Category Archives: Pet Profiteering

This category encompasses puppy and kitten farmers, pet peddlars, backyard breeders as well as bricks-and-mortar pet stores

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

Llanbradach, Caerphilly: David Braddon

July 15, 2010 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2010) | David Brinley Braddon (also known as Dai Brad), born 01/05/1963, of 11 Glyn Llwyfen, Llanbradach, Caerphilly CF83 3PL – owned five banned pit bull terrier dogs and was involved in dog fighting

Dog fighter David Braddon from Caerphilly, Wales

After a three-day trial in June 2010, father-of-five David Brinley Braddon was found guilty of keeping or training a dog for use in connection of animal fighting, guilty of having articles for use in connection of animal fighting and guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog.

Braddon, who operates a tattoo studio in Bargoed, Wales called Skin FX and fronts a white supremacist band, also admitted five charges of possessing a banned breed.

On 17 March 2009, officers from the RSPCA special operations unit joined South Wales Police to execute a search warrant at Braddon’s home. A search of the property revealed five pit bull terrier type dogs, four of them being kept in an elaborate kennel set-up in a garage at the rear of the property.

A motorised and a manual treadmill with attachments for dog collars, which are commonly used to train animals before a fight were also discovered.

Braddon’s refrigerator contained a bottle of the penicillin Duphacillin, an animal antibiotic normally only dispensed by a vet. They also discovered a set of weighing scales for use when the dogs were being weighed in before fights and various books on pit bulls and dog fighting including a manual entitled Dogs of Velvet and Steel which was known as the “dog fighter’s bible”.

One of the dogs found at Braddon’s home during the search was known as Otis (pictured). The animal fitted the name, description and photographs of a dog listed in many magazines and fight reports seized by the RSPCA during its investigations into organised dog fighting. Otis featured as having won two fights which was recorded in the Pit Bull Year Book 2008. That dog had 42 separate scars and another dog had 21 scars.

RSPCA chief inspector Mike Butcher said: “It is a major breakthrough for us to successfully prosecute someone like David Braddon.

“He is a major figure among the British dog fighting community, making it all the more pleasing to see him brought to justice.

“Despite this horrific so-called ‘sport’ being banned as long ago as 1835, there remains a network of organised dog fighters still operating across Britain.

“These people are responsible for some of the most deliberate and barbaric acts of animal cruelty the society investigates.

“It remains a constant battle to find these elusive characters and bring them to justice, but the RSPCA remains entirely committed to doing just that.”

Braddon with partner Melony McElroy, now Kim Jones

Braddon has five children: Emma (born 1984), Amy (born 1986), David James (born 1988), Nikki (born 1990) and Megan Rhian (born 2002). In 2015 son David James Braddon was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder. His partner is Melony McElroy who goes by the name Kim Jones.

Sentencing: jailed for six months, later reduced to 16 weeks on appeal; £1,000 costs. Disqualified from keeping animals for 15 years (expires July 2025). All five banned breed dogs were ordered to be destroyed

BBC News
Vet Times

Animal Abandonment, Cats, Dogs, guinea pigs, Hoarders, Multiple Species, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders, rabbits, Small Furries

Burnley, Lancashire: Linda Winter

January 21, 2010 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2010) | internet animal trader Linda Winter (aka Linda Jayne Leaf), born c. 1969, of Wycoller Avenue, Burnley BB10 4LF – kept dogs, cats and guinea pigs in freezing and filthy conditions in a series of stables and a caravan

Linda / Lynda Winter aka Linda Leaf pictured outside court in 2010, and one of the many animals rescued from the miserable conditions in which she kept them — Linda / Lynda Winter aka Linda Leaf pictured outside court in 2010, and one of the dogs rescued from the miserable conditions in which she kept them

An investigation was launched into the activities of puppy and horse trader Linda Winter by the RSPCA after police found a variety of animals in squalid conditions at a freezing-cold farm near Lennox Street, Worsthorne.

Several dogs, cats and guinea pigs were found in caravans and a nearby stable block by officers, who were conducting a stakeout as part of an unrelated criminal operation, and the RSPCA was alerted.

The conditions in the caravan were said to be filthy and often the animals had not been given adequate food or water despite the temperature barely being above zero degrees centigrade.

Two rabbits and a guinea pig, left in cages by Winter at the Lennox Street paddock, were found to be dead by police.

Vet Peter O’Hagen was called in to examine the animals and they were removed at the RSPCA’s request.

RSPCA inspector Jason Bowles and Mr O’Hagen also made a video of the caravan and stables noting that, at the time, New Year’s Day, the temperature was zero degrees centigrade.

