CONVICTED (2024) | Joshua Sanderson, born 20 December 2003, of 35 Fairfield, Evenwood, Bishop Auckland DL14 9SE – left three lurchers to starve in his abandoned flat.
Sanderson’s dogs were discovered living in a flat strewn with faces and rubbish after he abandoned them. One dog, Molly, had eaten a bin liner in her desperation for food.
Lurcher Molly was emaciated and was so hungry she had eaten a bin liner
An RSPCA inspector gained entry to Sanderson’s flat the help of police and the letting agents on April 6, 2023. In a statement read to the court the inspector described being met with an overpowering smell of ammonia inside the property.
Grim conditions inside the flat where Sanderson left three dogs to die
They continued: “There was faeces present at the rear of the door and on the stairs. On entering the main area of the flat there were no dogs present or loose and it was littered with faeces and rubbish scattered about, there was also faeces on the settee in the main room.
“I then opened a door to a small bedroom and found three lurcher-type dogs in a small area which was again littered with faeces and like the rest of the flat the smell of urine and excrement was overpowering.
“None of the dogs had any access to food or water and the bowls that were present were overturned and all were dry.”
All three dogs were rescued and examined by a vet who hospitalised them overnight.
Tolly
A tan and white male lurcher was found to have wounds and cuts, while a black and tan female lurcher had inflamed eye membranes.
The third dog, Molly, the only one of the three that was microchipped, was emaciated and weighed just 9.45kg. She was given a body condition score of just one out of nine.
Although her microchip said she was a year old, the vet said significant tartar on her teeth indicated her age was inaccurate. She had a number of scars but no fresh wounds.
Magistrates heard the dogs were ravenous when fed and Molly passed faeces containing a black bin liner.
In his evidence, the vet said: “Molly was suffering at the time of examination as a result of malnutrition due to lack of feeding.
“The bloods indicated that this dog had normal organ function and no significant clinical condition that would be responsible for the weight loss.
“She gained nearly 30% in weight following adequate feeding in five weeks. In my opinion she had been caused unnecessary suffering on the grounds of inadequate nutrition for no less than six weeks.”
Following enquiries, Sanderson was traced to a property in the village of Evenwood.
He was interviewed by the RSPCA in June 2023 and confirmed that he had been the occupant of the flat but had moved out.
He also said he owned two of the dogs and had taken Molly on from someone who wasn’t looking after her properly. He conceded that conditions at the flat were poor and unsuitable for the dogs.
The dogs were cared for at the RSPCA’s Great Ayton Animal Centre.
The unnamed dog that was put to sleep following weeks of starvation and neglect by heartless thug Josh Sanderson
Sadly, the black and tan female lurcher was put to sleep on professional advice for welfare and behavioural reasons.
Molly and the male lurcher, who was named Tolly by staff, were adopted and are enjoying life in their new homes.
Sanderson admitted two charges contrary to the Animal Welfare act 2006 but walked free from court with “rehabilitation” and five year ban.
Speaking after the sentencing hearing, RSPCA Chief Inspector for Durham Mark Gent said: “All three dogs had been badly let down by their owner, left behind in a dirty and hazardous environment without food or water, to the extent where one of them had resorted to eating a bin liner.
“It was a sad case and it illustrates how important it is to ensure the needs of animals you’re responsible for are always met and to see help and advice if your circumstances change and you are no longer able to provide for them.”
Sentencing | six-month community order with five rehabilitation activity requirement days. Banned from keeping animals for five years (expires April 2029).
CONVICTED (2024) |Levi Douglas Swift, born c. 2002, of Cornwall Street, Hartlepool, and Bethany Nicole Greener, née Bethany Murray, born 12 February 1989, of Hutton Avenue, Hartlepool – starved their pet lurcher.
Levi Swift and Bethany Greener caused six weeks of suffering to a lurcher. Images: Facebook
The charges brought by the RSPCA related to a six-week period between October 20 and December 1, 2023, when oddball couple Levi Swift and Bethany Greener failed to provide adequate nutrition for their brindle-coloured lurcher, Elsie.
