CONVICTED (2025) | pet hoarder/ breeder/ peddler Peyton McCarry, born December 1994, of Jankyns Place, Chalk Road, Bury St Edmunds IP33 3BT – kept multiple dogs and cats in squalor for years.
During 2023 and 2024, RSPCA officials visited McCarry’s address repeatedly over concerns about the number of animals living there, their poor conditions and lack of veterinary care. Despite receiving animal welfare advice and warnings from the RSPCA, McCarry failed to take action, leaving the animal charity with no option but to seize the pets and prosecute her for cruelty.
In court on 29 August 2025 McCarry pleaded guilty to criminal offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
In a statement to the court Animal Rescue Officer Natalie Read said that conditions in the property were extremely messy with strong ammonia smells and overflowing litter trays.
Puppies and kittens were left in unsafe conditions, and several dogs were confined in soiled, cramped crates without water or bedding.
Inspector Nicky Thorne observed animals showing signs of stress, illness and neglect.
A veterinary examination showed ear infections in a dog named Bailey and a cat named Shadow, and inflammation of the paws in a dog named Ozzie.
In May 2024, RSPCA inspectors and Suffolk Police removed a number of dogs and cats, who were taken into RSPCA care.
They described the dogs as “dirty, nervous and dehydrated,”.
McCarry had posted multiple online adverts offering to rehome animals in unsafe and unsuitable conditions. However, the welfare of the animals she did have had been compromised for years,.
Seven dogs and five cats were specifically named on the charge though the issues were “not limited to” those 12 animals.
In mitigation, the court heard that McCarry suffered from serious mental health issues.
But magistrates found that the welfare of the animals had been seriously compromised.
A deprivation order was imposed for Bailey and Ozzie, while the RSPCA was able to take possession of the other animals for rehoming.
Speaking after the sentencing, RSPCA Inspector Nicky Thorne said: “This case highlighted the full spectrum of work the RSPCA does.
“The animals in this case were living in chaotic and unsafe conditions.
“Many were experiencing preventable medical conditions, and some were at risk due to the overcrowded and unsanitary environment.
“It is heartbreaking that these animals endured so much unnecessary stress and discomfort.
“Pet ownership is a serious responsibility, and if anyone finds themselves struggling, they should seek help from animal welfare organisations before things get too much.”
Sentencing | 18-month community order with 20 days of ‘rehabilitation; £120 fine plus £114 victim surcharge. Indefinite ban.
She admitted being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control and was fined.
The incident occurred in January 2024, when McCarry encouraged the Malinois cross dog to bite the officer. The officer was unhurt in the incident but the dog was subsequently put down by a vet.
CONVICTED (2025) | Dylan Hoyle, born c. 2004, of 55 Fountain Road, Rendlesham, Woodbridge IP12 2UF – failed to get treatment for his dog’s skin cancer and other health conditions.
Hoyle’s case was heard before Suffolk Magistrates’ Court in December 2024.
He pleaded guilty to a charge of causing unnecessary suffering to his black cocker spaniel, named Benji.
Between April 6 and June 6, 2024, Hoyle failed to provide veterinary care to Benji who was suffering from skin cancer, ulceration of tissues and tongue and also had “severe” dental disease.
Sentencing | ordered to pay a fine of £692, £277 victim surcharge and court costs of £150. .Banned from keeping animals for five years (expires December 2029)
CONVICTED (2025) | Jodie Louise Davey of Mariners Close, Bridgwater TA6 – left her two cats alone to die in an empty house.
Davey pictured with one of the two unnamed cats she abandoned to starve to death.
In January 2024, a call was made to the RSPCA national control centre by the police after they received a report from a member of the public.
Concerns were raised that the resident had not been seen for a number of weeks and that there were a lot of flies seen from the address.
Upon arrival, RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Dean Wilkins was shown into the address by police and housing officers.
He said: “There were multiple piles of faeces, especially by the rear door, and items scattered all over the floor.
“I then saw one deceased tortoiseshell cat behind the sofa in the living room area.
“I continued up the stairs where at the base of a wooden cabinet at the top of the stairs was a deceased black cat.”
Further investigations by the animal charity found that Davey had moved out and was now living at another property in the town. She had callously left the cats behind to starve to death.
Sentencing | 12-week custodial, suspended for 18 months; 30 days of ‘rehabilitation’. 10-year ban but can appeal after seven years (expires February 2035).
CONVICTED (2025) | Kyle Mark Dorling, aka Kyle Valentine, born 28 September 1997, and currently of Harewood Road, Harrogate HG3 2TJ but with links to Norton Lees in Sheffield, and Bexhill, East Sussex – subjected a puppy to a series of brutal attacks over a four-month period, leaving her battered and bleeding.
