CONVICTED (2024) | Gillian Moir, born August 1997, and Adrian Ogg, born c. 1979, of Ramana Farm, Barthol Chapel, Inverurie AB51 8TB – kept numerous malnourished animals in poor conditions.
Gillian Moir and Adrian Ogg were given a 10-year ban after SSPCA inspectors found dead and dying animals on their farm
Farm worker Adrian Ogg and his partner Gillian Moir admitted keeping small animals in “squalid” conditions while sheep, ponies and goats were discovered in an emaciated state.
The Scottish SPCA carried out an investigation into the couple after receiving a report of concern about the wellbeing of a pony named Leo.
The pony, a 30-year-old Connemara gelding, was described as having a poor body condition and despite having a “bright demeanour” his eyes were yellow and jaundiced.
A vet determined that it would be difficult to pin the condition of the horse on one matter given the age of the animal but stated that “it is likely that the body condition had occurred over a period of time, likely three weeks if due to malnutrition, but possibly longer if an underlying condition was involved.”
They concluded that veterinary assistance should have been sought for the animal to check for the underlying cause of the poor body condition.
Two older sheep who were housed with Leo were also found to have bodies that were in poor condition, showing lethargy and struggling to stand up to be examined.
Each of the ewes’ front teeth were worn down to the gum line and both had to be euthanised.
A pygmy goat named Pepper was found dead at the farm.
A post-mortem was carried out and found that “a failure to seek veterinary treatment” and “failure to the poor body condition” of the animal resulted in his unnecessary suffering.
Investigators discovered two hutches partially covered with a blanket in a shed where most of their dogs were kept.
In the first hutch – which was described as “filthy” – they found the carcasses of three dead ferrets.
One live ferret with no access to food or water was found in the first hutch.
His condition was “weak, lethargic, extremely dehydrated” and he could not open either of his eyes, which were covered in pus and appeared to be infected.
He was taken to Donview Veterinary Centre where they tried to treat his condition, but the decision was taken to euthanise him on welfare grounds.
It was believed that the ferret would have died within the next 24 hours due to starvation and dehydration.
The vet’s opinion was that he had suffered for at least a week, though probably longer.
Within the second hutch they found the carcasses of two more ferrets.
Moir and Ogg each pleaded guilty to four charges of causing animals unnecessary suffering.
Moir’s lawyer told the court his client had become “overwhelmed” after taking in too many animals and struggled to effectively provide care for them.
He added that a lightning strike during a recent storm caused the pony to stop eating and that the sheep’s teeth were worn down due to their old age.
However, when it came to the condition of the ferrets, Mr Burnett conceded that they had been “forgotten about”.
“They had not been provided with food and water – that’s accepted,” he said.
Mr Burnett asked if a disqualification order was made, that it not include animals the couple breed and sell as part of their livelihood.
Ogg’s lawyer said her client had been working as a farm hand in Aberdeenshire for 20 years and “would not have been kept on to look after animals if he was not good at it”.
She added: “He accepts he has done wrong but a recent visit [from the SSPCA] appears to have shown some improvement.
“This is all he’s ever done and he would struggle to find other work.”
Sheriff Johnston told the pair that she believed it was necessary to make a disqualification order banning them from keeping certain animals.
“Your actions in failing to secure veterinary treatment caused these animals unnecessary suffering,” she said.
The sheriff described the condition the ferrets were found in as “frankly squalid” and had to be euthanised.
Sentencing | fined a combined total of £4,950. Banned from keeping animals for 10 years, excluding sheep, pigs, cats and dogs; disqualified from dealing in animals, except sheep and pigs.
CONVICTED (2023) | gamekeeper Ryan Martin, born 28 August 2000, of Balmanno Cottages, Marykirk, Laurencekirk AB30 1US – set his dogs on foxes and badgers and filmed the carnage.
Ryan Martin, who is a father, uploaded twisted social media videos of his dogs killing badgers and foxes
Martin, who is employed as a gamekeeper, posted twisted videos to TikTok and Snapchat showing bloody clashes between his dogs and foxes or badgers. Martin is heard on the videos goading his dogs into attacking the wild animals.
