Tag Archives: Bedfordshire

Dogs, Lifers, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Flitwick, Bedfordshire: Cameron Fisher

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CONVICTED (2023) | Cameron Fisher, born c. 2000, of Greenways, Flitwick MK45 1DA – hit a dog with a bat.

Cane Corso Bluey was terrorised by her evil owner, Cameron Fisher from Flitwick, Beds
Cane Corso Bluey was terrorised by her evil owner, Cameron Fisher from Flitwick, Beds

Fisher pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a Cane Corso type female dog called Bluey after hitting her with the bat.

The court was shown a video of the defendant with what looked like a small or child’s baseball bat hitting down left handed next to a dog training crate immediately followed by a dog yelping. While the incident is obscured by a fence, it is believed the dog was struck with the bat with some force causing the dog to yelp for an extended period of time.

The man can be heard speaking on the video and, among other things, says to the dog “What you f**** keep moving for”

Fisher was arrested by the police and Bluey was seized in September 2022

RSPCA Inspector Jon Knight took over the animal welfare investigation.

Bluey was taken to a vet for examination where it was found she was around 5kgs underweight and her forelimbs were a little overloaded possibly due to lack of exercise. She was prescribed flea and worm treatments

A vet who was asked to view the footage said in a report there was “deliberate and repeated verbal and physical abuse of the dog. There is strong evidence of the dog cowering and being very frightened in the presence of the owner/keeper.”

Speaking after the case inspector Knight said: “I am so pleased that we were able to help Bluey and that she can now live the rest of her life without fear and we are grateful to everyone involved with this case. This incident highlights that it is never acceptable to physically abuse your dog.”

Bluey was successfully rehomed by the RSPCA.

Sentencing | 12 month community order with 150 hours of unpaid work and 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement of 20 days; costs of £1,000. Lifetime ban on keeping all animals.

Bedford Today

Animal Torture, Cats, Lifers, Worst of the Worst

Bedford, Bedfordshire: Zohaib Khan and Priya Sidhu

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CONVICTED (2023) | Zohaib Khan, born 24 October 1995, and Priya Sidhu, born 2 June 1998, both of 11 Adelaide Square, Bedford MK40 2RN – caused the death of a five-month-old kitten after leaving her to suffer with open wounds and broken bones.

Convicted animal abuser Priya Sidhu from Bedford, Bedfordshire, UK. Image: Facebook

The couple had both pleaded guilty to one animal welfare offence in relation to the kitten called Coco, whose suffering was described by a vet as “significant.”

Khan and Sidhu initially took Coco to see the vet on May 27, 2022, stating that she had fallen from a sofa and injured her leg. Following veterinary examination, the couple were advised the kitten would require specialist surgery but they never returned.

Less than three months later, on August 6, RSPCA inspector Stephen Reeves was called by Khan and Sidhu to collect a seriously injured Coco from their home.

Inspector Reeves said: “I was advised by the two individuals that they were unable to afford veterinary care.”

He added that she had multiple injuries and was unable to stand.
Her injuries included wounds to her lip and ears, broken teeth, fractures on both back legs, a dislocated pelvic bone, a fractured jaw and a possible sternum fracture.

Coco died of her injuries while under sedation for treatment.

Expert witness Dr Sean Taylor found that there were discrepancies between Khan and Sidhu’s accounts with neither of them able to offer ‘any reasonable explanation’ for the repeated and severe injuries sustained by the kitten in their home.

Ultimately it was deemed that Khan had caused the greatest suffering to Coco.

Dr Sean Taylor said in his statement: “In my opinion, Coco has been caused to suffer as a consequence of being subjected to physical abuse. Suffering will have been experienced by this animal via mechanisms of fear, distress and pain for a period of at least four days, probably longer.”

Following the sentencing, inspector Stephen Reeves said: “The death of Coco was entirely unnecessary and the pain inflicted on this little kitten in her short lifetime was immense.

