Tag Archives: 2023 cases

animal fighting / baiting, Animal Torture, badger baiting, Birds, deer, Dogs, foxes, hunting with dogs, Multiple Species, Organised Animal Crime, Serial Animal Abusers, Wildlife Crime / Bloodsports, Worst of the Worst

Worksop, Nottinghamshire: Daniel Taylor

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CONVICTED (2023) | sadistic Daniel Taylor, born c. 1992, of 99 Shrewsbury Road, Manton, Worksop S89 2TX – tortured, killed and mutilated more than 100 deer, foxes, badgers and pigeons.

CPS prosecution of ultra-sadistic wildlife persecutor Daniel Taylor from Worksop, Nottinghamshire.

A police search of the home Daniel Taylor shares with company director wife Georgina Ruth Taylor, née Georgina Brigham, revealed over 100 graphic phone videos and images which showed him attacking, decapitating and encouraging his dogs to fight and kill wildlife.

Prosecutor Lucy Woodcock told the court: “In some videos he is seen dissecting the animals and ripping internal organs out”.

Officers also found 15 deer heads and 14 fox tails, as well as snares and weapons.

Police found a shocking hoard of deer skulls, fox tails and weapons at Worksop man Daniel Taylor's family home
Police found a shocking hoard of deer skulls, fox tails and weapons at Daniel Taylor’s family home

A blood-stained quad bike and lamping equipment were also recovered.

Police arrested Taylor, confiscated his phone and removed his dogs from the house as part of the investigation.

Officers were able to map the images and videos on his phone to specific locations.

CPS prosecution of ultra-sadistic wildlife persecutor Daniel Taylor from Worksop, Nottinghamshire.

PC Mark Holland, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “From this we were able to prove when and where most of the animals were killed and link this evidence in with several reports of poaching.

“We also received intelligence which helped establish Taylor was in areas at the relevant times.”

CPS prosecution of ultra-sadistic wildlife persecutor Daniel Taylor from Worksop, Nottinghamshire.

PC Ben Harrison said: “At the back of Taylor’s premises we found what was essentially a slaughterhouse for animals.

“Taylor clearly took pleasure out of his dogs torturing these animals.

“They were clearly being trained to get hold of these animals and rip them to shreds.

“The videos were gruesome and the sounds of the animals squealing in pain were horrible.

CPS prosecution of ultra-sadistic wildlife persecutor Daniel Taylor from Worksop, Nottinghamshire.

“In one particular video, while Taylor was filming one of these acts, he dropped his phone and it flipped over. He bent over to pick it up and it captured a full face shot of him. There was no question over who was doing the filming or who was the owner of these videos.”

The court heard Taylor had played a leading role in “sadistic behaviour” which was “prolonged and repeated” between August 2021 and February 2023.

CPS prosecution of ultra-sadistic wildlife persecutor Daniel Taylor from Worksop, Nottinghamshire.

Sentencing Taylor, Judge Mark Watson told him: “These offences cannot in any way be described as sport. This was a barbaric hobby of yours.

“This was planned activity by you and you clearly revelled in the suffering of these animals.

“You encouraged your dogs to attack these animals with ferocity and they suffered immeasurably.

“These were prolonged and repeated incidents of serious cruelty and examples of sadistic behaviour.”

Sentencing | jailed for two years and eight months. Banned from owning, keeping or participating in keeping dogs for at least seven years

ITV News

Equine Abuse, horses and ponies

Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham: Raymond Pearce

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CONVICTED (2024) | Raymond James Pearce, born c. 1981 , of Brierville Road, Stockton on Tees TS19 0JR – left a pony in great pain with a rope lodged two inches into his neck.

Animal abuser Raymond Pearce from Stockton on Tees, County Durham. Photo: Facebook.

Pearce was found guilty in his absence of animal cruelty offences in relation to a piebald cob named Marshall, who was found covered in dry blood with a tether embedded two inches deep in his flesh.

Raymond Pearce's pony Marshall pony was found covered in dry blood with a tether embedded two inches deep in his flesh.

RSPCA prosecutor Andrew Bousfield said the pony was being tethered with a narrow rope which had worn into his neck causing an infected wound.

Mr Bousfield said veterinary evidence showed the injury had been infected for at least four days and was two inches deep.

