CONVICTED (2022) | Nicholas Brian Oakland, born c. 1992 (since believed deceased), of Cecelia Place, Holgate, York YO24 4BG – caused the death of a specialist support dog after he stole a car with the animal inside.
Doberman Jake was in the boot of the Range Rover Sport when junkie career criminal Nick Oakland took the vehicle on a 124mph police chase.
Eventually Oakland lost control and the car barrel rolled into a field.
Jake then fled the scene. He was tracked down by police but died from neck or spinal injuries a few weeks later.
Oakland pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, aggravated taking of a car, animal cruelty, driving whilst disqualified and driving without insurance, all committed on February 24, 2022.
Oakland was banned from driving and had previously served prison sentences for other dangerous driving which included damaging a Park&Ride bus, driving through a line of cones into a stretch of road closed off for roadworks, speeding at 70mph through Tang Hall at night without lights and ramming a police car.
“When you are in drink or drugs, you are a one-man crime wave,” the Recorder of York, Judge Sean Morris, told Oakland. “On this occasion you drove like a lunatic. You could have killed people and you caused terrible suffering to someone’s precious friend and pet, who had to be put down.”
He said Oakland had a “shocking record for driving” but the maximum sentence he could pass was two years and he had to reduce that by a third for Oakland’s guilty plea.
The judge concluded: “It is quite clear that this defendant’s mental health ebbs and flows depending on his imbibing of illicit drugs. His period in custody has done him a power of good.”
Sentencing | jailed for 19 months and given a driving ban.
CONVICTED (2021) | backyard breeder Alessia Di Livio (since deceased) of Windsor Close, Waringstown, Craigavon BT66 7RH – failed to seek treatment for dog missing an ear; neglected other dogs.
Di Livio was charged with causing unnecessary suffering to one dog and failing to ensure the welfare of four dogs under the Welfare of Animals Act (NI) 2011.
The court heard that, on May 12, 2020, a complaint was received from the PSNI regarding one of the defendant’s dogs.
The PSNI officer observed that the unnamed dog’s ear was missing and it was established that the owner had not sought any veterinary treatment for the condition.
The dog was then taken to a local veterinary practice who also raised concerns with the Animal Welfare Service about the previously untreated ear injury.
Upon investigation by the Animal Welfare Service the dog was taken into the possession of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.
The following day a council animal welfare officer, accompanied by the PSNI, visited Di Livio’s property and concerns were noted in relation to the health and the environment in which three other dogs owned by the defendant were being kept.
Each animal was found to be underweight.
The animal welfare officer contacted a vet and subsequently all of the dogs were removed into the care of the council under Section 17 of the Welfare of Animals (NI) Act 2011.
Di Livio was sentenced this week by Judge Trainor who banned her from keeping animals for 10 years, describing the case as “a shocking situation”.
He remarked the case was “one of extreme seriousness that involved the sustained and continuous neglect of animals”.
Sentencing: six-month custodial sentence suspended for two years plus a fine of £500 for causing unnecessary suffering to one dog; four three-month custodial sentences, suspended for two years, for failing to ensure the welfare of her dogs. All sentences are to run concurrently. £1,000 fine; care costs of £ 5,821.37 plus legal costs of £184. Banned from keeping animals for 10 years.
CONVICTED (2021) | Stephen R Bouquet, born 05/01/1967 (deceased), of Rose Hill Terrace, Brighton BN1 4JJ – killed nine cats and maimed seven more during nine-month animal cruelty campaign
Brighton Cat Killer Stephen Bouquet, a security guard and former Royal Navy seaman was convicted of killing nine cats after stabbing at least 16 pets during an eight-month rampage.
Bouquet stabbed at least 16 pet cats and potentially many more.
He killed nine cats and seven more he left for dead survived. Some of his victims are shown in our photo montage.
Authorities fear Bouquet could be responsible for other possible cat attacks in the city.