Sentencing |

Priya Sidhu: 12-month community order with 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days and 80 hours of unpaid work; £400 costs. Banned from keeping animals for 10 years .

Zohaib Khan: 18-week custodial sentence suspended for 12 months, 25 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days and 80 hours of unpaid work; costs of £400. Banned from keeping animals for life.

Bedford Today
BedfordshireLive

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Luton, Bedfordshire / Islington, North London: Ryan Gibson and Ciaran Lambert

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CONVICTED (2022) | Ryan Gibson, born c. 1991, of Farley Hill, Luton, and Ciaran Lambert, born c. 1998, most recently of Pleasant Place, Islington but originally from Flitwick, Bedford – stabbed a dog and his owner and hit them both with a hammer.

Ryan Gibson (left) and Ciaran Lambert stabbed and attacked a man and his dog during a burglary in Flitwick, Bedfordshire.

Gibson and Lambert were jailed after being found guilty of aggravated burglary and grievous bodily harm in connection to the violent attack in May 2019. At least one of the pair was originally charged with causing unnecessary suffering to the dog but this charge appears to have been dropped. Consequently neither was banned from owning an animal.

At around 5.45am, the victim and his dog, Blue (pictured) were stabbed and hit with a hammer at the victim’s Flitwick home.

Blue recovered from his injuries.

Despite sustaining life threatening chest wounds, the injured victim was able to provide officers with the names of his attackers. He also mentioned he believed the attack related to a small debt.

Several neighbours were alerted by the sound of glass smashing, followed by screams and shouts. They found the victim badly injured at the bottom of the stairs to his flat.

They went to his aid, noting the injured man was more concerned for the welfare of his dog, who had sustained two injuries, than his own condition. Several neighbours were able to provide details of the car used by the attackers.

Later that morning, officers identified the car at a property in Farley Hill, Luton. Armed officers entered the property and arrested Gibson and Lambert.

During a subsequent search of the property, a number of bags of cannabis were discovered as well as a balaclava, similar to one the victim said had been worn by one of his attackers.

The victim and his dog meanwhile both received emergency treatment and were able to survive their injuries.

During a two-week trial in May, the jury heard one of the offenders filmed themselves callously bragging about the attack. They had also stolen items from the victim’s home.

Following sentencing, DC Rebecca Crowley, who led the investigation, said: “The neighbours’ swift action in calling the ambulance ultimately saved the life of the victim and his dog.

Sentencing | Gibson was sentenced to 11 years for aggravated burglary, with an extended licence of three years on release. He will also serve a concurrent sentence of nine years for GBH with intent.
Lambert was sentenced to eight years for aggravated burglary, to run concurrent with a six year sentence for GBH with intent.

Bedford Today

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

Luton, Bedfordshire: Deon Ellis

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CONVICTED (2021) | Deon Ellis, born c. 1989, said to be of no fixed abode but with a last known address of Fallowfield, Luton LU3 and with links to Corby, Northants – stole a puppy before stabbing him and deliberately running him over with his van.

Persistent criminal Deon Ellis
Persistent criminal Deon Ellis

Deon Ellis savagely attacked ‘XL bully’ dog Hugo, who was just four months old at the time, leaving him for dead in the road.

Hugo was later found with serious injuries and knife wounds by volunteers who had searched through the night for him following a social media appeal. The young dog had to have life-saving surgery which was paid for by public donations.

The court heard Ellis had been involved in a dispute with Hugo’s family and stole the dog in ‘revenge’ while he was being walked.

Witnesses reported Ellis grabbing and lifting the dog by his collar before leaving the scene.

Victim Hugo
Victim Hugo

Hugo was then taken more than 60 miles away to Corby where a woman heard a dog cry out in pain and Ellis driving towards him. He was then seen swerving the van to make sure he hit the animal.

The puppy was later found and taken to a vet with lacerations which were consistent with stab wounds. Blood splatters which were linked to Hugo’s DNA were found in the back of the van which was recovered in the town.

