Category Archives: Dogs

Cruelty to dogs

dog fighting, Dogs, Lifers, Organised Animal Crime, Pet Profiteering, Serial Animal Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Northfield, Birmingham: Anthony and Patrick Mullen, Susan Hancock

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CONVICTED (2008) | dog-fighters Anthony Mullen, born 7 September 1957 and Susan Hancock, born 28 December 1956, and their son Patrick (Paddy) Joseph Mullen, born 6 January 1982, all of 8 Tarragon Gardens, Northfield, Birmingham B31 5HU (address still correct April 2021) – kept dogs for organised fights despite previous bans for cruelty

Dog fighters Susan Hancock, Anthony Mullen, Paddy Mullen from Birmingham, UK

The trio were all convicted of keeping two pit bull type dogs, which have been banned since 1991.

They were among a haul of eight terriers found at the family’s home in Taragon Gardens, Northfield.

Dog fighter Paddy Mullen from Birmingham, UK
Paddy Mullen pictured in April 2021

Returning guilty verdicts, District Judge Jobi Bopa Rai said: “I would go as far as to say that all three are involved with either breeding or keeping dogs that were intended for dog fighting, although I appreciate they were not charged with these offences.”

The trio were arrested at their home in April 2007 during a joint raid between RSPCA officers and police.

Anthony Mullen and Hancock were also found guilty of two counts each of breaching bans on keeping animals from an earlier conviction in 2005 where they were found to have three pit bull terrier-type dogs at their house.

For that offence Mullen, who was already serving a lifetime ban on keeping animals from 2001 for his involvement in a UK-wide dog-fighting ring, was sentenced to three months in jail.

Both he and Hancock had claimed that the dogs found in 2007 belonged to their son Patrick and they had no part in looking after them.

But Miss Bopa-Rai refused to accept their claims and found Patrick Mullen guilty of a further two charges of aiding and abetting his parents in keeping the dogs.

Dog fighter Paddy Mullen from Birmingham, UK

During the raid in 2007 animal medication including steroids and wound treatment powder were found along with superglue, which expert witnesses said could be used to “sew together” wounds from dog fighting.

Miss Bopa-Rai added: “I don’t think the items in the house had an innocent explanation, not when they were together as a kit.”

Ian Briggs, chief inspector of the RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit, said: “This is the third time that we’ve seen Anthony Mullen in court.”

All three were also convicted of breaking a ban on keeping dogs.

Paddy Mullen posted this image showing clear evidence of dog-fighting activity to his Facebook profile as recently as May 2018

Ian Briggs, chief inspector for the RSPCA, said they were “extremely pleased” with the result.

He added: “But it is a sad fact that we are at court again with yet another case relating to the breeding and possession of pit bull terriers.

“This case, as well as the recent raids we carried out, provides a clear indication of the increased activity nationally of individuals involved in the dog-fighting scene.”

Sentencing: Anthony Mullen was jailed for six months. Hancock and Patrick Mullen received a four-month and three-month suspended jail term respectively.

BBC News
BirminghamLive

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Wavertree, Liverpool: Sean Clarke

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#MostEvil | Sean William Clarke (previously Bushell-Clarke), born 4 June 1981, originally from Fazakerley, Liverpool, but as of 2022 living at 134 Cranborne Road, Wavertree, Liverpool L15 2HZ – stabbed a dog to death

Dog killer Sean William Clarke from Wavertree, Liverpool, UK
Vicious dog killer Sean William Clarke, previously Sean Bushell-Clarke, only received a 5-year ban on owning animals.

In 2008 Clarke, then of Bulford Road in Fazakerley, punched four-month-old Labrador-husky cross, Benji, 10 times before cornering him and stabbing him in the back, killing him. His excuse? He was angry at having been rejected for a job. This anger was directed at his defenceless pet.

Clarke then wrapped Benji in two black bin liners and buried his body in his back garden.

The RSPCA received an anonymous phone call from a concerned member of the public and arrived at Clarke’s home later that day.

Benji’s body was exhumed and taken to a local vet who confirmed the stab wound had killed him

Benji’s body was exhumed and taken to a local vet who confirmed he had died as a result of his injury.