RSPCA Inspector Claire Wilson said in a statement to the court that she went to Hutton Avenue on December 1, 2023, after a complaint was made from a member of the public about two dogs left outside the property without shelter or bedding.
One was said to be very thin and the caller described her as being “close to death”.
The inspector said: “It was immediately obvious that Elsie was in extremely poor body condition and emaciated.
“I could see all her bones protruding through her rough coat and could see her full spine, ribs, pelvic bones and shoulder bones without putting my hands on her.
“When I did stroke her the bones were spiky to touch and she hardly had any muscle visible. She also had hair loss along her spine.”
Greener told the inspector the dog belonged to her partner and they had rescued her two months earlier when she claimed she was in a “much worse condition with very little fur and struggling to stand”.
The inspector added: “She (Greener) then said that she couldn’t afford to take the dogs to a vet as she only had £5 left from benefits at the end of the month once her bills came out.”
The couple consented for the inspector to take Elsie to a vets where she received treatment and she was later transferred to private boarding kennels used by the RSPCA. A vet expert report stated that Elsie would have been suffering for at least six weeks because she was in an emaciated state.
Swift and Greener pleaded guilty to the charges.
Elsie gained weight in the RSPCA’s care
The court ordered the permanent removal of Elsie from the pair.
Following two weeks in RSPCA care, the brindle-coloured lurcher put on more than 3kg in weight and made a good recovery.
Sentencing | Swift was ordered to pay a total of £337 while Greener is to pay £257, with the financial penalties to be deducted from benefits. Both were banned from owning, keeping, or having any control over animals for ten years.
CONVICTED (2024) | Chad Kemp, who also uses the alias Joe Lawler, born April 1995, of Gilpin Court, Newton Aycliffe DL5 5EN – left two dogs unattended in a squalid flat.
Animal abuser Chad Kemp, who blamed “mental health issues” for his cruelty, only received a three-year ban despite sustained neglect of his dogs
Kemp ignored RSPCA warnings about the conditions at the property his two wolfhounds, Poppy and Marley, were living in and often left them unattended for several days at a time
The court heard that RSPCA Inspectors Gemma Lynch and John Lawson had gone to the ground floor flat in Gilpin Court on May 3, 2023, following reports that the pets had been left unattended.
Tapes had previously been placed over the door lock on a previous visit to check if anyone was entering the property but these were still intact.
In a written statement to the court, Inspector Lynch said: “We were informed that Mr Kemp had not been seen for some time. We returned with police and Mr Kemp was located.
“Strong advice was given to him in regards to not leaving the dogs unattended and to ensure they were not returned to the address until it was a suitable living area.
“Mr Kemp agreed and assured us he would take the dogs to his friends until the flat was cleaned and he removed the dogs while we were present.”
In his evidence, Inspector Lawson described conditions inside the flat as ‘hazardous’ and noted there was medication within reachable height of the dogs on the coffee table.
Three days later Inspector Lynch visited the flat again and spoke to someone there who knew Kemp. He told her the defendant had not returned to the address for days and that he was sitting outside because the smell of urine inside the property was giving him breathing difficulties.
On entering the flat the inspector found it covered in rubbish and faeces and smelling strongly of ammonia.
Poppy (left) and Marley will now be rehomed by the RSPCA after the court granted a deprivation order
Poppy and Marley were back living inside and were subsequently seized by police.
Both dogs, who were described as being in a ‘lean’ condition, were taken to a vet to be checked over before being transferred to a private boarding facility to be looked after on behalf of the RSPCA.
A further visit to the flat was made by inspector Lynch on May 25. Kemp was at home and was advised that an investigation was underway. He said he would consider signing the dogs over into RSPCA care, although this didn’t happen.
The passageway and bathroom appeared to have been cleaned up, the court heard, but there were still dog faeces stuck to the floor in various areas and the living room was full of rubbish and unsuitable for animals to be living in.
Repeated attempts were made to arrange an interview with Kemp in the months that followed but phone calls went unanswered and there was no reply at the property or at another address where he was said to be currently living.
Kemp admitted he had failed to meet his pets’ needs by providing them with a suitable environment.
