CONVICTED (2024) | serial animal abuser Raymond Warren, born c. 1969, and son Reece Williamson, born 26 March 1999, previously of Hildebrand Close, Walton, Liverpool, and now 9 Winter Grove, Parr, St Helens WA9 2JT – allowed a dog to starve to death.
The emaciated body of Cassie was found at the Walton home of Raymond Warren and his son Reece Williamson in July 2023. Both men now live together in the Parr area of St Helens.
A post-mortem report said the dog had most likely died of starvation.
RSPCA Inspector Lisa Lupson was asked to collect Cassie’s body from a vet on July 24, 2023, after the dog had been taken there by police officers who’d found her deceased in the kitchen of the property the day before.
A post-mortem report carried out for the RSPCA as part of its investigation showed Cassie’s gastrointestinal tract was empty. It concluded that her poor body condition was most likely due to starvation through a lack of access to food, with no pathological cause of emaciation evident.
The vet who provided written evidence in the case gave Cassie a body score condition of only one out of nine. They said: “I would expect a responsible owner to seek veterinary attention should their pet become underweight and to protect their animal from ingesting foreign material and seek veterinary advice if this had knowingly occurred.
In written evidence to the court the inspector said: “I was shocked to see the condition of the dog inside the bag. Cassie was a brown-coloured, female, bull terrier type dog, she was in an emaciated condition with every bone visible through her fur.”
“Cassie ingested non-food material which shows she still had an appetite, hunger and willingness to eat. This corroborates the post-mortem report which concluded that lack of food was the likely cause of the emaciation and ultimate death.
“She will have felt weakness and debilitation having a severe lack of energy. This will have been uncomfortable and severely impacted her everyday life, ability to ambulate, to obtain food or water, and play. The duration of these failings will be a minimum of several days but is more likely to be for a period of weeks looking at the evidence presented.”
In a police interview Williamson claimed Cassie didn’t eat properly and needed medication. He said he was too scared to take her to the vet and admitted he hadn’t done the right thing.
Warren, who breached a five-year ban imposed in November 2020 for similar cruelty to a dog, told police that Cassie had only lived with them for a few months but he didn’t know where she had come from.
He said he hadn’t seen the dog for one to two weeks and wasn’t aware of her poor condition.
Speaking after the case had concluded, Inspector Lupson said: “Cassie’s emaciated body was a sad and shocking sight. She had clearly been neglected for many weeks and veterinary assistance should clearly have been sought.
“Mr Warren also knew he was disqualified from keeping animals and there is a clear reason why breaches are imposed by the courts – they are there to protect animals from people who have been convicted under the Animal Welfare Act.
“We are grateful to the police for their assistance with this case, which was extremely upsetting for everyone involved.”
Another dog at the property, who was not part of the RSPCA investigation, was taken into the care of the police.
Sentencing | Williamson: 23-week custodial, suspended for two years; 30-day rehabilitation requirement. Warren: six-week custodial, suspended for 12 months; 25 days of rehabilitation. £154 surcharge each. Both defendants were banned from keeping animals for 10 years.
CONVICTED (2023) | Kelly Hoyle, born 17 February 1981, of Glendon Road, Rothwell, Kettering NN14 6BS – neglected the welfare of two horses to the extent where they had to be euthanised.
Hoyle, a jobless mother-of-three was banned from keeping equines for five years after a prosecution by the RSPCA.
In February 2023 the animal charity and police executed a warrant at a site in Northamptonshire, where the horses were being kept.
Reuben
RSPCA inspector Sue Haywood said: “In the first penned off area was a bay stallion, called Reuben. He had a worn/torn rug on and had a very subdued demeanour. It was clear the horse had a severely enlarged necrotic penis.
“The rug was removed and the horse was clearly underweight with the bones of the hips, spine and ribs being easily visible. The vet examined the penis and the whole shaft was enlarged and at the end was hard/dead tissue. The smell from the infection and puss was overwhelming and pungent.”
“Reuben was confined in an area where stables used to be erected, which was partly covered. There was no grazing at all and the hay/straw that was on the ground was old and mouldy and covered in faeces. There was no access for the horse onto grass as all of the gates were closed shut. Water was available in a plastic tub.