Mr Bowles told the court said there was a strong smell of urine in the dirty caravan and he could see no food or water left for a Rottweiler puppy and a small Border terrier he found inside.

He then moved to a stable block, where he found the dead rabbits and guinea pig, and a cage containing three cats, which had apparently been left with dry food but no water. The litter tray was full and the cats were sitting in their own filth.

The next stable inspected had three dogs, two Bedlington terriers and a small black spaniel, the court heard.

Mr Bowles said no water had been left for the dogs. The terriers’ coats were matted and the spaniel’s was ‘dirty’.

Finally two Sharpei dogs, with bad skin conditions, were discovered in a third stable.

These dogs had been left water but it had frozen because of the conditions.

Winter, who advertises puppies for sale on the internet, was questioned by PC Mark Jenkinson when she arrived at the scene.

She was alleged to have told PC Jenkinson that the animals at the compound were hers and she was looking after them “because no-one else would”.

Winter was questioned about the discovery and later charged with 18 offences of failing to provide adequate care and diets for 13 animals found by the authorities.

She denied the charges during a two-day trial but was convicted of all the offences.

In her defence, Winter said her car had been impounded and she was unable to attend to care for the animals daily. Her daughter and a family friend had been given the responsibility instead and had not done a good job.

Magistrates banned Winter from keeping dogs and all other animals for six years and to pay costs to the RSPCA of £260.

The court heard that the disqualification may prove difficult to enforce as his client’s 17-year-old daughter had pets of her own.

But the bench told Winter she must make provisions to ensure she complied with the ban or face further court action.

The trial was told that Winter’s details had been found on various trading websites, advertising puppies and ponies for sale.

Following the case RSPCA inspector Jason Bowles, who investigated Winter, said: “She left these animals to live in freezing and squalid conditions and some suffered and others died as a result.

“She was caught out though as the result of a joint operation between the RSPCA and Burnley Police.

“I would like to make a plea to people to be aware when you are buying an animal, without researching its history properly, then you could be funding misery for more animals in future.”

Sentencing: costs of £260. Six-year ban on keeping animals (expired 2016).

Lancashire Telegraph

Dogs, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders, Worst of the Worst

Ferryhill, Co Durham / Redcar, Teesside: Marc Young and Paul Brown

December 21, 2009 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2009) | Marc Ian Young, born 07/02/1980, from 9 Hawthorne Terrace, Ferryhill DL17 9AX and Paul Nigel Brown, born 27/04/1953, of 18 Lorton Road, Redcar TS10 4LY – kept dozens of diseased and injured dogs in appalling conditions on a farm.

Marc Ian Young of Ferryhill, who together with his boss Paul Nigel Brown, was convicted of cruelty to 144 dogs

Young and Brown were together convicted of 16 animal cruelty offences after 144 dogs were found mangy and unfed at Bog Hall Farm, Mordon, near Sedgefield, County Durham.

Prosecutor John Ellwood told the court how an investigation by the RSPCA led to a raid on Brown’s Bog Hall Farm in the spring of 2008.

More than 144 cross-breeds, lurchers and terriers were found living in cages, animal stables and even in the back of unused vehicles.

Dirt and faeces were compacted on floors, and the animals had what little sustenance they could get when dried food was thrown on top of this.

Seven dogs had infected wounds, 26 had dental problems and 13 dogs were close to death through emaciation.

All the animals had the parasites living in their fur.

Horrifyingly, dead dogs were being burned on a rubbish heap, and inspectors found the charred remains of one animal during a visit.

Brown would also apparently sell the dogs when he could for commercial gain and was seen as the leader of the enterprise, with Young in his pay.

Some 35 of the dogs had to be put down following the discovery.

In all, the case cost the RSPCA approximately £29,000 in veterinary bills, £14,000 in legal fees and an estimated £15,000 to investigate.

Brown pleaded guilty to charges of animal cruelty between February 27 and April 24, 2008.

His offences ranged from failing to provide sufficient food and veterinary care to a “catch-all” charge of failing to provide adequate care, said prosecutor John Ellwood.

Young had denied 11 of the animal welfare charges against him, which included:

Failing to give 102 dogs a wholesome diet;
Failing to provide necessary care for 144 dogs with flea and lice infestation;
Failing to give veterinary care to 26 dogs suffering from severe dental disease;
Failing to treat infected wounds on eight dogs;
Failing to obtain veterinary treatment for a dog with a fractured leg.

Young told the court he was overwhelmed with the workload and was following the orders of his boss, Paul Nigel Brown, who was the farm’s tenant at the time.

