CONVICTED (2022) Gary Sparkes, born c. 1970, of Sunset Close, Freshwater, Isle of Wight PO40 9JN – cruelly swung his pet dog around by his lead in a public place.
Sparkes, who works as a handyman, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to his pet dog Shane, on August 17, 2022. He blamed alcoholism for his actions.
The incident was filmed and footage was available to the court.
Sparkes said he wouldn’t watch it and would shut his eyes if it was shown in court. He said: “I don’t want to watch. My behaviour was terrible.”
Liz Miller, prosecuting, said the dog received no injuries but the incident was witnessed by a lot of people, who called police.
Representing himself, Sparkes told the court: “I am absolutely mortified about how I behaved, it is inexcusable. I absolutely love that little dog and we are inseparable.
“Alcoholism is an absolute scourge and I am up to my neck in it. I have the support of my wife and son and I am doing everything I can to address it.
“This incident was me hitting the bottom of the barrel.”
He said he adored his dog and the dog adored him, and they were always by each other’s sides. He walks Shane every day and takes him to work with him.
He said the dog was still in his care and had been since the incident. He added that if the court ruled he could no longer keep him, he would leave the family home over it because he would feel such a disgrace.
Sparkes was also convicted of drink driving.
Sentencing | 18-month community order, to include 35 rehabilitation days, 80 hours of unpaid work and a 120-day alcohol abstinence requirement, 36-month driving disqualification. £114 surcharge. No mention of a ban or deprivation order on Shane.
CONVICTED (2022) | Brett James White, born 25 February 2003, of Horsham Lodge, Horsham Road, Littlehampton BN17 6BU – for beating a dog.
Brett James White, who has a previous conviction for criminal damage, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal by beating a dog in Littlehampton on May 16, 2022.
These are the dogs White owns with his partner. It’s not known if either of these was the victim in this case.
The condition of his victim wasn’t reported but it appears that he was not given a ban on keeping animals. This surely leaves the two cockerpoo-type dogs owned by White and his girlfriend Honey-Jane Keet-White at serious risk of harm next time he loses it.
Sentencing | community injunction requiring 120 days of abstinence from alcohol; monitoring and rehabilitation activity; £85 in expenses.
CONVICTED (2022) | grand prix dressage rider and horse breeder/trader Sam Duckworth, born July 1980, director of Five Star Stud Ltd, 589 Newmarket Road, Ditton Fields, Cambridge CB5 8PA – convicted of multiple counts of cruelty in relation to five young horses.
Grand prix dressage rider Sam Duckworth was jailed and banned from keeping all animals for life after showing a “cavalier” attitude to animal welfare.
Duckworth was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to the three fillies and two colts by failing to investigate and address the cause of their poor body condition and weight loss, and for failing to take steps to meet their needs. He was also found guilty of failing to provide an adequate parasite control plan, required farriery and a suitable diet, and failing to seek veterinary attention in respect of the animals’ poor condition.
The charges applied from December 2020 to January 2021, when the horses were seized by the RSPCA from a site in the village of Wichenford, Worcestershire.
Prosecutor Sara Pratt said that of the five horses, one was owned by Duckworth while the others were entrusted to his care. Sadly, one of the seized horses died in RSPCA care, having become unwell.
Ms Pratt said: “The prosecutions says Mr Duckworth ignored warnings and professional advice given to him.
“He was dismissive of the RSPCA and the advice he was given by RSPCA vets and his own. We find he failed properly to follow advice on feed and worming.”
Ms Pratt said Duckworth also ignored warnings about the horses’ welfare from the provider of the premises where the horses were kept, Melvin Sanders, and part-time employee Lauren Ball.
District judge Ian Strongman said that Mr Sanders was “put upon” by Duckworth to care for the horses.
“[Mr Sanders] did so because he felt for the animals and didn’t want to see them without,” Mr Strongman said.
He added that Ms Ball was highly experienced but only employed for an hour each day, “but she did an awful lot of extra work because she was concerned for the horses’ welfare, and ignored instructions from Mr Duckworth about feeding them,”
Mr Strongman said. “She felt they needed more feed, and but for her, the animals could have been in a worse condition.”