The court heard Ellis, who appeared over video-link from HMP Peterborough, callously refused to give Hugo’s owner details of what he had done to the dog.

The court heard that Ellis’ previous convictions included possession of a firearm in 2015.

Ellis was convicted by a jury of theft of a dog and criminal damage to a dog.

Recorder George Keightley told Ellis it was a “cruel, targeted and planned act” which was “motivated by revenge”.

He added: “You attempted, in my view, to either seriously injure or kill this puppy and in effect left it for dead in the street.”

Sentencing: Ellis was jailed for a total of two years and four months and will serve up to half before being released on licence.

Northamptonshire Telegraph
Luton Today

Dogs, Organised Animal Crime, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders, Traveller Animal Crimes

Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire: Julie Ward

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CONVICTED (2020) | puppy dealer Julie Michelle Ward, born 11/04/1983, previously of 26 Douglas Road, Leigh, Greater Manchester WN7 5HG and currently of Greenacres travellers site on Slapton Road, Little Billington, Leighton Buzzard LU7 9BP

One of the dogs abused by puppy dealer Julie Ward and her accomplices

Julie Ward was convicted of animal cruelty offences in September 2016 alongside husband Martin Ward and brother-in-law Patrick Oliver Ward after a dead pet was found at a home they were using as a puppy farm. None of the gang showed up for sentencing and warrants were issued for their arrest

In May 2018 Patrick Ward was jailed for 22 weeks and banned from keeping animals for 10 years.

The Wards sold the puppies from addresses on Douglas Road and Windermere Road, in Leigh, Wigan.

The RSPCA launched an investigation into the trio after eight people complained they received sick puppies.

Customers said the animals soon became ill after they arrived home.

Four of the pets died suddenly or were so poorly vets decided to put them down to end their suffering.

Back in April 2015 Ward sold a puppy when she was too young to leave her mother.

She also failed to provide a malti-poo with treatment for an ear mite infestation in November 2015, while in February 2016 she failed to provide a black and white puppy with treatment for parvovirus.

Inspector Pippa Boyd, who led the case, said: “We believe Ward, and two other people who were part of the operation and have been dealt with by the courts previously, were importing puppies and then selling them on from two addresses in Leigh.

“When we joined police to execute two warrants at the properties in February 2016 we found a number of dogs and other evidence.

“At one address – in Windermere Road – we found a number of phones labelled with different dog breeds.

“At the other – in Douglas Road – we found three dogs, one with an untreated broken pelvis, and the body of a dead Jack Russell terrier left in a kennel.”

Sentencing: 18 weeks in jail, £150 victim surcharge. Disqualified from keeping all animals for 10 years.

Manchester Evening News

Equine Abuse, horses and ponies, Lifers

Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire: Melissa Hetherington

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CONVICTED (2019) | Melissa Louise Hetherington, born 25 July 1974, of Cumbria Close, Houghton Regis, Dunstable LU5 5RY – neglected her horse and failed to give him veterinary treatment

Melissa Hetherington

Hetherington was found guilty of two offences of causing unnecessary suffering to a horse named Leo. The court was told how she had failed to take steps to remedy Leo’s foot abscess and treat his laminitis.

A third offence of failing to meet the welfare needs of a second horse, Bob, by not providing a suitable diet and putting the animal at risk of laminitis was also proved at the trial.

Neglected horse Leo
Neglected horse Leo

RSPCA inspector Jaime Godfrey said: “Leo was severely lame and was struggling to bear weight on his left front leg. His hooves were very long, misshapen and cracked.

“His hoof was later x-rayed and a foot abscess was found in the left forelimb which was the cause of the acute lameness. All four feet had evidence that Leo was suffering from chronic laminitis.

“Had the owner sought veterinary care earlier then his suffering could have been easily prevented. We are grateful to World Horse Welfare for taking in Leo and Bob.”