The shocking footage was used as evidence to convict Martin, who considered foxes and badgers as “vermin”
Martin was prosecuted following an investigation by the Scottish SPCA’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) after they received intelligence in January 2022.
On February 9, 2022, SSPCA inspectors and police officers visited Martin at the home he shares with fiancée Lia Stewart in the Aberdeenshire village of Marykirk.
A search was undertaken of the property and Martin’s mobile phone was seized. Three dogs, who looked similar to those in Martin’s social media videos, were also removed. .
The seized dogs, who all had fresh and historical animal fighting injuries, were brindle lurcher Boss, tan and white lurcher Storm and brindle deerhound/greyhound Beau.
Martin’s dogs had fresh wounds and historical injuries caused by illegal fighting with wildlife.
The dogs were examined by a vet who concluded: “It is my opinion that these dogs have been repeatedly involved in fighting with other animals and, in the case of Storm, the injuries are consistent with fighting with a badger.
“The injuries in Beau do not exclude fighting with badgers. The injuries in these dogs would have caused them pain and suffering.
“In summary, it is my considered opinion that these dogs were involved in illegal wild animal fighting activities.
“The type and distribution of injuries on Storm is consistent with wounds sustained during ‘badger baiting’ – an illegal activity where both the dogs and badgers suffer a great deal.”
Boss was found to have multiple healed injuries and scars, as well as a “deformity” to the lower lip. These injuries were deemed by a vet “consistent with, but not exclusive to, wild animal fighting injuries”.
Forensic examination of Martin’s phone uncovered numerous videos of his dogs fighting with foxes and badgers.
One 60-second video, which had been posted to Snapchat, showed Storm with the top of a badger’s head in her mouth whilst Beau and Boss are biting and attacking the badger all over his body and legs.
Depute fiscal Clair Stewart told the court: “The badger’s head and body are heavily blood-stained. A dog can be heard squealing and the badger can be seen to have a hold of Storm’s snout and lower jaw within its mouth.
“Throughout this clip, the accused can be heard shouting, ‘Get on, get on, chi chi chi chi’.”
Storm is seen “gripping the badger’s head in her mouth” while Beau and Boss bite at the badger, which is “twisting and wriggling on the roadway”.
Ms Stewart continued: “Storm’s face is buried into the chest of the badger, which appears to have a grip of her by her face.
“The accused can still be heard shouting encouragement to the dogs,
‘Get on, dogs, get on, get in there, chi chi chi.
“The video ends with Beau and Storm sitting within the rear of a vehicle with bleeding and fresh injuries to their noses.
“The accused can be heard to say, ‘Look at her, man. Go on, dogs. Piggies. Wayhay.’”
Pigs or piggies is a slang term for badgers commonly used by wildlife criminals like Martin.
A second video, posted on TikTok, shows Storm standing in a field with blood around her chest, face and head.
Storm and an unidentified lurcher dog then attack a live badger before the video cuts into another where a fox “appears to have Storm by the collar”.
At the start of a third video, posted on TikTok, Martin tells his audience: “Hold on to your fucking hats. What you’re about to see isn’t 100% legal”.
A series of photographs then show several dogs standing in a field followed by a video of Storm beside a dead fox lying on the ground.
Martin initially denied causing his dogs to fight with badgers and foxes on various occasions but later changed his plea to guilty.
His lawyer Gregor Kelly of Lefevre Litigation initially claimed his client was “out at night shooting foxes as he thinks he’s entitled to do with his dogs.”
Kelly continued: “At the time, when foxes have been shot, he encourages the dogs to go and retrieve, as they’re trained to do, and dispatch the foxes.
“On one occasion, they encountered a badger.”
Kelly conceded that “immature” and “frightened” Martin saw foxes and badgers as “vermin” but “accepts these are views not acceptable in modern Scotland”.
