CONVICTED (2023)| Kayley Elizabeth Patricia Pugh, aka Kayley Shellam, born 25 July 1999, currently of Llandysul, Ceredigion, but with links to the towns of Carmarthen and Haverfordwest – for the cruel abandonment of eight reptiles entrusted to her care.
Pugh, a mother-of-three, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to leopard geckos Thor, Luna and Thora and a Chinese crested water dragon called Maverick.
The court heard that the owner of the reptiles had asked Pugh to look after them for a period of time, but when they went to collect them on 27 August 2022, four reptiles were dead – four others were still alive. In a written statement presented to the court, inspector Keith Hogben, said he was shown several vivariums which had been collected from an address in Alltwalis, Carmarthen.
Two of the reptiles left to die by callous Kayley Pugh
“I looked into the vivariums and was informed when they were found there was no water for the reptiles and no heat,” he said.
One vivarium contained two dead leopard geckos, Thor and Luna, and another vivarium contained a Chinese water dragon named Maverick who was also dead.
Another vivarium contained a crested gecko named Oryx who was found dead. Two emerald swifts named Bow and Arrow, a leopard gecko named Thor and a bearded dragon called Hoggle were all found alive.
A written statement from a veterinary surgeon, who examined the dead and living reptiles, said the four dead reptiles had “advanced states of decomposition” which “indicates that no daily care had been provided to these animals”.
Fly eggs were noted in the oral cavity and on the skin of two carcasses. Thor, Luna and Maverick were all described to be of an “emaciated condition”, while crested gecko Oryx was presented as a “mummified carcass” which meant it was not possible for an internal examination. In the vet report it was concluded that “the three animals as evidenced by their emaciated body conditions, low weights relative to body length and absence of food in their digestive systems are highly likely to have died from starvation, either because food provision was inadequate or absent or because the animals were in poor health and had become inappetent.”
In relation to leopard gecko Thora, the vet said that due to her “poor condition and ocular infection and superficial skin injuries [she ] had in my opinion been subjected to unnecessary suffering for a number of weeks”.
Sadly soon after coming into RSPCA care Thora died.
Following sentencing, Inspector Hogben said: “This is a very sad case where these deaths were completely avoidable if they had been given the proper care.
“RSPCA urges potential owners – or those given responsibility for these animals – to research and look into what is required in the care of their exotic pet first before taking one on so they know what is involved.”
Sentencing | 12 week custodial sentence suspended for 12 months, 150 hours unpaid work, 12 rehab days with probation, £400 costs £154 victim surcharge. Disqualified from keeping all mammals and reptiles for 10 years.
CONVICTED (2021) | serial animal abuser David Robert Davies, born 8 March 1959, of 1 Maes Dilen, Pentre-Cwrt, Llandysul SA44 5DF – left two ponies to suffer so badly that they had to be euthanised to end their pain.
An animal welfare officer from Carmarthenshire County Council found the two ponies being kept in the dark in waist-high soiled bedding with their hooves so badly deformed that the vet said it was the worst case he had seen in over forty years of practice.
Davies pleaded guilty to two offences of causing unnecessary suffering to two horses and breaching a disqualification order in respect of horses.
The case came to light in February 2020, when a council animal welfare officer carried out an unannounced inspection of sheep kept by Davies at fields he rents in Drefach Felindre.
Whilst waiting for him to arrive she noticed a shed covered with wood pallets and tarpaulin – and on peering through a hole could see two ponies standing in their own faeces.
Accompanied by a vet from the Animal Plant and Health Agency, she entered the shed to find the cob-type ponies in soiled bedding with their coats matted in dried faeces, their hooves badly overgrown and tails so short it appeared they may have eaten their own out of boredom.
The ponies had nothing to eat – one had no water and the other had faeces in his water bucket.
They were kept in the dark, unable to look out of the shed and were only able to touch each other over a wooden barrier that separated them.
The officer re-visited the ponies when the owner of the field agreed to state they had been abandoned on his land.
It was only when they were brought out into the daylight that their true condition became evident.
Both were taken away for treatment but just days later had to be euthanised, the vet saying he believed they had been suffering for at least 12 months.
The investigation that followed revealed that Davies was disqualified from owning, keeping or participating in the keeping of horses for life following a prosecution by the RSPCA in 2015.