Neglected horse Leo and his infected hoof

World Horse Welfare had been contacted by a concerned member of the public and an officer who visited the location made attempts to contact the owner to advise the horse needed to see a vet as soon as possible. They returned the next day and called a vet and the RSPCA.

Prosecutor Mark Jones told the court the incident was investigated by the RSPCA, officers from World Horse Welfare and a vet. The horses were seized by the police and placed into the care of the RSPCA.

Both horses were then taken into the care of World Horse Welfare and later signed over by the owner. The charity now hopes to find new homes for the pair.

World Horse Welfare field officer Rebecca Bedson added: “Leo was clearly in great pain, given the substantial size of the abscess. It was a pleasure to see his immediate relief once the pressure was released.

“He has made a good recovery at our centre in Norfolk and he and Bobby will soon be ready to find a loving new homes.”

Sentencing | fined £1,000 and ordered to pay a contribution towards prosecution costs of £1,000 and a victim surcharge penalty of £100. Banned from keeping animals indefinitely.

Horse & Hound

Birds, Equine Abuse, farms / smallholdings, Food Production, horses and ponies, Multiple Species

Luton, Bedfordshire: Mohammed Malik

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CONVICTED (2019) | Mohammed Saeed Malik, born 4 May 1983, of 26 Rondini Avenue, Luton LU3 1RR – kept hundreds of animals and birds in poor conditions on a smallholding.

Malik was sent to prison for 12 weeks and disqualified from keeping all animals for a period of 20 years after pleading guilty to a number of animal welfare offences.

Prosecutor Janita Patel told the court the case concerned the neglect of a large number of animals kept by the defendant on a smallholding/allotment-type premises in Kempston.

The RSPCA and Trading Standards had made a number of visits to the premises during April to August 2018, and advice and warning notices were issued to improve the manner in which the animals were being kept. But this advice was ignored and as a result a multi-agency operation, involving police, RSPCA, Trading Standards, Animal Plant and Health Agency and vets was carried out in September 2018.

Over a period of three days around 300 animals were removed on welfare grounds, including 195 chickens, 50 goats, five horses, three alpacas, five sheep, 32 geese, eight ducks, two turkeys and three peafowl.

Despite the nature of the operation the defendant obtained more animals and further complaints were made. The RSPCA attended a further four times to remove animal. On the last visit on February 4, 2019, 368 pigeons, 38 chickens and three quails were removed.

During the investigation officers found an array of animals were found to be kept in poor unacceptable conditions, with insufficient water and food available. Animals were also in poor body conditions.

Horses with their bones showing and overgrown hooves were kept on bare ground with insufficient grazing or supplementary feed and the water was dirty, sheep were underweight and had overgrown hooves, goats were kept in a shed made of pallets and had insufficient grazing or provision of hay, many of the goats were underweight and had overgrown hooves, and alpacas were underweight with overgrown hooves.

Poultry in poor body condition was kept in locations strewn with rubbish and hazards. There was also dead poultry carcasses left on site.

One vet who attended said that there had been gross negligence shown to each of the animals removed that had been under the defendant’s care, and that the animals had not had their needs met on multiple levels despite professional advice.

Speaking after the case RSPCA Inspector Susan Haywood said: “Despite visits by the RSPCA and Trading Standards giving advice and warning notices to improve the manner in which these animals were being kept, this was mostly ignored.

“The conditions of the animals, and the locations they were kept in, was shocking. Animals were in poor body conditions and were being kept in places without adequate clean water, grazing and feed.

“Some animals had their bones showing, others were lame and many had overgrown hooves.

“If someone takes on a large number of animals it is essential that they have the knowledge to look after them and also understand any regulations that may be relevant to the types they are keeping.”

The defendant was also subject to prosecution proceedings by Bedford Borough Council’s Trading Standards team, pleading guilty to four offences under Animal By Products legislation, with these offences relating to failings to secure and dispose of carcases representing serious failures to reduce the risks of the spread of disease to the public and other animals.