“There were numerous hazards in the pen, such as broken glass from a window frame and a garden fork with the prongs upright.”
A vet advised that Reuben should be put to sleep on welfare grounds as this was the kindest option for him.
Tia
They then examined another horse called Tia who was in a very lean body condition with the bones of her ribs, hips and spine prominent through her skin. She also had large melanomas near her anus.
Tia was removed and given round the clock vet care, but her condition didn’t improve and she was also suffering from colic. Sadly she too was put to sleep for humane reasons.
Ms Haywood said: “This suffering could have been prevented by adequate attention and appropriate veterinary treatment. It is vital that owners provide veterinary care should their animal need it – which was not the case with this.
“In my whole career as an RSPCA inspector I have never seen anything like this the condition of Reuben and I along with everyone else there was completely shocked by the condition of the horse.”
Hoyle admitted one count of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and another of failing to meet an animal’s welfare needs.
The court heard in mitigation that Hoyle was very remorseful. She conceded that she should have arranged veterinary treatment but said she had personal difficulties and claimed her fields had been vandalised.
Sentencing | 23 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months; rehabilitation; costs and surcharge totalling £654. Banned from keeping equines for five years (expires December 2028).
Terms of Kelly Hoyle’s court-imposed disqualification order:
Hoyle is disqualified from the following in relation to all equines:
Owning any equine(s);
Keeping any equine(s);
Participating in keeping any equine(s) and from being a party to an arrangement under which she is entitled to control or influence the way in which they are kept;
Dealing in any equine(s);
Transporting any equine(s); and
Arranging for the transportation of any equine(s)
This order shall be enforced from November 29, 2023, for five years or until further order.
No application under s43(1) for termination of this order may be made for five years.
Update | March 2024
Hoyle was back in court on March 29, 2024, after breaching her ban.
In February 2024 she was spotted by a member of the public riding a horse in a field off Stoke Road, Northampton. This triggered an inspection of her premises and police officers found two horses they believed to be in Hoyle’s possession
Investigation showed they had been sold for £40 to a local farrier, but not until January 2024, meaning they had been owned by her for two months after her ban had come into force.
Mitigating for Hoyle, Richard Bolch said: “She’s been in and around horses for all of her life. One of these horses was nine and one was 14. They were middle aged and a pensioner.
“When the original order was made in November there were discussions between her and various people about her two remaining horses but the official transaction didn’t happen until January.
“One of the horses was very difficult to handle and she wanted to be sure she trusted the person she was selling it to.
“She went about things the wrong way.”
Mr Bolch said that she was receiving treatment for mental health conditions and had been engaging well with mental health services.
A probation officer in court said that activating the suspended sentence would have a ‘catastrophic’ effect on Hoyle.
Sentencing Hoyle, Deputy District Judge Samantha Rastogi said: “This was an unfortunate incident and has put you at grave risk in terms of your suspended sentence.”
However, the judge said that she was satisfied that Hoyle had been attempting to comply with the order and warned her that she must be more open with probation officers in the future.
She was given a further six months on the end of her 23 week suspended prison sentence, meaning it now runs for 18 months. She was also ordered to pay a £120 fine, £48 victim surcharge and costs of £85. The amounts will be deducted from her benefits at a rate of £20 per month. Hoyle was warned that if she breached the sentence again she ran the risk of being sent to prison.
CONVICTED (2023) | backyard breeder Marcus Walsh, born 25 August 1982, of Plantation Close, Penydarren, Merthyr Tydfil CF47 9LN – owner/in charge of a dog dangerously out of control.
Convicted drug dealer and backyard breeder of XL bullies Marcus Walsh, from Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, failed to keep his dogs under control
Convicted Class A drug dealer and prolific backyard breeder Marcus Walsh was not present when Rachel Millard was attacked by two XL bullies in Barry on March 20, 2022. She was left with puncture marks to her leg and finger, after placing herself over her puppy.
Ms Millard was walking along Coronation Street, Barry, with her boxer puppy when she saw two young girls open the front door of a house. One of the girls was screaming and the two dogs ran out of the property.