In mitigation the court heard Kemp had been suffering from poor mental health.
Poppy and Marley are being cared for at the RSPCA’s York, Harrogate & District Branch rehoming centre and can now be rehomed by the charity.
Sentencing | three-year ban on keeping animals, except for cockatiels (expires March 2027). Deprivation order on Poppy and Marley.
CONVICTED (2024) | Adam Lee Bone, born c. 1991, of 29 Taylor Grove, Wingate, County Durham TS28 5PA – assaulted a dog and his female owner.
Bone, a career criminal with numerous previous convictions for violence dating back to his teens, pleaded guilty to two counts; assault by beating, and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
The offences took place on August 27, 2023, when Bone assaulted a woman and a Bedlington Terrier in Wingate.
Sentencing | 20-week prison sentence, suspended for 24 months. ordered to pay £85 in prosecution costs. Disqualified from keeping dogs for five years (expires March 2029).
CONVICTED (2024) | serial animal abuser Pamela Mary Brown, born 7 November 1954, of 16 Browney Lane, Browney, Durham DH7 8HT – for the neglect of two horses.
Pamela Brown, a traveller and repeat offender*, has been given an 11-week curfew for causing unnecessary suffering to horses Rosealee and Topsy between January and May 2023..
She pleaded guilty to ineffective equine dentistry care, inadequate investigation, or addressing of the horses’ underweight and poor bodily conditions.
She was ordered to comply with curfew from 9pm to 7am daily at her caravan.
The order lasts until May 21, 2024, includes electronic monitoring, and allows three metres of movement for toilet visits.
She is also disqualified from dealing with horses for ten years and must pay a £114 victim services surcharge and £300 in costs, at £20 per month starting April 3.
*In February 2015 Pamela Brown was given an 18-month supervision order and five-year ban on keeping horses for neglecting one equine so severely he had to be immediately destroyed.
The unnamed horse, who was kept in a field with 12 others in Langley Moor, Durham, was underweight with an overgrown and deformed hoof. Other horses in the herd had skin diseases and lice.
Serial horse abuser Pamela Brown with daughter Louise Nicholson, aka Louise Doherty, co-defendant in the 2015 RSPCA prosecution and co-owner with husband Patrick Doherty of Doherty Stud Yard.
Speaking about the horse that was euthanised, Kevin Campbell for the RSPCA said the animal had “poor body condition .. poor feet, poor living environment and effectively it is difficult to see anything worse that could have been done to to the horse”.
Brown’s co-accused, daughter Louise Nicholson aka Louise Doherty or NickyLouise Dior Doherty, born October 1988, and also of 16 Browney Lane, was cleared of five charges of failing to ensure an animal’s welfare, relating to a pony called Tiny and another unnamed horse.
In mitigation for Pamela Brown, solicitor David Ward described her as “a very robust lady who is the matriarch …”
He added that his client “has some difficulty in reading and writing as they all seem to do, but it is unlikely that this lady will be involved in any further offending“.
In addition to the supervision order and five-year ban, Brown was ordered to pay £1,000 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
CONVICTED (2024) | George Robert Watson, born 26 September 1972, of 17 Cedar Terrace, West Cornforth, Ferryhill DL17 9NG – left a stallion in pain with a deep head wound.
Watson, a traveller who generally goes by the name Robert Watson, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a horse known as Delboy.
The animal was found with a headcollar so tightly fitted to his head that the metal clip had dug into his skin – causing a painful wound.
An RSPCA Inspector attended a field close to the A1 near Bishop Middleham, Ferryhill on 5 May 2023, after concerns were raised to the charity about the welfare of a horse.
The Inspector found a tethered piebald stallion cob horse, but immediately noticed the horse’s tight head collar buckle embedded around the left side of his face and jaw area.
The inspector said in a witness statement: “The clip on the left hand side of Delboy’s face had dug into the side of his cheek and caused a deep gash which was oozing puss.
“The whole left hand side of the pony’s face was extremely swollen, it was noticeable from a distance away.”
A specialist equine vet was called and after examining Delboy certified that he was suffering.