American bulldog Ivy, just six months old, suffered three broken legs and a fractured jaw and cheekbone after her owner, Dorling, inflicted blunt force trauma on her on numerous occasions between December 2022 and March 2023. He then abandoned her and left the area.
Aside from multiple broken bones, there was scarring on the puppy’s mouth, which looked like it had been tied shut, and the pads on her feet were bloody and raw.
She was also very skinny and unable to walk properly.
Due to the extent of her injuries and poor prognosis, vets made the difficult decision to put Ivy to sleep.
Recorder David Gordon described the case as a ‘prolonged and serious infliction of cruelty,’ and said the puppy had suffered a ‘high level of pain and suffering’ during her short life.
The court heard that a member of the public had spotted the puppy alone in the grounds of a block of flats at Woodland Road in the Norton Lees area of Sheffield on March 25, 2023.
Ivy was taken by the finder to the local authority’s dog warden service where she was cared for and seen by a vet.
The dog was then collected by the RSPCA, who launched an investigation.
Dorling was identified as Ivy’s owner by her microchip.
RSPCA Inspector Jennie Ronksley was told that he had offered the dog to someone else, but they’d said no, and he had then apparently dumped her on the landing and left the property.
Dorling was traced to East Sussex by the RSPCA.
In a phone call with Inspector Ronksley he said that Ivy had gone missing and that he had reported this on a lost and found site. He said he used to crate her while he was at work and that she had a ‘bad leg’ from when she tried to escape.
He was later interviewed in East Sussex and initially denied having ever intentionally harmed Ivy, saying he wasn’t aware she had broken bones and thought they were minor injuries.
The court was told that Dorling had taken Ivy to a vet on January 25, 2023, because she was not bearing weight on her right back leg.
As he was eligible for subsidised treatment, he was told to book radiographs for her at the PDSA but failed to attend the appointment.
Over three weeks later he took Ivy in with similar symptoms, although she now also had swelling on her bottom jaw.
Dorling was told to bring in a urine sample for her as soon as possible, but vets never saw him again.
In her written evidence, the vet who examined Ivy on behalf of the RSPCA said she was underweight and unable to walk normally. There was a marked angular limb deformity on her right front leg and she was completely non-weight bearing on her right back leg. She also had abrasions on multiple pads on all four feet, which were indicative of suspected trauma.
X-rays revealed historic fractures of Ivy’s jaw, both front legs, left back leg and cheekbone. The court was told there was no history of her having been involved in any accident that could have accounted for her injuries and that Dorling was circumstantially implicated in having physically abused her.
Given how the fractures had healed, the vet said Ivy’s prognosis was ‘grave’ and ‘irreparable’. Her right back leg would need to be completely amputated and the changes to her right front leg were so severe that she would never be able to have good enough mobility – if any – especially for a growing, large breed dog. Sadly the decision was made to put her to sleep to prevent further suffering.
In her evidence to the court the vet said: “As veterinary surgeons we are sadly accustomed to seeing fractures and trauma on a regular basis.
“However, what is so utterly devastating in this case is that Ivy had been left with multiple fractures across their body for weeks with very minimal, if any, treatment.
“The pain that Ivy would have been in with one, let alone five, fractures is unfathomable.
“What is most upsetting is that an owner would leave their own pet in such an excruciatingly painful state without seeking emergency veterinary care other than sporadically over a period of a few months.
“The owner would have known that Ivy was suffering without seeking thorough and continued veterinary care. He also failed to bring her back for appointments and further work.
“What is also concerning is the markings over the muzzle that indicate forceful restraint with a linear object so tight there had been chronic changes in the skin and fur. The owner claimed this was due to her rubbing her nose on the bars of her crate which is not at all plausible or possible.”
Dorling subsequently admitted causing Ivy’s injuries when he pleaded guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and one count of failure to take such steps as were reasonable in all the circumstances to ensure the needs of an animal for which he was responsible.
Dorling also admitted failing to take Ivy for veterinary treatment for her multiple injuries .
In mitigation, the court was told Dorling had experienced a difficult upbringing and had poor mental health which had impacted on his thinking and behaviour and made it difficult for him to control his temper.
His mental health was still an issue, but it was said he had demonstrated remorse for his actions. He had no previous convictions and had been assessed as being capable of rehabilitation within the community.
Sentencing | 18-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years; three-month curfew; up to 20 days of ‘rehabilitation’; ordered to pay £400 costs and £154 victim surcharge. Disqualified from keeping animals indefinitely but may contest this after 10 years.
