PROSECUTED BUT ACQUITTED (2023) | backyard breeder of XL bullies Aaron Harding-Beanland, born c. 1984, of Red Bank Road, Bispham. Blackpool FY2 9HX – for cruelty to two dogs kept at his home.
A court accepted that Aaron Harding-Beanland wasn’t to blame for cruelty to two XL Bullies as he was in prison at the time
Harding-Beanland pleaded not guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to two American XL bulldogs at his former home on School Road, Marton, Blackpool.
Oliver Savington prosecuting for the RSPCA said one female dog, Marnie, suffered from hypothermia and dehydration and another, Sparkles, had a low body weight.
The dogs were seized by the RSPCA following a raid under a warrant.
Defending himself Harding -Beanland produced evidence to show he was living elsewhere at the time of the alleged offences.
He said: “I was in prison seeing six years and nine months for firearms offences.
“I was then released to approved accommodation under probation.”
He admitted he had bought Marnie for £4,500 from a breeder in Preston before he was jailed.
Acquitting Harding- Beanland the judge told him: “Certain aspects of this case disturb me.
“You were clearly not living at the property at the time and the case has not been proved to the required criminal standard.”
CONVICTED (2023) | backyard breeder Louise Tucker, born 27 July 1981, of 13 Butler Street, Blackpool FY1 3BQ – allowed cats and dogs to suffer at her faeces-strewn home.
Louise Tucker kept 11 neglected dogs and cats at her faeces-filled Blackpool house of horrors
Two female cats and nine adult dogs were discovered living in squalor at a home in Butler Street, Blackpool on June 30, 2022. The property was occupied by Louise Tucker and daughter Amy Jackson, born 22 February 2000, who was also charged originally along with Jackson’s boyfriend Christian Dewsnapp, born 8 October 1999, of Taylors Close, Poulton le Fylde FY6 7TT. It’s not known if the charges were dropped against the other two.
RSPCA inspectors said there was so much animal faeces on the floor that officers were unable to freely move around without stepping in it.
In his witness statement, RSPCA inspector Will Lamping said: “I couldn’t see any clean place for the dogs to lie as the ground and crates were soiled with faeces, as were the sofa and chairs.
“The room was very dark as the curtains were closed and newspapers had been stuck across the window.
“The smell of ammonia inside the room was overpowering, so much so that it was difficult to breathe at times and I had to take regular breaks outside the room.”
Among the faeces were trays of dog biscuits and red plastic tubs of water. Inspectors said this appeared to be the only food and water source for the dogs, who were being forced to eat and drink next to their own excrement.
There were also two crates in the room, one of which contained no bedding and the other a filthy blanket, as well as a number of physical injury hazards lying around, including sharp-edged tin cans.
Screenshots from a mobile phone showed their owner, Louise Tucker, had also been selling puppies, with one chihuahua cross being advertised for £450.
All 11 animals were seized from Tucker by the police and taken into RSPCA care after the vet certified they were likely to suffer if their circumstances did not change.
On examination, the dogs were all found to have mild conjunctivitis, likely associated with the ammonia present within the living environment.
A Staffordshire Bull Terrier called Bentley was also suffering from a ruptured cranial cruciate ligament of the right leg and an untreated anal mass required further investigation.
The vet said it was his opinion that Tucker had failed to meet the needs of her animals by providing them with a suitable environment.
He added Bentley had suffered unnecessary pain for at least a week due to the defendant’s failure to seek appropriate veterinary advice.
Tucker initially denied causing unnecessary suffering and failing to provide the animals with a suitable environment.
She later changed her plea to guilty at a two-day trial in July 2023.Tucker was told she had come “very close to imprisonment”.
In mitigation, the court heard how she had “taken the blame for others” and had rehomed dogs from people who were allegedly not looking after them properly.
She was described as being “kind” to animals and reportedly had a clean house prior to the offences taking place.
Sentencing | 10-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months; 15 days of rehabilitation activity; costs of £400. Banned from keeping all animals for five years (expires September 2028).
CONVICTED (2023) | Ryan Seel, born 18 October 1994, and Debbie Slater, born 20 May 1990, of Peter Street, Blackpool – starved three of their six dogs until they were 24 hours from death.
