CONVICTED (2016) | lying former nursery owner Marie Elizabeth Staniforth aka Marie Tattersall, born 25 July 1984, previously of Holmrook and as of 2021 of Dales End, Wellington, Seascale, Cumbria CA20 1BH – starved a lurcher almost to death and then claimed she had found him as a stray.
Staniforth, who owned Acorns Pre-School in Cleator Moor, appeared before magistrates in a two-day trial, accused of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal between January and February 2016.
Staniforth denied the charge, but was found guilty.
Joan Singleton, owner of Fairview Boarding Kennels, told the court she received a call on February 16 from someone claiming to have found a stray lurcher-type dog on an industrial estate in Cleator Moor.
The court heard the woman had given Staniforth’s mobile phone number and her address in Highfield Road, where the dog was collected from.
An investigation was launched by the RSPCA to trace the dog’s owners after his discovery. The charity received about 30 replies, about 25 of which identified Staniforth as the owner.
RSPCA inspector Martyn Fletcher told the court he visited the house where the dog was collected to try to speak to the finder but received no reply but spotted a dog cage containing what he believed to be two or three-day-old faeces outside.
Staniforth was cautioned and interviewed by Mr Fletcher in March and said the dog, called Charlie, had gone missing during a walk on January 24 and she was not responsible for its condition.
But Hayley Dawkins, a community nurse, told the court she had called at the house on February 3 and noticed a dog matching Charlie’s description in the porch.
Staniforth’s version of events was not accepted by the court and she was found guilty as charged.
After the hearing, Inspector Fletcher said: “There are never winners in situations like this, we are here because an animal has suffered cruelty.
“Families have lives disrupted but animals come with responsibility and if you don’t take that responsibility, there are consequences.
“It sends a strong message.
“Joan Singleton, who initially got the dog in February, has in my mind undoubtedly saved its life.
“There’s always help for people if they get into difficulty caring for animals and the RSPCA and other organisations are there to help them.
“The dog is doing really well now and is in a nice place with other dogs.”
Sentence: 126-day prison sentence*; £281.70 donation to the RSPCA plus £80 surcharge. Banned for life from keeping an animal.
*Staniforth’s 18-week custodial sentence was later overturned on appeal with magistrates ruling it was “disproportionate” and had not taken into account the impact on her family life. Staniforth, who had spent 10 days in prison, was given an amended two-week prison term and told she was to be released from custody immediately.
Scum. Thank god for this site.