The court heard the horses’ body condition scores were one at 0.5 on the 0-5 scale, three at one and one at 1.5.
Ms Pratt said that Duckworth “displayed what might be called a cavalier attitude to these horses in his care and failed to follow advice given by professionals. ”
She added that his behaviour appeared to be “bordering on arrogance, of knowing better than anyone, so we feel this likely to extend to other animals in his care. He’s simply unable to see his own failings or follow advice.
She concluded: “According to him, he had the financial means to look after the horses but simply chose not to.”
Duckworth’s lawyer, Stuart Jessop, argued that the case was serious but not as serious as many that come before court and that his client was “a man of good character” .
He said his client’s neglect of the horses was not prolonged and there was evidence of “ample hay, bedding and feed”.
He conceded that Duckworth “didn’t attend much” but said this was during Covid, which limited his ability to be on the premises.
Jessop said Duckworth’s only income was less than £1,000 per month from his parents, but Mr Strongman rejected this. He said: “I understand … he had about 100 horses and breeding 60-80 foals a year, which he presumably sells. I find him an unreliable witness and I don’t think anything he could say would change my mind.”
There was dispute over the ownership of the horses but Mr Strongman said that as he had not seen sufficient evidence to suggest otherwise, he ruled that all belonged to Duckworth so a deprivation order was made on them.
Jailing Duckworth, Mr Strongman said: “It’s one of those cases where appropriate punishment can only be achieved with an immediate custodial sentence.”
Speaking about the case, RSPCA inspector and equine officer Suzi Smith said: “As an experienced horsewoman, it is very difficult for me to see any horses in such poor condition, especially for these youngsters who have been given such a poor start in life, when they should have been receiving professional care.
“It is always frustrating when a horse owner does not follow veterinary advice. It’s unacceptable for anyone to cause an animal to suffer, and particularly someone who is responsible for animals in a professional capacity.”
Sentencing | immediate 18-week prison sentence; ordered to pay £68,860 in costs, including the care of the horses since the seizure. Banned from keeping all animals for life and cannot apply to reverse this for five years.
CONVICTED (2022) | puppy farmers Eamon Bohan, born c. 1970, and son Eamon James Bohan, born 10 August 2001, of Allendale Close, Gloucester GL2 0AF – sold two poorly dogs, one of whom sadly died.
Money grubbing puppy farmer Eamon-James Bohan and his equally vile namesake father sold poorly puppies online.
The Bohans, who are travellers, were prosecuted by Tewkesbury Borough Council for offences relating to the Animal Welfare Act 2006, Animal Licensing and Fraud Act offences.
The pair bred and sold dogs from their home address. The dogs were advertised on various selling sites during 2019 and 2020.
Two witnesses described buying dogs from the pair in 2021. Very sadly, one of the dogs died from leptospirosis shortly after purchase, and another dog was suffering from Giardia – both illnesses are linked to contaminated drinking water or a poor environment.
Court records show that the charges against Bohan senior were of failing to take steps to ensure that the needs of the puppies were met and breeding dogs without a licence. He was also charged with making a false representation to Mr Anderson that the puppy was not underweight snd did not have worms.
Bohan junior admitted aiding and abetting the puppy breeding and animal welfare charges.
Both travellers pleaded guilty to all offences.
Sentencing | the travellers were each given an 18-week custodial sentence suspended for one year. Bohan Snr also received 25 rehabilitation days and Bohan Jnr received 120 hours of unpaid work. Full prosecution costs were awarded to the council and a compensation order was awarded to the two victims.
CONVICTED (2022) | former Quorn huntsman John Oliver Finnegan known as Ollie Finnegan, born 13 August 1985, previously of the Quorn Hunt Kennels, Gaddesby Lane, Melton Mowbray LE14 2TQ but more recently of Kennel Lane, Northwich – for illegal hunting with dogs.
Ollie Finnegan was convicted of breaching the Hunting Act after dozens of incriminatory WhatsApp messages were found on his phone
Finnegan, who is now huntsman of the Cheshire Hunt based in Sandiway, Northwich, was seen fox hunting on 7 January 2022. He was caught during a joint meet near Hartpury between Leicestershire’s Quorn Hunt and the Ledbury Hunt, which is based in Gloucestershire.