The whereabouts and fate of Walsh’s XL bullies (pictured – note cropped ears on one of them), from whom he’d produced and sold at least one litter, are unconfirmed
The victim described the dogs as “excited” as they ran straight at her and her 15-week-old puppy, saying they were “fixated and focused” and thought they were “running to attack”.
In order to protect her dog she dropped to the floor and wrapped her arms around her puppy as the XL bullies tried to get at the puppy under her arms.
One of the dogs managed to get hold of the puppy but Ms Millard shouted “No” which deterred the dogs. She was screaming out for help and people looked on but did not intervene, the court heard. The victim attempted to stand up but the dogs jumped up on her and pinned her down on the floor.
Prosecutor Roger Griffiths said the attack lasted around seven minutes until she was able to get up and run from the dogs, adding whichever way she ran, the dogs ran after her.
The woman was able to seek refuge after a work colleague called her name and invited her into her house, as others tried to get the dogs back in the property they came from.
Ms Millard and her partner were taken to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff by Walsh’s partner where she received treatment for injuries to her leg which bled on her jeans. There were seven puncture wounds to her left leg, a few inches above the ankle, and there were superficial cuts to her right index finger.
The puppy had superficial scratches and patches of bald fur.
After the incident, Walsh’s partner contacted Ms Millard and asked how she was. The defendant messaged apologising and told her not to ring the police.
He said: “Hiya love, so sorry this has happened. My daughter feels terrible for opening the door. Please don’t ring the police, I haven’t got the dogs now to stop them from being put down, it breaks my heart and the kids’. If you need help let us know.”
Walsh later attended her property bringing flowers and apologising, saying there was concern around him being on licence and having been banned from owning dogs. He said it was “pointless” contacting the police because the dogs had been given away.
Walsh attended a voluntary interview with police and made no comment. He later pleaded guilty to being the owner/in charge of a dog dangerously out of control.
The court heard Walsh has 121 previous convictions, including an identical offence in 2016 when a dog he owned named Otto injured a person trying to stop the dog from attacking his dog, resulting in puncture wounds to his hands and wrists, and a cracked rib.
This was Walsh’s second prosecution in relation to Otto. He was jailed for eight months in 2015 for affray after setting the dog on a former friend.
Despite being banned from keeping dogs until 2023, Marcus Walsh openly shared photos of his two dogs and advertised multiple litters of puppies for sale on social media
Walsh was disqualified from owning a dog for five years, and was still banned at the time of the latest offence. He was also on licence for an offence of supplying heroin in 2019, for which he was jailed for 49 months.
In mitigation, Victoria Maud said her client, a roofer, is a “hard working” man and was not present when the dogs escaped from his partner’s house. She said the animals acted “out of character” and said the incident “came out of nowhere”.
When asked by Judge Daniel Williams if Walsh would divulge the location of the dogs, Ms Maud said the defendant believes one of the dogs is being put down and the other dog is living with a friend in “the Valleys” and would be willing to find out the address. The judge said: “He’s had ample time to do that.”
Sentencing, Judge Williams said: “You claimed you were forced to look after the dogs after you were bullied into paying off a debt. The dogs produced a litter and puppies were sold.”
He said aggravating features included the defendant’s previous convictions, the fact there were two dogs, he was on licence and moved the dogs out of reach of the authorities to avoid them being destroyed.
Sentencing |18 months’ imprisonment. Disqualified from having the custody of a dog for 10 years (expires October 2033).
CONVICTED (2023) | Nicholas John Low, born c. 1952, a serial animal abuser from Ty Isoe, Maes Maelor, Llandegla, Wrexham LL11 3AA – left puppies to starve to death in a dingy caravan parked in a forest; other animals kept in squalor.
Photo: North Wales Police
Low, who has two previous convictions for near identical offences, was jailed and handed a second lifetime ban for leaving dogs, cats and a goose to live in squalor
The custodial sentence came after he was found guilty by trial of five offences under the Animal Welfare Act. This includes causing unnecessary suffering to dogs, cats and a goose.
Furthermore, it was said that Low failed to care for 11 dogs and puppies. He was also found to be in breach of a lifetime disqualification order imposed in May 2007.