CONVICTED (2024) | Lee Gannon, born c. 1971, and Tracy Cook, born 1 April 1967, of Kenwood Road, Oldham OL1 2NY – left their elderly golden retriever to suffer with matted, urine-soaked fur and a large untreated mass.
Eleven-year-old Scratch lost 49% of his weight in one year after his heartless owners, Lee Gannon and Tracy Cook, failed to seek help for an infected tumour hanging from his neck. .
An RSPCA inspector found the stricken pet, who was stained in urine and had an odour of “rotten flesh”, in the kitchen of the couple’s home on 27 January 2024.
The court heard how RSPCA inspector Jess Pierce went to the property after the charity received reports about a dog with a tumour living there.
In her written evidence, she said: “In the kitchen, there was an old shed door lying on its side leaning against the kitchen counter and making a small enclosed square area next to the back door and inside it, a golden retriever dog was being kept.
“There was no soft bedding or blanket for the dog to lie on and I could immediately see he was very underweight.
“Even through his thick coat, I could tell the outline of his ribs and hip bones.
“There was a strong smell coming from him, it was like rotten flesh and was the worst smell I’ve ever experienced on a live animal.
“The dog also appeared urine stained on his legs and stomach and I could also see matted fur around his neck and legs.
“The floor inside the enclosed area had a puzzle feeder, which was empty, and a bowl with a small amount of water in it.
“There was also a noticeable tumour hanging from his neck.
“I could see it appeared infected as parts of it were yellow and there was discharge coming from it.”
The court then heard how Cook told the officer that the tumour had appeared around a year ago and that they had taken Scratch to a vet but could not afford the £1,000 treatment.
Instead, she said they had got antibiotics but that those hadn’t worked and the mass had kept growing, eventually becoming necrotic.
When told by the officer that Scratch needed urgent veterinary care, Cook agreed to sign him over to the RSPCA.
However, when asked what he had been fed, Cook began looking in the cupboards and said she didn’t currently have any food for him but that he was mainly given sausages.
Cook was also advised that it was very likely a vet might recommend that Scratch would need to be put to sleep.
Inspector Pierce asked her if her partner, Gannon, would like to come to say goodbye to the dog. Cook then shouted upstairs to him but he never came down.
A vet from the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital, where Scatch was taken, also gave written evidence in the case.
She said he had a body condition score of one out of nine, with his ribs, lumbar vertebrae, pelvic bones and all bony prominences all evident from a distance, no discernible body fat and obvious loss of muscle mass.
His eyes were sunken, his coat was matted and soaked in urine and there was a large ulcerated necrotic mass on the front of his neck.
Pressure sores were also evident on his right elbow and limbs which would have made it difficult for him to lay comfortably or rest.
Scratch’s collar also had to be cut off with scissors because of old matted hair that had wrapped itself tightly around it.
Clinical notes from Cook’s vet showed that he had last been seen on 3 January 2023, when he weighed 41kg.
A lump on the side of his face measuring approximately 4-5cm was visible, which his owners said had been there a long time but had since become infected and ulcerated.
The vet discussed surgical removal and advised a re-check in seven days.
Scratch was in such poor health the vet made the decision to put him to sleep to end his suffering.
In her written evidence the vet said: “Scratch was severely under-conditioned. Comparing the veterinary notes from January 2023 to February 2024, he lost 20kg/49 per cent of his overall body weight in just over a year.
“This is dramatic weight loss which the owner should have noticed and investigated.
“The large visible mass will have been uncomfortable.
“It will have been difficult for him to rest comfortably, combined with his matted urine-soaked coat.
“I would expect a reasonable dog owner to have any lump that is continually growing checked by a veterinary surgeon, and urgently should it become ulcerated or bleed.
“Scratch’s owner failed to do this. The mass was present for a minimum period of a year.
“It would have been causing discomfort for this entire period as it was measured at approximately 4-5 cm one year prior to presentation.
“It is unclear whether this mass improved after the initial treatment or continued to deteriorate and at what rate.
“Based on the presentation when seen by me I can confirm the mass will have caused Scratch suffering for a minimum period of three weeks.”
The court heard that Cook told Inspector Pierce she was ‘relieved’ that the RSPCA had come as they couldn’t afford to get him treated and they hadn’t let Scratch get like that ‘on purpose.’
She said he was dirty because the weather was bad and he wasn’t allowed upstairs and they only had an outside bath.
In mitigation, the court was told that Cook had health problems and Gannon had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.
Speaking after the case Inspector Pierce said: “This case was particularly hard to deal with for me because of Scratch’s nature.
“He was so sweet and forgiving, all he wanted was to be stroked and cuddled, which I did for him at the end.