Finding Young guilty on all charges, Judge Simon Hickey said: “Mr Young admitted he knew it was wrong to throw food on the filthy floor of the pens. He knew he was failing to provide adequate care for the animals. He was embarrassed by the finding of excrement and smell of urine.

“This was prolonged neglect over a period of eight weeks. There must have been commercial motivation.

“You have to face up to the consequences of these animals suffering.”

He told Young: “I don’t accept the defence of only doing what you were told to do.”

Speaking after the hearing, RSPCA inspector Lucy Hoehne said: “We are happy with the sentences and happy they won’t be able to keep dogs for a number of years.”

Sentencing:

Brown and Young were each sentenced to eight weeks in jail, suspended for 12-months.

They were both ordered to carry out 100 hours of community service and pay £260 costs.

Brown was banned from keeping dogs for 10 years (expired December 2019). Young was banned from keeping dogs for five years (expired December 2014).

BBC News
Northern Echo
TeessideLive

Animal Abandonment, Dogs, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders, Worst of the Worst

Thrapston, North Northamptonshire: Mary-Ellen Collis

October 23, 2009 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2009) | Mary-Ellen Collis, born c. 1958, then owner of Wardana breeding kennels in Brigstock, near Kettering – abandoned 100 St Bernards to go on holiday to Tenerife

Collis, who now lives in Treen Close, Thrapston NN14 4UU, pleaded guilty to seven counts of causing unnecessary suffering to 85 dogs and one count of failing to meet the welfare needs of 14 dogs.

RSPCA inspectors visited the kennels following a tip-off and discovered the dogs living in filthy kennels with no access to fresh food or water.

The court heard how a total of 99 dogs had been abandoned at the kennels. Eighty-five of the St Bernards were suffering from medical problems such as abscesses, ulcerated skin and eye conditions and ear infections which had not been treated. Many were emaciated.

Three of the puppies were very thin and their ribs were visible. One dog was unable to stand and was suffering from dehydration. She had several open sores on her legs and feet caused by pressure and urine scalds. Another was in such a poor condition that the vet had to put the dog to sleep at the scene to prevent him from suffering further.

Another dog died overnight after suffering a heart attack at the veterinary surgery. He was thin, covered in faeces and was suffering from severe dehydration. Another had severely ulcerated eyes, which had not been treated and had caused blindness.

Ultimately 16 dogs died. The others were rehomed following a campaign by the RSPCA.

Prosecutor Kevin McCole told the court that the RSPCA was called after David Nolan, a member of the public, became concerned about the welfare of his mother’s dog. Repeated visits found nobody on the site and Mr Nolan called the police, but they said they could do nothing if there was no immediate threat to a human. Eventually he contacted the RSPCA and asked them to intervene.

When inspectors went into the abandoned kennels on November 29, 2008, they found dogs ranging from nine weeks to eight years of age, many of them were covered in urine and faeces. There was not enough food and water available and most were in a poor state.

Mr McCole said: “The defendant had left her premises and left the dogs effectively unattended while she went on holiday to Tenerife with her partner. It seems she went away on November 24 and subsequent to that for a number of days there was nobody at the premises.”

The court heard Collis, who had been declared bankrupt in 2007, claimed she was struggling for money in order to keep the kennels going. She told RSPCA inspectors that she had asked other people to look after the dogs, though they have since said they had never agreed to such a request.

Mr McCole told the court: “She gave no explanation as to why it was that she went away and why she made no provision for the wellbeing, welfare and care of the large number of dogs that were in her care at that time.’’

He told the court the dogs were boarded and treated by several vets – and experts concluded most of them had suffered neglect for several weeks or months.

Ms Collis’ defence solicitor Ben Brown, said his client’s actions were out of character. He said the former kennel-owner, who had bred and exhibited St Bernards for 30 years, had been well-respected in dog breeding circles.

He said she had bought the kennels in 2000, but things took a turn for the worse when she hit financial problems. She was declared bankrupt in May 2007 but Mr Brown said problems emerged with what to do with the dogs after the bankruptcy was set in motion.

Sentencing | 18 weeks in prison. Disqualified from keeping animals for 10 years (expired 2019).