Among the animals found at the scene were an emaciated yellow Labrador and two dead puppies. Low also had cats that “all appeared unkempt with dirty coats” with one found to have a large polypoid affecting his ear.
A preliminary post mortem on the dead puppies revealed that both animals were in “poor body condition” and had likely “starved to death.”
The vet also confirmed that a tabby cat was found to have a burst abscess under his chin as well as thick pus coming out of his right ear. The Labrador was described as “thin with a body condition score of one out of nine where one is emaciated and nine is obese, she weighed 16.1kg.”
Six puppies were all examined and were estimated to be aged between eight and 10 weeks old. It was said they were “small in stature and all of thin body condition.”
In a witness statement provided to the court, RSPCA inspector Rachael Davies described the location where Low kept the animals as a clearing in the forest.
The inspector said there was lots of rubbish and recycled plastics, tins, bike wheels, plastic bags and general waste lying around on the ground in the clearing.
She said: “I could see an extremely skinny yellow Labrador type dog and white long haired German Shepherd type dog tethered to what I would describe as some sort of trailer. The dogs had no access to any suitable shelter, there was a sodden cushion on the ground near the German Shepherd and lots of empty dirty metal bowls. I could clearly see all of the ribs and hips on the Labrador, and could easily feel her spine, her teats were enlarged.”
In a caravan, she found eight black and chocolate Labrador cross puppies who were “very small”. Insp Davies added that the pups were in a “very unsanitary” environment and she “did not see any food or water bowls inside the caravan”.
Inspector Davies spoke with Low at first and advised about getting medical attention for the animals and proper accommodation for the dogs but he was “disagreeable” and refused their help. She later returned with animal rescue officer Melanie Froude and once again asked if she would be able to take the dogs to the vets, but this was refused and she issued him with an Animal Welfare assessment warning notice.
It was soon discovered that Low had been disqualified from keeping all animals for life – and the officers reattended the address with North Wales Police.
Inspector Davies described the conditions as much the same “just wetter and colder”.
She said: “The German Shepherd was no longer tethered to the trailer with the Labrador and the puppies were roaming free in the forest clearing. Four of the puppies gathered together and huddled themselves around a lit fire bin just outside the caravan where they had been contained on my last visit.
“They were all very quiet and looked very cold and like that had lost condition since I had last seen them. The Labrador was still tethered to the same trailer and she also appeared to have lost condition looking a lot thinner. The water bowls that had been empty on my last visit now appeared to be filled with rain water.”
One of the rescued puppies is now doing well after her ordeal
In total 13 animals (plus the two deceased pups) were removed and placed in the care of the RSPCA.
Since they were seized, the 13 animals have been doing well in RSPCA with the Labrador and pups settling in well in foster homes. The animals will now be found forever homes.
Sentencing | 26-week custodial; £154 victim surcharge. Lifetime ban from keeping animals.
CONVICTED (2023) | Edward G Casey, born 14 May 1985, of 21 Ebenezer Street, Ilkeston DE7 8JG – hit a dog so hard he injured his own hand.
Repeat offender: Eddy Casey was already banned from keeping animals for life following a 2015 conviction for horrific cruelty to an elderly King Charles spaniel
Casey was seen viciously kicking the Staffy, Patch, before punching him with such force that he need hospital treatment to his hand. The ill-tempered thug was caught on camera shouting at the dog on two occasions following the attacks in June 2022.
In an upsetting video sent to the RSPCA, Casey was shown screaming at the dog before kicking him under the chin and immediately punching him with his right hand so hard that the defendant was left wincing in pain.
Patch endured regular beatings while in the care of serial animal abuser Eddy Casey
The RSPCA was later told that Casey was hospitalised for tissue damage treatment claiming food cans had fallen on his hand.
Another video showed Patch waiting at a partially opened door and, as Casey told the dog to go to his bed, he was seen to “very forcefully” kick him twice as the poor animal fled the room.
A court heard Casey was already in breach on a previous order not to keep animals when he attacked Patch.
The friendly Staffy was nursed back to health in the RSPCA’s care and has been rehomed
A vet who examined Patch said he was “quiet and nervous” and reluctant to allow a hand to go over his head. She described how, viewing the footage, when Patch was punched he appeared to “know that he can not get away and stays in position”.