Cllr Philip Hughes, Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Protection, said: “If it were not for the actions of our animal health officer, who acted on a hunch to check the shed, these ponies may still be suffering today.
“This is an awful, and entirely avoidable, case of shocking neglect.”
Sentencing: 12 weeks in custody, suspended for 24 months; 12-month community order with 250 hours of unpaid work and rehabilitation. Ordered to pay costs of £6,367 and a victim surcharge of £122. Already banned for life from keeping horses.
Davies appeared in court alongside partner Leanne Jane Summers after 16 horses in their care were found in “terrible state of neglect”.
Davies was sent to prison for 26 weeks after he admitted to causing unnecessary suffering to 16 horses. He was banned from keeping horses for life.
Summers was given a suspended prison sentence of 26 weeks. She was banned from keeping horses for five years and was ordered to pay a £4,000 fine.
Two horses were put down and two were found dead.
The RSPCA was called after concern was raised about the welfare of eight horses in the Rhydargaeuau area. Two were found dead and a third — a black colt — was put to sleep on veterinary advice.
“These horses were all in a terrible state of neglect,” RSPCA deputy chief inspector Julie Fadden said. “Two were already dead, and very sadly, the black colt was in such a bad state of health that nothing could be done to save him.
“The other five were Welsh mountain ponies and were ranging in condition from thin to emaciated.”
RSPCA inspector Keith Hogben attended another location at Capel Dewi where he discovered a further 10 horses.
“Sadly one of the horses was so weak that a vet said he had to be put to sleep,” he said. “It was horrendous and so sad. Six out of the ten horses were very thin.
“People have these horses and don’t understand how to look after them. These are their basic needs and they need to be checked daily.” The surviving horses were taken into RSPCA care.
CONVICTED (2021) | puppy farmer Dorian Wyn Jones, born May 1974, of Penrheol Farm, Talsarn, Lampeter SA48 8QZ – kept dogs in overcrowded conditions in breach of breeding licence.
In October 2020 Dorian Wyn Jones, company director of haulage firm Peter Jones and Son Ltd, was found guilty of four charges relating to his dog breeding licence.
Wyn Jones, who operates a licensed dog breeding establishment known as Dorwan Kennels (aka Cerwan Kennels) from Penrheol, Talsarn, Lampeter was found guilty of four charges relating to contraventions of his dog breeding license conditions.
Over a three-day trial, the court heard evidence that Wyn Jones had been granted a licence for 33 dogs. However, during a visit undertaken by Ceredigion County Council’s Public Protection Officers on 7 August 2019, they found 91 dogs at the premises excluding puppies, in clear breach of his license.
In a further visit on 4 September 2019, Council officers found the number of dogs had increased even further to 97 dogs.
As the kennels were not designed for such an increased number of dogs, they were found to be overcrowded on both visits in contravention of the minimum space standards that is required by the license conditions. The dogs had very little space in which to express normal behaviour, and were not given an appropriate environment that was free from fear and distress.
The District Judge found Wyn Jones guilty of exceeding his licensed number of dogs and housing the animals in overcrowded conditions. The case was referred to the Crown Court for sentencing, and to determine an application under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
Failed Planning Application
Immediately after being found guilty of the above offences, Wyn Jones submitted a planning application to Ceredigion County Council for the conversion of outbuildings to dog kennels.
Following a vigorous online campaign by the sadly now defunct animal welfare pressure group C.A.R.I.A.D. Wyn Jones withdrew the application.
Appeal Against Conviction
On 27 November 2020, and 22 December 2020, the Crown Court heard an appeal by Wyn Jones, relating to convictions for failing to comply with dog breeding license conditions.
The Crown Court upheld the conviction that the dogs under the care of Wyn Jones were kept in overcrowded conditions in contravention of the minimum space standards required by the license conditions. Other convictions were overturned.
Sentencing | On 9 February 2021, Dorian Jones was fined £1000 for the overcrowding offence, and ordered to pay legal costs amounting to £2500.
A selection of recent puppy selling ads placed by Dorian Wyn Jones on the dodgy classifieds website K9 World which is run by fellow Welshman Geraint Williams from Carmarthen and is a popular outlet for puppy farmers.