He told the court that Martin planned to work as a joiner to support his partner and children in the future.
Sheriff Ian Wallace told Martin: “I don’t accept the explanation you gave to the social worker.
“It’s clear from the narrative you were causing, intentionally, these animals to fight and that caused injuries and/or death to not just the foxes and badgers but to your own dogs.”
Martin has since signed ownership of the dogs over to the SSPCA, which has rehomed them.
Sentencing | 175 hours of unpaid work. Banned from keeping or working with dogs for just five years (expires December 2028).
CONVICTED (2023) | serial headcase Dean MacLennan, born c. 1993, of Linksfield Court, Seaton, Aberdeen AB24 1GU – kicked a dog in the face in an “unprovoked” attack.
Dean MacLennan during a previous court appearance. Photo credit: Press & Journal
Violent thug Dean MacLennan, who is no stranger to the Scottish courts, kicked a Staffy in the head so hard she was sent flying backwards.
The attack took place on Union Street, Aberdeen in the early hours of May 22, 2022.
MacLennan claimed the dog had bitten him on the face, but CCTV and his lack of injuries did not support this version of events.
Shockingly, despite the vicious and unprovoked nature of the attack, he escaped a ban on keeping dogs as the imbecilic judge decided such a move would not be “appropriate”.
Fiscal depute Kirsty Martin set out events for the court. She said: “A woman and her friends were on Union Street along with her dog, named Bella.
“The accused, an acquaintance, was also with them. They were all engaging in conversation.
“Without provocation, the accused kicked Bella with his right foot to her face, causing her to be thrown backwards.”
A verbal altercation between the parties then followed which caught the attention of police.
MacLennan told the officers the dog had bitten him on the face, but there was no evidence of this.
Ms Martin said: “CCTV showed the accused, unprovoked, kick the dog as described.
“The dog was at no point acting in a dangerous or aggressive manner.”
The court heard the woman who owned the dog passed away shortly after the incident.
MacLennan pleaded guilty to kicking Bella in the head.
Defence agent David Sutherland said his client maintained he’d been bitten by the dog and that the CCTV footage was filmed from “some distance away”.
‘There’s not any extended period of conduct in relation to dogs’
He said: “It was a Staffy, which is a dog which is commonly possessed or owned by those who move in drug circles.”
Not fit for purpose: Sheriff Margaret Hodge didn’t believe it was appropriate to ban an animal abuser with a long history of violence and a dog of his own from having animals
Sheriff Margaret Hodge interjected: “And who are on Union Street at midnight.”
Mr Sutherland agreed and went on to highlight his client’s struggles with his mental health and that he was a dog owner himself.
Sheriff Hodge told MacLennan: “Having heard the circumstances and heard from your solicitor, I’m inclined to deal with this by way of a fine.”
She imposed a £290 fine but with no time to pay, meaning MacLennan serves the alternative of 14 days in prison.
Turning to the possibility of a ban on keeping dogs or other pets, Sheriff Hodge said: “They don’t seem particularly appropriate here.
“There’s not any extended period of conduct in relation to dogs that would make me consider disqualification.”
The 18-week-old shepherd cross, named Fatty, was howling in agony after suffering a broken leg but Kildare refused to take him to a vet for treatment. The puppy was also hungry and thirsty.
Fiscal depute Ellen Barr told Banff Sheriff Court that the puppy was hit by a car on February 1 2021.
Fatty was left in immense pain for at least two hours without veterinary treatment
A witness contacted the SSPCA at 6.05pm to share their fear that Kildare wasn’t going to take his dog for medical treatment.
When an officer from the charity visited Kildare’s home, they were allowed in.
While there, the officer received a second call expressing concern for the same puppy.
“This caller reported that she heard what she describes as a ‘horrendous scream’ coming from the street and that she knew from the sounds it was being made by a dog,” Ms Barr said.
“She went out of her house and saw the accused carrying a puppy. He was also holding a tin of beer, a bag of shopping and appeared to be trying to light a cigarette.