Dog killer Sean William Clarke from Wavertree, Liverpool, UK

Clarke was jailed for four months after pleading guilty to beating and stabbing Benji. He was also banned from keeping all animals for five years (expired 2013).

Liverpool Echo

Additional information

Clarke has taken to using the Hebrew name Yisrael as his middle name and also goes by the name “Sean Yisrael Clarke” on Facebook.

dog fighting, Dogs, Lifers, Organised Animal Crime, Pet Profiteering, Serial Animal Abusers, Traveller Animal Crimes, Worst of the Worst

Walsall, West Midlands: Clayton Beard

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CONVICTED (2008) | dog fighter Clayton Paul Beard, born 2 May 1983, and as of June 2021 of The Beeches, Prospect Way, Birchills, Walsall WS2 7FD

Clayton Beard and one of the injured dogs found at his property

Clayton Beard, then of Cannon Street, Ryecroft, Walsall, had three dogs in his possession when RSPCA inspectors raided his home in 2007. Beard, whom locals nicknamed “the Dog Man”, admitted owning two male and one female pit bulls, causing unnecessary suffering to one of the dogs, possessing animal fighting equipment and keeping or training the dogs for fighting purposes.

A treadmill and other equipment was found at Beard’s home and the court heard how he forced his dogs through a cruel daily training schedule. A makeshift veterinary kit, which included superglue for sealing fighting wounds, was also discovered.

One dog, called Lee, had suffered 70 wounds. Another two animals also had 35 wounds and 24 wounds each.

Magistrates ordered two dogs to be destroyed immediately.

The case was the first dog fighting prosecution under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, according to the RSPCA.

Clayton Beard was convicted of dog fighting offences

Magistrate Michael Kearns said a custodial sentence had been “inevitable”.

He told Beard that he had three “highly dangerous dogs of an aggressive breed” in his possession.

The three dogs had received many wounds “over a prolonged period which must have caused them suffering”, but Beard had made “no effort” to seek veterinary attention for them.

Instead, Beard had been involved in treating the animals’ wounds so that they could fight again, the court heard.

The court heard that Beard was a man of “limited cognitive ability” who had received “abuse” from his neighbours.

Speaking outside court, Chief Inspector Ian Briggs, of the RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit, said he was “extremely pleased” with the custodial sentence and ban.

He said: “People involved in these activities should not be able to own animals.”

He said that animal protection bodies had welcomed the new offences of possessing articles adapted for training animals to fight, and keeping animals in connection with fighting.

He said: “We always come across these articles on dog fighting operations, but before it’s never been an offence.”

Sentencing: 18 weeks in custody. Banned for life from keeping or being responsible for any animals.

Birmingham Mail
Express & Star
BBC News

Additional information

In November 2007 an Irish traveller named Ceri Louisa O’Neill, also from Birchills in Walsall, was banned from keeping dogs for three years after admitting selling the pit bull terrier known as Lee to Clayton Beard.

James Cooper, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, told the court the offences came to light when an inspector and police officers visited Beard’s home following a tip-off.

Mr Cooper told the court the inquiry then moved to Miner Street, where O’Neill lived at the time with adult sons James and Patrick O’Neill and daughter Astar Louise O’Neill.

He said: “The defendant accepted the dog had been in her possession and that she took it to Beard to be treated by him and in fact sold it to him for £100.”

When pit bull expert Jane Robson examined Lee there was evidence of more than 45 wounds, scabs on his face, head, chest and legs. Some were four to six weeks old.

Mr Stephen Scully, defending, said: “Earlier this year her ex-husband brought the dog as a gift. He told her he rescued it from fighting.”

He said when the couple split the dog was left in her care. She took him to Beard later that day after the animal was involved in a “scrap” with other dogs in Pelsall after her daughter took him to a fair without her permission.

Ceri Louise O’Neill is now deceased.