The full text of the last advert reads:
FIVE STAR FULLY LICENSED BREEDER TWO FIVE STAR HEALTH CHECKS FULLY VACCINATED READY NOW TAKE YOUR TIME WHILST CHOOSING YOUR LIFETIME PUPPY TO READ OUR REVIEWS ON FACEBOOK LONGVIEW BOARDING KENNELS AND CATTERY.
Mum is our family pet Tilly this is her second and final litter and she can be viewed with her pups. She is a was vet checked prior to mating to ensure she was fit and healthy with no health issues.
Dad is Rocky our beautiful miniature poodle KC registered PRA/PRCD VW DM CLEAR all certificates are here, chosen for his outstanding temperament.
These babies are being lovingly raised and cared for with no expense spared, pups will have had three full health assessment prior to collection, parvo precautionary vaccinations will be done, first vaccinations given and second health assessments, we will give then there last jab and final health check at ten weeks. They will be wormed from two weeks of age with panacur 10% and at eight week will be given advocate, which covers them for four weeks, for worms, fleas and ear mites.
Puppies will leave with Vaccination card. ✅ TWO full Health checks ✅ Microchipped✅ Worming and flea treatments given✅ Worming and flea treatment documents ✅ 1 kilo bag of food ✅ Food and water bowls✅ Scent Blanket✅ Toys✅
We are five star licensed breeders and you will be asked to sign a contract which will give you the opportunity to take your new addition to your vet for a full health check, should your vet find a problem with the puppy which our vet has not, we will be more than happy to have the puppy back and refund you your money back. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to view the puppies or have any questions, all we ask is that you do not view any other litter prior to vising us, to stop any chance of infection spreading. A life time of aftercare and advice is always available and if you would like to read our reviews from very happy new puppy owners please feel free to visit our Facebook page. Sorry for the essay but we will also be asking question about yourselves and what you have to offer our babies.
CONVICTED (2021) | “Cruel, neglectful and greedy” puppy farmers Andrew Leigh Bateman, born 23 September 1980, partner Kelly Marie Busby, born 2 May 1988, both formerly of Cwmann, Lampeter, Wales but now at the Yarcombe Inn, Honiton, Devon EX14 9BD, and Jeremy Paul Awdry, born c. 1948, of Jubilee Villa, Lydney Road, Bream, Lydney GL15 6EN – for offences of cruelty and neglect of puppies they bred.
Cruel and greedy puppy farmers Kelly Busby, Andrew Bateman (red tie) and Jeremy Awdry are banned from keeping dogs indefinitely following a successful local authority prosecution
Puppy farmers Andrew Bateman, Kelly Busby and Jeremy Awdry have been banned from keeping dogs for life after a judge branded their shoddy breeding business an “exercise of cruelty and neglect, hallmarked by greed”.
Bateman and Busby, who had a breeding licence for West Wales but not Forest of Dean, advertised “home bred” puppies online, but the dogs they supplied were from Awdry’s puppy farm in Bream where the environment was one of filth, chaos and neglect.
Dogs were kept in cages which were exposed to the elements or dark and unlit while faeces were left to accumulate
Prosecutor Greg Gordon told the court “Adverts for puppies were placed on three websites; Gumtree, Pets4Homes and Freeads and these created a false impression – that the sellers were fully licensed and that the puppies were raised in a caring and friendly home and were in good health.
“However none of this was true. The conditions that the puppies were kept in were squalid and they were poorly looked after.
“They were not being brought up in caring environment and none of the defendants were licensed to sell puppies in the Forest of Dean.”
Following numerous complaints from members of the public, officers from Forest of Dean District Council visited the site and took photographs of the shocking conditions.
Officer found a black Labrador puppy of around three months inside a cage kept in an open-fronted garage. The cage had no bedding and was placed on the concrete floor. There was no food, an empty bowl and a large amount of faeces.
That puppy was seized by the officers and was re-homed after being signed over to the Council.
Another two dogs were kept in complete darkness in a garage and when the officers entered they were “overcome with the smell of urine.” The floor was filthy and the puppies had a little water but no bedding or food.
Adult dogs were found in open-air cages surrounded by chicken remains, pieces raw meat and large quantities of rubbish.