“She offered to take the accused and the dog to the vet but he declined this offer.”
Kildare did, however, agree to bring the dog to the woman’s porch so they could inspect his injuries under the light.
“He held it under the light and said it looked fine,” the court heard.
“The witness pressed the matter and suggested the dog should be seen by a vet – but the accused said no.
“She described the puppy as lying dazed in his arms.”
SSPCA officers said they found the puppy lying on the sofa and it was “immediately obvious that the dog was badly injured”.
Fatty’s fractured and bloodied right leg was swollen to double the size of his left leg, with broken nails and scratches to the pads of his feet. The injuries were all consistent with being hit by a car..
The dog was “subdued as though in shock” and when Kildare touched his leg he “howled in pain”.
At 8pm, Kildare also lied to officers and said the accident had happened only an hour before – despite the witness confirming it occurred at 5.40pm.
The charity said that his failure to seek treatment had left the dog in pain for at least two hours and had left the puppy with injuries that will haunt them for life.
Kildare told them he “couldn’t afford” to take the puppy to the vet and remained “indecisive and unclear” about giving the SSPCA permission to do it for him.
But after being told they didn’t need his permission, the dog was seized and taken to a vet in Fraserburgh and given surgery that night.
“The puppy’s pain score was rated 4 out of 5 and the dog couldn’t bear any weight on his right leg,” the fiscal added.
“Methadone was given through an IV drip and anti-inflammatory drugs were used. The dog was extremely hungry and thirsty too.”
X-rays confirmed that Fatty’s right leg had become fractured and Kildare eventually signed the dog into the SSPCA’s care.
In court, he pleaded guilty to one charge of causing an animal unnecessary suffering.
Kildare’s lawyer told the court his client was “a talented head chef” but turned to substance abuse.
The solicitor said that Fatty’s mother remains in Kildare’s ownership and there were no concerns about her care.
However, she is currently living with a friend while Kildare serves a prison sentence until at least August 2024.
Sheriff Robert McDonald told Kildare: “I am satisfied this is not necessarily a case of you persistently neglecting an animal but more that you didn’t recognise that it needed veterinary treatment – whether you could afford it or not”.
He fined Kildare, a prisoner of HMP Grampian, £790 but accepted he couldn’t pay it.
Instead, Kildare was given the alternative of 28 days’ imprisonment – to run concurrently with his current sentence for a violent offence, meaning he won’t spend any extra time in jail.
Speaking about the investigation and sentencing Scottish SPCA inspector Fiona Mckenzie said:
“Fatty should have been seen by a vet immediately after incident. Kildare’s failure to seek veterinary treatment for Fatty undoubtedly caused this young puppy immense suffering.
“Although we’re glad that Kildare has received a fine we would have liked him to receive a ban on keeping animals due to the disregard he showed for Fatty’s well-being in this case.
“We hope he seriously reconsiders his ability to care for any animal in future.”
CONVICTED (2023) | Aberdeenshire hare coursers Richard Hanratty, born 12 December 1993, of 23 Cardens Knowe, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen AB22 8PE, and Steven McDonald, born c. 1984, of Duff Drive, Oldmeldrum Inverurie AB51 0GW – used their dogs to chase and kill terrified wild hares.
Ricky Hanratty (left) and Steven McDonald used dogs to hunt terrified wild hares. Image source: Press & Journal
The court heard that on 21 August 2019 Oldmeldrum man Steven McDonald had allowed dogs to kill a brown hare in Mosstown Field in Udny, Aberdeenshire. A witness saw two dogs chase down and kill a hare.
The hare’s body was recovered from the field by police and the gamekeeper shortly after McDonald was arrested leaving the area.
In later incidents McDonald, in a distinctive blue jacket, was filmed hare coursing at Ardconnon Farm, Oldmeldrum on 11 February 2020. Hanratty, from Bridge of Don, Aberdeen, was also captured hare coursing at Milton-croft, Dumbreck on 16 February 2021.