Field officer Seema Ritson, from World Horse Welfare, attended a green space in Norton, County Durham, after becoming aware of the pony.

Giving evidence, she told the court Marshall was being kept on poor grazing land and smelt of “rotting flesh”.

She said: “As he walked past me I got a really bad smell. It was a smell of rotting flesh I knew straight away there was something wrong.

“I could see a very thin rope around his neck. I could see straight away there was dried blood and yellow puss. All the mane was matted. The smell was like a dead animal.”

Raymond Pearce's pony Marshall pony was found covered in dry blood with a tether embedded two inches deep in his flesh.
The pony was found covered in dry blood with a tether embedded two inches deep in his flesh

Ms Ritson said she could not see any food or water for Marshall and confirmed there was insufficient grass for the pony to graze on.

She reported the animal to the RSPCA and later that day Marshall’s owner, Raymond Pearce, arrived at the scene.

Ms Ritson said Pearce tried to pull the rope out of the pony’s neck. “I immediately asked him to stop because the rope was embedded into the pony’s neck,” she said.

“Even when I went to touch his neck he moved away so he knew it was sore. I asked him not to touch it because without pain relief that would have been extremely painful.

“He wouldn’t stop.”

She told the court she saw him try and pull the rope out of the pony’s neck at least three or four times.

RSPCA inspector Steph Baines also confirmed she witnessed Pearce do this at the scene and said she could smell the pony’s injury before she got to the animal.

She said: “I smelt the pony before I got to him.

“When the owner first arrived he was quite agitated. He said he was happy for us to get treatment for the horse.”

RSPCA prosecution of Raymond Pearce, a horse abuser from Stockton on Tees.

The court heard Inspector Baines interviewed Pearce and he told her he’d come back from a two-week course in Manchester and left the pony in the care of his former brother-in-law. However, giving evidence in court his ex brother-in-law said this was untrue and branded the allegation a “p*** take”.

He said the last time he looked after Marshall was around three years ago and denied he was asked to care for the horse. Pearce’s sister also gave evidence and said it was untrue that he attended a course in Manchester.

Animal abuser Raymond Pearce from Stockton on Tees, County Durham. Photo: Facebook.

The defendant himself did not show up for the trial and his barrister withdrew from the case.

The hearing went ahead in his absence and he was found guilty of four counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

He failed to ensure adequate or reasonable daily care or supervision leading to an untreated infected wound of the neck.

He used an unsafe and inappropriate tethering leading to an embedded rope neck wound.

He failed to provide prompt or adequate professional veterinary care and attention.

Finally, he failed to take steps to ensure the needs of the pony were met.

The court heard Marshall is currently in the care of the RSPCA and has made a full recovery.

Sentencing | 12-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months; £780 costs and a £154 victim surcharge. Banned from owning all animals except birds for 10 years.

TeessideLive

Dogs, Worst of the Worst

Penzance, Cornwall: Lauren Downes and Wayne Hickman

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CONVICTED (2023/24) | Lauren Angela Downes, born 3 May 1985, of Parc Mellan, Penzance TR18 3PB, and Wayne Hickman, born c. 1979, also of Penzance – left their dog in constant pain with chronic dental disease.

Animal abusers Wayne Hickman and Lauren Downes from Penzance, Cornwall. Images: Facebook

Lauren Downes pleaded guilty to causing suffering to the Staffy-type dog named Ruby and was sentenced in August 2023. Her partner, hotel worker Wayne Hickman, initially denied the charges, but later changed his plea. His sentencing hearing was in January 2024.

Animal abuser Wayne Hickman from Penzance, Cornwall. Images: Facebook
Wayne Hickman and his partner Lauren Downes left Ruby in constant pain from untreated dental disease

Hickman’s defence barrister told the court that his client had no money, was in arrears with his rent and was in the process of being evicted from his home.

“He accepts that he can’t have a dog for the foreseeable future and there is genuine remorse that at a time when he was struggling with a relationship breakdown,” he said.

“His dog was neglected in a way that it should not have been.”

Animal abusers Wayne Hickman and Lauren Downes from Penzance, Cornwall. Images: Facebook

Sentencing Hickman, Judge Simon Carr said the circumstances of this case were “chilling”.

“You were joint owner with your partner of a Staffordshire Bull Terrier,” he said.