Three of the six Jack Russells owned by Ryan Seel and Debbie Slater would most likely have died in 24 hours, if the RSPCA hadn’t seized them and taken them to an animal hospital for emergency treatment.
Staff from the local authority were first alerted to the dogs’ plight after a number of complaints about the dogs making noise.
All three dogs were so emaciated they were transported in a cat basket together
Council officers visited the home and later reported them to the RSPCA. The charity’s welfare team then investigated and removed the dogs after discovering how underweight they were .
“Three of the six were 24 hours from death ,” said prosecutor Paul Ridehalgh. “This was either due to long term poor diet or short term starvation.”
The couple’s emaciated dogs were ‘within 24 hours of dying’
Defence lawyer Gerry Coyle – representing Ryan Seel – said his client lived in a property which suffered from damp and leaks. He added that the pair were on Universal Credit and ‘living in poverty’ and unable to afford vets fees.
“What happened with the dogs was not because they don’t love and care for them, but for financial reasons,” he told magistrates.
Brett Chappell, defending Seel’s partner Debbie Slater, appealed for leniency and told the court about the couple’s other dog – a Shar Pei – who was fit and well.
“What happened was not a deliberate act of cruelty, but her efforts fell well short of what is acceptable,” said Mr Chappell.
Slater and Seel each admitted two offences of causing the Jack Russell dogs unnecessary suffering and failing to maintain the animals’ welfare by giving them adequate food and water.
The six dogs, two males and four females – Jack, Junior, Sasha, Angel, Coraline and Jazz – remain in the care of the RSPCA.
Sentencing | one-year community punishment with ten rehabilitation days. Seel must also complete 100 hours of unpaid work and Slater was given a four month curfew. The pair were each ordered to pay £414 in costs. Banned from keeping animals for 10 years (expires June 2033).
CONVICTED (2023) | Kirsty Dunne, born c. 1984, of Grasmere Road, Blackpool – for the starvation and neglect of four dogs found days from death in her filthy home.
In October 2022 RSPCA inspectors found the four flea-infested lurcher/saluki crossbreeds “starving and bitterly cold” in the faeces-ridden property in Bloomfield Road, Blackpool.
RSPCA inspectors found Kirsty Dunne’s four starving dogs in a darkened room with faeces covering the floor.
Three of them, Apollo, Luna and Charli, were just 18 months old when they were rescued, while the oldest, Tilly, was three years old.
Charlie was in such a pitiful and starving condition that RSPCA officers initially thought he was dead.
All four had been caused “pain and suffering” with Charlie only surviving after being revived at an animal hospital.
The youngest pups were all underweight and had very little fat on them. Their hip bones were sticking out and their ribs and spine were visible.
Luna had matted fur around her rib cage, and Tilly looked subdued and quiet.
Dunne agreed to sign the dogs over to the RSPCA, who rushed them to a vet. Blood tests ruled out any underlying metabolic diseases and their weight loss had been caused by a poor and insufficient diet.
RSPCA prosecutor Paul Ridehalgh told the court: “Charlie was extremely emaciated and the inspector thought rigor mortis had set in until he saw the animal breathe. He rushed the dog to the vet who used warm infusions to save him.”
Dunne, who has a previous conviction for stealing thousands of pounds from a hospice charity, admitted four counts of animal cruelty and neglect by not providing food and water or caring for illness and suffering.
Dunne’s lawyer successfully argued against an immediate prison term for his client, claiming both she and one of her daughters suffered mental health issues. He said his client was remorseful and needed “reform and rehabilitation, not prison.”
Sentencing | 12 week jail term suspended for a year; £554 costs. Lifetime ban on keeping animals.
CONVICTED (2021) | Natasha Ivy Jolly, born 29 December 1990, of 105 Ribble Road, Blackpool FY1 4AA – locked her dog in a dark stairs cupboard to starve to death
Natasha Jolly
Natasha Jolly, who has links to Preston, Blackburn, Clitheroe and Leigh in Wigan, was disqualified from keeping animals for life after she shut her dog in an understairs cupboard and left her to die.
The RSPCA said a neighbour who was concerned about the smell coming from the flat found the female tan coloured terrier type dog, whose name was not known, deceased and covered by a sheet.