Jeremy Awdry
Mr Gordon described how potential purchasers arriving at Jubilee Villa “were greeted with a property that was in a sorry state. One of the witnesses stated that they should have turned away there and then as there was a vast amount of poo and wee on the floor in the kitchen where the puppies were.
“Another witness said they were uncomfortable with dogs being kept in small kennels. The puppies were constantly barking. A further witness was so shocked by the conditions that although she had only intended to buy one puppy she felt she had to return to buy the other puppy to get it out of those terrible conditions.”
The prosecutor said that there was a long list of complaints from purchasers as the puppies were often ill with diarrhoea and other medical issues when they took them home.
Mr Gordon added: “One puppy died shortly after being purchased from Awdry, while others racked up significant vet bills.
“Awdry promised the purchasers that they had four weeks’ vet insurance. This was never registered and Kennel Club registration paperwork proved to be false and inaccurate. Microchips were badly implanted into the puppies by Awdry.”
A veterinary expert described the site as “harbouring a range of pathogenic diseases that can cause significant illnesses in dogs and humans.”
The expert also criticised the “small, bland environment”, the lack of clean comfortable bedding or toys and the lack of “enrichment” with the consequence that the puppies could develop behavioural difficulties.
During interview, Awdry admitted that he dipped dogs in chemicals as he did with his sheep.
The court heard the three defendants had earned around £90,000 in four years from puppy farming.
Clive Rees, for Awdry, told the court : “The council officials visited the day after the roof had blown off the chicken shed which is why there were so many remains around.
“Awdry has spent £3,000 on building new kennels, but it appears this has been a waste of time if he is to be banned from keeping dogs in the future.
“He is remorseful, even if he hasn’t shown it to the officers.”
Andrew Bateman and Kelly Busby, who are both bankrupt, are now believed to be running a pub in Honiton, Devon
Christian Jowett, for Bateman, said: “He has now lost his business and is moving to England to seek employment. He has had to sell their legitimate puppies in West Wales to comply with the impending ban on owning dogs.”
Kate Williams, for Busby, said: “She feels she has let her family down over this situation. She has been hit hard financially as she has now lost her home and was made bankrupt last year. She also takes issue with some of the allegations made.”
The three defendants each admitted three offences of failing to meet an animal’s needs. Awdry also admitted three offences of selling a dog without a licence in breach of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Judge Ian Lawrie QC told them: “All three of you wanted to make money from this venture. None of you were concerned about the welfare of the animals. I am at a loss how you could have kept this up for such a lengthy period of time.
“You may not have set out to be cruel, but it was your ongoing neglect that was cruel. The dogs were in your care.
“This was a contrived exercise of cruelty and neglect hallmarked by greed. You each had different roles but were all negligent in the animals’ welfare as you were more concerned about making money.
“It is clear that when there were sales, the promised veterinary insurance was never registered.”
The prosecution was brought by officers in the Street Warden Team and the Counter Fraud Unit (CFU) with the assistance of the Forest of Dean council’s legal team.
PC Cath McDay from the rural crime team at Coleford Police station assisted in obtaining a warrant to inspect the premises.
Sentencing: 19-week custodial sentence suspended for two years; ordered to each pay £3,478 towards court costs and £2,901 compensation and a £115 victim surcharge.
Awdry also received a 7pm to 7am curfew order for six months; Bateman and Busby were ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work.
All three were banned from owning dogs indefinitely.
In March 2019 Jeremy Awdry received compensation after having dozens of his sheep seized by police and the local authority.
Around 55 of Awdry’s sheep were taken from two disputed locations in Bream under the Town Police Clauses Act 1847, which allows the impounding of sheep “at any time found at large in any street”.
However, a judge ruled the animals should not have been taken.
Ten years earlier Awdry was given a five-year Asbo (repeatedly breached), banning his flock from Bream, after his sheep were reportedly straying into gardens and damaging fences.
Following his conviction for dog cruelty and illegal breeding, several locals have alleged that Awdry also neglects his sheep.
One local said: “He has at least sixty free roaming sheep which has not, as far as I can see, been reported on. These sheep are not in the best condition, as you can imagine. He also has his own collies he uses to round them up etc. I don’t know if he still has the dogs, but if not it will make any kind of shepherding almost impossible.
“[Awdry] is not a nice character and is always in a battle with the police, council etc.