“One of the features in the reports of this case that I have read is that this was one of the most mild mannered and gentle and amenable dogs it was possible to imagine.

“In some ways that makes the brutality it experienced even worse.”

Animal abuser Wayne Hickman from Penzance, Cornwall. Image: Facebook

He said in 2022 when Hickman was living with Downes it was obvious during a veterinary visit paid for by others that this dog needed “substantial” dental care.

The photographs of the dog’s teeth were not easy to look at, he said, and it would be obvious to anyone seeing them that work needed to be done.

“The dog would have been in constant pain,” he said.

Animal abuser Lauren Downes from Penzance, Cornwall. Image: Facebook

He said despite separating from his partner he continued to see the dog and would have been aware she was suffering and the appalling conditions in which she was kept and yet he did nothing.

He said even if Hickman could not have afforded a vet he could have contacted the RSPCA and any other organisation.

“Instead you chose to close your eyes, turn your back and allow your dog to suffer as this dog suffered every minute of every day with those pains,” he said.

“When you take on responsibility for an animal you take on a huge responsibility. It is you they look to for security and food for treatment when they need it. Taking on an animal is not something you take on part time and you failed consummately in your obligations.”

During Lauren Downes’ sentencing hearing the court noted that custody was appropriate given the prolonged incidents of serious neglect that caused very high levels of suffering to the dog , despite warnings and professional advice.

Sentencing |
Wayne Hickman: 12-week custodial suspended for two years; £1,000 towards costs. Banned from owning a dog for 10 years (expires January 2034) .
Lauren Downes: 12-week custodial suspended for 18 months; rehabilitation; 200 hours of unpaid work; £400 towards costs plus £154 victim surcharge. Banned from keeping all animals for 15 years (expires August 2038).

Cornwall Live
Falmouth Packet 26 January 2024
Falmouth Packet 2 August 2023

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham: Connar Hudson

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CONVICTED (2024) | Connar Hudson born c. 1991, of Margaret House, 46 Berryfields Road, Sutton Coldfield B72 2UG – battered an XL bully for “jumping around in the bath”, causing severe injury.

Animal abuser Connor Hudson from Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, UK. Photo credit: Birmingham Live

The dog, Simba, was heard screaming as he was being beaten by vile bully Connor Hudson. The RSPCA was alerted after a neighbour sent them a sound recording of the dog in distress and seized him.

He was later found to have substantial cuts and bruises to his head inflicted by ‘blunt force trauma’.

Hudson, a violent career criminal whose previous criminal convictions include burglaries which targeted elderly and vulnerable people, denied hurting Simba but later confessed after being found guilty of two animal welfare offences following a trial.

The attack on the dog took place on the morning of January 29, 2023.

Animal abuser Connor Hudson from Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, UK. Photo: Facebook

Prosecutor Sarah Pratt said: “Another resident went down the lift to go outside and have a smoke. He heard shouting but couldn’t make out what was being said.

“He also heard the sound of dogs screaming. He identified the noise was coming from Connor Hudson’s flat. The witness started to record. The recording was short as he didn’t want a confrontation.”

She stated the neighbour called the police who attended Hudson’s flat but did not feel they had power of entry so they advised the complainant to contact the RSPCA, who sent an inspector at 1.36pm that day.

The court heard Hudson allowed the inspector in and they subsequently found Simba sitting on an arm chair with bruising.

A second XL Bully was at the home but there were apparently no concerns about him.

Animal abuser Connor Hudson from Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, UK. Photo: Facebook

Hudson initially refused to allow Simba to be taken to a vet, but eventually relented.

Ms Pratt stated there was ‘extensive bruising’ and cuts to the dog’s head and said: “The injuries are consistent with blunt force trauma consistent with slapping or beating with an object or hand.”

Hudson’s lawyer told the court his client was “struggling with his mental health” at the time whilst not taking his medication.

Sentencing | 16-week custodial, suspended for 12 months; rehabilitation. Banned from keeping animals for ten years (expires January 2034).

Birmingham Mail

Animal Abandonment, Dogs, Lifers, Worst of the Worst

Clacton-on-Sea, Essex: Daryl Burgess

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CONVICTED (2024) | Daryl Burgess, born 6 April 1992, of Chantry Close, Clacton CO16 9QL – starved his dog to death.