Ricky Hanratty
The pair admitted being involved in the illegal blood sport on various occasions between 2019 and 2021.
They were both banned from keeping dogs and ordered to hand over all their animal collars.
Sentencing | McDonald: four-month restriction of liberty order; 200 hours of unpaid work. Eight year animal ban (expires April 2031). Hanratty: 100 hours of unpaid work. Banned from keeping dogs for three years (expires April 2026).
CONVICTED (2023) | serial animal abuser Allan Gillies, born 7 October 1981, of Scalloway Park, Fraserburgh AB43 9FB – subjected two dogs to a campaign of “wanton cruelty”.
Gillies, who was previously convicted of animal cruelty in 2017*, was captured on CCTV abusing a French bulldog named Reg and a Rottweiler/Staffy cross called Rex, causing both animals to suffer “extreme fear, pain and mental suffering”.
Allan Gillies terrorised Rex (pictured) and a French bulldog named Reg
Fiscal depute Jane Spark told the court that an SSPCA inspector viewed the CCTV footage on February 21, 2022.
“The accused was seen approaching the white French Bulldog, Reg, while screaming at him and picked it up by the lead in an unacceptable manner,” Ms Spark said.
“He then swung the dog around in the air with force and caused it to strike off the exterior wall of the flat.
“It was noted that the accused was extremely angry at this time and he was seen picking up a table leg from a coffee table in his garden and throwing it, sticking the dog on the back.”
During a separate incident, Gillies was again seen on CCTV screaming at Rex.
He grabbed the dog by the face before lifting him off the ground by his ears.
Gillies then dropped Rex and picked up a piece of rubber, which he struck him with before dragging the dog along the ground and back into his flat.
He pleaded guilty to two charges of causing animals unnecessary suffering.
Sentencing Gillies, Sheriff William Summers told him: “You took part in acts of wanton cruelty towards these animals who were in your care.
“It is clear you accept no responsibility for your actions and it is clear that you have learned nothing from that.
“Given the degree of cruelty, the fact that it involved two animals and your analogous previous conviction I have no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence.”
On learning that he would be going to prison, Gillies exclaimed: “I didn’t think I’d get sent to jail for this!”
Sentencing | six months in prison. Deprivation order for Rex and Reg. 10-year ban on owning dogs.
Gillies’ previous animal cruelty conviction related to a Rottweiler named Hunter and a crossbreed called Copper.
Copper and Hunter were also routinely abused by Allan Gillies
In court he admitted causing unnecessary suffering to Copper by seizing him by the collar, restricting his breathing.
He also confessed to lifting the dog and throwing him to the ground, and kicking him on the body at a property on Inverurie Road, Bucksburn.
The court also heard about Gillies’ harsh training techniques in regard to Hunter, which included kicking the dog in the genitals if he ran away.
Sentencing was deferred until November 10, 2017 to allow the court to receive more information from the Scottish SPCA on whether Gillies should be allowed to keep Hunter, but the outcome isn’t known.
CONVICTED (2023) | animal hoarders John Symon, born 16 October 1981, and wife Victoria Symon, born c. 1986, both of 5 Seaton Gardens, Seaton, Aberdeen AB24 1XD – kept 60 neglected dogs, cats, small furries, birds and reptiles crammed into their flat.
Scottish SPCA inspectors discovered dozens of animals living in appalling conditions at the Symons’ small property, with the smell of animal excrement being described as “overpowering”.
The pair were initially offered support instead of prosecution, but continued to add more animals to their menagerie.
The SSPCA’s first inspection uncovered distressed dogs living in tiny cages among several cats, with various other species kept in enclosures – all coexisting in the couple’s lounge.
The hallway of the flat was covered in plastic sheeting caked in diarrhoea and urine.
The SSPCA inspector said it was obvious there were serious animal welfare issues but the Symons seemed oblivious to her concerns.
Five-year-old Yorkie Bono Bono had an ear and eye infection, dental disease, oily skin and a penis infection
Prosecutor Lydia Ross told the court: “There were so many animals in this small property. The dogs were barking and rocking the cages intensely, which in turn was distressing the other animals.”