She added: “He appears to, in my opinion, expect the act of punishment and waits for it, knowing that whatever he does the outcome will be the same.
“In my professional opinion the person in the video footage is causing unnecessary distress and suffering to the dog by causing him to be fearful and anxious in the first instance.
“I would not expect a normal owner to treat any dog in this manner. It is a fundamental part of dog husbandry that an owner or person responsible for a dog should not hit or beat them or physically punish them in this way.”
Casey admitted causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and was given a 26-week custodial term.
Patch has since been re-homed at Block Fen Animal Centre. Centre manager Sally Jones said: “Patch had been through a terrible ordeal but he was such a happy, friendly and resilient boy.”
Sentencing | jailed for 26 weeks. Casey is already banned for life from keeping animals following a conviction in April 2015 in relation to an elderly King Charles spaniel found crawling with fleas and unable to stand.
CONVICTED (2023) | serial animal abuser Stuart Eunson, born 12 February 1982, of Lucock Street, South Shields NE34 0NQ – neglected a dog found underweight, covered in faeces, with crusty eyes, leg and rib injuries and a severe skin condition.
Eunson was given a 10-year ban on keeping animals in 2020 in relation to another neglected Staffy. This followed a three-year ban imposed in 2018, which he had also breached.
In July 2022 the RSPCA received a tip-off that Eunson was keeping a dog at his home.
RSPCA inspector Rowena Proctor said: “When I visited Eunson’s home … [he] appeared at the door holding a white Staffordshire bull terrier which he handed over to me. The poor dog’s eyes were crusted closed, he smelled terrible and despite having a white coat, his legs were dark brown with what looked like faeces.
“Eunson confirmed that he understood that he was banned from keeping animals and while he allowed me to take the Staffie – called Rebel – to the vet, he refused to acknowledge the dog was his or to sign him over.”
The examining vet reported that Rebel had arrived in a very anxious and agitated state. He was underweight, had eye and ear infections as well as itchy, inflamed skin and a sore ribcage.
His skin and cat were soiled with faeces, he had overgrown nails and he was lame from a previous injury to his left forelimb.
The vet concluded that the lameness following the injury to the left forelimb; the itchiness; the eyelid changes and the head shaking and ear rubbing along with the unsettled behaviour would have been a cause of distress to the animal and should have alerted the owner to Rebel’s poor health. It was the vet’s opinion that by failing to protect his dog from pain, suffering, injury and disease – which would have included seeking vet care for the dog – Eunson allowed Rebel to unnecessarily suffer.
Inspector Proctor said: “Not only did Eunson disobey court-imposed bans on keeping animals, but during this most recent incident, while it was still illegal for him to have a dog, he was keeping and clearly neglecting Rebel”.
Sentencing | 18-month community order, 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 19 ‘Thinking Skills’ sessions. Lifetime ban on owning animals.
CONVICTED (2023) | April Foulds, born c. 1991, of Drummond Road, Skegness PE25 3EH – breached a 10-year ban on keeping animals.
Foulds was given the 10-year disqualification order in December 2021 after being convicted of failing to take reasonable steps to meet the basic needs of animals. No details of the original conviction have been published online.
On 24 August 2022 police officers, acting on a tip-off, discovered two cats at Foulds’ home.
Prosecutor Lottie Tyler told magistrates : “Officers were unable to gain entry. They saw two cats that didn’t look malnourished,”
The cats were seized by the RSPCA on September 14, 2022.
Foulds, who admitting breaching the disqualification, said in interview that they had been bought by her then partner whom she lived with at the time.
Mike Alexander, mitigating, said his client had had some personal issues and an alcohol problem.
“[The former boyfriend] was responsible for getting the cats, despite her having the ban.
“He insisted they would be good for her mental health.
“He didn’t look after the cats and let her look after them. The cats were looked after but it was a situation effectively forced upon her.”
He added: “In the circumstances that she explained to me I don’t think she has a great culpability.”
Sentencing | 18-month conditional discharge; ordered to pay £121 in costs and victim surcharge. Original 10-year ban expires December 2031.