Dog killer Daryl Burgess from Clacton on Sea, Essex. Image: Facebook

Burgess was prosecuted by the RSPCA after the skeletal remains of the young mastiff-type dog named Patch were found in his garden. The horrific discovery was made on 12 January 2023 by police officers pursuing a suspect.

The RSPCA was alerted and an investigation was started.

RSPCA inspector Emma Beynon said: “I was shocked and upset to see the condition he was in.

“Every single bone could be seen in his body, he looked like a skeleton. Patch would not have even been two years old.”

A vet who examined Patch gave him a body condition score of zero out of nine and said the owner “should have .. sought medical advice and treatment”.

They continued: “By not seeking veterinary advice they would have been failing to meet the animal’s needs, causing the suffering of the animal.

“It would have taken days to weeks to reach a body condition score this low.”

In court, Burgess pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a dog by failing to adequately explore and address the dog’s weight loss.

In mitigation sick Burgess, who represented himself, described Patch’s wilful killing as “an unfortunate event”.

Speaking after the conviction, inspector Beynon described the case as “truly heart-breaking”.

She added: “This was a deliberate disregard for Patch which resulted in his sad death.

“Pets are completely reliant on their owners to ensure their needs are met and they are kept safe and healthy.

“Owning an animal is a privilege – and ensuring appropriate care is a key part of the responsibility we have towards our pets.

“It’s so sad that, in this instance, that responsibility was not met and Patch was left to suffer.”

Sentencing | 23 weeks in prison; £300 costs and £154 victim surcharge. Disqualified from keeping all animals for life.

Echo
EssexLive

Dogs

St Austell, Cornwall: Ross Stone

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CONVICTED (2023) | Ross Jan Stone, born March 1983, of Trenance Downs, St. Austell, PL25 5RH – for cruelty to his pet lurcher.

Animal abuser: Ross Stone from St Austell, Cornwall. Image: Facebook

Stone, drug dealer once implicated in a 2012 double murder case, who was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to the tan lurcher-type dog, known as Taz, by failing to investigate and address the causes of her poor bodily condition and weight loss.

He was convicted on one count of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and one count of failing to ensure the welfare of an animal for which he was responsible.

The offences took place between June 20 and July 20, 2022, in St Austell.

It has not been reported if the dog survived.

Stone pleaded not guilty to both offences but was eventually found guilty.

Sentencing | eight-week curfew; mental health treatment; rehabilitation; costs of £1,040 and victim surcharge of £114. No mention of a ban.

Falmouth Packet

Dogs

Bolton, Greater Manchester: Jermaine Henderson

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CONVICTED (2023) | Jermaine Joshua Henderson, born 30 September 1994, of 1 Cherry Tree Way, Horwich, Bolton BL6 6JG – allowed his French bulldog to become emaciated and dragging her limbs.

Animal abuser: Jermaine Henderson from Horwich, Bolton, Greater Manchester. Image: Facebook

The French bulldog, named Jada, was found underweight and dragging her hind limbs when an RSPCA officer visited Henderson’s home in Cherry Tree Way, Horwich, in August 2022. It was discovered the dog was suffering from several chronic and severe health conditions, which should have been treated by a vet.

Henderson had taken the dog to a vet appointment at the Animal Trust on March 4, 2022, after she suddenly lost the use of her back legs. Apart from oral pain relief, the dog was then left with no medical intervention for the next five months.

When RSPCA worker Jessica Pierce visited Henderson’s address on August 13, 2022, she was “extremely concerned” for the dog’s welfare.

Jada was put to sleep after her owner, Jermaine Henderson from Bolton, failed to get her life-saving veterinary treatment
Little Jada was put to sleep after Jermaine Henderson left her to suffer without treatment for several months

In a statement read out in court, she said: “The defendant opened a door of a room to the front of the flat and I immediately got a smell of faeces and urine.

“Jada appeared visibly underweight with her ribs, hips and spine bones showing.

“She could not walk very well at all and her back legs were crossing over and dragging behind her. I asked her owner if she had been to the vet and he stated she had been to the Animal Trust, but he couldn’t remember when this was, although he confirmed she wasn’t currently under a vet.”