Our Dogs

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

UK-Wide dog-fighting ring: Gary Adamson, Claire Parker, Mohammed Farooq, Christopher Burgess, Kenneth King, Jane Adamson

September 25, 2009 misanthropic 7 Comments

CONVICTED (2009) | Gary David Adamson (26/01/1971) of Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees, Owen Anthony Batey (26/11/1968) from Middlesbrough, Christopher John Burgess (24/11/1966) from Mansfield, Kenneth Harold King (14/12/1973) from Newark, Jane Adamson aka Jane Barnes (22/12/1970) of Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees, Claire Amanda Parker (15/12/1964) from Gainsborough, and Mohammed Nasir Farooq (16/09/1975) of Bordesley Green, Birmingham

Members of UK dog-fighting ring Claire Parker, Gary Adamson, Mohammed Farooq, Owen Batey — , Clockwise from top left Claire Parker, Gary Adamson, Mohammed Farooq, Owen Batey

Members of one of the UK’s biggest dog-fighting gangs were caught as part of two major investigations into dog fighting by the RSPCA’s special operations unit named Operations Cannon and Castle.

Separate footage obtained by an undercover reporter working on a BBC Panorama investigation into organised dog fighting and a notorious gang, the Farmers’ Boys, also provided the RSPCA with vital video evidence to bring the gang to justice.

Video footage captured Adamson readying his dog for a fight

In a secretly recorded video shown in the programme, Gary Adamson proudly boasts that a dog named as Pablo suffered a “real good ragging” in a half-hour fight with Kenneth King’s dog Chief for £500 prize money. Adamson pulls up the nervous-looking dog by his collar at one point to show multiple white scars on his face, a ripped ear and some stapled wounds.

Adamson was caught on camera naming some of those who attended, while others were tracked down by the RSPCA.

The journalist secretly filmed Adamson’s now ex wife Jane Adamson (now Jane Barnes) at a dog fight.

When Jane Adamson was interviewed by police, she told officers: “I just did what I had to do.”

Searches were carried out at several premises, including the homes of the defendants. Equipment including several treadmills, training aids, home veterinary kits and prescription only drugs were all discovered by the RSPCA inspectors who investigated the case. Many of the individuals also had elaborate kennel set-ups at their home addresses, along with several pit bull type dogs that had scars from previous fights.

Dog kept for fighting by Gary Adamson — ‘Fighting’ dog chained up at Gary Adamson’s home

During a search of Claire Parker’s home, RSPCA inspectors discovered a blood stained fighting pit constructed in the garage. This is believed to be the pit where the fight described by Adamson was held. The inspectors also found three pit bull type dogs, an elaborate set of kennels and treadmills used to train the animals at Parker’s premises.

Badly injured fighting dog — Dog badly injured after being forced by Adamson’s evil gang to participate in a fight

Adamson boasted how he was the “Don King of dog fighting” and was a top breeder and trader of bull terriers.

Details of Charges and Sentencing

Claire Parker, aka Claire Page, denied all the charges but was found guilty of being present at a dog fight, keeping a premises for dog fighting and possessing three pit bull dogs. She was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison and banned from keeping animals for ten years (expired 2019).

Her late-husband John Parker was also due to stand trial on dog fighting charges, but he died before the hearing while in prison for other offences.

Gary Adamson of 9 Seymour Avenue, Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees TS16 0LD pleaded guilty to six charges in connection with illegal dog fighting and was given 23 weeks in prison. He was banned from keeping animals for life.

Mohammed Farooq of 43 Daniels Road, Birmingham B9 5XP was found guilty on two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and possessing training equipment for dog fighting and was jailed for the maximum 26 weeks. Banned from keeping all animals for life.

Owen Batey of 44 Cannock Road, Middlesbrough TS3 7NU was given 23 weeks in jail, having admitted setting two pit bulls on each other, being present at a dog-fight and owning a pit bull. He was disqualified from keeping animals for life.

Christopher Burgess of 44 Nursery Court, Nursery Street, Mansfield NG18 2AJ pleaded guilty to one charge of keeping a banned dog and received 160 hours’ community service.

Kenneth King of Island Cottage, High Street, East Markham, Newark NG22 0QJ admitted eight charges including taking part in dog fights. He was jailed for 23 weeks and banned from keeping animals for life.

Jane Adamson previously of Pacific Drive, Stockton on Tees (current address tbc) admitted one charge: causing unnecessary suffering to a pit bull terrier type dog named Pablo by failing to obtain veterinary attention in respect of injuries sustained in a fight. She was given an 18-month community order and told to pay £150 in costs. She was banned from keeping dogs for 10 years (expired 2019).

An unidentified 17-year-old youth was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and keeping dog-fighting equipment. He was given a six-month referral order and a five-year ban from keeping or owning animals.

Several members of the gang appealed, but these were largely unsuccessful.

A fight broke out inside the court building during which Kenneth King received head injuries. Police had to use a taser to overpower Christopher Burgess.