Durham Police placed him into the care of the RSPCA, where he was transported for veterinary treatment.
In their witness statement, the veterinary surgeon stated: “The soft tissues around the wound were swollen and tender, and the wound where the clip was embedded was painful and the horse did react to me removing the clip.
“These wounds could have been easily prevented by the owner not allowing such a tight headcollar – I believe it had most likely been in place for several weeks as a minimum.”
They added: “By failing to identify a tight headcollar which therefore caused painful wounds to the face, and by also failing to identify wounds that were present and immediately removing the headcollar and seeking veterinary attention to provide first aid and pain relief as a minimum, it is my professional opinion that this owner has caused unnecessary pain and suffering to this horse.”
In May 2023 Watson told his Facebook friends that Delboy had been stolen. In reality, the horse had been removed from him following weeks of neglect.
Watson signed Delboy over to the care of the RSPCA. He has since been cared for at an RSPCA establishment and has recovered well. When he is ready, the team will look to find him a loving new home.
In mitigation given for Watson, it was heard that a relationship break up and a foot injury were factors.
The investigating RSPCA Inspector said after sentencing: “I’m pleased we were able to get Delboy to safety and have his wounds treated.
“It’s so important that horse owners regularly check on their animals for signs of discomfort or poor health, especially when they are left wearing head collars or rugs for any length of time.
“I’m so pleased that Delboy has made such a good recovery from his wounds, and that he will now go on to be adopted into a loving new home.”
Sentencing | ordered to pay a £300 fine, a victim surcharge of £80 and costs of £725. Disqualified from owning horses for three years (expires February 2027).
CONVICTED (2024) | John Cameron Lindop, born 20 March 2000, of 7 Albion Hill, Epworth, Doncaster DN9 1HU* but with family links to Gainsborough, and Lucy Elizabeth Melrose, born 20 June 2000, of Hawthorne Road, Ferryhill DL17 9DP but originally from Gateshead – killed and burned a puppy and abused other animals in a campaign of horrific cruelty.
John Lindop and Lucy Melrose were convicted of a litany of cruelty offences against numerous animals including three dogs, one of whom was sadistically killed by one or both defendants, a chicken and a Shetland pony
John Lindop and Lucy Melrose committed a series of sickening offences against defenceless animals. These included killing a puppy and burning the remains, beating a second dog, riding a small lame pony, and setting a dog on a chicken while filming the carnage.
At the time the pair lived together in a flat in Fifth Street, Horden, County Durham.
It was said in court that the pair were in a tempestuous relationship and took out their frustrations on their pets.
Lurcher Max, who was described as subdued and withdrawn, had suffered injuries to his abdomen. He required treatment by the PDSA for muscular damage and other injuries
They appeared at Durham Crown Court on Friday 16 February 2024 and were given suspended prison sentences.
The crimes came to light following an RSPCA investigation led by Inspector Clare Wilson, which spanned two years and involved multiple animals.
The charity was first alerted to the couple in February 2022 when a member of the public contacted the RSPCA after bringing Max, a lurcher they had recently rehomed, into the PDSA Gateshead with injuries to his abdomen, and blood in his urine.
Inspector Clare Wilson said: “Max was very subdued and withdrawn, he was hanging his head and was attached to drips when I first saw him.
“I immediately noticed that his muzzle was very swollen as was his right side near his shoulder. There was blood visible in the white of his right eye too. I was told that he had been weeing blood.
“There was bruising visible on his abdomen and sheath and there were blood marks on his legs and I saw old scars on his rear legs near his feet. His nails were not scuffed as we would expect if he had been hit by a car so the vet told me that they thought he had been beaten or kicked.”
The member of the public who brought the dog into the vets had rehomed him from Melrose and Lindop the day before and she had brought the lurcher to the vets as soon as she realised he was injured.
Tally had inflammation of an ear which should have been treated by a vet
A vet report found Max had suffered blunt force trauma injuries, brought on by physical abuse.