The couple signed over ownership of 13 animals – including bearded dragons, cats, dogs and snakes – to the SSPCA for rehoming.
Two days later the SSPCA took a further 39 pets into their care after the couple were persuaded they had too many animals to look after properly. The rescued pets included cats, kittens, dogs, rabbits, chinchillas, gerbils, small birds and a parrot. The couple had attempted to hide a litter of kittens in the bathroom but these too were signed over.
It was agreed at this stage that the couple could keep two dogs and two cats.
During a return visit on September 30, 2020, inspectors discovered the Symons had acquired another seven animals – kittens, rabbits, budgies and a degu.
The couple agreed to relinquish the new pets.
A vet confirmed that several of the animals had been caused unnecessary suffering while in the Symons’ care, with their poor living conditions being a major factor.
Concerned that the couple would go on to acquire more animals, the inspector reported them to Aberdeen City Council’s housing department.
Local authority officials advised the SSPCA that the couple had “learning difficulties” and were “vulnerable”.
A dog in the Symons’ care was severely malnourished
The SSPCA initially decided to work with the couple to help them look after animals rather than prosecute them.
The Crown Office agreed with the approach, suggesting social workers be appointed to assist.
SSPCA inspectors returned to the Symons’ home five months later and made some grim discoveries.
The court was told: “On entering the stairwell of the tenement, there was a strong smell of cat urine”.
They found an empty chinchilla cage but the couple said they no longer had it.
Nearby was a small cage housing seven adult and mixed-sex guinea pigs. The cage was designed to house just two guinea pigs. No food, water or appropriate bedding had been provided for the animals.
All of the guinea pigs had sores on their feet, caused by living in a dirty and over-populated space.
The couple also had a new dog – a Staffordshire bull terrier-type named Jinks.
Further searches of the flat revealed even more animals, including a hamster that was found in good condition but in a dirty cage.
Cats were hidden in two bedroom cupboards.
Some of the animals appeared scared.
The inspector told the couple of her “disappointment at finding such an amount of animals again” after supporting the pair.
“At this point, Victoria and John Symon refused to sign over ownership of any animals into the care of the Scottish SPCA.”
The animals were therefore seized and the Symons were formally cautioned.
The local authority housing department withdrew permission for the couple to keep any pets in the flat.
Veterinary examination of the latest rescued pets uncovered a catalogue of neglect, with many of them being underfed and left to suffer a variety of ailments.
All the cats had highly transmissible ear mites, with the owners’ original two suffering the most severe infestation.
Both had small lacerations just inside their ears, which would have been caused by them scratching.
The Symons would have been aware that their cats had itchy ears and failed to seek veterinary treatment, the vet claimed.
The cats that were taken in had also not been fed enough to maintain an ideal body weight.
They had soiled fur, due to them having diarrhoea.
A one-year-old chihuahua cross named Marshall was thinner than ideal.
A five-year-old male Yorkie called Bono had an ear and eye infection, dental disease, oily skin and a penis infection.
“Bono’s skin and penis infection were visible to his owners and they all needed medical treatment,” the fiscal added.
“His owners caused him unnecessary suffering by not seeking medical treatment.”
Three of the dogs removed from the Symons in September 2020, were emaciated and had multiple health conditions.
All the dogs had dirty, sparse coats – stained with urine – and some were matted with dried faeces.
Two of the dogs had wounds on their bodies that were consistent with bite wounds from another dog.
John Symon with neglected Yorkie Bono
John Symon admitted three charges of causing an animal unnecessary suffering and two charges of failing to meet the needs of an animal.
Victoria Symon admitted one charge of causing an animal unnecessary suffering.
Mr Symon’s defence agent Stuart Murray said a psychiatric report into his client had been “hard-hitting”.
“It puts Mr Symon in the very lowest percentile of cognitive function. That, perhaps, impacts his behaviour in relation to the matter in court today.
