CONVICTED (2010) | Daphne Fairclough, born c. 1968, and son Shaun Malcolm Terence Fairclough, born 11 November 1987, both of 117 Lanchester Avenue, Gateshead NE9 7AN – starved their pet goat so badly the animal had to be put to sleep
A pet goat belonging to mother and son Daphne and Shaun Fairclough was left to starve in January 2010 – the coldest winter for 30 years.
As Arctic conditions brought misery to Britain, the goat was left without food or water on West Farm, at Whickham Highway, in Gateshead.
A woman visiting her horse in a nearby field heard the dying animal’s cries and alerted the RSPCA.
But it was too late to save the goat, who had to be put down, Gateshead.
The Faircloughs admitted animal cruelty charges.
Clive McKeag, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said the animal was found collapsed in a stable on a urine-covered concrete floor with her bones protruding.
An examination suggested she had been starved for a minimum of a week but more likely over a month.
“An RSPCA inspector said the animal had been living in conditions that were unacceptable,” said Mr McKeag.
Shaun Fairclough, who owned the goat, had asked his mother to go and see her but accepts he didn’t look after her properly.
Tom Iceton, defending, said both mother and son regret what happened. “Mrs Fairclough finds this very distressing and she is very remorseful,” he said.
“The goat belonged to Shaun and it was his responsibility to make sure it was properly cared for and looked after. Work shifts caused him some problems, his mother did the best she could but he should have made arrangements.”
Sentencing: both were given a 12-month supervised community order. The mother was ordered to complete 40 hours of unpaid work. She was banned from keeping animals, except cats and dogs, until 2015.
Her son was told complete 200 hours of unpaid work and banned from keeping or caring for any animal for 10 years (expired October 2020). He had to pay £250 costs.
Update 24 November 2020
Shaun Fairclough was convicted of further animal cruelty charges in relation to chickens he kept on an allotment. He was also found to have breached his existing ban on owning animals which only ended in October 2020.
The RSPCA was contacted in September 2019 with concerns for the welfare of a number of birds at an allotment in Haltwhistle. When rescuers arrived at the premises they discovered the bodies of five dead birds.
RSPCA Inspector Kirsty Keogh-Laws said: “When I arrived at the allotment I was told that a large number of birds had previously been kept there, and sadly I found the bodies of five dead chickens among the pens, that had been left to rot.
“I made enquiries to find out who was keeping the birds, which took some time, but I discovered that the birds were under the care of Shaun Fairclough which was a breach of an existing disqualification order.”
Fairclough pleaded guilty to having 20 chickens and six ducks including five silkie type chickens, while being disqualified from owning animals.
The court heard that he mistakenly thought his previous disqualification order had ended and suggested his friends were helping him to look after the chickens.
Fairclough was sentenced to an 18 month community order with 26 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days and 150 hours of unpaid work. He was ordered to pay costs of £400 and a victim surcharge of £85 which is to be deducted at source.
A disqualification order was granted for a period of five years.