A vet at the Greater Manchester Animal Hospital said in a statement presented to the court that a cervical intervertebral disc prolapse was considered as a diagnosis at the consultation in March. She said that though the vet at that appointment offered further investigations, the owner declined on the grounds of cost.

“While Mr Henderson did present Jada to a vet due to her serious neurological condition, he subsequently failed to present her again when she did not rapidly return to normal, along with the other clinical concerns identified, particularly the ear disease,” she stated.

Sadly, with her prognosis being so poor, vets decided to put her to sleep to end her suffering.

Animal abuser: Jermaine Henderson from Horwich, Bolton, Greater Manchester. Image: Facebook

A post-mortem showed the dog was suffering with spinal cord compression with subsequent nerve loss contributing to muscle wastage in her back legs. She also had a severe infection and inflammation of her ear structures.

Henderson was prosecuted by the RSPCA and pleaded guilty to one charge under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. He appeared for sentencing at Wigan Magistrates’ Court on December 14, 2023.

Sentencing | four-month custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months; £400 court costs and victim surcharge of £154. Disqualified from keeping animals for five years (expires December 2028).

Bolton News
Manchester Evening News

Equine Abuse, horses and ponies, Traveller Animal Crimes

Wokingham, Berkshire: Daniel Banham

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CONVICTED (2023) | Daniel Banham, born 6 September 1999, of Carters Hill Park traveller site, Carters Hill, Billingbear, Wokingham RG40 5QL – left his horse to suffer with a painful untreated skin condition.

Daniel Banham, a traveller and animal abuser from Wokingham, Berkshire
Daniel Banham received a suspended prison sentence and eight-year ban on keeping horses following his mistreatment of an unnamed colt

Banham, a traveller, was visited by the RSPCA after calls of concern over a young horse in Fordingbridge in Hampshire who had severe skin lesions over his body. The lesions were crusty, the skin was dry, red and painful.

Daniel Banham from Wokingham, Berkshire, mistreated a horse
The horse was signed over to the RSPCA and can now be rehomed following his recovery

A vet carried out an examination of the unnamed horse and found him to be in a suffering state.

Banham was asked about the skin condition and said he thought it was rain scald so had used coconut oil on the lesions.

Daniel Banham from Wokingham, Berkshire, mistreated a horse

In their report, the vet said: “This horse was suffering from the consequences of inadequate management. The poor management led to dehydration, malnutrition, painful skin condition and severe liver disease that can have life-threatening consequences.

“He failed in his duty by failing to seek veterinary help for his horse’s very obvious and severe skin condition and concerning weight loss.

“Added to this his choice to apply coconut oil to his skin significantly increased this animal’s pain and suffering by conducting and amplifying the sun’s heat onto his severely damaged skin.”

Daniel Banham, a traveller and animal abuser from Wokingham, Berkshire

RSPCA Inspector Tina Ward, who investigated for the animal welfare charity, said: “Our plea to all animal owners is to make sure they always receive care and treatment from veterinary experts when they need it.

“They are completely reliant on their owners to ensure their needs are met and they are kept safe and healthy.

“Owning an animal is a privilege – and ensuring appropriate veterinary care is a key part of the responsibility we have towards them. It’s so sad that, in this instance, that responsibility was not met.”

The horse was also signed over into the care of the RSPCA and can now be rehomed.

Sentencing | eight-week custodial suspended for 12 months; 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days; £300 costs and £154 victim surcharge. Banned from keeping horses for eight years.

Planet Radio
Reading Chronicle

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Palmers Green, North London: Jay Mayor-Carty

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CONVICTED (2023) | Jay Joseph Patrick Mayor-Carty, born December 1995, of Hedge Lane, Palmers Green, Enfield N13, but with links to Lower Edmonton, London and Southampton – filmed slamming a dog onto a balcony floor.

Kobe was nursed back to health in the RSPCA’s care and returned to his owner after she and Jay Mayor-Carty had gone their separate ways

Mayor-Carty, a former company director and self-styled “entrepreneur”, was found guilty at Willesden Magistrates Court of causing unnecessary suffering to a French bulldog called Kobe.

The RSPCA was called in after Mayor-Carty was filmed slamming the dog down onto a balcony floor at Waldegrave Point, Green Street, Park Royal, Willesden, three times and possibly stamping on the dog on August 6, 2022.