“The sheep have to be registered, and due to his bad husbandry and disregard he has registered them in his son’s name[James Awdry]. He’s as bad as his father.
“I just feel that his sheep are now a matter for concern. They are in lamb and need extra food etc, not just grass, which is in short supply this time of year.”
News and Updates
Address for Bateman and Busby as of 18 May 2021: 22 Norburton Burton Bradstock BRIDPORT Dorset DT6 4QL
They have taken over two fast-food kiosks in the West Bay area of Bridport: the West Bay and Ships Galley. Busby recently advertised for staff on Facebook:
UKACF FB post 27 April 2021
PuppyFarmersExposed | On the move and still at it. Now in Bridport, Dorset Andrew Bateman and Kelly Busby, previously of Cwmann, #Lampeter, Wales, were banned from keeping dogs for life in February 2021 after investigators uncovered a litany of animal cruelty and neglect by the money-grubbing pair and their notorious accomplice, Jeremy Awdry of Bream in Gloucestershire.
The financially and morally bankrupt couple have been on the move ever since, initially settling in Honiton, Devon, where they were to be the new tenants of the Yarcombe Inn. Following an outcry by locals that offer was withdrawn and they upped sticks again.
We have now heard from several different sources – all reliable – that they have taken over management of a fish & chip business in West Bay, Bridport, Dorset.
“Well at least they’re now earning an honest living!” we hear you cry. If only. Unfortunately there is an abundance of evidence to suggest that they have continued to source and sell puppies and their ‘respectable’ cash-based business will be no more than a useful front for their cruel and shoddy dealings.
We have heard that Bateman’s cruelty towards dogs went far beyond neglect and actually veered more towards the violent and sadistic. This man should not be allowed within 10 feet of a dog or any animal. He, and all others like him, must be put out of the pet-selling business for good.
Jeremy Awdry has finally been sent to prison after admitting breaching the order not to keep dogs.
Shortly after his conviction in February 2021, information was received that Awdry was still in possession of dogs at his premises and was in breach of the disqualification order. The matter was investigated by the officers from the street warden and counter fraud teams at Forest of Dean District Council.
On two separate occasions, Awdry was witnessed flouting that ban – by council officers and Gloucestershire Police.
He was seen to be either in control of dogs, or transporting them in his van, both of which constitute a breach of the banning order.
Appearing at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on February 1, 2022, Awdry pleaded guilty to two offences of breaching the disqualification imposed on him. He was sentenced to 25 weeks’ imprisonment: three weeks for each of the charges and 19 weeks imposed in relation to the suspended sentence. Full costs were also awarded to the council.
Forest of Dean District Council’s animal welfare member champion, Councillor Nicky Packer said: “Our street warden team does a fantastic job year round of ensuring that animals in our district are looked after properly, and that those who mistreat or cause harm to their animals are held accountable.
“Today’s verdict should stand as testament to this. A ban on keeping dogs means exactly that. If, as in this case, it isn’t followed, our street warden and counter fraud and enforcement team will enforce it.”
CONVICTED (2021) | Toby William Holland, born October 1971, of Maengwyn, Maengwyn, Blaenporth, Cardigan, Ceridigion SA43 2AS – for the prolonged mistreatment of animals on his farm.
A trial held in February, 2020, heard that animal welfare officers from Ceredigion Council had previously visited the farm, which was run as a limited company with the name Maengwyn Farm Ltd (dissolved December 2023) and found a number of issues.
During the visit they found a sheep lying on its back unable to move. Officers said it was evident that the sheep had been there for some time and requested that Holland seek veterinary assistance.
However, when they returned the following day, on January 30, 2019, they discovered that treatment had not been requested and that the animal had in fact been left to die.
Officers also entered a barn which contained 19 pigs and found them to be “shrieking for food”. They said the pigs were “very thin” and were being kept in an accumulation of muck with no dry lying area available to them.
The pigs also had access to two dead pigs that were lying inside the barn, and a post-mortem on one of them revealed that it had likely died of starvation. A veterinarian who attended the farm concluded that both dead and alive pigs had been “suffering unnecessarily”.
In addition, a number of sheep carcasses were found on the land, strewn across fields, and were accessible to sheep that were still alive.