“He was badly let down by the people who should have been caring for him.
“He was in a terrible state and deprived of veterinary treatment which he desperately needed.”
Both Cook and Gannon pleaded guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and two animal welfare charges.
The animal welfare charges stated that the couple had both failed to meet his need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease by failing to adequately investigate and address the cause of his weight loss and poor body condition and also for his urine-soaked and matted coat.
Sentencing | 24-month community order with 160 hours of unpaid work and 20 days of ‘rehabilitation’. Disqualified from keeping animals for five years (expires November 2029).
CONVICTED (2024) | Jerome Dixon, born c. 1992, of Walsall Road, Great Barr, Birmingham and Nakeeda Price, born 17 June 1997, of 21 Hindlow Close, Nechells, Birmingham B7 4LJ – starved two dogs to death.
Jerome Dixon and Nakeeda Price left two young dogs to die in ‘horrendous’ conditions.
Dixon and Price admitted animal welfare offences following an investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA.
The pair were prosecuted after vets were presented with two dead dogs in a shocking state.
The charity was contacted after two dogs, a grey female called Royal and a brown male called Rio, were taken to a vet a few days apart. They were both dead, emaciated and with pressure sores on their legs and body, raising suspicions with veterinary staff.
Price and a relative, who took the dog to the vet, claimed they had found one of the dogs as a stray in an alleyway behind their home but staff became suspicious after recalling another dog who was presented in the same condition days earlier.
In their report to the court, the vet said: “The dog was presented with multiple blankets and a small teddy. The dog was still young, as ascertained from the condition of the teeth. The condition of the dog was severely emaciated, with atrophic muscular masses.
“There were signs of vomiting and diarrhoea, prior to death, around the mouth and anus. There were also abrasions on the dog where it might have laid on hard surfaces.
“Upon examination of the remains, it was suspicious a stray dog would have been presented with multiple blankets and a teddy. The veterinary technicians proceeded to scan for a microchip, and one was present. The microchip details were searched and came back to a similar postcode and phone number that the member of the public had provided.
“The phone number was wrong in the last few digits. One of the staff remembered the name and recalled a dog was presented a few days ago, in a similar condition, for cremation. The remains were not collected as the condition of the dog was dire, and abuse was suspected.”
RSPCA Inspector Jack Alderson, who investigated for the animal welfare charity, said: “Rio and Royal didn’t get into the horrendous condition they were in overnight.
“They were left to suffer without appropriate care over a prolonged period of time, yet their need for urgent care was simply ignored with vet help only sought after the dogs had already sadly died.
“Dogs feel pain and suffering just like we do and always deserve to be shown kindness and compassion. 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 diet and care is a key part of the responsibility we have towards them.
“If any pet owner is struggling to care for their animal we’d encourage them to reach out to a charity or organisation who can help.”
In mitigation, it was said Dixon was struggling financially and had difficulties finding a vet.
Sentencing | Dixon: one-year community order with 90 hours of unpaid work; £114 victim surcharge. 10-year ban on owning dogs (expires December 2034).
Price: one-year community order with five days of ‘rehabilitation; £112 fine and £114 victim surcharge. No ban.
CONVICTED (2024) | Nelson Pierre Luke, born 3 March 1992, and Shona Jayda Patricia Thomas-Ross, born 17 January 1998, both of Northfield Avenue, Northfields, Ealing, London W13 – starved their dog to death.
Bull terrier Casanova was taken into a vet in Victoria weighing just 11.85kg when she should have weighed between 25 and 30kg.
The pair said they returned home to find the dog had died. They said she had been unwell, but claimed they had no credit on their phones to call for a vet.
Vets found the dog’s intestines were ‘completely empty’ and she was covered in sores and faeces.
Vets alerted the RSPCA and Inspector Phil Norman launched an investigation.
The vet’s statement added: “[Casanova] was suffering from a prolonged period of anorexia or not being able to keep her food down. All of this suffering could have been prevented by bringing her to a veterinary practice for medical attention.”
Convicted drug dealer Luke pleaded guilty to one offence of causing unnecessary suffering to Casanova. Thomas-Ross pleaded not guilty but was convicted.
Sentencing | Luke: 16 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months; 15 days of ‘rehabilitation’; 250 hours of unpaid work; £300 in costs and £187 victim surcharge.
Thomas-Ross: 12-month community order with 20 days of ‘rehabilitation; £100 fine, £114 victim surcharge and £300 in costs.
Both are disqualified from keeping dogs for 10 years (expires December 2034).
