ran straight over the complainant’s dog.

Mr Evans suffered injuries to his face and arm but did not seek medical assistance.

The injured spaniel was taken to a vets where it was discovered that he had head trauma, internal injuries, and a suspected fractured spine.

The dog was “unresponsive but in pain” and after being given strong painkillers the decision was taken in consultation with Mr Evans and his family to put the animal down.

Dog killer Tom Wilkinson from Morriston, Swansea

In an impact statement read to the court by the prosecution barrister, Mr Evans said the death of his dog – who he had had for some 12 years – had left him feeling “numb and empty”. He said he used to walk the dog several times a day and now does not want to leave the house without his companion. He also said he had been left with a “burning” feeling on his arm from the slash injury.

Wilkinson pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm, possession of a bladed article, and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal. He has 14 previous convictions for 31 offences including burglary, theft, assaulting a police officer, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, public disorder, and being drunk and disorderly.

Sentencing | 42 months in prison of which 21 months is for the animal cruelty charge. Wilkinson will serve up to half the sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community. No mention of an animal ban.

WalesOnline