The meet came less than a fortnight after Ledbury joint hunt master David Redvers said his hunt was committed to trail hunting, which is legal.
Finnegan is now a huntsman with the Cheshire Hunt.
Key evidence was found on Finnegan’s phone after it was seized by officers from Leicestershire Police.
WhatsApp messages on the day show communication about illegal fox-hunting with an unnamed huntsman.
He asked Finnegan: “How’d you get on at Ledbury today?”
Finnegan replies “Only found a brace [of foxes]. First one went to ground, The second went 5 fields to a real thick cover which we weren’t aloud in and had to stop [the hounds].”
The huntsman replies: “used to be full of them round there! Had my best days around there.”
On another occasion the Master says “How did this evening go?” to which Finnegan replied “Found 2 brace [foxes] seen another 2 brace, very busy all night. Hounds hunted well considering the heat.”
Dozens of messages and videos were found on Finnegan’s phone, but only a tiny minority were shared with the court.
Following the conviction, a spokesperson for the British Hound Sports Association (BHSA) said: “We can confirm that a current member of the BHSA has today pleaded guilty to illegal hunting on 7th January 2022, near Hartbury, Glos.
“This organisation does not condone illegal activity and the matter has been referred to the Hound Sports Regulatory Authority (HSRA) which is the regulatory body responsible for disciplinary matters.”
Finnegan with wife Rachel Finnegan, who hunts in her own right, and their two boys
Speaking about the case, Lynn Sawyer of Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs, said : “Three counties sabs are pleased that the Hunting Act has been enforced in this case.
“Along with Herefordshire hunt sabs we attended the joint Quorn/Ledbury meet to protect foxes and we will continue to sab fox hunts until they stop harming wildlife.”
The allegations related to an incident in Breedon on the Hill, North West Leicestershire, on February 4, 2020.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty and faced trial in August 2021.
Matcham and Finnegan pictured during their court appearance in August 2021
Shockingly they were found not guilty after the Crown Prosecution Service accepted the case had no reasonable prospect of conviction.
The Crown had claimed footage filmed by the League Against Cruel Sports showed ‘a proper fox hunt going back to the olden days’.
But the first witness in the case, the League’s staff member Roger Swaine, told the court on Tuesday that he could not see where Matcham was looking when a fox was seen to emerge from a covert.
Defence lawyer Stephen Welford then asked Mr Swaine: “It’s perfectly reasonable to suggest that hounds were in that bit of covert, they had found an artificial trail…and a fox popped out. That is one possibility, is it not?”
Mr Swaine answered: “Yes.”
Explaining the Crown’s decision to drop the case, before Finnegan and Matcham had given evidence, prosecutor Mark Fielding said: “The Crown Prosecution Service have a duty to review the prospects of success of a matter at all times, up to and including the end of the case.
“Suffice to say, having listened to Mr Swaine giving clearly honest and truthful evidence in cross-examination, for which he is to be commended, my impression, which I communicated to the reviewing lawyer, was that this case no longer had a reasonable prospect of success.”
Immediately after Mr Fielding’s comments, the chair of the three-strong magistrates’ bench entered not guilty verdicts on both defendants.
Martin Sims, director of investigations at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “We’re understandably disappointed with this result but we stand by the evidence we presented, which clearly shows hounds hunting a fox.
“While there are questions that need to be answered about the prosecution’s approach, it’s yet further confirmation that the Hunting Act needs to be strengthened so that it does what it’s supposed to – preventing foxes being chased by hounds.”
He and co-accused Matthew Ramsden, 35, pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutor Natalie Cheeseman alleged the defendants allowed a pack of hounds to chase a fox in Brokenborough, Malmesbury, at about 8.30am on 13 September 2021.
She said the prime evidence, in the form of video footage, was provided by a member of Cirencester Illegal Hunt Watch.
Ms Cheeseman alleged that Matcham and Ramsden were “knowingly engaged in hunting a fox” and did nothing to stop the hounds from pursuing the fox.