The unnamed female tan terrier was found dead covered by a sheet at Jolly’s previous address in Grasmere Road, Blackpool
The floor of the cupboard was covered in old dog faeces and there was no natural light or any form of appropriate bedding.
The dog was in an emaciated state with all of her bones visible and protruding.
Inspector Will Lamping, who led the investigation for the animal welfare charity, took the dog’s body to a veterinary surgeon to be examined.
The vet found no evidence of underlying disease conditions suggesting she died of starvation.
The post mortem revealed that the dog’s stomach contained faeces and plastic clothing tags, suggesting that she was so hungry she was eating anything she could find. The vet confirmed the dog would have suffered for a number of months.
The court heard how a witness who found the dog had been affected by their tragic discovery.
They said: “This whole incident has left me shocked and disgusted.
“I can’t imagine how this poor dog felt starving to death.
” I just can’t seem to get it out of my head”.
In passing sentence, magistrates commented: “We found this case quite distressing, involving a prolonged and deliberate act resulting in a dog starved to death”.
Inspector Lamping said: “This was a truly shocking case to investigate. It is difficult to think of the suffering that this dog went through as she laid hungry and alone in a tiny cupboard with no light until her death.
“I would urge anyone who ever finds themselves in a situation where they are struggling to feed or care for their animal, to call the RSPCA emergency line on 0300 1234 999 and we will always do our best to get help to the animal in need.”
Sentencing: 14 weeks in custody, suspended for two years; 30-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement; £150 costs. Lifetime disqualification order (but can appeal after 10 years).
CONVICTED (2021) | Walter ‘Gosy’ Lee, born c. 1952, of Jubilee Lane Travellers Site in Blackpool – for illegal puppy trading
In one of a series of prosecution cases brought this week by charity Animal Protection Services, Walter Lee, who is a Romany gypsy, pleaded guilty to canine selling offences and was fined £120.
Lee was also ordered to pay a £200 contribution to prosecution costs and received a disqualification order from dealing in dogs for 12 months.
CONVICTED (2021) | Helen Tracy Shaw, born 17 April 1971, of 21 Romney Avenue, Blackpool FY4 3AH – kept her poorly elderly dog in squalid conditions
Poorly GSD Storm, aged 13, was kept in squalor by his callous owner, Helen Shaw. He was suffering numerous ailments and was put to sleep to end his appalling suffering.
Helen ‘Hezz’ Shaw was banned from keeping dogs for just five years after allowing her 13-year-old German Shepherd, Storm, to live in such appalling conditions he had to be put down.
RSPCA inspectors were forced to act after discovering the dog living in a squalid outhouse. He appeared to have lost his hearing due to an untreated infection and was also suffering from arthritis and poor eyesight.
He had extensive fur loss across most of his body with the exposed skin inflamed, scabby and flaky. The fur that was left had matted into solid blocks and was dark brown in colour
Storm’s left ear appeared damaged with a black substance oozing from it. Both ears were infected. He scratched at his head continuously and was in obvious discomfort.
Very sadly, vets felt Storm was suffering to such an extent that they had no choice but to put him to sleep on humane grounds.
Storm’s owner, Helen Shaw, pleaded guilty to one offence under Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act.
RSPCA Inspector William Lamping, who led the investigation, visited Shaw’s home in Romney Avenue on February 18, 2020.
Inspector Lamping said: “Storm was kept in an outbuilding that was unsuitable for him, mostly consisting of a hard floor that was soiled with faeces and old dog food.
“His bedding appeared rotten to the point I could not distinguish whether it was a towel or some other material, it looked sodden. There was very little natural light inside the building and when the door was closed I imagine there was no light at all.”
Inspector Lamping added: “There is no excuse for allowing any pet to get into the state Storm was in. There is always help available for those people who need it and we encourage people to seek out this help to prevent animals suffering.”
Sentencing: 18-month community order with 40-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and six-week curfew; total of £330 costs and charges. Banned from keeping dogs for five years (expires February 2026).
CONVICTED (2020) | Carl Anthony Dyson, born 03/04/1979, of Belmont Avenue, Blackpool FY1 4BG – killed a cat by dropping a concrete slab onto her head to “put it out of its misery”
Cat killer Carl Dyson’s actions were described in court as “inhuman”
Father-of-two Dyson admitted killing the female black and white long-haired cat, called Paddy, at an address on Salthouse Avenue, Blackpool, on October 23, 2019.