Bouquet was tried in his absence after failing to appear at court. Police apprehended him in Brighton on the evening of 28 June 2021 after a tip off from a member of the public who saw him drinking and behaving oddly in a city park.
His location was kept secret from the jury who took three hours to find him guilty.
The court heard Bouquet had pictures of the cats he attacked on his phone. When they searched his flat, police found a knife stained with feline blood in his kitchen.
Phone data placed him at or near the scene when cats were attacked.
Bouquet obsessively searched online for coverage of his animal cruelty.
He copied reports from Brighton daily paper The Argus and The Guardian onto his phone as news of his crimes spread.
Bouquet was convicted of damaging and destroying property.
Sentencing, Judge Jeremy Gold QC said the crimes were ‘appalling’ and the impact on the owners and their families was ‘considerable and grave’.
‘No explanation for your behaviour has been put forward but no sensible explanation could be advanced.’
He jailed Bouquet for five years for the cat killings, three months for possession of the knife to be served concurrently and three months for failing to answer bail to be served consecutively – a total sentence of five years and three months.
Sentencing: jailed for a total of five years and three months.As he was not prosecuted under animal welfare legislation he was not banned from keeping animals.
CONVICTED (2021) | Hannah Olivia Wilkinson, born 29 December 2000, of Kitchener Terrace, Ferryhill DL17 8AX – neglected 121 animals with her late girlfriend.
Hannah Wilkinson (front) with ex-girlfriend and co-defendant Rio-Anne Dickinson (deceased)
Wilkinson and Rio-Anne Katie Jane Dickinson, who has since died, failed to look after numerous species while leasing farm land in an attempt to make money.
The pair, who were in a relationship at the time, kept hens, chickens, quails, ducks and guinea fowl on Bog Hall Farm, in Mordon, near Sedgefield, County Durham.
They were also responsible for two sheep, two hamsters, four guinea pigs, two budgerigars as well as a goat and a rabbit.
Teesside Magistrates’ Court in Middlesbrough heard how they sold animals and operated without a licence or vet support.
Alex Bousfield, prosecuting, told the sentencing hearing how “two people were involved”.
Mr Bousfield told the court how the neglect came to light after customers raised concerns that the animals they had bought were covered in lice.
He said that the operator of the farm, who leased it to the defendants, contacted the RSPCA after carrying out three spot checks in two-week period.
Mr Bousfield said she found animals without food and water and some in plastic bags ready to be burnt, despite it being illegal to dispose of them this way.
He told the how there were a total of 121 animals were not cared for by Wilkinson and Dickinson.
He said: “A lot of animals were found to be sick and starving. Many of the animals were emaciated.
“Some animals still needed to be euthanised.”
Among the injured animals which had to be put to sleep was a chicken with a plastic ring inside her leg and a guinea pig who had developed teeth which were too long.
Mr Bousfield said that there were quail and chickens found in large number which had feather loss and plucking damage and were emaciated, having been kept in a state of starvation.
Mr Bousfield that the defendants failed to care for the animals for at least 48 hours prior to the RSPCA attending the farm.
He said that the defendants tried to pass the blame for their wrongdoing onto the landlord but there was an agreement making it clear that they were responsible for all the care of the animals they looked after.
The prosecutor said: “In this case the suffering led to the death of numerous animals. Birds seemed to be more specifically affected.”
Distressing pictures show the filthy farm where Hannah Wilkinson and Rio-Anne Dickinson starved up to 121 animals in a lockdown cash-making scheme
The court heard how the RSPCA had already previously spoken to Dickinson, while Wilkinson was in attendance, about their chickens as they were found to be managing more than they were capable of.
Mr Bousfield said that Dickinson admitted in interview that she had sold 500 birds in one week.
He said: “The defendants appeared to have plans to expand their business. There was suggestion of plans to open up a mini animal park.”
Wilkinson sobbed as Mr Bousfield asked the judge to disqualify her from keeping all animals.
He said that social media suggested she may have access to a dog and added: “Clearly we would be concerned if there was a dog in her care.”