Then, a follow-up visit carried out four months later found that pigs on the farm were kept in a field where they had access to plastic bags containing metal sheeting with sharp edges, as well as animal bones and skulls.
Following the trial, a court warrant was issued for Holland’s arrest and he was arrested by police in December, 2020.
On January 6, 2021, Holland was found guilty in his absence of 10 charges in total relating to Animal Welfare and Animal By-Products offences.
Sentencing | 18 weeks in prison; £750 costs. Banned from keeping any animals for two years (expired January 2023).
CONVICTED (2020) | Peter Bourne, born June 1987, of Cliff Road, Borth, Ceredigion SY24 5NN – sexually assaulted two horses with a paintbrush
Sick pervert Peter Bourne was caught on CCTV sexually assaulting two horses
Peter Bourne, who is a company director of holiday lettings business Cambrian Leisure Ltd, was caught on CCTV on September 19, 2019, approaching two horses – named Hannah and Urani – from behind, before sexually assaulting them.
Video footage then showed him sniffing the paintbrush he had used in the attack.
Bourne’s interference with the horses was confirmed by vets to have caused both animals to suffer unnecessarily.
Sexually abused horse Hannah, whose owners moved away following the attack
RSPCA inspector Keith Hogben said: “Hannah and Urani are two horses who have been put through a horrific ordeal, which this individual must reasonably have known would cause them suffering.
“Fortunately, CCTV footage meant we could detect these crimes and take action.
“It must have been exceptionally distressing, too, for the horse’s owners to know a man targeted and interfered with these animals in such a manner. Thankfully, we have secured justice for the suffering these horses were caused by this man’s actions.”
The two horses have recovered from the incident and remain with their two owners.
Sue Neville, owner of Hannah, said: “This has been such an emotional time for me, and the whole family. It was such a disturbing incident, that was really the last thing we expected to happen.
“If it wasn’t for the RSPCA, we would have been completely lost. They have helped secure justice for Hannah; and have been supportive and amazing throughout.
“We’ve moved house on the back of this incident, to protect our horse. It’s caused us a great deal of anxiety and worry.
“Hannah was always such a friendly and trusting horse; but she is now nervous and anxious to strangers. We are just so relieved justice has been served.”
Urani’s owner Pippa Wells added: “It’s been a really difficult time for us – and this is certainly not something you’d ever expect to happen.
“Without the RSPCA taking this forward, we wouldn’t have secured justice for Urani. This has totally transformed my opinion of the work of the RSPCA.
“Fortunately, Urani is now fine – but this is obviously something no horse should have to face. Thankfully, a positive outcome was secured at court.
Sentencing: 150 hours of unpaid work; ordered to pay £390 in costs and charges plus £150 compensation to each of the two horse owners. Eight-year ban on keeping animals (expires July 2028).
CONVICTED (2019) | Steffan Lee Harris, born 17 December 1993, and Barbara Ray Howell, born 21 August 1993, of Gorwyn, Tenby Road, St Clears, Carmarthen SA33 4JN – kept dozens of dogs in shocking conditions at illegal puppy farm.
Steffan Lee Harris and partner Barbara Ray Howell pleaded guilty to animal welfare offences, running a dog breeding business without a licence, and consumer offences relating to the advertising of dogs online.
Animal inspectors found starving and sick dogs being held in sheds and barns at premises operated by the couple who sold puppies online while pretending to be private sellers.
Paul Hobson, prosecuting, told the court how the couple advertised on a website called, ironically, he said, preloved.co.uk.
One buyer paid £225 for a puppy from a caravan the pair rented at Waun Dwni farm, Tanygroes. The animal became ill before the buyer got back home to Cardiff and they ended up paying £700 in vet’s bills.
Mr Hobson said the puppy had not been microchipped, vaccinated or treated for fleas as the couple had claimed in their advertisement.
A major investigation followed, first by Ceredigion County Council and then by the RSPCA.
Inspectors found 82 dogs being kept in poor conditions – 49 breeding females, 12 males and 21 puppies ready for sale.
Many of the dogs were kept in small enclosures with little light or access to fresh air with poor or muddy bedding and sharp corners and low-hanging electrical cables across the pens.
A lurcher could hardly move, a terrier was tied to a breeze block and a collie had a body score of one out of nine and was close to death.