The court heard how Dyson had been seen by a neighbour carrying Paddy, wrapped in a pink towel, into his friend’s back garden, where he dropped a large concrete slab twice on the animal’s head.
The witness said they saw the cat trying to wriggle free before Dyson let go of the slab.
Paul Ridehalgh, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, said the witness “saw Dyson drop a slab as thick as a laptop on the cat’s head as it lay in the yard”, and added: “She saw the cat try and escape from the blanket before Dyson did the same thing again.”
The neighbour alerted the RSPCA and inspectors found “a plethora” of traumatic injuries to Paddy’s head.
Mr Ridehalgh said: “The inspector observer a black and white plastic cat carrier that appeared to have blood on it. Inside he found the body of a black and white cat.
“The cat appeared to have suffered massive injuries to her head, as it was crushed on one side, with its eye bulging.
“The defendant said he believed the cat may have been hit by a car.”
After telling Paddy’s owner, Anthony Johnson, what had happened, the cat’s body was taken away for further inspection.
Mr Ridehalgh said: “The cat had suffered traumatic injuries to its head. The conclusion was that these injuries were caused by forceful, violent compression of the cat’s head. The death could have been very quick.
“The cat could have been suffering from some cancerous lumps in the head area. Vets also examined the cat and found it to be in a poor condition, it was severely underweight with fleas jumping off her. The fur was matted and covered in faeces.
“The cat’s head had clearly been crushed. The vet’s opinion was that the cat’s injuries were unsurvivable. In her opinion, the cat’s death would have certainly caused suffering… the dropping of a concrete slab on a cat is not an acceptable method of euthanasia, and any reasonable person would have taken the cat to a vet.”
A veterinary examination found the cat had been suffering from a cancerous tumour in the mouth and was severely underweight.
When interviewed by the RSPCA, the defendant claimed he thought the cat had been injured in a road accident and he “panicked”.
Dyson’s lawyer Gary McAnulty of Fylde Law told the court his client “was suffering at the time with some mental health problems, anxiety and depression.”
Sentencing Dyson, magistrate Ed Beaman said: “The cat was trying to escape the blanket and was not so ill as to be accepting of its fate.
“There’s evidence that the cat was distressed while in the blanket prior to the first impact. We believe the cat was still alive prior to the second impact, and this caused distress to both the cat and the witnesses who saw the offence.”
Sentencing: 12 weeks in jail (released on bail after lodging an appeal). Ordered to pay a total of £200 coss and charges. Banned from owning, keeping or managing animals indefinitely.
CONVICTED (2019) | Simon Broscombe, born 11/10/1984, of Bela Grove, Blackpool FY1 – had his dog’s ears cruelly and illegally mutilated.
Simon Broscombe arranged for his American bulldog’s ears to be mutilated to look more intimidating
Wannabe hardman Simon Broscombe had his six-month-old American bulldog’s floppy ears cut back to short points so that the animal would look more intimidating.
Broscombe, who is apparently a hairdresser by profession, paid £2,000 for the puppy, known as Tyson, who came into the country from Holland.
He bought the dog, described as his pride and joy, a £3,000 gold neck collar.
In the first case of its type in the UK the RSPCA prosecuted Broscombe over the ear cropping.
Cruelty victim Tyson and his mutilated ears
Broscombe admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the champagne-coloured dog by having his ears cropped.
He also admitted permitting another person to carry out a prohibited procedure on Tyson.
Broscombe admitted a third charge of failing to protect Tyson from pain and suffering.
District Judge Jane Goodwin heard that dogs’ears can only be cropped for medical reasons and the cutting done by a qualified vet.
The procedure can cause pain to the animal involved and in Tyson’s case, an examination of his ears revealed scarring and holes.
He was in otherwise good condition.
The ears are a very sensitive organ of dogs but some owners have the dog’s natural ears cut back almost to the skull for purely cosmetic reasons designed to give breeds like the Bully a “street cred “look.
When Broscombe was confronted by RSPCA officer Amy McIntosh at his home, she says he grabbed his phone and she believed she was trying to delete Whatsapp pictures from it.
However, the investigators did trace messages from Broscombe one stating….”With big floppy ears.He not the kind of dog I want.”