During a previous hearing in June 2021, Wilkinson and Dickinson pleaded guilty to five counts of unnecessary suffering.
The charges relate to 52 red ex battery hens, 19 various type chickens, 10 quail, one guinea fowl, a red ex battery hen, a pale brown and white juvenile duck and a white Bantam hen.
They also admitted a sixth charge of not taking steps that were reasonable in all the circumstances to ensure the needs of an animal for which they were responsible.
These included one rabbit, four guinea pigs, two hamsters, two sheep, one goat, 15 ducks, two budgerigars and one guineafowl. All of the offences took place in July 2020.
Paul Watson, defending Wilkinson, acknowledged how Dickinson was not in court and would not be able to speak for herself or respond to anything that is said.
He said: “At the same time I want to put some context on what Miss Wilkinson says was her involvement within this.”
Mr Watson told the court how Dickinson was the sole proprietor of the business and the full beneficiary.
H said: “Any plans to create a mini park or to expand were the plans of Ms Dickinson rather than Ms Wilkinson.
“The background was she was in a relationship with Miss Dickinson. They lived together and in fact Miss Dickinson looked after Miss Wilkinson. Everything was indirect, it was whatever Miss Dickinson decided to provide to Miss Wilkinson.
“She’s now 20, she regards herself as a minor part of this in that she didn’t make decisions. She accepts that some matters are matters of common sense. In her own words ‘no animals deserve this’.
“She was not a signatory to the contract that’s been referred to and she was very much directed, she would say, by Miss Dickinson in regards to what was done and what was not done.
He said that Wilkinson knew what was required for a dog but not quail or chickens and she was learning as she went along.
He said that Wilkinson was of previous good character and has no previous convictions or cautions.
Sentencing: 15 weeks’ detention in a young offenders institution. suspended for 18 months; 100 hours of unpaid work; £428 in costs. Banned from keeping all animals with the exception of dogs for six years (expires July 2027).
CONVICTED (2020) | backyard breeders Elizabeth May Weeks (since deceased), born 24 May 1953, and her son Douglas Weeks, born 26 December 1995, both of 182 Kendale Road, Bridgwater TA6 3QQ plus daughter Annette Weeks, born 21 January 1991, of Lords Way, Bridgwater TA6 3SF – failed to look after a litter of Staffordshire bull terrier puppies
Dougie Weeks and sister Annette Weeks were convicted of animal cruelty alongside their mother Elizabeth May Weeks
The seven neglected puppies, all of whom had scarring and other injuries caused by fighting with each other, were found in a house smelling of animal waste
Now, those responsible – backyard breeder and repeat offender Elizabeth Weeks along with her son Douglas and daughter Annette Weeks – have been banned from keeping animals following an RSPCA prosecution.
One of the rescued puppies
RSPCA Inspector Jo Daniel was called to an address in Bridgwater on January 30, 2020, after concerns were raised about the welfare of dogs at the property.
She said: “I went into the living room which was dark with curtains drawn and little natural light. There was a very strong unpleasant smell in this room of stale urine and faeces.
“There were bare floorboards and these were heavily soiled with urine and faeces.
“There were eight dogs in this room – seven juveniles and one adult dog. Some were swarming and barking around me and occasionally snapping and growling at each other.
“It was immediately apparent that many of the dogs were in very poor bodily condition with easily seen ribs, spine and pelvis. They also had obvious scarring and scabs, especially over their faces.
“Several of the young dogs were subdued and appeared very submissive. There was no food or water available to the dogs in this room.”
The puppies were rushed to a vet who examined them and discovered that all of the younger dogs were suffering and underweight as a result of their inappropriate or insufficient diet.
The vet said the dogs were suffering due to their hunger.
Rescued puppy Twiglet has since recovered from his ordeal and has been rehomed along with his brothers and sisters
They also discovered that they all had evidence of injuries from fighting with each other which would be causing them unnecessary pain and that the overcrowded conditions that the dogs were living in did not allow them to exhibit their natural behaviour.