“He presents as a man who is very amiable, likeable and always smiling as a happy-go-lucky character.
“In his mind, he loved the animals. He took too many of the animals in because, as he put it, people wanted him to look after animals for them.
“It’s very clear it was all with good intent but there was an inability to deal with the difficulties in keeping so many animals.”
He added: “There was no malicious intent. What we have here is a man who was doing his best, took on too much and had no insight into his inability to care for those animals.
“What is required for Mr Symon is education in life skills and how they are applied in the real world.”
‘Defence agent Shane Campbell, representing Victoria Symon, echoed the sentiments of Mr Murray.
“She also required assistance and support,” he added.
Sheriff Margaret Hodge told John Symon: “It appears to me that a large number of animals were caused suffering by you neglecting them.
“From the reports, it seems you haven’t really accepted responsibility for what you did. I do understand you have problems and you may not fully have understood the extent of the suffering you inflicted on those animals – but you did inflict it.
“You ignored poor conditions, illness and signs of infection. You kept them in a condition that was bound to end in death if not illness.”
She told his wife: “You ignored the significant infections and suffering of your own dog. I do accept you too have a lack of insight, which is not necessarily your fault”.
She said both of them were “unable to ever understand fully” their offending.
Speaking about the case SSPCA inspector Fiona McKenzie, said: “I tried on several occasions to work with John and Victoria Symons in relation to their animals. Initially a number of animals were removed reducing them to an acceptable number of two dogs and two cats. Both the Symons disregarded advice given and continued to accumulate multiple animals.
“During these investigations a total of 76 animals were removed from the two-bedroom flat. These animals included dogs, cats, kittens, rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, gerbils, a parrot and various small birds.
“On searches of the property cats were found hidden within pet carriers in cupboards and kittens found under dirty laundry.
“The smell within the property was horrendous due to the amount of animal’s excrement. It was so bad it could be smelt in the communal landing. These animals were extremely stressed and in ill health due to such poor living conditions.
“I was extremely disappointed with the owners in this case of neglect as we made every effort to try and help the couple initially. The continuing neglect and suffering being caused to animals resulted in a case reported to the procurator fiscal.
“The Symons could have easily prevented their animals from suffering by providing adequate nutrition and seeking veterinary treatment for their medical conditions.
“I feel the lifetime ban on owning or keeping any animals handed to both John and Victoria Symons on 22nd February 2023 is a justified outcome for the suffering these animals had to endure.”
Sentencing | one-year supervision order. Lifetime ban from keeping animals.
CONVICTED (2022) | James Miller, born c. 1976, of Slains Court, Peterhead AB42 3YF – failed to treat his dogs’ severe fighting injuries.
Miller was disqualified from owning, keeping or working with animals for 10 years after his dogs, Cyrus and Blue, were found horrifically injured in his flat. He pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering by failing to provide veterinary treatment for the pets.
Scottish SPCA inspector Fiona McKenzie said officers attended the property on April 13, 2022, after reports a dog had been injured while fighting.
Blood was found “smeared” on the stairs towards the front door as well as in the hallway inside the flat.
Mrs McKenzie said: “Miller informed us that the dogs had a fight the previous Saturday night, that the dogs had been kept separate since and that the injuries were not that bad.
“On inspection, it was immediately obvious that Cyrus had severe injuries to the left side of his face.
“The wounds on his head, ear and eye looked extremely sore and had a yellow discharge consistent with infection. The room Cyrus had been kept in had a lot of blood smeared on the walls and a small amount of dog faeces.
“The second dog, Blue, also had a wound on the left side of his face. This wound appeared to be older as the skin was swollen and thickened with a yellow infected crust.
“Miller stated that he had not sought any veterinary treatment for either dog.”
The dogs were removed from the flat and immediately taken to a local vet for assessment.
Cyrus’s left ear was so badly swollen it could not be examined while there were signs of infection and there were scars on the right ear, as well as broken teeth.
