Small Animals covers cases involving cruelty, neglect, abandonment or unsafe housing of small mammal pets such as rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, mice, rats, guinea pigs, chinchillas, degus and other similar species kept in domestic environments. These animals are particularly vulnerable due to their specialist care needs, small size and reliance on owners to provide appropriate housing, enrichment, temperature, hygiene and veterinary attention. Rabbits, one of the most popular pets in the UK, are frequently neglected or abandoned due to widespread misunderstanding of their welfare requirements.
Offences often involve prolonged neglect, filthy or overcrowded cages or hutches, inadequate food or water, untreated illness, animals kept in unsuitable or makeshift enclosures, or pets abandoned inside hutches, tanks or cages after owners move or lose interest. Some cases arise from hoarding environments where multiple small mammals are kept together in hazardous, chaotic or unsanitary conditions. This category identifies cases where small mammal pets are the primary victims, with specific offence types classified under the relevant cruelty or crime categories.
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
Read turned up to court in a Canada Goose jacket — a brand notorious for using real fur — which feels grimly appropriate for someone who treats animals as disposable.
On 31 July 2024, Axel Shane Read, 24, broke into the back garden of neighbour Laice Cleough in Upperby, Carlisle, and stole her two rescue ferrets, Pumpkin and Latte, from their enclosure.
Rescue ferrets Pumpkin and Latte were stolen from their enclosure and later found dead after being used as bait for dogs.
CCTV captured Read and another man at around 6:30pm shining a light into the cage before Read opened the door, reached inside, and removed both animals. The ferrets were among 25 kept by Cleough, who also cared for other rescued animals.
Both ferrets were later found dead — one dumped in a black bin, the other under a hedge. They had bite marks, body trauma, and head injuries, consistent with being used as bait for dogs.
A video shown in court depicted Read holding one of the ferrets and “trying to get one of his dogs to have a go at it”.
Judge Fanning described the act as “an act of execution and an act of sadism”, noting that the animals would have expressed a stress odour and “died in fear”.
Further footage showed Read disposing of one of the dead ferrets while saying it “stinks”, and celebrating the dogs’ involvement by telling one it was a “good boy”.
The judge said Read’s dogs were trained to kill by applying pressure to the neck. He rejected suspending the sentence, stating that doing so might lead “other young lads” to think such behaviour was acceptable.
Read denied involvement, telling the owner: “I don’t have your stinky ferrets. If I had taken your ferrets, I would have skinned them and left them outside your front door.” He also threatened to destroy her car and home. Cleough said the incident left her paranoid, scared to live in her own home, and fearful of seeing Read, whom she described as unpredictable.
Read was unanimously convicted by a jury of five on multiple counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, including causing a ferret to be destroyed by a dog and causing a ferret to be taken from its protected enclosure, resulting in its death.
Sentence
Court: Carlisle Crown Court Date: 6 October 2026 Penalty: 15 months’ imprisonment Ban: None reported Restraining Order: 3 years — no contact with victim; barred from entering a residential Carlisle road Mitigation: None reported
At a Glance
Offender: Axel Read
Born: circa 2002
Age at Conviction: 24
Address: Marks Avenue, Belle Vue, Carlisle CA2
Occupation: Roofer
Previous Convictions: Not reported
Additional Information: Read is known locally as a wildlife persecutor; his social media accounts contain numerous images of dead animals and birds, including hunting with dogs and with a firearm
Animal Victims: Pumpkin & Latte (ferrets)
Victim Fate: Both found dead with bite wounds, body trauma, and head injuries
Evidence: CCTV of theft; CCTV of baiting; physical injuries; owner statement
Case Type: Theft; fatal animal abuse; baiting; dog‑related cruelty
The killing of Pumpkin and Latte was not a moment of panic or a reckless mistake — it was a deliberate, sustained act of cruelty. The CCTV footage and witness accounts show a man who did not simply disregard animal suffering, but actively sought it out, encouraged it, and took pleasure in it. Judge Fanning’s description of the incident as “an act of execution and an act of sadism” is not rhetorical flourish; it is an accurate reflection of the behaviour captured on video.
Read didn’t just steal the ferrets. He handled them in ways clearly intended to maximise fear and distress. He encouraged his dogs to attack them, praised the dogs afterwards, and even mocked the dead animals while disposing of their bodies. This is cruelty carried out with intention, enjoyment, and a complete absence of empathy.