As of June 2021 Astar O’Neill, born 24 July 1991, lives at the Caravan Site, Ruthin Road, Coedpoeth, Wrexham LL11 3BP.

animal fighting / baiting, badger baiting, Dogs, hunting with dogs, Organised Animal Crime, Wildlife Crime / Bloodsports

Mid-Wales: badger baiters Simon Evans and Peter McGuigan

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CONVICTED (2008) | Simon Evans, born 4 December 1967, of Pencader, Carmarthenshire, and Peter William McGuigan, born 14 May 1970 of  Moelhedog Isaf,  Pontsian, Llandysul SA44 4UB – caught badger-baiting with dogs

Badger baiters Simon Evans (left) and Peter William McGuigan from Pencader and Llandysul respectively
Badger baiters Simon Evans (left) and Peter McGuigan

Evans and McGuigan went equipped with dogs, nets and tracking devices to hunt badgers in October 2006.

A nearby landowner heard a commotion and called police.

When officers arrived a limp badger was found in the mouth of a lurcher dog belonging to them and a metre-deep hole had been dug close to a badger sett.

It was claimed the men had flushed out a badger and then watched for sport as their dogs fought it.

The pair were found guilty of four out of five charges brought by the RSPCA.

Badger baiter Simon Evans from Pencader, Wales. Picture: Facebook
Simon Evans

Sentencing the duo, district judge Mark Layton said the matters were so serious only a custodial sentence was justified.

He said the only explanation as to why they had gone badger baiting at woodland near Boncath, Pembrokeshire, on 14 October 2006 was “for some sort of enjoyment”.

But he said how anyone could enjoy such “sickening and appalling acts of cruelty” was “quite incomprehensible”.

Sentencing: six-month suspended jail sentence;  240 hours of community work. £4,000 each in costs. Banned from keeping dogs for seven years (expired April 2015).

BBC News

dog fighting, Dogs, Organised Animal Crime, Paedophiles / Sex Offenders, Traveller Animal Crimes, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Redcar, North Yorkshire: Daniel Tate

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CONVICTED (2008) | dog-fighting ring member Daniel Tate, born 6 December 1987, previously of Cresswell Road, Grangetown, Middlesbrough but at the time of conviction of George Street, Redcar TS10 2BN – set his illegal pit bull terrier on a smaller dog in a vicious “training session”.

Daniel Tate: dog fighter, pervert, lifelong loser.

Twisted Daniel Tate, also a registered sex offender, was sentenced to five months at a young offenders’ institution and banned from keeping animals for ten years after he pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a dog and owning a banned animal.

Mobile phone footage of the fight was handed to Cleveland Police, who asked the RSPCA to investigate the case.

The court heard that Tate’s pit bull terrier-type dog, Chico, was filmed fighting a Staffordshire bull terrier-type dog that RSPCA inspectors believe had been stolen for the illegal confrontation.

John Ellwood, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said Tate had helped set up the fight between his pit bull Chico and a Staffordshire Bull Terrier in an alley at the back of King Street, South Bank, on January 7, 2007.

He said: “This case is presented on the basis that this was an arranged training session for the pit bull to teach it that it can fight and win.

“It’s fairly obvious there can only be one winner in this fight and that was the case. The pit bull quite quickly got the better of the Staffordshire.”

Still from the horrific footage showing an illegal pitbull being set on a small Staffy who is believed to have been stolen for baiting.

The short film showed the dogs being baited and encouraged to fight, with Tate’s dog viciously attacking the other animal.

Despite the efforts to trace the Staffordshire bull terrier the inspectors were unable to trace the attacked dog and have not been able to determine whether the animal was seriously injured or even killed.

Mr Ellwood said an onlooker to the baiting session had recorded the fight on a mobile phone and had forwarded the images to other people. One of those people had taken it to the police and officers recognised both Tate and his pit bull as being from the Grangetown area, the court heard yesterday.

Mr Ellwood said officers raided Tate’s former home in Cresswell Road where they found him hiding in a bathroom cupboard.

Daniel Tate was allowed to own animals again from 2018.

When a vet examined the pit bull in April 2007 – months after the fight was caught on camera – fresh wounds consistent with another fighting dog were found, said Mr Ellwood.

Tate pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal by causing it to fight and being in possession of an illegal dog.