RSPCA prosecutor Paul Ridehalgh told the court:”This dog is a cross between an American pit bull and American staffie.”
“The investigators found pictures of Tyson with his ears intact and the defendant knew that ear cropping in the UK is illegal.”
“Owners want cropped ears because it makes the animal more intimidating”
“These ears were mutilated and he would not say who did it which obstructed the RSPCA investigating.”
Probation officer Amanda Kenyon said that Broscombe-who has facial tattoos- was devastated to have been split up from Tyson, who is being kept in kennels by the RSPCA.
Trevor Colebourne, defending, told the judge:”My client bought the dog via a breeder thinking it had had his ears cropped in Holland before being brought into the UK.”
“He would not name the person who carried out the procedure as he had been given a threat to keep his mouth shut and not be a grass.”
Sentencing Broscombe the judge told him: ”Despite your claim to be a responsible animal lover you became involved in a seedy operation which was a deliberate attempt to cause suffering.”
“You will not name the vet you claim was involved and this dog will have suffered for up to five days.
Sentencing: 12-week jail term suspended for 18 months. Ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work and to pay £715 court costs). Banned from keeping any animal for seven years (expires November 2026) .
CONVICTED (2019) | horse breeder Nicola Jane Haworth (deceased) from Blackpool – kept horses in such squalor that 11 had to be put down
Breeder Nikki Haworth kept her horses in such squalor that several of them had to be put downA total of 31 horses were being kept in terrible conditions by their heartless owner
Haworth was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to 24 horses and failing to meet the needs of 31 horses.
Carmel Wilde, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said that the charity’s inspectors had found the animals living in dilapidated stables – some without doors or missing wooden panels.
The horses’ bedding was covered in months of urine and droppings, the court heard.
RSPCA officials found the horses in dilapidated mud-caked stables that had not had their doors opened in months.
Ms Wilde added: “The evidence shows the conditions were horrendous. Six animals were such an appalling condition they had to be put to sleep by the vet immediately.
“Five more were euthanased later. Others have behaviour problems and will never be ridden as they are dangerous.
“These were the worst conditions the vets and RSPCA inspectors have ever seen. Basics tasks were not carried out for a prolonged time. It was neglect.”
Some of the horses’ hooves were so overgrown the animals could hardly move because they were in so much pain, the court was told.
There was evidence that some had not been out of their stables for some time to use nearby sand and grass paddocks.
The remaining 20 horses were taken away for care and re-homing.
Writing about the case, which he said was the culmination of over 10 months of hard work and dedication by the RSPCA, World Horse Welfare, HAPPA, Lancashire Constabulary and others, RSPCA inspector Carl Larsson said:
In September 2018 a magistrates warrant was executed and I walked onto a stable yard in Blackpool. I was horrified by the scale and level of suffering one individual could cause to so many horses.
I saw 31 horses in stables which had not had the doors opened in months. Dirty bedding was stacked half way up the doors. Once opened they wouldn’t close again because months worth of muck spilled out.
There were horses with such crippling lameness from overgrown hooves that their legs were shaking with pain. They were unable to step down off the pile of muck out of their stables. One collapsed as it reluctantly made the step off.
Of these horses 6 were immediately euthanised on veterinary advice to end their suffering. Since then a further 5 have been euthanised on welfare grounds. Despite reports to the contrary none of the horses were killed because the RSPCA didn’t know how to handle them. Every decision to euthanise was made on Veterinary advice using police powers.
Since that time the individual involved has offered no defence for her deplorable actions. She actually hasn’t turned up to court yet. Instead she has taken to the internet and launched a smear campaign against the RSPCA and more specifically myself.
I personally will never lose any sleep over what she or her friends may think of me however I will always defend my charity!
Unfortunately, until this point I have been unable to respond to posts on forums, Facebook or wherever else lies have been spread due to the matter being an active case.
However with today’s verdict I can now say that the conditions at this yard were the most horrendous I have ever seen in my time investigating animal cruelty. Furthermore the severe and obvious pain visible in many of these horses was sickening.
Today the overwhelming evidence was presented to a District Judge who had no hesitation in find the defendant guilty on all charges.
Sentencing | £4,000 in legal costs; six-month curfew. Banned from keeping animals for 10 years.
