CONVICTED (2021) | Hannah Olivia Wilkinson, born 29 December 2000, of Kitchener Terrace, Ferryhill DL17 8AX – neglected 121 animals with her late girlfriend.

Wilkinson and Rio-Anne Katie Jane Dickinson, who has since died, failed to look after numerous species while leasing farm land in an attempt to make money.

The pair, who were in a relationship at the time, kept hens, chickens, quails, ducks and guinea fowl on Bog Hall Farm, in Mordon, near Sedgefield, County Durham.

They were also responsible for two sheep, two hamsters, four guinea pigs, two budgerigars as well as a goat and a rabbit.

Teesside Magistrates’ Court in Middlesbrough heard how they sold animals and operated without a licence or vet support.

Alex Bousfield, prosecuting, told the sentencing hearing how “two people were involved”.

Mr Bousfield told the court how the neglect came to light after customers raised concerns that the animals they had bought were covered in lice.

He said that the operator of the farm, who leased it to the defendants, contacted the RSPCA after carrying out three spot checks in two-week period.

Mr Bousfield said she found animals without food and water and some in plastic bags ready to be burnt, despite it being illegal to dispose of them this way.

He told the how there were a total of 121 animals were not cared for by Wilkinson and Dickinson.

He said: “A lot of animals were found to be sick and starving. Many of the animals were emaciated.

“Some animals still needed to be euthanised.”

Among the injured animals which had to be put to sleep was a chicken with a plastic ring inside her leg and a guinea pig who had developed teeth which were too long.

Mr Bousfield said that there were quail and chickens found in large number which had feather loss and plucking damage and were emaciated, having been kept in a state of starvation.

Mr Bousfield that the defendants failed to care for the animals for at least 48 hours prior to the RSPCA attending the farm.

He said that the defendants tried to pass the blame for their wrongdoing onto the landlord but there was an agreement making it clear that they were responsible for all the care of the animals they looked after.

The prosecutor said: “In this case the suffering led to the death of numerous animals. Birds seemed to be more specifically affected.”

The court heard how the RSPCA had already previously spoken to Dickinson, while Wilkinson was in attendance, about their chickens as they were found to be managing more than they were capable of.

Mr Bousfield said that Dickinson admitted in interview that she had sold 500 birds in one week.

He said: “The defendants appeared to have plans to expand their business. There was suggestion of plans to open up a mini animal park.”

Wilkinson sobbed as Mr Bousfield asked the judge to disqualify her from keeping all animals.

He said that social media suggested she may have access to a dog and added: “Clearly we would be concerned if there was a dog in her care.”

During a previous hearing in June 2021, Wilkinson and Dickinson pleaded guilty to five counts of unnecessary suffering.

The charges relate to 52 red ex battery hens, 19 various type chickens, 10 quail, one guinea fowl, a red ex battery hen, a pale brown and white juvenile duck and a white Bantam hen.

They also admitted a sixth charge of not taking steps that were reasonable in all the circumstances to ensure the needs of an animal for which they were responsible.

These included one rabbit, four guinea pigs, two hamsters, two sheep, one goat, 15 ducks, two budgerigars and one guineafowl. All of the offences took place in July 2020.

Paul Watson, defending Wilkinson, acknowledged how Dickinson was not in court and would not be able to speak for herself or respond to anything that is said.

He said: “At the same time I want to put some context on what Miss Wilkinson says was her involvement within this.”

Mr Watson told the court how Dickinson was the sole proprietor of the business and the full beneficiary.

H said: “Any plans to create a mini park or to expand were the plans of Ms Dickinson rather than Ms Wilkinson.

“The background was she was in a relationship with Miss Dickinson. They lived together and in fact Miss Dickinson looked after Miss Wilkinson. Everything was indirect, it was whatever Miss Dickinson decided to provide to Miss Wilkinson.

“She’s now 20, she regards herself as a minor part of this in that she didn’t make decisions. She accepts that some matters are matters of common sense. In her own words ‘no animals deserve this’.

“She was not a signatory to the contract that’s been referred to and she was very much directed, she would say, by Miss Dickinson in regards to what was done and what was not done.

He said that Wilkinson knew what was required for a dog but not quail or chickens and she was learning as she went along.

He said that Wilkinson was of previous good character and has no previous convictions or cautions.

Sentencing: 15 weeks’ detention in a young offenders institution. suspended for 18 months; 100 hours of unpaid work; £428 in costs. Banned from keeping all animals with the exception of dogs for six years (expires July 2027).

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