The adult dog, who was in better condition and unlike the rest of the dogs did not have injuries, was found to have not had his needs met.
Elizabeth Weeks, who was in breach of an existing animal ban, was given an 18-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to pay £300 in costs and £122 victim surcharge. She has to complete a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement and has been disqualified for 10 years from keeping all animals, which she can not appeal for five years.
Douglas Weeks was given a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to pay £300 costs and £122 victim surcharge. He was also ordered to complete 35 days rehabilitation activity requirement and disqualified from keeping all animals for 10 years, which he can not appeal for five years.
Annette Weeks was disqualified from keeping dogs for three years, which she can not appeal for two years. She was also fined £60 and ordered to pay £100 in costs plus a £32 victim surcharge.
All the dogs have since recovered in the care of the RSPCA and have all found new homes.
CONVICTED (2020) | Lee Roger Aylott (since deceased), born December 1976, of Lavender Court, Tudno Place, Penlan, Swansea SA5 7AG – starved a dog to death and dumped his body in the back of a vehicle
Aylott pleaded guilty to three Animal Welfare Act offences at Swansea Magistrates’ Court on 27 July 2020.
Two offences related to a German shepherd dog known as Shadow whom Aylott starved to death before concealing his remains in a pink duvet in the back of his people-carrier vehicle.
Post-mortem examination confirmed that Shadow had suffered unnecessarily due to his extremely poor body condition, severe weight loss, ear disease and skin lesions.
Surviving dog Suzie
Another German shepherd, Suzie, found at the property was also extremely thin but survived. She is to be made available for rehoming having undergone extensive training.
RSPCA inspector Holly Brown said: “Poor Shadow suffered and ultimately lost his life because of a lack of nutrition and suitable care.
“His body was concealed in the boot of a car – but, fortunately, we were able to find Shadow’s body and secure some justice for the suffering he had faced.
“Thankfully, another dog – Suzie – will get another chance of forever home happiness, but her body condition was also very poor and her needs were clearly not being met.
“Owning animals is a privilege – and something this man will no longer be entitled to do, as a result of the way both Shadow and Suzie were treated.”
Sentencing: 12-week prison sentence, suspended for two years; 140 hours of unpaid work; £2,500 in costs. Banned from keeping all animals indefinitely.
CONVICTED (2020) | Joseph Pocklington (since deceased), born 16 October 1990, of Marshall Street, Darlington DL3 – ‘lost his temper’ and punched his pet dog in the face numerous times before dragging her by the neck
Joseph Pocklington was filmed punching his dog by a woman in her car
Joseph Pocklington was spotted by a woman in Crown Street, Darlington, who filmed the abuse on her phone before confronting him and taking the dog.
The witness then called the police who later found Pocklington asleep in a nearby church yard.
Alan Davies, prosecuting, said: “At around 4.20pm on Sunday, December 22, a witness was waiting to pick up her daughter on Crown Street in Darlington.
“She noticed the defendant sat on some steps with a black lurcher or greyhound type of dog on a short lead.
“She recorded him grabbing the dog by the neck, dragging it towards him and punching it to the face a number of times.
“The witness and her daughter challenged him and took the dog, he became upset by this and left. The witness then contacted the police who found him sleeping in a church yard.
“He was arrested and told police ‘yeah, I did give my dog a few slaps,’ he was then shown footage from the incident and became upset, saying he could not remember assaulting the dog and could only remember getting angry because the dog was trying to run into the traffic.”
Pocklington pleaded guilty to one count of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
Stephen Andrews, mitigating, said his client’s behaviour was out of character and he was very upset having watched the footage of the incident.
He said: “You have heard that when he was interviewed he became very upset and that’s because he was appalled by what he seen.
“You have a gentleman here who would describe himself as a dog lover. He has kept dogs for many years without any issues whatsoever, he looked after them and he protected them.