The report said: “Max was bleeding from both nostrils which were dripping blood. He had soft tissue swelling around his left eye and bruising on his neck. He also had visible bruising and swelling on both sides of his ribs and thighs and heavy bruising on his abdomen. The injuries suffered by Max are consistent with low energy impacts, such as kicking, being hit by fists, or thrown from a few metres down or falling down the stairs.
“Out of each of these scenarios it is my opinion that being kicked is most likely due to the placement of all his injuries. In my opinion, he has been hit or kicked to the muzzle and kicked repeatedly – possibly multiple times to his abdomen as bruising and injuries were more extensive there.”
When interviewed, Melrose claimed that Lindop had, “kicked him like a football and stamped on his head.”
It was later revealed that during the investigation, the couple had hid other dogs from the RSPCA, including a lurcher called Bambi and a German Shepherd dog called Tally.
Melrose later showed these dogs to the RSPCA’s investigating officer. Tally was underweight and her right ear was crooked and inflamed with a severe ear infection.
Durham Crown Court heard how the vet found Tally suffered due to the ear condition which would have caused irritation and pain for at least 10 days or longer.
A report stated that the person responsible for Tally had failed to seek veterinary advice for her ear condition and therefore had failed in protecting her from pain and suffering.
During the investigation, Melrose’s phone was seized and found to contain shocking videos depicting more animal welfare offences. This included Bambi, a fawn coloured lurcher, being baited and set on a chicken. Lindop claimed Melrose was responsible for this but “accepted he found it funny at the time, but did not know if the chicken had died as he had gone to the chip shop”.
A video on Melrose’s phone showed her riding a lame Shetland pony called Dinky, who was much too small for her
A series of other videos on her phone showed Melrose riding a Shetland pony called Dinky who was struggling under the weight of carrying her and was clearly lame in one leg.
Analysis of the videos by a vet revealed: “The female was far too large for both the saddle and the pony and as a result her body overhangs the back and sides of the saddle. The female is carrying a whip in her right hand and trying to force the pony to trot forwards.”
The 16-second video showed her hitting the pony with a stick 10 times.
The pony tries to avoid having to move forward and only moves forward at a trot once she has been repeatedly smacked with the whip and this is due to the fear and pain of being hit. The mouth of the pony is often open due to her discomfort and the pony is visibly lame on the right forelimb.
Text messages between Lindop and his mother were also discovered in which Lindop asks “If a dog’s been hit and nearly dead am I not in the right to finish it off so it’s not in pain or does that mean I killed it?”.
With the reply: “She killed it, you put it out its misery but you would both get done as should have been done by a vet humanely.”
Lindop then replied to his mother: “Won’t find it now like coz burnt it (sic).”
The burned remains of Welsh herder puppy Hades were found on scrubland near a railway line in Horden, County Durham
The charred remains of Hades, a 12 week old Welsh Herder puppy, were also found close to a railway line in an area of scrubland in Hordon, Peterlee, where there were burnt patches on the ground and fragments of Hades’ bones were discovered by the RSPCA.
Lindop claimed in graphic detail that Melrose had killed him whilst Melrose told investigators that Lindop had “hung him from a door until he was brain dead.”
The prosecution said they were unable to say who killed Hades but the method of his death was “sadistic” and involved him being hung from a door and killed with a hammer.
Lindop, whom it was said in court is living with his family in Gainsborough in Lincolnshire, admitted two counts each of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and permitting or failing to stop unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
Melrose admitted two counts each of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, and permitting or failing to stop unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, plus one of causing an animal fight to take place by baiting a chicken with a dog.
In mitigation, the court heard how the pair had challenging backgrounds and it was felt that rehabilitation is possible, given their young age.
Philip Morley, for Lindop, said he was, “not a sophisticated man”, having had “limited education” and is thought to suffer with an undiagnosed learning difficulty.
He said despite that, he has held down a variety of jobs and, “largely kept out of trouble”.
Mr Morley said at one stage Lindop formed a relationship with Melrose which he described as “toxic” and for which there is, now, no prospect of any reconciliation.
“It was clearly an unhealthy relationship for either party and not a good environment for those animals to be kept in.
“He’s deeply sorry and ashamed for what happened.
“The relationship got on top of him and he clearly took his eye off the ball.
