CONVICTED (2024) | Daniel Bayley, born c. 1981, formerly of Kidlington, Oxfordshire, but now no fixed abode – caught hitting his pet dog and dragging him by the collar.
Bayley pleaded guilty to hitting the dog, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier called Bailey, and intentionally sitting on him.
He was also seen dragging the dog by his collar.
It was ordered the dog was removed from Bayley, now of no fixed abode, and he was banned from owning an animal for five years.
He was also fined £200. There were court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £80.
CONVICTED (2021) | hare coursers Thomas Joseph Connors, born February 1978, of Carew Road, Wallington, Sutton SM6, Patrick Rooney, born c. 1985, of Croydon Road, Keston, Bromley BR2, Anthony Connors, born 31 January 1987, of Rutland Avenue, High Wycombe HP12, and James Raymond Bell, born October 2000, of Oaksview Park, 12 Murcott, Kidlington, Oxfordshire OX5 2RH
Thomas Connors, James Bell, Anthony Connors and Patrick Rooney all received fines and Criminal Behaviour Orders.
Officers from Cambridgeshire Constabulary’s Rural Crime Action Team (RCAT) caught the four men, who were also with a 12-year-old boy, driving through a field in Abbots Ripton, Cambridgeshire, looking for hares.
James Bell
On seeing the police, the group drove off through wildlife conservation areas and, after a short pursuit through the village, drove onto another field before stopping.
All four were interviewed and previous poaching convictions were revealed.
The vehicle was seized and the men were ordered to leave the county.
Anthony Connors
They all pleaded guilty to daytime trespass in pursuit of game (poaching) at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court on September 22, 2021, and were each handed a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) lasting three years.
The order prevents them from (while in Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex):
being on private agricultural or farm land, or any yards or working areas associated with that land, in or on any vehicle, or on foot whilst in possession of one or more sight hound or x-sight hound breed, unless the land owner’s written permission has been obtained beforehand
Jim Bell (left) and Anthony Connors (right)
All four were also ordered to pay £178 in compensation to the owner of the fields and wildlife conservation areas.
In addition, Thomas Connors was fined £150, while Anthony Connors, Rooney and Bell were fined £200.
CONVICTED (2017) | Jemma Bloom (née Jemma Sero), born 25 May 1985, and husband Barney William Bloom (known as Billy Bloom), born 2 May 1980 of Mirfield Road, Witney OX28 5BA – left their pet dog to starve in a squalid outhouse
Dog killers: Billy and Jemma Bloom now of Witney, Oxfordshire
The pair, then of Hudson Street, Bicester, admitted starving and failing to look after their crossbreed dog Hooch, who was later put to sleep by a vet following his ordeal.
Hooch was found without food and water in a squalid outhouse at the couple’s home after the police contacted the animal welfare charity with concerns for the dog’s wellbeing.
Hooch
RSPCA Inspector Lauren Bailey, who investigated the case, said: “When I first saw Hooch he was at the police station and I was moved by how loving he was.
“He was so skinny, dirty, and neglected but had so much time for everyone he met.
“It was heart-breaking to see a dog that had not been shown any love himself still offer love unconditionally to others.
“He had sadly been left without food and water in a dirty outhouse. He was very underweight with all his ribs showing.
“When I carried out the interviews they admitted he wasn’t cared for and said he was only occasionally fed leftover pasta.
“The neglect suffered by Hooch could have been easily avoided but he was simply left to suffer without the care he needed and deserved.
“We encourage people who can no longer cope with caring for their pets to contact us for help and advice to avoid unnecessary distress and suffering being caused.”
Hooch initially recovered from his mistreatment while in the care of the RSPCA and managed to regain some weight but had to be put to sleep because of medical issues.
Sentencing: Barney Bloom – 12 weeks in jail. Jemma Bloom – eight weeks in jail suspended for 12 months; community order with one-month home curfew. Both were disqualified from keeping dogs for 10 years (expires July 2027).
CONVICTED (2010) | Julie Carter, born 9 March 1970, of 22 Herald Way, Bicester OX26 4SF – drowned eight of her pet cats one by one in a baby bath at her home.
Over a week, mother-of-one Julie Carter subjected each of the fully grown cats, aged between one and three, to a painful death by holding them under water.
She admitted causing unnecessary suffering by killing the animals between May 25 and June 7, 2010.
The court heard a member of staff at Charter Community Housing visited the house and was struck by the smell of cat urine.
Carter was told she would have to remove some of her 11 cats and clean up the house.
But when RSPCA inspector Doug Davidson went to the premises only three cats were left. Carter later admitted she had killed the other eight.
Defending, Paul Bevan said Carter knew what she had done, but had a “limited degree of understanding”.
He said she had received threats over the case.
Sentencing | 12 weeks in jail. Lifetime ban on all animals.