“How then does he end up before you for an offence of this type? He has over a period of time abused alcohol and has essentially become alcohol dependant.
“He has no recollection of the incident, but he tells me he can remember his feet becoming tangled with the dog lead and becoming angry.
“You have heard that police found him asleep in a public area a short time after, and that is because he was so intoxicated. He is incredibly remorseful.”
Sentencing: 12-month community order; total of £180 in costs and charges. Banned from keeping animals for two years (expired August 2022).
CONVICTED (2019) | Sean David Wisbey, born 25 May 1968 (apparently deceased March 2022), of no fixed address* but with links to St Helens and Prenton in Birkenhead – attacked and killed partner’s dogs in act of revenge.
Sean Wisbey, who goes by the name David Wisbey, callously killed his partner’s Yorkshire Terrier and injured another so badly she had to be put to sleep.
His cruelty came to light when his on-off partner, with whom he had had a row, returned home and was horrified to find what he had done to her beloved pets.
One of the two dogs attacked and killed by Sean Wisbey
After finding seven-year-old Rosie dead, the heart-broken victim, Brenda Prescott, eventually found the other dog, Tricker, hiding under a pile of laundry.
She desperately tried to keep her alive but the animal later had to be euthanised by a vet.
Wisbey pleaded guilty to two offences of destroying property, namely the dogs.
Judge Rachel Smith said that he had done it to get back at Ms Prescott, and had carried out two acts of extreme violence intended to shock and hurt her.
Ember Wong, prosecuting, told the court that the couple had had an on-off relationship over the years.
A few days before the offences they rowed and he threatened to cut her dogs’ throats, a threat he had also made previously. She left and when she returned he had gone.
He called at her St Helens home on April 11, 2019, and she allowed him in to have a shower and change his clothes and she went out shortly before 6 pm.
When she returned about three hours later she saw the curtains were shut and the dogs were not barking.
Miss Wong said: “She got in and shouted their names but there was no answer. She looked around but could not find them and asked a neighbour to help her look for them.
“In the lounge she lifted up some curtains and a blanket on the floor and found Rosie lying lifeless and covered in blood.
“One of her back legs was facing the wrong way and she knew she was dead.”
Ms Prescott eventually found Tricker hiding under some laundry upstairs and for the next few days looked after her by feeding her by hand and giving her water from a spoon.
She eventually took her to the RSPCA where she was examined and found to have a broken pelvis. The distraught owner agreed she should be put to sleep to end her suffering.
Post-mortem examinations revealed that Rosie’s injuries included multiple skull fractures caused by blunt force trauma and a lacerated liver. Her skull injuries are believed to have been caused by pressure being applied on both sides of her head.
Two-year-old Tricker was also found to have suffered blunt force trauma and had various bruises and abrasions to her body and legs and a number of fractures to her pelvis.
Career criminal Sean Wisbey has some distinctive tattoos
Wisbey was arrested on the night of the incident after Ms Prescott called the police after finding Rosie. He was found near the house and said, “What are you on about?”.
Miss Wong said that he was handcuffed and taken to a police car but tried to smash a window in the vehicle with the cuffs, having to be taken to the floor and restrained until back-up arrived. When interviewed he made no comment.
Claire Jones, defending, said Wisbey, who has committed 78 previous offences, mainly for dishonesty, had taken a cocktail of drink and drugs and had not taken his prescribed medication for his mental health problems at the time of the offences.
Sentencing: jailed for two years; five-year restraining order
CONVICTED (2019) | Andrew Alexander (since deceased), born 26 July 1984, originally from Dundee and more recently Ilford in London – stole a pug named Pixie who is believed to have died
Violent thug Andrew Alexander, who now lives in Ilford in London, was convicted of stealing a dog who has never been found.
Eleven-month-old pug Pixie went missing on July 16, 2018 from a flat in Stobswell, Dundee, while in the care of Andrew Alexander.
Following her disappearance, eye-witnesses reported seeing a dog matching Pixie’s description being hit in the face at Baxter Park and then being carried lifeless by a man through the streets of Dundee towards a bridge over the River Tay.