He also admitted failure to comply with his notification requirements as a registered sex offender after he received an 18 month community order for a conviction in March, 2007.

Inspector Alan Fisher, of the RSPCA’s special operations Unit, investigated the dog fight.

Speaking after the hearing, he said: “I’m very pleased the court viewed this matter so seriously and passed their sentence accordingly.

“Dog-fighting is an appalling and cruel practice.

“Animals are forced together in artificial circumstances and caused pain and suffering.

“The RSPCA will continue its efforts to stamp out this vile practice, and assistance from the public in reporting these matters is gratefully appreciated and welcome.”

The video footage led to Cleveland Police and the RSPCA carrying out a crackdown on illegal fighting dogs in the east Cleveland area, which saw seven suspected members of a dog-fighting ring arrested in March 2007.

The raids, which were the culmination of a ten-month surveillance operation, saw four heavily- built pit bull terrier-type dogs led into restraint cages by RSPCA officers.

Operation Bale is believed to have smashed a gang suspected of using dangerous dogs for social status and organising spectator battles in alley-gated arenas near homes.

Sentencing: Five months at a young offenders’ institution. Banned from keeping animals for ten years (expired 2018).

Northern Echo
Teesside Live

Additional Information

In May 2008 one of Tate’s accomplices, James Harland aka Jimbo Foster, a traveller from South Bank, Middlesbrough, was jailed for six months for his part in the baiting incident.

James Harland “tragically” died in 2016.

Harland was also disqualified from owning animals for ten years after pleading guilty to procuring a dog fight.

In 2016 morbidly obese Harland died in his sleep at the age of 29. He was described by his fellow travellers as a “loveable rogue” with “a heart of gold”.

Northern Echo

animal fighting / baiting, badger baiting, Dogs, hunting with dogs, Organised Animal Crime, Wildlife Crime / Bloodsports

Hawick, Scottish Borders: Sean Dodds and Kyle Lawrie

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CONVICTED (2008) | badger baiters Sean Dodds, born 01/08/1990, most recently of Queens Drive, Hawick TD9 8EP and Kyle Lawrie, born c. 1989, most recently of Church Lane, Hawick TD9 8DL

Badger baiters Sean Dodds and Kyle Lawrie from Hawick, Scottish borders
Sean Dodds (left) and Kyle Lawrie

Dodds and Lawrie were told that any civilised human being could only wonder at the “barbaric mindset” of people who saw the “warped activity”of badger baiting as entertainment or sport.

Both pleaded guilty to digging at a badger’s sett, which carries a jail sentence of up to three years.

Dodds admitted on another occasion wilfully killing a badger with a dog – the first conviction of its kind in Scotland – while at the same time Lawrie was digging at the sett.

They watched along with others as Dodds’ pet dog fought with a badger pulled from a sett for up to 20 minutes before the animal died.

The court was told police suspected Dodds was involved in badger-baiting after he posted an image of a dog killing the protected animal on his Bebo  profile and later confessed his crimes to officers.

Several homes in the town were searched and a number of dogs, some which had injuries, were seized and handed over to the Scottish SPCA.

It led to six people from Hawick being charged with badger-baiting offences, but only Dodds and Lawrie were convicted.

Sheriff Kevin Drummond commented: “It is plain that there are persons, including these two accused, who have been engaging in badger digging in the Hawick area.

“Any civilised human being listening to the account of dogs being put down the badger setts wearing locator collars to drag badgers by their teeth to the waiting spectators where the badgers were kicked, abused, set upon by dogs and killed over a period, described on one account as lasting up to 15-20 minutes, can only wonder at the barbaric mindset of such people which sees this warped activity as entertainment or sport.

“That Dodds should then consider the activity appropriate to post a photograph on an internet site of a dog grappling with a badger tells us something of Mr Dodds’ state of mind.

“Had it not been for the assistance which Dodds provided to the police and his remorse which I have accepted in this case, I would have dealt with this by imprisonment.”

Lawyers for both youths claimed they had been influenced by others involved in the activity.

After the verdict, Superintendent Mike Flynn of the SSPCA said: “They were given a sentence which is a direct alternative to jail, so that is encouraging.