Another dog was kept in a sealed container and it appeared impossible for anyone to get in to feed or water her, said Mr Hobson.
Inspectors also found pigs squealing through lack of food and water, and chickens that appeared not to have been fed or given access to water. One chicken collapsed in front of them.
The court heard Harris, who was present during the inspection, was “less than cooperative” during the process.
Harris and Howell both admitted cruelty offences in relation to the pigs and Harris to the chickens.
Mr Hobson said further investigation showed that Harris had a flock of 110 sheep on nearby land, which he rented.
The owner became concerned because he did not seem to be there to look after them and inspectors found sheep carcasses that should have been disposed of properly.
After Harris was made aware of their concerns the sheep disappeared, apart from 19 which he seemed to have simply abandoned.
Mr Hobson said an initial financial investigation suggested the couple had banked £150,000 between 2013 and 2018 through the sale of puppies.
A Proceeds of Crime Act investigation is underway to determine how much money could been confiscated from them. That matter was due to be settled at a court hearing on 15 November, 2019.
After his arrest Harris said he wanted to get the puppy farm up and running before applying for a licence.
Howell said she only looked after the paperwork.
For Harris and Howell James Hartson said he accepted that anyone seeing the photographs of the dogs could not fail to be mortified.
“They had ambitions for a business but lost control. It is likely the financial consequences will be punitive,” he added.
Mr Hartson urged the judge not to impose banning orders preventing the defendants from owning or being concerned in the care of dogs as that would effectively stop Harris from carrying out his work as a herdsman.
Judge Peter Heywood said animals were defenceless and Harris and Howell had housed them in totally inappropriate surroundings.
“This was a significant commercial enterprise and Harris was the driving force,” he added.
“You were in it to make money and had no regard for the welfare of the animals.”
The judge said Harris, who cannot read or write, had been the “driving force” behind the enterprise while Howell had assisted him.
He said he would be failing in his public duty if he suspended Harris’ sentence, but took into account that Howell had a young child when sentencing her.
Sentencing | Harris was jailed for six months (half to be served on licence) while Howell was given a four-month suspended sentence and ordered to complete a rehabilitation activity requirement. Both were made the subject of banning orders preventing them from owning or being concerned in the care of dogs, chickens, and sheep for the next five years (expires August 2024).
CONVICTED (2019) | farmer Dylan E Williams, born c. 1972, of Neuaddlwyd Isaf, Ciliau Aeron, Lampeter SA48 7RE – admitted animal cruelty after 47 rotting sheep were found on his land.
Williams, who also owns Coedlan Tree Services & Coedlan Southdowns, pleaded guilty to four animal welfare and animal by-products offences after an investigation carried out by Ceredigion Council.
When animal welfare officers visited the farm in April 2018, they found 47 sheep carcasses in various states of decomposition. These carcasses were accessible by other sheep and young lambs that were still alive.
The council said the majority of sheep seen on the land were suffering from severe wool loss and irritated skin, signs of a debilitating condition known as sheep scab.
Two of the charges brought against Williams under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 concerned the causing of unnecessary suffering to two ewes – one of which was found unconscious with her intestines protruding from her body.
Another offence related to Williams not meeting the welfare needs of his sheep due to the fact that he failed to properly inspect the flock. He also failed to manage and treat the sheep scab effectively.
In total, there were three separate offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and one under the Animal By-Products Regulations.
Sentencing: 250 hours of unpaid work; ordered to pay £1,648 costs. Not banned from keeping animals.
CONVICTED (2019) | farmers David Davies, born 1956, and brother Evan Meirion Davies, born 1969, both of Penffynnon Farm, Bangor Teifi, Llandysul SA44 4HX – for a catalogue of appalling cruelty to cattle in their care.
Cattle in the care of brothers David and Evan Meirion Davies were housed in terrible conditions, with no food, water or dry lying area.
Brothers David Davies, and Evan Meirion Davies admitted 13 charges of animal cruelty.
The prosecution follows a visit by animal health officers and a Animal and Plant Health Agency vet to the farm in April 2018.
Officers found 58 cattle carcasses in various states of decay in the cattle sheds and surrounding fields. The remaining cattle were housed in terrible conditions, with no food, water or dry lying area.