What makes this case even more disturbing is what the court did not do. Despite the sadism, despite the baiting, despite the fatal injuries, despite the clear evidence of deliberate violence, Read was not banned from keeping animals. This means that the man who fed two terrified ferrets to his dogs can legally continue owning dogs — and, crucially, can continue hunting with dogs, something he already does extensively.
His social media accounts, filled with images of dead wildlife, hunting trophies, and animals killed with dogs and firearms, show a long-standing pattern of behaviour. The ferrets were not an isolated incident; they were simply the victims caught on camera. The absence of a ban means that nothing prevents him from continuing the same activities that preceded this offence.
For the owner, the impact has been profound. Her statement describes paranoia, sickness, fear, and a loss of safety in her own home. She was left terrified of seeing Read again — and given his behaviour, her fear is entirely justified. The restraining order offers some protection, but it does not address the core issue: a man who has demonstrated sadistic violence towards animals still has legal access to animals.
This case exposes a serious gap in the system. When an offender demonstrates sadism, enjoyment of suffering, and a pattern of violent behaviour towards animals, a ban should be automatic. The fact that Read can walk out of prison and immediately resume hunting with dogs is not just a failure — it is a risk.
Pumpkin and Latte deserved better. Their deaths should have resulted in a lifetime ban. Instead, the man who killed them retains the legal right to continue the very activities that led to their suffering.
Alan Lagar, 53, from Silloth, who received a lifetime ban from keeping animals following the Cumbria Police and Kenzie’s K9s investigation.
Lagar has been banned from keeping animals for life following a disturbing investigation into the deaths and neglect of multiple animals at his home and caravan.
He received a lifetime disqualification order at Workington Magistrates’ Court on 15 September 2026, after police and rescuers uncovered a series of deeply distressing scenes involving deceased animals, severely neglected pets, and hazardous living conditions.
Cumbria Police first attended Lagar’s caravan in April 2026 after concerns were reported. Officers discovered signs that animals had died both inside and outside the property.
The caravan was heavily contaminated with faeces and animal decay, and outside, the remains of animals believed to be rabbits were found. Lagar was located nearby and arrested.
The case was significantly advanced thanks to the vigilance of Kenzie’s K9 Animal Search & Rescue, who had been monitoring Lagar for two years following a previous incident in June 2024.
In that earlier case, 27 dogs were rescued from a cramped two‑berth caravan in Braystones, Cumbria. Despite the severity of the conditions, no charges were brought at the time — something rescuers described as “justice never served.”
Kenzie’s K9s continued to keep Lagar on their radar, monitoring publicly available information due to concerns he might acquire more animals. Their suspicions were confirmed when an anonymous social‑media post about a missing dog in Silloth was traced back to Lagar.
Rescuers attended the site and documented what they could from outside the caravan, discovering hooves in a fly‑covered bag, cat wheels, litter boxes, and hutches buried under rubbish.
One hutch contained a decomposed guinea pig; another held mouldy bedding and animal fur. The caravan windows were filthy and covered in flies, and rescuers could hear an animal moving inside.
Police were called and, after several hours, forced entry. Inside, officers found a deceased ferret in a filthy cat carrier and a heavily pregnant young tabby cat emerging from the debris.
Meanwhile, Lagar’s car was stopped as he attempted to return to the site. Inside were six dogs crammed into two small cages in the boot, and an eight‑week‑old puppy on the passenger seat. More animals were later recovered, including additional dogs, cats, and deceased animals.
Rescuers worked alongside police, provided statements, and documented the conditions extensively. Their efforts ensured the case progressed to court.
Sentence
The case was heard at Workington Magistrates’ Court on 15 September 2026.
Lagar received:
18 months’ community service
18 months’ rehabilitation requirements
£390 fine
Lifetime disqualification order preventing him from:
Owning animals
Keeping animals
Participating in the keeping of animals
Being party to any arrangement allowing him to control or influence how animals are kept
The ban applies to all animals for life.
Cumbria Police publicly thanked Kenzie’s K9 Animal Search & Rescue for reporting concerns promptly and for their commitment to animal welfare.
At a Glance
Defendant: Alan Lagar (aged 53 at date of conviction, born c. 1973)
Address: Silloth, Cumbria but with links to several areas includ,ng Braystones, Maryport, Wigan, Liverpool and Warrington
Offence Locations: caravan sites in Braystones and later Silloth
The case of Alan Lagar is not an example of chaotic animal hoarding. It is something far more deliberate, patterned and concerning. The evidence from Cumbria Police, local residents and Kenzie’s K9 Animal Search & Rescue shows a man who actively sought out vulnerable animals, concealed them, and repeatedly allowed them to suffer and die in catastrophic conditions. His behaviour is organised, intentional and persistent — and there are indications he did not act alone.