Many of the animals signed over into the RSPCA care have been found new homes – and new homes are being sought for the remainder.

Sentencing | for the eight RSPCA offences, he was sentenced to a 12-week immediate custodial sentence on each count to run concurrently and for the four Trading Standards charges a sentence of 8 weeks immediate custody to run concurrently with the 12 weeks already imposed. He was also ordered to pay £1,000 towards prosecution costs for the RSPCA and also the same to amount towards council costs and ordered to pay a surcharge of £115. He was disqualified from keeping all animals for a period of 20 years and cannot apply to terminate the order for a period of 10 years.

MK FM
Luton Today

Dogs, Pet Profiteering, Pet Theft, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders, Traveller Animal Crimes

East of England: Stolen puppies found during police investigation into activities of a prolific traveller crime gang

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Mugshots of nine members of the brazen burglary gang, all of whom come from the traveller community

Nine members of a violent gang of travellers, who committed more than 200 burglaries in 11 months across multiple counties in the East of England region have been jailed for a total of 71 years. 

Gang members would mask their faces using balaclavas and smash or force open doors or windows in broad daylight.

They would don forensic suits in a bid to outwit police and were so prolific that in one day in July 2017 they committed seven burglaries, eight the next, and a total of 50 for the whole month. 

On one travellers’ site Cambridgeshire Constabulary found seven stolen Labrador puppies in the boot of a car as well as an arsenal of deadly weapons. 

Stolen dogs found during police raid on one travellers' site

Nine of the gang pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary:

Charlie Albert Webb, 20, from Newton Flotman, Norfolk – jailed for five years.

John Eli Loveridge, 42, of Greenways, Carleton Rode, Norfolk – jailed for seven-and-a-half years.

John Stanley Loveridge, 23, of Greenways, Carleton Rode, Norfolk – jailed for six-and-a-half years.

Joseph Holmes, 21, of Schole Road, Willingham – jailed for four years.

Danny Stone-Parker, 28, of Braintree Road, Great Dunmow – jailed for six-and-a-half years.

Timothy Stone-Parker, 24, of Clay Way, Ely – jailed for six-and-a-half years.

Joe John Spencer Loveridge, 19, of Winchester Road, Sandy, Bedfordshire – jailed for four years.

Richard Oakley, 27, of Sandy Park, Beck Row, Suffolk – jailed for five years.

Johnny Oakley, 25, of Sandy Park, Beck Row, Suffolk – jailed for five-and-a-half years.

A tenth man, Simon Oakley, 45, of Alburgh Road, Hempnall, Norwich, was found guilty of conspiracy to burgle on 31 October following a trial. He was jailed for nine years.

Detective Inspector Craig Harrison, who led the investigation, said: “These sentences reflect the scale and impact of this gang’s offending.

“Every one of their crimes had a victim so the trauma and devastation caused in quite a short space of time was immense. They clearly had no care at all for the impact their offending was having on communities, particularly in south and east Cambridgeshire, which were particularly badly hit, and, indeed, across the region.”

The gang targeted homes in rural areas, where they could make easy getaways and stole high-performance vehicles to give themselves a better chance of out-running police.

Offences were committed across Cambridgeshire including Littleport, Wisbech, Fordham, Burwell, Prickwillow, Dullingham, Ely, Waterbeach, Soham, Abington, Cambridge, Chippenham, Little Shelford, Isleham, Sawston, Hardwick, Willingham, March, Histon, Swavesey, Longstanton, Little Downham, Stow cum Quay, Doddington, St Ives, Stretham, Chippenham, Balsham, Cottenham, Cheveley, Elsworth, Swaffham Bulbeck, Fulbourn, Newmarket, Teversham, Boxworth, Yaxley and Friday Bridge.