BBC News
Birmingham Mail
Northern Echo

Update February 2021

Claire Parker was sentenced to four and a half years in jail after she crashed her BMW at 80mph and killed a devoted couple.

Lincoln Crown Court heard Parker was estimated to be driving her BMW at 80mph when she crossed over double white lines and moved out to pass two cars and a double decker bus before colliding with the couple’s vehicle.

Mirror

Dogs, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders

Ashford, Kent: Melanie King

September 24, 2009 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2009) | breeder Melanie Jean King, born 10/08/1954, of Station Farm, Station Road, Appledore, Ashford TN26 2DG – kept dozens of dogs in cramped and squalid conditions

Melanie King, formerly of Whents Farm in Teynham, near Sittingbourne, was given a suspended prison sentence, ordered to undertake unpaid work and to pay over £1000 in costs to Swale Council after breaching the conditions of her dog-breeding licence.

She was sentenced at Sittingbourne Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to 24 offences under Section 1 of the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973.

The court was shown a number of images of 40 dogs on her farm kept in cramped and squalid conditions.

Vets inspecting the premises in December 2008 had raised serious concerns about breeding conditions at the establishment.

It was agreed a new licence would be granted to King for a temporary period. This was to allow her time to deal with hygiene issues raised.

But on three further inspections by council officers and the RSPCA between February and March 2009, numerous breaches of the breeding licence were discovered which led to the prosecution.

In sentencing, magistrates told King that had she failed to plead guilty at an early stage, they would have imposed a custodial sentence.

Speaking after sentencing, Swale council’s environmental response manager, Alister Andrews, said: “This conviction is a significant victory not only for us, but also for the animals which were kept at this establishment.”

Sentencing: 140-day suspended prison sentence; 150 hours’ unpaid work; £1,100 costs. Banned for life from breeding dogs, although this was reduced on appeal to just seven years in 2011 (expired).

KentOnline

Animal Abandonment, Equine Abuse, horses and ponies, Pet Profiteering, riding stables, stud farms and livery yards, Worst of the Worst

Rotherham, South Yorkshire: Dawn Rose

September 4, 2009 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2009) | Dawn Elizabeth Rose, born 25/01/1960, previously of Llangolen, North Wales, and more recently Duncan Street, Brinsworth, Rotherham S60 5DE – allowed 72 horses on her failing stud farm to starve

RSPCA inspectors found desperately emaciated animals foraging for scraps of food on Dawn Rose's stud farm. — RSPCA inspectors found desperately emaciated animals on Dawn Rose’s stud farm.

Divorcee Dawn Rose set up a stud farm using a £300,000 pay-out from her ex-partner to fulfil her teenage daughter’s dream of breeding ponies.

But the business was a failure, and when inspectors raided it they found desperately emaciated animals foraging for scraps of food.

Rose pleaded guilty to six charges of causing unnecessary suffering to animals.

The mother-of-two wept as RSPCA prosecutor Glen Murphy said the experienced inspection team had been “stunned” by the appalling condition of the animals on her stud farm.

RSPCA inspector Chris Dunbar first visited Rose in March 2008 when she bought her 42-acre farm to start a stud.

Inspector Dunbar said: “We had concerns from the start as she wasn’t feeding the horses. We kept going back — she listened but did nothing.”

One horse, a chestnut mare called Mist, was little more than a ‘skeleton with skin stretched over’, and the vet who treated her was amazed she could still stand up.

Three others were so weak that they died soon afterwards.

Rose, who had moved to the area from Norfolk, told investigators her money had run out and she could not afford to pay for the animals.

Sitting at Mold magistrates court, district judge Andrew Shaw told Ms Rose: “You neglected these horses in an obvious and shameful way.”

Mr Dunbar added: “We were happy with the ban. Our job is to stop cruelty and in this case that’s what we feel we’ve done.”

Sentencing: three-month sentence suspended for 12 months; 100 hours of unpaid community work. Banned from keeping or being involved with horses for 10 years (expired 2019).

As a bankrupt, Rose was only ordered to pay £250 of the RSPCA’s prosecution costs of £128,554.

Horse & Hound
Daily Mail

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

Northfield, Birmingham: Anthony and Patrick Mullen, Susan Hancock

June 18, 2008 misanthropic 1 Comment

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.

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

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

Walsall, West Midlands: Clayton Beard

April 16, 2008 misanthropic 1 Comment

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.

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

Blackburn, Lancashire: Nasar Khan

July 2, 2007 misanthropic 1 Comment

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.

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

UK Animal Cruelty Files