“Both have now moved on and he has a new life in Gainsborough, working with his step-father in roofing and window cleaning.”
Mr Morley said, ironically, Lindop has a background of looking after animals and won a number of rosettes for training dogs in his younger days,
But he added that his client does not accept responsibility for the death of Hades, for which he has shown “genuine upset and remorse.”
Aspiring Only Fans skank Melrose shows off her tacky tattoos
Katie Spence, for Melrose, said her previous employment involved working with animals, but the entire experience of what went on during her relationship with Lindop has put her off any future involvement, regardless of the punishment and bars put on her by the court.
“She is extremely remorseful for any behaviour and wishes she had dome more than she did in these circumstances (to prevent it).”
Judge Peter Armstrong also mentioned mental health issues and commented that Lindop was now in a secure relationship with a baby on the way.
He said due to their age, their immaturity, and lack of previous offences, he was “just” able to suspend the inevitable prison sentences on both defendants.
He said, given the volatile relationship the pair were involved in, “I suspect you were taking out your frustrations on these animals in your welfare.”
He said he would not try to pinpoint who was primarily responsible for, “this catalogue of most unpleasant offending.”
Speaking about the case, RSPCA Inspector Clare Wilson, said: “This has been the most challenging case of my career so far and has been extremely distressing to investigate. It is clear that many animals suffered untold pain and mental torture at the hands of these defendants and I am immensely relieved that they will not be permitted to care for animals again for a long time.”
The RSPCA said Dinky was owned by a third party and is doing better now after recovering from her mistreatment. The dogs were brought into the care of RSPCA Felledge Animal Centre in Chester-le-Street where they have now been rehomed.
Sentencing | each were given 16-month prison sentences, suspended for two years. Both will undergo 40 days of rehabilitation and Lindop was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work. Both were disqualified from keeping all animals for 15 years.
CONVICTED (2024) | Raymond James Pearce, born c. 1981 , of Brierville Road, Stockton on Tees TS19 0JR – left a pony in great pain with a rope lodged two inches into his neck.
Pearce was found guilty in his absence of animal cruelty offences in relation to a piebald cob named Marshall, who was found covered in dry blood with a tether embedded two inches deep in his flesh.
RSPCA prosecutor Andrew Bousfield said the pony was being tethered with a narrow rope which had worn into his neck causing an infected wound.
Mr Bousfield said veterinary evidence showed the injury had been infected for at least four days and was two inches deep.
Field officer Seema Ritson, from World Horse Welfare, attended a green space in Norton, County Durham, after becoming aware of the pony.
Giving evidence, she told the court Marshall was being kept on poor grazing land and smelt of “rotting flesh”.
She said: “As he walked past me I got a really bad smell. It was a smell of rotting flesh I knew straight away there was something wrong.
“I could see a very thin rope around his neck. I could see straight away there was dried blood and yellow puss. All the mane was matted. The smell was like a dead animal.”
The pony was found covered in dry blood with a tether embedded two inches deep in his flesh
Ms Ritson said she could not see any food or water for Marshall and confirmed there was insufficient grass for the pony to graze on.
She reported the animal to the RSPCA and later that day Marshall’s owner, Raymond Pearce, arrived at the scene.
Ms Ritson said Pearce tried to pull the rope out of the pony’s neck. “I immediately asked him to stop because the rope was embedded into the pony’s neck,” she said.
“Even when I went to touch his neck he moved away so he knew it was sore. I asked him not to touch it because without pain relief that would have been extremely painful.
“He wouldn’t stop.”
She told the court she saw him try and pull the rope out of the pony’s neck at least three or four times.
RSPCA inspector Steph Baines also confirmed she witnessed Pearce do this at the scene and said she could smell the pony’s injury before she got to the animal.
She said: “I smelt the pony before I got to him.
“When the owner first arrived he was quite agitated. He said he was happy for us to get treatment for the horse.”
The court heard Inspector Baines interviewed Pearce and he told her he’d come back from a two-week course in Manchester and left the pony in the care of his former brother-in-law. However, giving evidence in court his ex brother-in-law said this was untrue and branded the allegation a “p*** take”.