She added: “No one appears to do anything to stop the hounds chasing fox”.
Daniel Gill, defending, said his clients both deny hunting whilst legally following a trail and that they “did everything they could” to stop the hounds from pursuing the fox.
The trial will be heard at Swindon Magistrates’ Court later in 2022, but legal advisor Juen Batchelor said a date cannot be fixed until expert witnesses have confirmed their availability.
Matcham, of Kennel Drive, Badminton, and Ramsden, of High Street, Badminton, were remanded on unconditional bail.
Update | August 2023
Finnegan, most recently employed by the Cheshire Hunt, was found guilty of two counts of illegal hunting. He was convicted in his absence after he failed to attend court for a third time.
Finnegan was fined the maximum amount – £1000 – for each of the two offenses and must pay court costs. He was also given a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order including one sanction stating that he cannot hunt with more than 10 hounds.
The Hunt Saboteurs report that Finnegan has now moved to Ireland where foxhunting is legal.
CONVICTED (2022) | Peter Armitage, born March 1981, of Lochquoy Farm, Durran, Castletown, Thurso, Caithness KW14 8TE and his former employee Kyle R Mackay, born c. 1998, now of Birsay in Orkney – failed to provide 2000 adult hens with sufficient food and water, causing their deaths,
Peter Armitage (left) was jailed for two years and three months and given a 15-year ban on keeping animals for numerous animal welfare and hygiene offences. His former employee Kyle Mackay, who also allowed a calf to starve to death, walked free from court with a community payback order.
Armitage, director of the now dissolved company Caithness Free Range Eggs Ltd, was jailed for two years after inspectors found a litany of failings at his farm, including dead hen carcasses and rat droppings.
He was also banned from keeping animals for 15 years as a result of the offences, which occurred between September 2016 and September 2017.
Farm manager Kyle Mackay, previously of Shelbay, John O’Groats, was given a Community Payback Order requiring him to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work.
Mackay, who was 17 at the time the offences occurred, was in charge when Armitage was not working.
The court heard how the company came to the attention of Highland Council as a result of an anonymous call on July 7, 2017.
The call stated: “Rats and dead chickens lying everywhere the place is disgusting they need shut down, this place is not up to standards for any animal to live in, the poor chickens look like they are dying.”
As a result, an unannounced inspection was carried out by the council’s Environmental Health and Animal and Plant Health Agency on July 18 that same year.
The farm was found to be in a poor state of repair and very dirty with dead birds and parts of dead birds visible to inspectors as they walked around.
Pigs were found roaming the outbuildings and chicken houses, with chicken carcasses lying out in the open.
Inspectors noted chicken feet and feathers hanging out from the mouths of the pigs.
One of the chicken sheds was carpeted with what looked like a whole flock of decomposing birds and chicken carcasses were found within the egg collection areas.
Trays of collected eggs on benches were covered in bird faeces and rat droppings.
A farm worker said that the chickens had been dead for “about a month and a half.”
Inspectors returned for a second inspection the following day and found that the poultry and pigs had access to bait boxes which contained rat poison.
The environmental health officer spoke with Armitage and it was agreed that he would voluntarily cease trading with immediate effect.
He agreed not to offer or supply any eggs for sale which was subject to further engagements to rectify the issues.
The senior veterinary Inspector instructed Armitage to stop feeding the pigs raw eggs and prevent them from accessing the hen houses. He served a movement prevention notice on Armitage.
Later, on July 21, Environmental Health issued Armitage with a Remedial Action Notice (RAN), under the Food Hygiene (Scotland) Regulations 2006.
The notice re-enforced the voluntary closure of the site and prohibited the operation of the egg grading and packing unit and the supply of eggs for sale.
Subsequent inspections and welfare monitoring visits uncovered further issues and eventually there was a voluntary depopulation of the site on September 5, 2017.
Both Armitage and Mackay pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to approximately 2000 adult hens by failing to provide them with sufficient food and water, resulting in their deaths.
They also admitted to allowing pigs to gain access to the hens, which resulted in the animals attacking, killing and consuming some of the birds.