The vet confirmed that the cattle were being caused unnecessary suffering, and also formed the opinion that the dead cattle had also succumbed to the horrendous conditions found in the sheds, and died of neglect. The vet had to euthanise two cattle to stop further suffering during visits to the premises.
This was the worst case of animal welfare neglect seen to date by the animal health team of Ceredigion County Council, they said.
In sentencing, the magistrates acknowledged the evidence of horrendous suffering, inadequate care and poor animal husbandry displayed by both defendants to the animals.
The Cabinet member responsible for public protection, Cllr Gareth Lloyd said: “This was a truly shocking case of neglect that caused terrible suffering to so many animals. We will not hesitate to act decisively whenever we need to protect animal welfare.”
“This was an extreme case, and in no way reflects on the dedication of the overwhelming majority of Ceredigion farmers in maintaining the highest standards of care for their animals.”
Sentencing | 16 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months. Ordered to pay costs to the council of £1,500 each. Disqualified from keeping any animals of any description for five years (expires February 2024).
It was reported that the brothers lost their appeal against a ban on keeping animals.
They sought to appeal the initial guilty verdict despite pleading guilty earlier in the year, and they were claimed to have tried to frustrate the appeals process by securing a number of adjournments – a total\i of seven – in appeal hearings, before an eighth request to adjourn proceedings on Monday was not granted. Instead, a crown court judge decided to uphold the original judgement, referring to the case as “truly disturbing”.
Ceredigion Council admitted it had been frustrated by delays in the case, but said they were always confident that the ban initially imposed would not be overturned. Both Davies brothers appeared at Swansea Crown Court on Monday 02/12/19 to see their original sentences upheld.
The pair were ordered to pay Ceredigion Council costs of £420, on top of costs totalling £3,000 that they were ordered to pay in February.
David Davies and Evan Meirion Davies were jailed for 24 weeks breaching the court order banning them from keeping animals.
The judge partly activated the suspended sentence, and convicted them of breaching a disqualification order.
Ceredigion council prosecutor Maggie Hughes said the brothers were banned from keeping or being involved with caring for animals in February 2019, after being convicted of neglect that led to the death of 58 cows.
That disqualification was suspended while they appealed, but was eventually upheld in early December 2019. The brothers were then given until the end of December to dispose of the cattle.
After denying breaching the order, they claimed during a trial that they had sold the cattle to their brother, who farms in Carmarthenshire. They said he owned the cows and was renting their farm from them.
However, Judge Parsons dismissed the claims, saying there was no evidence that it had happened and accused the brothers of a “serious breach” of the court order.
He added: “This court wasn’t born yesterday. The entire story is a fiction.
“It’s a device intended to ignore the requirements of the disqualification.
“They have refused to accept the authority of the court in terms of the disqualification.”
After jailing the brothers, Judge Parsons also ordered them to pay £425 each toward prosecution costs, as well as surcharge of £122.
Following the sentence, Cllr Gareth Lloyd, Ceredigion council’s Cabinet member for finance and public protection, said: “Both brothers have persistently disregarded a court order banning them from keeping animals.
“The scenes witnessed by council staff, vets, police officers and contactors at the time were horrific.”
CONVICTED (2017) | Alexander Kyle Grice, born c. 1966, and Victoria Louisa Kyle Grice, born c. 1968, of Llwyncelyn, Glanarthan, Llandysul SA44 6PL – for cruelty towards dogs, a rabbit and a guinea pig
Brother and sister Alexander and Victoria Grice were both convicted on 12 counts of animal cruelty following a two-day trial in September 2017.
The case was brought by the RSPCA and both defendants had denied all the charges.
Among the offences of which they were jointly convicted were failing to protect a basset hound named Bertie from pain, suffering or disease. Bertie was underweight, in poor condition and not living in a suitable environment.
The pair were also found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a bichon frise dog named Bella, who was underweight, suffering from severe dental disease, skin disease, mammary tumours and an ear infection.
The pair were also found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering by failing to treat flea infestations, skin, eye and ear infections for various dogs and to causing unnecessary suffering to a rabbit and a guinea pig.
Sentencing: Community orders – Alexander Grice failed to comply with this and in June 2018 was sentenced to 12 weeks in jail. Victoria Grice’s order was later revoked on health grounds. Total of £585 costs and charges each. Three-year ban on keeping animals (expired 2020).