Animal hoarders typically accumulate pets impulsively, often believing they are “saving” them. Their behaviour is disorganised, emotionally driven and usually centred around one species. Lagar’s behaviour is the opposite. He did not passively acquire animals — he hunted for them. According to rescuers, he “stalks Facebook for animals free to a good home and has travelled all over for them.” This is targeted acquisition, not hoarding. It shows planning, intention and a willingness to exploit people offering pets to what they believed were safe homes.
His history reinforces this pattern. In 2024, 27 dogs were found living in a cramped two‑berth caravan in Braystones. Despite the severity of that situation, no charges were brought. But Lagar did not stop. He moved locations, continued monitoring social media, and resumed collecting animals. By 2026, he was again keeping multiple species — dogs, cats, rabbits, a guinea pig, a ferret — in a caravan filled with faeces, decay, rubbish and animal remains. This is not emotional attachment or disorganisation. It is indiscriminate acquisition followed by severe neglect.
The conditions discovered in 2026 show a level of concealment that goes beyond typical hoarding. Rescuers found hooves in a fly‑covered bag, buried hutches containing decomposed animals, mouldy bedding with fur, and windows so filthy they could not see inside. A heavily pregnant young cat was found living in the debris. A deceased ferret was discovered in a filthy carrier. When police stopped Lagar’s car, six dogs were crammed into two small cages in the boot, with an eight‑week‑old puppy loose on the passenger seat. More animals were later recovered.
This is not someone overwhelmed by too many pets. This is someone who actively sought animals, hid them, and repeatedly allowed them to suffer. His behaviour fits the profile of what animal‑welfare criminology describes as an acquisitive neglect offender — an individual who intentionally obtains animals, often vulnerable or unwanted, and then subjects them to prolonged neglect, sometimes resulting in death. These offenders are high‑risk because their behaviour is purposeful, not accidental, and because they continue seeking animals even after intervention.
There is also emerging information suggesting Lagar may not have acted entirely alone. At least one known associate, believed to be living on a caravan site in Allonby, has been identified by rescuers as someone who may have assisted or enabled aspects of Lagar’s behaviour. While details remain limited, the presence of an accomplice reinforces the organised nature of this offending and raises further concerns about how animals were acquired, transported and concealed.
The role of Kenzie’s K9 Animal Search & Rescue cannot be overstated. Their persistence, monitoring and documentation were crucial in ensuring this case reached court. They recognised the pattern early, kept watch for two years, and acted decisively when new concerns emerged. Without their vigilance — and the determination of PC Ostle and PC Pattinson — it is likely this situation would have continued unchecked.
The lifetime ban imposed by the court is not only justified but essential. Lagar’s behaviour shows clear recidivism, deliberate acquisition, concealment and multi‑species neglect. This is not a one‑off incident or a moment of crisis. It is a sustained pattern of behaviour that places animals at extreme risk. The ban protects future animals from suffering and acknowledges the seriousness of what was uncovered.
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.
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”
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”
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.
Nathan Race and Jade Race (Jade Boyd), responsible for one of County Durham’s worst ever neglect cases — nine animals dead, dozens more starving, dehydrated and living in squalor.
Case Summary
Six dogs and three rabbits were found dead inside a County Durham home after prolonged, preventable neglect.
The RSPCA launched an investigation on 16 September 2023 after receiving a report of deceased animals in cages at a property in Ford Terrace, Chilton.
One of the cages found inside the property — filled with filthy, torn bedding and an empty bowl. Animals were left in these conditions without food, water or basic care.
Inside, officers discovered decomposed and mummified remains, empty enclosures, thick layers of faeces and no access to food or water.
A connected address in West Cornforth contained a further 29 neglected animals, including birds, reptiles, ferrets, rabbits and two underweight dogs.
Both defendants pleaded guilty to multiple Animal Welfare Act offences and received suspended prison sentences and lifetime bans.
Offender Overview
Name: Nathan Race Born: 8 January 1994 Age at Conviction: 32 Last Known Address: Poplar Terrace, West Cornforth, County Durham Occupation: Unknown Previous Convictions: None known Additional Information: Responsible for animals at both Ford Terrace and Poplar Terrace addresses.
