CONVICTED (2021) | Steven Scott, born 30 November 1999, of Hillsview Avenue, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 3LB – starved and neglected several cats and a dog
Steven Scott, who works as a steward at Newcastle United, neglected his pets so badly that one cat has already starved to death before she could be rescued and the other was later put down .
He also neglected a flea-bitten dog and two other cats, whose weights were at least 20% below a healthy level.
Even when the RSPCA intervened at the filthy home Scott shared with his brother Mark Scott (originally also charged) in Vine Street, Tyne Dock, South Shields, he refused to sign the pets over.
He also failed to visit a vet with a £50 voucher given to him by the animal welfare charity. It would have paid for flea treatment for black and white female lurcher cross Lara.
The court heard that Scott has mental health issues and a learning disorder.
RSPCA prosecutor Alex Bousfield said inspectors became aware of issues around neglect in September 2019.
They officially warned Scott and handed over the voucher, and further visits to the property followed in November and December.
In one, Scott refused to sign the animals over, and it was only in early February 2020 that RSPCA efforts accelerated. It came after a maintenance worker peered inside and was so appalled by the animals’ condition that he took Scott to a vet with a cat.
Mr Bousfield said: “The RSPCA then entered the premises, they found it in a very poor condition.
“There was faeces on the floor, it wasn’t a good condition for anyone to live in.
“The cats were underweight, and the dog was found to still have a problem with fleas.
“Two of the cats, Cuddles and Shankly, died. One had effectively starved to death, and one was euthanised.
“A post mortem was carried out and both cats were found to have empty stomachs.
“The other cats were alive but were in a poor condition, due to a lack of nutrition.”
He added: “Shankly was a black and white who died purely because of a lack of food, and Cuddles died of a lack of food.
“Lara, a lurcher cross, had itchy skin, and the cats Ginger and Maisie had a lack of adequate nutrition.
“The body mass score for Ginger was two out of nine, it should be somewhere in the middle of that register.
“The animals are about 80%, or just under, a healthy body weight.”
The court heard the surviving animals will be rehoused by the RSPCA.
Mark Gibson, defending, said Scott had started with just one cat which was well looked after, but his teenage brother moved in with two more.
He said that Scott’s mum then burdened him with three cats and Lara – and the defendant then lost much of his door work. At that point it “became too much” for him and the animals were left to suffer.
Scott pleaded guilty to five charges of animal cruelty, between January 1 and February 4, 2020.
Sentencing: 18-month community order, with a requirement of up to 26 days of rehabilitation work with the Probation Service; 150 hours of unpaid work; £485 costs and charges. Indefinite ban from owning or looking after animals, but can appeal after three years.
News and Updates
In May 2021 Mark Scott pleaded guilty to failing to prevent his brother’s mistreatment of the pets . He was fined and given a 10-year ban on owning animals, which he can appeal after two years.
Absolutely Heart Breaking.
I also blame the RSPCA, for Not Removing them earlier.
As It States: They were back and fore the Property 3 Times. So they are as much to blame in this instance. They have the powers to Remove Animals Before it gets to such a Critical Condition.
Absolutely disgusting he should of got more than what he got sentenced even if he was struggling if he cared anything for the animals he should of took them to a shelter himself