Two other men – James Pateman, 55, of no fixed abode, and his brother, Thomas Brown, 54, of Fen Road, Chesterton, Cambridge – were also found guilty of handling stolen goods on 31 October following a trial at Norwich Crown Court. The court heard the men were involved in the disposal of jewellery between 12 March and 7 November, 2017.

Pateman was jailed for three-and-a-half years and Brown eight years.

Simon Oakley, who owns Stratton Quick Fit, a garage and workshop at Elite Business Park, in Salamanca Road, Norwich, had previously admitted possession of a firearm without a certificate and handling stolen goods.

He provided false registration plates and directed others to commit crime. He helped to hide stolen vehicles and pass them off as legitimate.

Daily Mail

Dogs, Domestic Violence - Animals Targeted, rabbits, Small Furries, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Shefford, Bedfordshire: Ethan Andrews

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CONVICTED (2018) | domestic abuser Ethan Andrews, born c. 2000, of Shefford Road, Shefford, Clifton SG17 5QS – set fire to his ex girlfriend’s home causing the deaths of a rabbit, degu and dog.

Evil Ethan Andrews and the rabbit he burned to death in an act of revenge against his ex
Evil Ethan Andrews and the rabbit he burned to death in an act of revenge against his ex. Two other innocent pets – a degu and later a dog – died from smoke inhalation.

“Controlling and abusive” Andrews poured petrol over the rabbit hutch that he knew housed the victim’s much loved pet ‘Spice’. When he lit the accelerant, the resulting explosion blew in patio doors to the property.

There was nothing left of the rabbit hutch containing Spice and a second pet – a degu – later died as a result of smoke inhalation.

On 11 June 2019 the Sun reported that the family dog had also died some months later from smoke inhalation.

Andrews’ attack followed the break-up of his brief relationship with the victim.

She had complained that Andrews had been controlling and abusive. When she broke up with him he tried to pressurise her back into a relationship, making threats against her and to harm her pets.

In July 2018 he acted upon those threats.

Andrews admitted arson ‘reckless as to whether life was endangered’ and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

The case was investigated by Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Domestic Abuse Investigation and Safeguarding Unit.

Detective Constable Colin Workman said: “It is clear from the fire investigation that numerous lives were put at risk by Andrews’ actions, including the life of an unborn baby.
[…]
“Andrews planned this attack to get back at the victim. It was an act of pure callousness to target a rabbit in order to achieve this goal. His deliberate actions caused immense distress and harm to the victim and her family. I hope this sentence today allows them to start putting these terrible events behind them.”

Sentencing: 32 months’ imprisonment – 13 in jail and 19 out on licence – with a further three months to run concurrently for killing the rabbit. He was also given an indefinite restraining order.

BBC News
The Sun

abattoirs / animal slaughter, farms / smallholdings, Food Production, News

Dunstable, Bedfordshire: Michael Thorne, Rosebury pig farm

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CONVICTED | Michael A Thorne, owner of Rosebury Farm, Harling Road, Eaton Bray, Dunstable LU6 1QZ where horrific undercover footage showed workers smashing screaming piglets against a wall.

Rosebury Farm (since closed) supplied major retailers as well as local butchers but lost its Red Tractor certification

Horrific footage of farm workers inflicting unimaginable cruelty against helpless piglets was released by animal protection organisation Animal Equality.

It showed a worker swinging tiny piglets by a back leg and smashing their head against the wall – one continues to kick for at least 10 seconds. In addition, according to Animal Equality, it featured ‘piglets screaming in agony as the tips of their tiny teeth are clipped off without pain relief, terrified pigs being shocked repeatedly with an electric prod to force them onto the slaughter truck, and a tiny piglet frothing at the mouth, having been thrown onto a pile of dead piglets and left for dead hours earlier’.

Veterinary expert Professor Andrew Knight from the University of Winchester’s Centre for Animal Welfare viewed the footage and confirmed that it showed ‘inhumane handling and killing of piglets’ as well as ‘excessive and inappropriate use of an electric prod likely to cause pain and fear’.

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