Mrs McKenzie added: “The wounds on Blue’s cheek had become thickened and infected and one of his claws was swollen and infected. One of his legs were scarred and swollen, consistent with bites from another dog.
“Both dogs needed weeks of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories as well as daily cleaning.”
Mrs McKenzie continued: “We are pleased that a disqualification order has been granted ensuring Miller can’t have another animal for 10 years.
“Blue and Cyrus had extensive, visible wounds which had obviously been bleeding profusely.
“The older scars suggest that this was not an isolated incident.
“Without treatment, both dogs Blue and Cyrus could have died as a result of the infection due to the depth and extent of their injuries.”
Sentencing | 100-hour community payback order. Ten-year ban on owning, keeping or working with dogs.
CONVICTED (2022) | hare coursers Alexander Stewart, born c. 1987, of Miltonfold, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9DR, and Jackie Stewart, aka John Stewart, born c. 1980, currently of Methil, Fife, but with a base at the notorious Clinterty travellers site in Aberdeen.
Alexander Stewart (left) and Jackie/John Stewart pictured outside court. Image credit: Courier
The Stewarts, who are Scottish travellers, pleaded guilty to wildlife offences after being caught hare coursing.
In the early morning of Sunday November 8, 2020, a local farmer spotted a Subaru belonging to Alexander Stewart in the Redwell Farm and the Balindarg area of Angus, near Forfar.
They called police because the same car had been used in earlier hare coursing incidents.
One witness saw one of the men with a lurcher-type dog and was left in no doubt they were hare coursing.
Police arrived and both Stewart and three boys were detained.
The men’s mobile phones were sent for analysis. where it was discovered Alexander Stewart’s phone held several voice note messages – including how he had bought a dog to kill hares.
Another revealed how he bought his Subaru vehicle to go poaching while a further clip showed that he had been poaching in Aberdeen. A chilling photo of a young boy holding a dead hare beside a lurcher was also found on the device.
Jackie Stewart’s phone revealed a text message from November 3 that two days earlier “a first chase killed it over down a road”.
The footage is blacked out as the phone is put into a pocket, but the sound keeps running. Alexander and Jackie Stewart can be heard discussing the decline of hares in the area due to the population dying out from them being killed.
It also held a video of him with Alexander Stewart and the boys on November 8, 2020, discussing discussing the decline of hares in the area due to them being killed.
Both men admitted hunting with several dogs at various locations in Angus and Aberdeenshire.
Sentencing | Alexander Stewart was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work. Jackie Stewart was fined £1,000. Both received a six-month ban on keeping dogs.
CONVICTED (2022) | Greg Falconer, born 22 December 1992, of 40 Marchburn Crescent, Aberdeen AB16 7NL – punched and kicked his “scared and shivering” pet while being arrested by police.
Greg Falconer
Falconer admitted a catalogue of offences, which included abusing his large-breed dog, named Cheeko, as well as threatening his relatives with a knife and verbally abusing police officers.
The court heard the first incident occurred at Bucksburn Police Station on December 4 2020 when Falconer hurled abuse at officers and threatened to set his dog on them.
Cheeko
The next day Falconer again was seen “dragging” Cheeko around outside the entrance to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
“He was aggressively dragging his dog around,” the prosecutor said.
She added: “He continued shouting and swearing all the way to Kittybrewster police station.
“While standing round the back of the van, he was punching and kicking his dog.
“The dog appeared scared and shivering.”
He also called one officer a “p***” multiple times.
On June 23, 2021, Falconer drunkenly destroyed various items of furniture in front of his now-pregnant girlfriend, including a glass table that “shattered” after being struck with an ashtray.
Then in May 2022, he brandished a knife at his own mum and step-grandfather, forcing his way into the doorway and demanding money.
Falconer admitted one charge of causing an animal unnecessary suffering or harm and five charges of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.
His defence agent told the court that alcohol and drug abuse was the root cause of his client’s offending but that he’d since become a “new man”.
Sentencing | one-year supervision order; five-month restriction of liberty order. No mention of a ban.