Now construction worker Andrew Alexander has been fined £250 after being convicted of stealing the dog. As there was no admissible evidence that he had killed or mistreated the animal, he faced no charges in relation to this.
To date, it is not known what exactly happened to Pixie but it is believed that Alexander dumped her broken body in the River Tay.
In a bizarre legal argument, Alexander’s lawyer Ian Houston told the court that as Pixie was dead she was “nobody’s property” and could not, therefore, be stolen.
Alexander was represented in court by dodgy lawyer Ian James Houston of Bruce Short Solicitors, Rattray Street, Dundee. Houston tried to get his client off with the theft charge on the grounds that the “property”, i.e. a much-loved family pet, no longer existed because she was dead. Houston insisted on proving to the court that the dog had died by showing the CCTV footage of Alexander carrying Pixie’s body through the streets despite the anguish of the dog’s distraught owner, who was present in court. How do these people sleep at night?
He was also found guilty of assaulting Ms Deuchars in August 2019 by seizing her on the body, placing her in a headlock and spraying an unknown irritant in her face.
Sentencing: Alexander was ordered to pay £250 to Ms Deuchars for the theft of the dog and a further £250 for the assault.
We originally published this article in August 2018 but had to withhold certain details at the time, so as not to jeopardise the prosecution case against Andrew Alexander. This is an edited version of that article. to reflect the latest developments.
Sometime after 3pm on Monday 16 July 2018 an 11-month-old pug named Pixie went missing from an address in Park Avenue, Baxter Park, Dundee. Pixie’s owner, Kelly, had gone out to do some shopping, leaving the tiny dog alone in the company of her flatmate, Andrew Alexander. Kelly had known this man for several years and he had given her no reason to distrust him.
When Kelly left, Pixie was sleeping and she told Alexander not to take her out. She was alarmed on her return a short while later, therefore, to find the flat empty and Pixie gone. As time passed with no word from Alexander, Kelly became increasingly anxious. As she didn’t have Alexander’s new mobile number she asked a friend to call him. The friend spoke briefly with Alexander who was described as angry, screaming down the phone that he would “speak to Kelly later”.
In a state of panic Kelly rushed over to the nearby park and asked dog walkers if they’d seen Alexander or Pixie but no one had. She returned to the flat and waited anxiously.
When Alexander finally returned home at 7:30 pm he was alone and there was no sign of Pixie. When Kelly asked him where the dog was, Alexander shouted “lost!” in a manner that was more irritated than concerned. He said that Pixie had run off in Baxter Park at 4pm and he’d been unable to find her. He then told Kelly, somewhat bizarrely, that he was “away to jail” but didn’t elaborate on what he meant and left in a taxi to go to a girlfriend’s house.
Kelly texted Alexander the following morning to tell him he was no longer welcome at the flat. His response: “I’ve already moved out lol”
Alexander returned two days later while Kelly was out to collect his things and left for good.
Remorseless dog killer Andrew Alexander jokes about Pixie’s disappearance with his moronic friend Bob Ramsay of Happyhillock Road, Dundee DD4 8LU
In the following days Kelly posted a number of desperate appeals on Facebook. Her posts were shared extensively in the local area, the charity DogLost got involved, and multiple reports of sightings from pedestrians and motorists started to come in. The news wasn’t encouraging, however, with witnesses reporting seeing a man resembling Alexander carrying a pug-type dog that appeared to be lifeless.
One pedestrian recalled seeing the man holding a dog in his arms.
She said: “The dog was very still and I thought that was strange as a dog wouldn’t usually allow itself to be held like that without moving at all.
“He avoided passing close to me on his way towards the city centre – probably because I watching him. It was very clearly a pug and in retrospect, it seemed utterly lifeless.
“The man appeared red and flustered. I wish I had stopped him and asked if the dog was okay.”