He said the last time he looked after Marshall was around three years ago and denied he was asked to care for the horse. Pearce’s sister also gave evidence and said it was untrue that he attended a course in Manchester.
The defendant himself did not show up for the trial and his barrister withdrew from the case.
The hearing went ahead in his absence and he was found guilty of four counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
He failed to ensure adequate or reasonable daily care or supervision leading to an untreated infected wound of the neck.
He used an unsafe and inappropriate tethering leading to an embedded rope neck wound.
He failed to provide prompt or adequate professional veterinary care and attention.
Finally, he failed to take steps to ensure the needs of the pony were met.
The court heard Marshall is currently in the care of the RSPCA and has made a full recovery.
Sentencing | 12-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months; £780 costs and a £154 victim surcharge. Banned from owning all animals except birds for 10 years.
CONVICTED | serial violent animal abuser Dominic John Callum Jackson aka Dominic Holmes, born 15 October 1997, of Cotswold Terrace, Stanley DH9 6QH – for attacks on multiple pets, causing serious or fatal injuries, while neglecting and starving others; others suffered horrendous neglect and starvation at the home shared with co-defendant Laura Louise Smith, born c. 1992.
Sadistic serial pet abuser Dominic Jackson is disqualified from keeping animals for life while gormless partner Laura Smith, who also goes by the names Laura Jackson or Laura Holmes, only received a one-year ban
Monstrous Dominic Jackson pleaded guilty to inflicting blunt force trauma and physical violence on his pets after he was prosecuted by the RSPCA following reports that he had been seen kicking cats.
Peterlee Magistrates’ Court heard how inspectors from the charity had visited the home of Jackson and Smith on January 28, 2023, to find a number of animals – some of whom were underweight – living in poor conditions.
In her evidence, inspector Rowena Proctor, who attended the property with her colleague Heidi Cleaver, said: “The living room smelled strongly of cat urine and was unclean throughout with very dirty litter trays.
Several of the cats appeared to be very underweight with ribs and pelvis felt with ease. One cat in particular was of major concern.
“I spotted her lying on the top of a corner unit which was around 7.5 feet (2.2 metres) tall and she appeared to be deceased. I was eventually able to reach up far enough to get hold of the cat who thankfully was still alive but appeared weak and lethargic.
“Her name was Missy and she was the skinniest of all of the cats. Our concerns relating to the animal’s weights were explained and following discussion with myself and inspector Cleaver, all cats were put into carriers and removed from the property.”
The animals – five cats called Missy, Toby, Tabby, Felix and Simba, and a crested gecko called Bumblebee – were taken straight for veterinary treatment and later seized by the police as evidence. The vet said all of the cats were suffering and four of them were too thin, although they all made good weight gains with appropriate care in the weeks that followed.
Veterinary notes seen by the RSPCA during the investigation revealed how other pets previously belonging to Jackson – a guinea pig; a ferret; three cats called Tibby, BamBam and Bambi; a black terrier type puppy called Lulu and one unknown species of animal – had also sustained injuries or died without explanation or veterinary intervention.
Tibby was found to have sustained a broken back leg after reportedly falling off the bed when alone in the bedroom with Jackson and died. A ferret called Maggie and a guinea pig were said to have been found dead in their cages by Jackson, who claimed other cats had fallen down the stairs or been found dead behind the sofa. Lulu had suffered a head trauma but has since been rehomed by the RSPCA.
The court heard how Jackson had admitted punching Toby with a closed fist after he’d eaten another cat’s food, resulting in the cat having to have his eye removed. He also said he had slapped Missy and Felix, but could offer no explanation as to why other animals had unexpectedly got injured or died.
Another vet who gave evidence as part of the case, said none of the animals were reported to have sustained accidental injuries such as road traffic accidents or falling from a significant height.
“In my opinion, Missy, Toby, Felix, Simba and Tabby have all been caused to suffer as a consequence of physical abuse,” he said.
“Suffering will have been experienced by these animals via mechanisms of fear, distress and pain for variable periods of time.