CONVICTED (2024) | Marcus Hibbert aka Marcus Fairweather-Hibbert, born 12 May 1994, of Farm Road, Sparkbrook, Birmingham B11 1LT- subjected a young dog to a series of beatings, causing fractures to his ribs and cheekbones.
Hibbert, who has links to the Fallowfield and Wythenshawe areas of Manchester, pleaded guilty to animal welfare offences, following an investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA.
A neighbour contacted the animal welfare charity with concerns for the welfare of the 11-month-old dog named Bertie after witnessing Hibbert beating the animal.
The neighbour, who had removed Bertie from Hibbert, told the RSPCA that the dog was “struggling to stand with an eye that would not open, and bleeding from inside the ear’.
Bertie was taken to an RSPCA animal hospital where a vet observed him to be lame on back leg, with bloodshot eyes, and a bruise to his head near his ear. X-rays showed he had suffered cheek and rib fractures.
He was also noted to have an ear infection and a skin condition.
Bertie suffered multiple injuries after being beaten by Birmingham man Marcus Hibbert.
Bertie’s blood results also showed a marked increase in Creatine kinase level which is consistent with significant muscle injury.
The veterinary report stated: “In my opinion Bertie was caused to suffer as a consequence of physical abuse on at least three separate occasions.
“Suffering will have been experienced via mechanisms of fear, distress and pain for a period of at least several minutes on each occasion. The x-rays indicate that Bertie had sustained skeletal trauma resulting in bone fractures on at least three different occasions.
“On each of these occasions Bertie would have experienced pain as a consequence of the acute inflammation associated with the fracture injuries which would have persisted for a period of at least 10 days.”
When interviewed, Hibbert admitted to having caused harm to Bertie. He later pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering and failing to provide vet care to treat the injuries he’d caused to his dog.
In mitigation, it was said his actions were out of character.
Bertie was signed over to RSPCA at the time he was rescued and has since been rehomed.
RSPCA Inspector Kate Levesley, who investigated for the charity, said: “Hibbert inflicted appalling and totally unnecessary violence on Bertie.
“Animals deserve to be shown kindness and respect. There is never an excuse for treating an animal in this way.”
Sentencing | 12-week custodial, suspended for 12 months; 50 hours of unpaid work; 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) days. Lifetime ban on keeping animals, which can be appealed after 10 years.
CONVICTED (2024) | Chantelle Baptiste, born c. 1982, of Wyeth Close, Taplow, Maidenhead SL6 0XW but with strong family links to Slough, Berkshire – arranged for her dog’s ears to be cropped.
Haze had his ears illegally cropped at the request of his owner Chantelle Baptiste.
Baptiste admitted allowing her dog’s ears to be subjected to an illegal, painful and unnecessary surgical procedure. She was prosecuted by the RSPCA following an investigation.
Police were joined by RSPCA inspectors when they carried out a warrant at Baptiste’s address after concerns were raised about the welfare of a dog named Haze.
Haze was found with ears that had been cropped. Images from mobile phones showed that this procedure took place while the dog was in Baptiste’s care.
RSPCA inspector Prisca Giddens, who investigated for the animal welfare charity, said:
“Ear cropping is a painful and illegal procedure that carries no benefits at all to the dogs.
“We hope this case sends a strong message to anyone involved with ear cropping that this will not be tolerated.”
Sentencing | 200 hours of unpaid work; £200 costs. Disqualified from keeping dogs for 10 years but can appeal after five years (expires December 2034).
CONVICTED (2024) | Wesley Jefferson, born c. 1988, of Hibson Road, Nelson BB9, and Bradley Atkinson, born c. 1992, of Cliff Street, Padiham BB12 8PN – for hare coursing.
Bradley Atkinson (left) and Wesley Jefferson walked free from court with a paltry fine.
The pair were arrested by Ribble Valley Rural Task Force on July 5, 2023 after two lurcher-type dogs were observed to be pursuing a hare in the Bashall Eaves area of Clitheroe.
Both men claimed that they were just “walking the dogs” but this account was dismissed by the court.
They were found guilty of the offence of trespass with intent to search for or to pursue hares with dogs.
Bradley Atkinson was a no-show for the sentencing hearing.
Atkinson did not attend the hearing, and the sentence was passed in his absence.
Arrogant Wesley Jefferson, ,who is also a backyard breeder, whistled the Laurel and Hardy theme tune whilst leaving court – despite being found guilty.
Sergeant Kevin Day said: “Jefferson amused himself by whistling the Laurel and Hardy theme tune as I exited the court building.
“This ditty is generally reserved for when one of our clients perceives that they have secured a win of some description, not when they have just been found guilty and sentenced for a crime.”
Sentencing | issued with fines and costs totalling £941.