Name: Jade Diane Race / Boyd Born: 21 September 1997 Age at Conviction: 28 Last Known Address: Coronation Terrace, West Cornforth, County Durham Occupation: Unknown Previous Convictions: None known Additional Information: Mobility issues reported; relied on Nathan Race for animal care.
Incident Details
RSPCA Inspector Clare Wilson attended Ford Terrace, Chilton on 16 September 2023 following a report of dead animals in cages.
She described a “strong smell of death and faeces”, thousands of flies covering an upstairs window, and a deceased dog lying behind the kitchen door.
Inside the property she found:
Six dead dogs — one loose behind the kitchen door, five in filthy crates in the upstairs bedroom
Three dead rabbits in indoor hutches filled with thick, mouldy faeces
Empty, dry bowls and water bottles
Faeces covering floors and spilling from crates
Rubbish, food tins and bags strewn across surfaces and the bed
A toilet containing low, dirty water — believed to be the only water source one dog could reach
The dogs appeared to have died at different times. Two Pomeranians, Coco and Rolo, were found deceased together in a crate, with decomposition indicating one had died earlier.
An Akita‑type dog, Mila, had chewed her way out of a cage and is believed to have been the last to die.
Midnight, the nine‑month‑old rabbit found emaciated and starving in a filthy enclosure. Her bones were described as “spiky” to the touch. She survived and was rehabilitated by the RSPCA.
Other remains included two Dachshunds, Pudding and Rusty, and a Shih Tzu named Tyson, all mummified.
Inspector Wilson then attended the couple’s second address at Poplar Terrace, West Cornforth, where she found 29 live animals:
Six budgies, three cockatiels, two parakeets and a parrot in dirty cages with filthy water
Five vivariums containing a royal python, corn snake, hognose snake, bearded dragon and leopard gecko — all without lighting
Nine ferrets in barren, dirty cages with no enrichment or water
Three rabbits, including Midnight, an emaciated nine‑month‑old rabbit whose bones felt “spiky”
Two underweight dogs — Nova (Cockapoo) and Oreo (Cavapoo)
Nathan Race agreed to sign over all animals to the RSPCA. One budgie later died overnight.
Nova, one of the young dogs rescued from the Race household, found underweight and living in filthy conditions. She made a full recovery after being taken into RSPCA care.
A veterinary statement confirmed that the deceased dogs and rabbits “suffered unnecessarily” due to lack of food and water, with suffering ongoing for at least three days. Surviving animals had not had their basic needs met.
During interviews, Nathan Race claimed he saw “nothing visibly wrong” with the animals and could not recall when the first had died. Jade Race stated she relied on Nathan’s assurances that the animals were “fine.”
Court: Durham Crown Court Date: 31 July 2026 Conviction: Multiple Animal Welfare Act offences (unnecessary suffering; failure to meet needs)
Penalty:
Nathan Race 20‑month prison sentence, suspended for 24 months 180 hours unpaid work 30‑day rehabilitation activity Lifetime ban on keeping animals
Jade Race / Boyd 12‑month prison sentence, suspended for 24 months 40‑day rehabilitation activity Lifetime ban on keeping animals
Ban Expiry Date: Lifetime bans — earliest appeal permitted after 31 July 2029
Mitigation: Jade Race was said to have mobility issues preventing her from attending Ford Terrace. Nathan Race was described as depressed and overwhelmed by the situation.
RSPCA Statement
Inspector Clare Wilson said:
“This was an extremely shocking and sad case to investigate, and I am so relieved that the owners of these animals can never legally own another one again. I would urge anyone thinking of taking on large numbers of animals to think carefully about the care requirements and long‑term financial commitments that are required to properly care for any animal within animal welfare laws.”
Police mugshot of Billy Banks, jailed for abusing a live rabbit and posting the footage online.
Summary
Billy Banks, who has a long criminal history, was jailed after filming himself abusing a live rabbit and posting the footage to a public hare‑coursing group on Facebook.
He received six months for the animal cruelty offence and a further sentence for Class A drug supply and possession of criminal property, bringing his total prison term to six years and one month.
Offender Overview
Name: Billy Banks
Born: circa 1993
Age at Conviction: 33
Last Known Address: Fraser Road, Poole
Previous Convictions Banks has a long criminal history including burglary, money laundering, drug supply, and animal cruelty.