In a separate charge, Armitage also admitted failing to keep the premises clean and maintained in a good condition.
He failed to ensure that adequate procedures were followed to prevent pests and fed eggs and eggshells to pigs and allowed pigs and chickens to consume broken eggs.
The court heard that he also failed to take measures to meet the needs of approximately 6000 hens.
He failed to provide a suitable diet and environment and did not house them separately to other animals or protect them from suffering, injury and disease.
Mackay pleaded guilty to a further charge of failing to provide sufficient food and water to a calf which died.
At Wick Sheriff Court Sheriff Jo Platt told Armitage: “The narration of the facts was beyond troubling, it was horrifying and the nature of the offences is evidenced very clearly by the photographs which were taken.
“Together, they constituted a catalogue of horror and animal abuse. Such callous disregard for the welfare of the livestock for the care of which you were responsible, led to conditions of not merely of neglect but demonstrated to extreme cruelty as you starved livestock to death.”
Turning to Mackay, Sheriff Platt said that he had to consider different factors in his case.
The sheriff said that the accused’s first job with the egg operation, as a lad of 17, then, had proved to be “a disastrous decision at the very least”.
The sheriff added: “I hope it stands you in good stead for the future because it provides a stark lesson in how things must not be done” but also made the point: “You could have taken the action which one of your colleagues took and contacted the authorities.”
CONVICTED (2022) | Paul Crampton, born c. 1989, of Pateley Place, Holgate, York YO26 4LS – for cat cruelty.
Crampton was banned from keeping animals for life after he pleaded guilty to animal neglect to a cat by failure to provide veterinary treatment for an ulcerated and infected leg.
Sentencing | community order with 15 days of rehabilitative activities; total of £495 costs and surcharge. Lifetime ban on keeping all animals.
CONVICTED (2022) | Matthew A Hurst, born 28 April 1999, of 34 Bryn Street, Ince, Wigan WN3 4RX – caught on camera stamping on his pet dog FIFTEEN times.
Violent dog abuser Matt Hurst is a mechanic in his family’s tyre retail business, PM Tyres in Wigan.
The distressing clip shows psychotic thug Hurst kicking the helpless dog, known as Congo, repeatedly as he cowered on the ground.
The video of the horrendous incident was sent to the RSPCA from a member of the public. Hurst was then arrested.
Vets said Congo had received at least 21 blunt force blows to his abdomen, chest and head but miraculously suffered no lasting injuries.
RSPCA inspector Ryan King described the beating as ‘the worst’ he had seen.
He said: “The video showed a man sitting on a sofa, watching a black bull breed dog either urinating or defecating on the floor. The man then stands up and proceeds to stamp on the dog with his foot around fifteen times with great force, shouting ‘what are you doing’.
“He then reaches down to the dog, which is now lying on the floor, grabs it by the head and slams the dog onto the floor again with great force several times. This is the worst beating I have ever seen during my three years as a RSPCA inspector.”
Congo was signed over to the RSPCA by Hurst. He will be rehomed in the future.
Sentencing | 16-week suspended jail term. 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days; 120 hours of unpaid work, £2,558 in court costs and £120 victim surcharge. Disqualified from keeping animals for ten years.
CONVICTED (2022) | Rachel Louise Burke, born 16 December 1982, of Dene Street, Hetton-le-Hole, Houghton Le Spring, City of Sunderland DH5 9AX – subjected a dog found dead in a wheelie bin to “months of suffering”.
The “devastatingly thin” body of the six-year-old lurcher, known as Blue, was discovered wrapped up in a bin bag in a wheelie bin.
RSPCA inspectors also found a starving Labrador without food and water at the filthy property , which was strewn in faeces.
Burke was convicted of two animal cruelty sentences in her absence after she was a no-show in court. She was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to Blue by not addressing his weight loss and failing to provide a suitable environment for either dog.
The court heard how RSPCA inspectors were shown an image by a resident showing a dead dog laying next to a pink water container in the yard.