CONVICTED (2023) | serial animal abuser and owner of a notorious “horror farm’ Sean Ronald Burns, born 15/08/1970, of Rosehill Lodge, Bramble Hall Farm, Ferry Lane, Pembroke SA71 4RG – breached an indefinite ban imposed for cruelty to 200 animals and the operation of an illegal slaughterhouse.
Menace Sean Burns, pictured during his court appearance in 2020, has subjected countless farm animals and domestic pets to appalling living conditions and shocking prolonged neglect
Police and officials from Pembrokeshire County Council visited Bramble Hall Farm on February 7, 2022, and discovered 12 dogs, two love birds and a tortoise on the premises. Living conditions were grim and three of the animals were seriously ill.
Two rooms housing dogs were full of faeces and the animals’ bedding was soaked in urine.
Three of the dogs needed immediate veterinary attention. A small Jack Russell puppy had lacerations and was lethargic and recumbent. The puppy was given antibiotics and put on a drip at a local vet.
A female Yorkshire terrier had long-standing dental neglect and a fracture to her jaw while a male French bulldog had chronic skin disease.
The tortoise was also found to be without adequate bedding and had no greens.
More than 200 animals, including goats, pigs sheep and horses were removed from Bramble Hall Farm in 2019 in an operation involving police, Pembrokeshire County Council, Dogs Trust and the RSPCA.
The following September Burns was made the subject of a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, for his part in the production of smokies at the farm.
The court heard how Burns had initially denied breaching the ban, stating that he had nothing to do with the running of the farm.
However, on the day of trial he changed his plea to guilty on the basis that he had become involved in the day to day ‘care’ of the animals due to his mother Pam Burns’ ill health. He said he accepted that he should have notified the authorities of this.
In his defence it was said that the animals were at the home address and that Burns had become involved with them due to his mother’s health issues.
There had been no further offending since the end of the suspended sentence and that many of the animals seized last year were not in poor health.
Burns appeared in court in a wheelchair and his defence solicitor said that he was on a number of medications for health conditions.
Judge His Honour PH Thomas KC said that there were aggravating factors in the case, namely that Burns had convictions for ‘broadly similar matters’ in January 2018, September and October 2019 and January 2020. Burns had also received warnings and professional advice on these matters in the past.
He said that he had taken on board arguments about Burn’s health. However, he said that he had some scepticism as no medical evidence had been produced.
Sentencing | eight months in prison, four of which will be spent in custody, the other four on licence. Existing disqualification order redrafted to include ‘owning, keeping, participating in the keeping or being party to arrangements with animals to control or influence their keeping’. Burns may appeal after ten years.
CONVICTED (2023) | professional dog-sitter Janine Maloney, aka Janine Malone, born 27 May 1974, of Maesteg Road, Tondu, Bridgend CF32 0DP – caused the deaths of two dogs in her care by leaving them in a hot vehicle.
Maloney, owner of Pet Patrol Club, left four-year-old French bulldogs Lila and Phab in her car, believed to be a Kia Sorento, where they died from heat stroke or heat stress.
The two dogs died in temperatures of between 16C and 22C.
In a statement from the RSPCA, deputy chief inspector Gemma Black said she met with the owner of the two dogs who was “very emotional about what had happened.”
Janine Maloney caused the death of Lila and Phab by leaving them in her car for hours without water and closed windows on a hot sunny day
DCI Black added: “She (the owner) told me that Ms Maloney had returned to her address on Sunday 5 September 2021 with the dogs dead.
“She told me that Ms Maloney claimed to have left them in the car during the Sunday, during hot weather and she believed this was how they died.”
On the day, temperatures ranged between 16C at 10am and 22C at 5pm, with the dogs dying sometime during that timeframe.
The dogs had been left in the car without water or air conditioning and without any windows left open.
In written evidence, a vet said they believed the dogs “have been caused to suffer” and their needs “have not been met to the extent required by good practice”.
The evidence described how the two dogs had been left in the car without any access to water, with no windows open or air conditioning.
The statement added: “The post mortem evidence showed that both dogs were found to have pathology changes consistent with having died via a mechanism of heat stroke/stress, having a number of haemorrhagic areas in the body.