Additional Information Official court documents do not confirm Banks’ ethnicity or community affiliation. However, several of his offences intersect with criminal subcultures commonly monitored within rural and travelling networks — including illegal hare coursing and rogue trading.
Summary of Offence
On 3 October 2025, Banks filmed himself abusing a live rabbit at Broadstone Recreation Ground, Poole. He uploaded the footage to an open hare‑coursing Facebook group, enabling officers to identify him.
The video shows Banks:
pulling a live rabbit from a bag
setting a young lurcher‑type dog on it
kicking the rabbit repeatedly to force it to run so the dog could continue chasing it
Police arrested him in November 2025. He pleaded guilty at Poole Magistrates’ Court on 28 May 2026 and was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on 7 August 2026.
Sentence
6 months’ imprisonment for causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal
10‑year ban on owning or keeping dogs, rabbits, or hares
Further sentence: Banks also received additional prison time for Class A drug supply and possession of criminal property, bringing his total sentence to 6 years and 1 month
Police Statement
Police Constable Chandler Organ said Banks’ actions were “unacceptable” and confirmed that officers will continue to investigate similar reports.
Related Criminal History
2024 – Money Laundering Linked to Rogue Trading
Banks (then aged 30) and his brother Jake Holland were sentenced for laundering over £50,000 stolen from an elderly dementia patient in Corsham.
Billy Banks: 18 months’ imprisonment
Jake Holland: 9‑month suspended sentence + 200 hours unpaid work
The victim was manipulated by rogue traders into believing his roof required urgent repairs. He paid out large sums in cash and cheques, two of which were written directly to Banks and Holland. Both men admitted laundering the money.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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)..
CONVICTED (2026) | Sandra Jane Woods, born c. 1957, of Kirby Road, Walton-on-the-Naze CO14 8TA, and Rachel Elizabeth Woods, born 2 July 1994, of Norwood Way, Walton-on-the-Naze CO14 – for cruelty to multiple animals.
The mother and daughter ran an equine rescue operation called Silver Clouds Stables from their home in Kirby Road, Walton. The rescue purported to offer a “safe haven dedicated to rehabilitating and protecting injured, mistreated, or abandoned horses and ponies”.
But on August 16, 2023, the RSPCA and police executed a warrant at the premises, seizing horses, ducks and a donkey, and the pair were subsequently charged with animal welfare offences.
In court, Sandra Woods was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a female dun Arab type horse called Viv, between July 15, 2023 and August 17, 2023, by failing to investigate and address the causes of the horse’s poor bodily condition and weight loss.
The court heard she also caused unnecessary suffering to a male cockerel and a female chicken and failed to ensure the welfare needs of 29 chickens and cockerels, seven ducks and 15 guinea pigs were met.
She also failed to take reasonable steps to ensure the needs of seven ducks and 15 guinea pigs were met, including a suitable environment, an adequate diet with fresh drinking water and maintaining them in appropriate body condition.
Rachel Woods was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to Viv, by failing to provide proper and necessary veterinary care and attention for the animal’s lameness.
She was also convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a male donkey, female dun Arab type horse and a female grey pony. She also failed to meet the welfare needs of a male donkey, a grey pony, a female chihuahua type dog and a female marmoset, by not providing effective parasite control, maintaining appropriate body condition or ensuring suitable environments and diets.
In relation to the dog and marmoset, she also failed to make suitable provisions for pregnancy, suitable environment and diet, and appropriate housing away from other species where required.
Sentencing | Sarah and Rachel Woods were each ordered to pay a total of £3,120 made up of an £800 fine, £2,000 costs and a £320 victim surcharge. Both are banned from keeping animals for five years (expires June 2031).
CONVICTED (2026) | Kevin Lewis, born c. 1976, and Michelle Deakin, born c. 1974, both of Yardley Wood Road, Highter’s Heath, Birmingham B13 0TA – abandoned 90 profoundly neglected rabbits in woodland.
In November 2024, members of the public came across dozens of rabbits running around loose in Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire and alerted the RSPCA.
A total of 23 rabbits had sadly died, while most of the survivors had skin tears and lacerations to their ears, scrotums and noses and smelt strongly of urine and ammonia.
In a statement to the court RSPCA Inspector Boris Lasserre, who attended the scene, recalled how he found numerous dead rabbits.
He wrote: “Some were scattered individually, while others were in groups. I also found two live rabbits. I gathered up and bagged all the dead rabbits I could find and in total there were 23.”