Inspector John Lawson told the court: “We checked the wheelie bin in the rear garden and at the top of the bin was a black bin bag with a small hole in it. To the touch and through this hole it was clear the bag contained a deceased dog and his colour was the same as the dog in the photograph.”
A post-mortem later revealed that Blue died from a gastrointestinal disease. The vet’s report concluded he would have been suffering for months through malnutrition
Inspector Lawson added: “It was devastating to see how thin he was. His ribs, spine and hips were clearly visible, there was no muscle mass and his eyes were sunken in.
“Blue’s abdomen had sunk to a level I had never seen before.”
Police gained access to the property and found the floor upstairs littered with dog faeces and the bathroom toilet full of human excrement.
An outside dog pen is also said to have been in a filthy condition.
As the inspectors were about to leave the property Burke appeared with a man, who said they had just returned from London.
In mitigation the court was told that Burke was previously of good character and had seen mental health issues worsen after a break-up.
She could not recollect putting Blue’s body in the bin but said she had placed him in a bin bag so her children could not see.
The Labrador, Floyd, is due to be rehomed by the RSPCA.
Sentencing | two-year community sentence with 220 hours of unpaid work. Banned from keeping animals for 10 years.
CONVICTED (2022) | serial animal abuser Thomas Tony Price, born 3 June 1964, and son Sam Nathan Price, born c. 2005 of Redway Road, Bonvilston, Cardiff CF5 – for the mistreatment of horses and dogs.
Notorious self-styled ‘Gypsy Horse King’ Tom Price, who traded under the name Glamorgan Horse Traders Ltd, was caught mistreating horses, dogs and birds, despite being banned for life from keeping animals.
In court Price admitted breaching his lifetime ban and a total of 26 welfare offences.
His teenage son avoided a prison sentence after pleading guilty to 25 offences against animals.
Swansea magistrates heard Tom Price had previously served six months in jail for cruelty involving sheep and horses in April 2021.
An investigation by Shared Regulatory Services (SRS) found sheep carcases along with animals suffering the effects of maggots and other wounds, while others’ fleeces had not been shorn. Under veterinary supervision the worst affected of the sheep had to be put down. Price was also found to be mistreating horses, which were forced to stand in deep mud with no water or forage.
They were kept in areas strewn with hazards, such as sharp metal and barbed wire, and in some cases in overcrowded filthy conditions with nowhere to lie down.
A number of horses were also significantly underweight and others had long-standing wounds caused by ill-fitting rugs.
Yet despite his previous conviction, Tom Price transferred the ownership of the horses and other animals to Sam Price, who was just 16 at the time.
The animals were being kept at a site in Bonvilston and another at Coity, Bridgend – and even though he was disqualified, Tom Price continued to be involved at both sites, which received numerous visits from SRS welfare officers.
They served a total of 71 improvement notices for animal health and welfare offences, relating to concerns around the suitability of the environment, overcrowding, restricting normal behaviours, failing to supply water and failing to supply food.
But the notices – relating to horses, dogs, and birds – were consistently ignored.
Tom Price was sentenced to another six months in prison, while Sam Price was given a five-year ban on keeping animals, apart from in very strict circumstances, for a period of five years.
Sam Price was given two weeks before his disqualification takes effect to make arrangements for the animals he is no longer allowed to keep.
He was also given a four-month Referral Order, meaning he must have regular contact with the youth offending service.
Sentencing the pair, the district judge accepted that Sam Price, now 17, was of clean character and that pressure had been put on him and he had been manipulated by his father.
Sam Price is pictured centre with brother Jason Price in foreground.
Following the case, Cllr Ruba Sivagnanam, cabinet member for regulatory services at Vale Council, said: ”Tom Price has a track record of mistreating animals and I hope this sentence sends out a message that such neglect and cruelty will not be tolerated.”
”The council will investigate such cases and if appropriate prosecute those responsible to the full extent of the law. The decision to hand down another prison sentence reflects the seriousness of these offences and the persistent disregard this individual has for the law.”
”Not only do Price’s practices harm animals, they also cause problems for the wider communities as animals were often allowed to stray or fly-graze on land that he did not own.”
”This conviction follows many months of careful work and I’d like to thank those involved for their efforts.”