Another witness – a young girl – said she had seen a man in Baxter Park pick up a pug by the neck and punch her in the face. The girl had been too afraid to challenge him.
These sightings took place as late as 7pm on the evening of Monday 16 July 2018 – three hours after Alexander said that Pixie had disappeared.
Police Scotland were contacted and on 27 July, 2018 they issued an appeal for information through the local newspaper and social media. Their statement read:
“There have been numerous sightings of what appeared to be a man carrying a small dog resembling Pixie in the Stobswell and Waterfront areas in the following few hours.
“The dog appeared to be lifeless or ill, and the man was described as in his mid 30s-40, tall, large build, and wearing a red t-shirt and blue shorts, possibly with stripes down the side.
“He was last seen shortly before 6pm near the bottom of Crichton Street. These sightings have been confirmed on CCTV.
“We have already received a large amount of relevant information from the public regarding this incident and are currently following a positive line of enquiry.
“We have also attempted to contact a number of witnesses who have been identified to us, but have not been able to get in touch with them.
“We would therefore like to ask anyone who has information about this incident who we have not already spoken to, to contact us – in particular if you saw the described man in the area of Baxter Park, Arbroath Road, Blackscroft, Dock Street, the Tay Bridge, Slessor Gardens or Crichton Street, between 3pm and 7pm on Monday 16th.
“We are also very interested in a report given to us regarding a man being seen possibly mistreating a dog in Baxter Park around that time.
“Anyone with any information should contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting CR/17475/18 or speak to any police officers”.
In the meantime, Kelly and her friends formed the Facebook group Justice for Pixie with the aim of spreading awareness about the case and campaigning for justice. Sadly that justice never came when Alexander walked free from court with a nominal fine for dog theft.
Update | January 2021
We understand that Andrew Alexander has died. His death is believed to have been related to drugs. Squalid life, squalid death. How apt.
CONVICTED donkey ride operator Ronald Wheeler aka Pete Nightingale, born 6 October 1976 and since deceased, of Haydn Road, Liverpool L14 – let his horse die slowly and painfully from poisoning.
Cruel and irresponsible: Ronald Wheeler’s horse Oscar had to be euthanised after being poisoned by ragwort.
Ronnie Wheeler admitted three charges of animal neglect at Liverpool Magistrates Court.
Wheeler left his horse Oscar grazing in a field in Fazakerley which contained the poisonous weed ragwort – which is deadly to horses – despite being warned by Liverpool council to remove it.
The RSPCA were called to the field on August 6, 2018, after receiving reports from members of the public who were concerned about the horse’s welfare.
When inspector Joanne MacDonald arrived at the scene with a veterinary surgeon they could see the horse was staggering around and collapsing.
They realised he was blind, was struggling to stand and was unable to swallow.
Ronald Wheeler with father Eric Wheeler of Thomas Lane, Liverpool L14 who also faced horse cruelty charges. The outcome of the case against him is currently unknown.
The vet decided Oscar needed to be put to sleep to end his suffering and a post-mortem examination confirmed he had been poisoned by ragwort after being exposed to it for many weeks or even months.
The vet also described Oscar as having a low body score for his physical condition, and also revealed a significant worm burden.
The Wheelers operate a donkey ride business called Waterfront Carriages and Donkey Hire
The court heard two months before, on June 15, the council had sent a letter to Wheeler urging him to remove the weed which in some places had grown to three feet tall.
Inspector MacDonald said: “It was an awful case to deal with as poor Oscar was clearly suffering. He was collapsing and the ragwort had caused his blindness which meant he was walking into things and was clearly in a distressed state.
“To make matters worse Wheeler had been told previously to remove the ragwort by the council but he had failed to do this.
“Responsible horse owners should know ragwort is damaging to the horse’s liver when eaten. The toxic effect builds up over time, causing irreparable damage.”
Sentencing | jailed for 12 weeks; ordered to pay £786 costs and a £115 victim surcharge. Banned from keeping equines for 10 years (expires August 2029).