“Both dogs were French Bulldogs having a shortened nose anatomy (brachycephalic) that had also been affected by Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS). They were also both overweight which likely contributed to their susceptibility to heat stress.
“Undoubtedly the two dogs would have suffered as a consequence of excessive heat in the car under the circumstances of an external environmental temperature above 20C, poor ventilation and no access to water.
“Suffering will have been experienced by these two dogs via a mechanism of escalating respiratory distress and an inability to effectively dissipate body heat.”
In court, Maloney pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the dogs and failing to meet their needs.
The court heard she has since closed the business.
The District Judge said there was a “blatant lack of care” on the part of Maloney who had done nothing on the day and did not check on the dogs.
Speaking after sentencing DCI Black, said: “I would like to thank my colleagues, inspector Julie Fadden and deputy chief inspector Gemma Cooper, for their work on this heart-breaking case – and all of our thoughts go out to the owner of Lila and Phab.
“We hope this tragic case reminds people that the risk to the lives of animals is so high.
“Our message is simple: never leave a dog in a hot car – ‘not long’ is too long, and if you see a dog in a hot car, call 999 immediately.”
Sentencing | 16-week suspended prison sentence; 15 day Rehabilitation Activity requirement; six month alcohol programme; £500 in costs and £500 compensation to the dog owner. Disqualified from keeping dogs for five years.
Maloney appeared again at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on February 20, 2024, after she pleaded guilty to breaching a ban between May and July 2023 and again in December 2023.
The RSPCA, prosecuting, told the court it had obtained evidence that Maloney was breaching her ban by owning a dog and was also caring for other people’s dogs.
Maloney, now of Bridgend Road, Aberkenfig, received 18 weeks’ custody and was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £154. An order was put in place for her dog Badger to be rehomed within 14 days. She is also banned from keeping dogs from February 6, 2023.
Bridgend woman jailed for 18 weeks after breaching disqualification order
RSPCA obtained evidence showing she had dogs in her care
A Bridgend woman has been jailed after she admitted breaching a disqualification order where she had been banned from keeping dogs for five years.
Janine Maloney (d.o.b 27/05/1974) of Bridgend Road, Aberkenfig, appeared at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on 20 February after previously pleading guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act on 15 December 2023.
The first offence related to a breach of ban between 21 May and 6 July 2023 – the second offence related to a further breach on 9 December 2023. The court heard that the RSPCA obtained evidence that she was breaching her ban by owning a dog and was also caring for other people’s dogs.
Maloney was seen having a dog with her whilst having a meeting, she was seen accepting two dogs and all their belongings from a third party before driving off with them in her car, and was seen walking a dog believed to be hers from a car to a flat.
Maloney was handed a disqualification order in respect to dogs for five years by Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on 6 February 2023.
She was also handed a suspended sentence order back in 2023, which at the sentencing hearing on 20 February, was activated in part, which resulted in Maloney having a 12 week custodial sentence imposed.
She was also sentenced to a further four weeks custody – to run consecutively for the first offence – and another two weeks custody for the second offence. Therefore the total custodial sentence was 18 weeks.
Maloney was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £154 and an order for her dog Badger was made depriving her ownership. A family friend was appointed to rehome Badger within 14 days.
In addition, a new disqualification order banning her from keeping dogs for five years was imposed, with the time to contest the order made at three years.
In mitigation it was heard that she had a dependence on dogs for emotional support which has developed over years and there was no actual harm caused in the two breach cases. The court heard that she now understands the order.
In sentencing, the judge in the case said: “My view is this is a flagrant and deliberate breach where you have chosen to deliberately ignore the order. Your offending continued even after a summons was served upon you.”
RSPCA Deputy Chief Inspector Gemma Cooper said: “We’d like to thank those who helped us in our investigations.
“It is important to reiterate to the public that we rely on them to tell us if someone has breached a ban. We depend on the public to be our eyes and ears and we take breaches of bans very seriously – as do the courts.”
Additional Information
On 28 February 2024 – the same day that Janine Maloney was finally put behind bars – Steph Pendleton, the owner of Lila and Phab, wrote the following post on Facebook alleging that the prosecution case against Maloney was essentially the tip of the iceberg.