A vet concluded wounds were due to infighting between rabbits over territory, social dominance, mating or food
Lewis and Deakin appeared for sentencing at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on April 16 and April 17, 2026.
Lewis pleaded guilty to two offences under Animal Welfare Act 2006 and Deakin pleaded guilty to one animal welfare offence.
In mitigation, a court heard the couple used to take in unwanted rabbits and cats, but they had become overwhelmed and were in £25,000 of debt.
Sentencing | both were sentenced to 18 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months. Lewis was told to complete 25 Rehabilitation Activity (RAR) days and Deakin 20 RAR days. Banned from keeping animals for life.
CONVICTED (2026) | Christine Overton, born 11 July 1971, previously of The Close, Seghill, Cramlington NE23 7SN and more recently of Allerdean Close, Seaton Delaval, Whitley Bay, Northumberland NE25 0HS – moved out of her home, leaving two cats and a hamster behind to starve to death.
On April 26, 2025, RSPCA Inspector Rowena Proctor visited Christine Overton’s new address in Seaton Delaval, to investigate a report that she had let animals behind at her previous address in Seghill. The animal charity had been alerted after a member of the public saw a cat in one of the bedroom windows of the seemingly abandoned property
Overton told the inspector she had previously owned two cats and a hamster, whom she had rehomed “months ago”. She confirmed she lived permanently at her new address.
Inspector Proctor was not satisfied with what she had heard and went immediately to Overton’s previous address at The Close, Seghill.
Tape was placed on the front door to check if anyone was going in or out. As this remained intact, police were contacted to gain entry.
The property smelt extremely unpleasant and there were large cobwebs and piles of mail behind the door.
In the living room a hamster was found dead, lying on his side in a cage. He had no water, and there were only inedible seed husks left in a food bowl.
More bin bags were piled up in the kitchen. A strong odour was coming from a fridge freezer in the dining room, which was attracting flies.
One of the bedrooms was bolted from the outside. It was foul-smelling, covered in faeces, with empty food and water bowls by the door.
A deceased black-and-white cat named Tom, aged three, was found behind a curtain by the radiator. His fur and flesh were missing, and he had no visible eyeballs.
In her evidence, Inspector Proctor described finding the second cat called Oreo, who was two: “I went into the second bedroom and the room, although not as quite messy as the previous one, was again littered in faeces with empty food and water bowls by the door, which was previously closed.
“I found a single cat food pouch, which was empty and had teeth marks where a cat had clearly been chewing. I then located a grey and white cat, deceased by the wall, behind a desk. Again, this cat was decomposing with no visible eyeballs.”
Around 80 pouches of cat food in two large boxes were found in the hallway, which Tom and Oreo had been unable to get to.
While the animals were too badly decomposed for a post-mortem, a vet who reviewed evidence in the case believed the cats had been deceased for at least 23 days. Due to the mummified appearance of one cat, however, it was estimated that he could have been dead for three months or longer.
The vet added: “The effect of the suffering was the unnecessary and avoidable death of the three pets and no opportunity to alleviate the suffering and save their lives. Death was most likely as a result of dehydration and starvation.
“If the owner was attending the property to supervise her pets she could reasonably have been expected to remove and hygienically dispose of the bodies. This did not happen.”
Overton was found guilty in her absence of one animal welfare offence on October 31, 2025, and was sentenced on March 6, 2026.
In mitigation, the court heard Overton had been “self-medicating” with alcohol and had taken the opportunity to have a “fresh start.”
She said she had made arrangements for her pets to be looked after, but accepted it was not adequate.
Magistrates told her they were “horrified” to see how her pets had died “in misery” as a result of her neglect.
Speaking after the sentencing hearing, Inspector Proctor said: “My heart dropped when I found the body of the hamster, followed by Tom and then Oreo.
“Both cats were locked in separate rooms with the doors shut and one had been bolted from the outside, making escape even less likely.
“What really saddened me was there were around 80 pouches of cat food downstairs. The cats could have had a chance of surviving until they were found but they didn’t get that because they couldn’t get out of the bedrooms.
“There is simply no excuse for leaving animals behind to suffer and die like this. The distressing scene I encountered with the police officers who assisted us on the day will stay with us all for a long time.”
Sentencing | 18 weeks in prison suspended for 18 months; 250 hours of unpaid work; 10 days of ‘rehab’, £750 costs. Banned from keeping animals for life.