“In my opinion it is highly likely that the dog made known as Lulu was also caused to suffer as a consequence of physical abuse, although the details of the circumstances surrounding the injuries to this dog are not sufficient to draw this conclusion with surety.”
Most of the animals removed from the property on January 28 were signed over to the RSPCA during the course of the investigation and have since been rehomed by the charity. A deprivation order made by the court will ensure any that still remain – or have been brought since – must be handed over and will be rehomed.
Jackson was given eight weeks’ custody, suspended for two years, on each of the three offences to run concurrently. He was also given a lifetime disqualification order on keeping animals.
In mitigation, he told the court he was vulnerable and suffering from poor mental health and repeatedly claimed that someone else was responsible for coming into the house and harming the animals.
In September 2023, Laura Smith pleaded guilty to one offence contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and received a conditional discharge and one-year ban.
Speaking after the conclusion of the court hearing, inspector Proctor said: “This was an extremely upsetting and disturbing investigation as it became clear during the course of our enquiries that a large number of animals had suffered neglect and deliberate cruelty at the hands of Jackson. He had a duty of care towards his pets but instead inflicted violence and injuries.”
Sentencing | Dominic Jackson: eight-week custodial suspended for two years for each of the three offences to run concurrently; £360 in costs and a victim surcharge of £154. Banned from keeping animals for life. Laura Smith: 12-month conditional discharge. One-year ban which expires September 2024.
CONVICTED (2023) | Andrew Allen, born c. 1977, and Siobhan Barker, born 5 December 1997, of Boltsburn Crescent, Rookhope, Bishop Auckland DL13 2AT – neglected a pony found in a frozen field surviving on mouldy hay.
Allen and Barker, who have four children, admitted three animal welfare offences in relation to piebald cob pony Pluto, who was found with lice, rain scald, and overgrown hooves in a frozen, barren field in Rookhope on January 20, 2023.
When visited by RSPCA inspector Lucy Green and a rep from charity World Horse Welfare, all Pluto had to eat was mouldy hay.
After the visit, a vet attended and confirmed Pluto was underweight and suffering.
The court heard how Barker arrived on the scene and began shouting obscenities. Allen appeared shortly afterwards, and both refused to let anyone examine Pluto further.
Allen then even chased the pony around the field in hope of preventing him being caught, but Pluto was eventually loaded into a horsebox. The police were called and took Pluto into their possession.
The vet who examined Pluto on site, said in her evidence: “The pony was kept alone in a small paddock, it was bare and snow covered on the day of the visit. The water was frozen and poor quality mouldy hay was available in the shelter.
“On examination Pluto had a body condition score of 1.5/5 meaning he was underweight with bony prominences throughout the neck, back and hips due to little fat cover. The coat was very thick, lice were present and there was some rain scald on the pony’s back.”
Blood tests revealed evidence of anaemia, chronic inflammation, low protein and possibly muscle disease. Parasitology results also showed encysted redworm and tapeworm.
“In my opinion this pony was suffering from malnourishment due to inadequate feed and high parasite burden,” added the vet. “Horses are herd animals and being kept in isolation can have a negative psychological impact, therefore this pony was likely suffering from being kept alone.”
The court heard how the animal welfare organisations had had previous dealings with the defendants, whose other animals include dogs and sheep, and had warned them about Pluto’s lice and weight after a previous veterinary examination.
In mitigation the couple said their health and lack of ability and finances had contributed to the situation.
Pluto was taken to an RSPCA animal centre and has made a good recovery and will be now rehomed by the charity.
Speaking after the sentencing hearing, Inspector Green said: “Pluto’s most basic needs were not being met and he was in a very poor state of neglect. He’s got a lovely temperament and has integrated well with other ponies in our care – the staff at the animal centre adore him. We’d like to thank our colleagues at World Horse Welfare for their support and assistance with this investigation which has helped to ensure a much brighter future for Pluto.”
Sentencing | Allen: 18-month conditional discharge. Barker: community order with 100 hours of unpaid work. Both of them were also told to pay £600 each in costs. Both were banned from keeping animals for five years (expires October 2028).