“It is also pleasing they have been banned from keeping dogs for five years.”

Ian Hutchison, species protection officer with Scottish Badgers, commented: “The sheriff has sent a clear message that this kind of cruelty will not be tolerated.

“A lot of work has gone into getting these convictions and hopefully those who were engaging in this practice will now be dissuaded.”

Inspector John Scott of Lothian and Borders Police, based in Hawick, said: “One of the attractive things about living in the Borders is the countryside, so it is important it is protected from activities like this.

“Quite often these are hidden crimes, so it is a positive result.

“It was not only the cruelty to the badgers, but the dangers they were putting their own pet dogs in as well.”

Sentencing:
Dodds was ordered to carry out 200 hours community service as a direct alternative to custody, with Lawrie sentenced to 160 hours. Disqualified from having custody of a dog for a period of five years (expired January 2013).

BBC News
The Scotsman

Animal Torture, Cats, Dogs, Domestic Violence - Animals Targeted, Lifers, Serial Animal Abusers, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Tenby, Pembrokeshire: Rio Hall

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#MostEvil | serial pet abuser Rio Daryle Hall, born 29/07/1987, formerly of Milford Haven, and more recently  of Heywood Court, Tenby, Pembrokeshire SA70 8BP – tortured an eight-week-old kitten to death

Serial sadistic animal abuser Rio Hall from Tenby, Wales

Hall was banned from keeping animals for life after subjecting an eight-week-old kitten named Angel to a sadistic ordeal. He began by wetting her and placing her on a hot radiator, causing her skin to blister.  He then kicked Angel so hard that she fractured her skull. Finally he mutilated the tiny kitten’s ears with scissors.

Hall’s partner and mother of his two children, Caroline Thies, took the stricken cat to the vet who discovered she had fractures to her skull and legs. Angel had to be euthanised to end her appalling suffering.

The vet said the only way the kitten could have received the injuries was by human action, either kicking, stomping or throwing her.

Hall had previously been banned from keeping dogs and cats in 2006, after kicking his dog Benji and breaking his back legs.

Thies, who as at 2018 is still with Hall, received a six-month conditional discharge and was banned from keeping cats or dogs for ten years after pleading guilty to failing to prevent unnecessary suffering to an animal.

As at September 2018 Hall is believed to be living in homeless accommodation in Pembroke. It seems his dopey wife has finally seen the light and chucked the evil get out.

Sentence:
Jailed for six months. For his earlier attack on Benji, Hall  had been given a 10-year ban on keeping animals. Following his conviction for cruelty towards Angel the ban was extended to life.   

Milford Mercury

Animal Torture, Dogs, Lifers, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Wishaw, North Lanarkshire: Daniel Devlin

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#MostEvil | Daniel Devlin, born 07/03/1966, of 33 Greenhead Road, Wishaw ML2 8DJ – stole ex-girlfriend’s dog, poured petrol over him and burned him alive

Dog killer Daniel Devlin from Wishaw
2018 photo of Daniel Devlin

Deciding he wanted rid of his girlfriend’s cross terrier dog Sam, Devlin stole him, drove to a deserted wood and tied him to a tree with a piece of rope. He then poured petrol over the dog and set him alight.

Sam was found the next day, barely alive and in agony, by a couple out walking

The tiny dog suffered 70% burns to his body and had to be put to sleep.

Dog killer Daniel Devlin from Wishaw
Evil dog killer Daniel Devlin pictured in December 2017

The court heard how Devlin had callously told a friend “I’ve tortured it, that’s it done”.

The presiding judge noted that Devlin showed no remorse for his actions. It came out later that he had also threatened a witness who was giving evidence at this trial.

Sentence: jailed for seven months. Banned from keeping animals for life.

Daily Record

Birds, Dogs, Equine Abuse, Hoarders, horses and ponies, Lifers, Multiple Species, rabbits, Serial Animal Abusers, Small Furries, Worst of the Worst

Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire: Lee Howard

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CONVICTED (2007) | animal hoarder Lee Howard, born 12 August 1966, of Shinwell Crescent, Middlesbrough TS6 6LJ – let nearly 30 animals die of thirst and starvation at a County Durham stables.