She said: “The RSPCA press release about JM [Janine Maloney] today can only report the overview and custodial sentence. There is a much wider picture here.
“My girls were never coming home but I knew this woman was a danger to families and pets. It was about doing the right thing:: justice, protection, prevention and awareness.
“She has never shown any remorse, quite the opposite, and we were subject to indirect and direct bullying, intimidation and harassment in order to drop the case.
“She is a master at manipulation and lying.
“I shall answer below the most asked questions.
JM s elderly mother who she blamed for the death of my dogs is safe and being well looked after now as JM was her carer.
The death of my girls was no accident. They suffered as the autopsies showed. The cruelty and neglect started as soon as they were put into her care under the trading name of Pet Patrol. In reality they were kept where the other animals were rescued from.
She pleaded guilty to 2 offences under the Animal Welfare Act,the evidence was overwhelming remember.
Obtaining animals by deception has been done under Jo Byrne, one of the names she uses.
One parrot a family had possessed for 35 years and they had been searching for her for months.
Polly was rescued from JMs home traumatised and hungry. She sleeps a lot at the mo but shes home now.🤞for her recovery.
When she started a new company Move my Horse using the name Jo Byrne the calls started to come in: – obtaining money and not turning up – childs pony injured – driving while under the influence etc etc.
Defra and the police have ongoing criminal investigations.
She continued to flout the law, working and keeping dogs, contrary to probation conditions.
She claimed at her last court appearance to have one dog still in her care which breached her conditions. But on Friday after a call by the family friend to the RSPCA they were asked to rescue her other animals!! ?? What animals ?
At her home in terrible filthy conditions, floors, walls, you could barely breath were 8 dogs, sliders and a parrot in various conditions. Starving and thirsty of course.
They then had to rescue her horses and sheep.
Gemma Cooper of the RSPCA has worked tirelessly to ensure that justice mattered for the girls and that other animals have been protected.
You also have other families and pets that have been affected by her actions but its not for me to name them but to thank our community for doing the right thing 👍
I’m sure she will return to her old ways and use another name when released from prison. She does not care about anyone, anything or the law so we need to make people aware of her.”
CONVICTED (2023) | persistent wildlife persecutor, dog abuser and all-round scumbag Joseph Shaun Whittam, born 7 June 1990, previously of Carnforth, Lancashire, but now of Greenset Close, Lancaster LA1
Joe Whittam Whittam was disqualified from keeping all animals for life in December 2018, but officers discovered three dogs and four ferrets as his Lancaster home
Whittam, who was previously jailed in December 2018 for setting fighting dogs on a pet cat and a fox and failing to treat his dogs’ injuries, was caught breaching his lifetime ban on keeping animals.
In court on Friday 20 January 2023 he pleaded guilty to the following offences.
causing unnecessary suffering to a brown Patterdale terrier known as Thugly by failing to provide veterinary treatment for injuries following an encounter with a wild mammal
failing to take steps to ensure that Thugly’s needs were met in that he let him engage in an encounter with a wild mammal, leading to him becoming injured
Thugly had facial injuries consistent with fighting wild animals
He was also in breach of a disqualification order which banned him for keeping animals for life by keeping four ferrets and a dog.
In April 2021 officers from the RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit joined officers from Lancashire Police when they executed a warrant in Greenset Close, Lancaster,, due to a suspected breach of a disqualification order.
RSPCA inspector Jason Bowles said: “In the yard there were three hutches and two of those hutches were contained in a brick-built shelter and were positioned one on top of the other. In the top hutch, there were three adult ferrets that looked to be in normal body condition.
“Adjacent to the house by the back door there was a hutch on its own with a single adult ferret inside that looked to be in normal body condition.
“I was informed by a police officer that this ferret had just been transferred to this hutch at the start of the warrant being executed as it was loose.”
A woman at the address claimed to own three dogs found at the home while Whittam admitted owning the ferrets. He was told to rehome them immediately.
Sentencing | four custodial sentences to run concurrently – 23 weeks’ custody for two offences in regard to Thugly and 18 weeks’ custody for each of the breaches of the disqualification order.