When RSPCA Inspector Francesca Tambini arrived at the address later that day, Kobe was present

Kobe belonged to Mayor-Carty’s then girlfriend, but he was apparently looking after him while she was away for a few days.

Kobe appeared to have very red eyes, which Mayor-Carty claimed was due to heatstroke.

Suspecting a more sinister reason Inspector Tambini attended with police the next day to take the dog to the vet.

When the inspector and police arrived, the dog’s owner had since returned and said Kobe was being treated for skin allergies.

The vet confirmed that the haemorrhaging and swelling of Kobe’s eyes were not consistent with heatstroke or allergies, and that he was fearful and head shy when being examined.

The vet suspected injuries caused by blunt force trauma and concluded that he had suffered for a number of days.

An expert vet confirmed that the severity of the injuries was not consistent with an allergy, heatstroke or the dog running into another dog or hard object.

He added: “In my opinion Kobe was caused to suffer due to the person responsible for the welfare of this animal failing to seek prompt veterinary advice regarding the eye condition.”

Mayor-Carty and Kobe’s owner have since split up and Kobe was returned to her following recovery.

The RSPCA said Mayor-Carty denied slamming the dog into the balcony three times but accepted that he was found guilty of this.

Inspector Tambini said: “This was an awful case, Kobe had suffered terrible cruelty at the hands of a man who was supposed to be caring for him while his owner was absent.

“His owner had no idea that her partner was capable of such a violent act.

“Witnesses described seeing him being slammed onto the ground three times and possibly stamped on.

“His injuries were consistent with blunt force trauma and it’s clear he would have suffered, especially given the lack of vet attention following the incident.

“We’re pleased that Kobe is now safe.”

Sentencing | 12 month community order, with 150 hours of unpaid work and 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement. Banned from keeping pets for ten years (expires December 2033).

Enfield Independent

Dogs, Lifers

Chelmsford, Essex: Natalie and Geoff Greenaway

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CONVICTED (2023) | Natalie Greenaway, born 30 September 1981 and Geoffrey Greenaway, age tbc, of 39 West Avenue, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 2DB – failed to provide urgent veterinary care for their elderly dog.

Cruel Chelmsford couple Natalie and Geoff Greenaway are banned for life after caused appalling suffering to their elderly pet dog
Cruel couple Natalie and Geoff Greenaway are banned for life after caused appalling suffering to their elderly pet dog

The RSPCA attended the couple’s address in June 2023 where they were shown Taz who was in a very poor condition.

She was severely underweight with a body condition score of 0.5/5.. Her hips, spine and ribs were all clearly visible.

Both back legs looked to be deformed at the stifle joints. She had very little to no muscle coverage.

Cruel couple Natalie and Geoff Greenaway are banned for life after caused appalling suffering to their elderly pet dog
Tragic dog Taz was in immense pain due to her multiple health issues

Taz was signed over to the RSPCA and taken to a vet to be examined where it was evident that she was gravely unwell.

She was underweight and had multiple pressure sores; many nails were growing into her pads and her back legs were weak and stiff.

She had horrendous teeth with food and hair stuck in them, bad ears, fleas and untreated cruciate ligaments.

As a result of these clinical findings, the vet stated Taz was suffering and immediate pain relief was given.

Animal abuser: Natalie Greenaway from Chelmsford, Essex - banned from owning animals for life.

Following a full clinical examination, the vet concluded Taz was in pain associated with pressure sores, dental disease and ingrown nails – her state of emaciation was adding to her suffering.

Sadly, Taz was in such a poor state of health, a vet decided to put her to sleep to end to her suffering.

In mitigation, the Greenaways conceded they could have done significantly more to address their loyal pet’s deteriorating health. They said they had buried their heads in the sand in the hope things would get better.

The court heard that Natalie Greenaway had “mental health” issues and had suffered a family bereavement.

Speaking after the case Inspector Emma Beynon said: “This suffering could have been prevented by adequate attention and appropriate veterinary treatment.

“It is vital owners provide veterinary care should their animal need it – which was not the case for poor Taz.”

Sentencing | each received an 18-week custodial sentence suspended for 18 months; 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement; 150 hours of unpaid work; £150 cost and £154 victim surcharge. Both were banned from keeping all animals for life.

Echo News