Serial animal hoarder and abuser Lee Howard from Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire

Lee Howard was charged after the RSPCA discovered animal remains at Bank Top Stables in Trimdon, County Durham, in May 2005.

Magistrates heard that 13 horses and ponies, 11 hens, four dogs, and a rabbit died of dehydration and starvation over a period of several weeks after being locked up at the stables. Three dogs survived by eating the remains of the dead animals.

In March 2006 Howard was sentenced to six months in jail and banned from keeping animals for the rest of his life.

Just a few months later Howard was back in court after it was discovered he was keeping 11 dogs and 16 birds at a house in Delarden Road, Pallister Park, Middlesbrough.

The animals were kept in squalid conditions, with the dogs running around in piles of faeces and pools of urine. Six of them had problems with their paws and one had an ear infection.

Howard was given a further six-month jail term for breaching his ban.

Sentencing: two custodial terms and a lifetime ban on keeping animals.

BBC News
GazetteLive

Update | August 2023

Lee Howard, who has used the name Lee Howard-Smith, was handed a suspended prison sentence after being caught breaching his ban. Several animals and birds were found living in squalor at his home. Howard, who since his original convictions has gone on to obtain multiple training certificates in animal care, was also working as a paid pet-sitter. He was caught out after a customer found his name and photograph on an animal cruelty website.

His address at the time of conviction was Scott Road, Kettering, North Northamptonshire.

dog fighting, Dogs, Organised Animal Crime, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders, Worst of the Worst

Blackburn, Lancashire: Nasar Khan

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CONVICTED (2007) | Nasar Khan, born 13/03/1982, of 12 July Street, Blackburn BB1 1SR – turned a terraced house into a training centre for ‘fighting’ dogs

Dog fighter Nasar Khan from Blackburn, Lancashire

Khan pleaded guilty to eight charges of owning fighting dogs and one of allowing one of the dogs to be in a public place without a muzzle or lead.

Police found the nine illegal, unlicensed pit bull terriers chained up around a terraced property in July Street, Blackburn, after one escaped and began roaming the street.

The house, which was owned by Khan’s family, had been transformed into a pitbull training centre complete with a treadmill.

Isla Chilton, prosecuting, said: “Inside the house was a violent scene and there was blood splattered everywhere.

“There was no furniture and no lighting. It was just full of caged and chained dogs with a treadmill.

“There was a range of muscle-building tablets and powder found there.

“It is clear that these dogs had been trained to fight, a number of these dogs had relatively fresh scars on them. They are clearly not pets.

“The treadmill had a clip for the dogs’ collars which forced them to run, keeping them as fit as possible for fighting.

“These were not normal pit bulls. They were very aggressive and very dangerous.”

After police discovered the animals, which are banned under the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act, a dog warden was called and they were taken to a kennel, Ms Chilton said.

The court heard the dogs were so vicious that after they were seized one of them escaped from his cage in the back of the dog warden’s van and mauled another so badly he had to be put down. All nine dogs were later euthanised.

Aftab Bakhat, defending, said his client was not training the dogs for fighting, but was “fascinated” by them and wanted them to grow big and muscular. He added that Khan was an “extremely stupid man” and did not realise that what he was doing was illegal.

Dog fighter Nasar Khan from Blackburn, Lancashire

District Judge Peter Ward said: “It is clear that these dogs were being trained to bite and the potential danger to the public was significant.”

Judge Ward continued: “He may have been naive but it seems to me that these are dogs that have been prepared for fighting and have been involved in some fighting.”

The cost of kenneling the dogs reached over £15,000. This was met by the taxpayer after unemployed Khan was jailed.

After the case, RSPCA spokesman Sophie Corless said: “Sadly large numbers of pitbull types are still being kept for the wrong reasons – seen as macho status symbols for the purpose of organised dog fighting.

“Either way the dog’s welfare is unnecessarily put at great risk by their owners. It is a brutal crime.”

Sentencing: four months in jail. No ban.

Lancashire Telegraph
Wildlife Guardian