CONVICTED (2022) | Joshua Exall born 26 November 1996, previously of Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire, but currently of Davidson House, Knockhall Road, Greenhithe, Dartford DA9 9HE – left a dog alone in a property without food and water for up to two weeks.
Exall pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a female Staffordshire bull terrier-type dog named Shadow and to failing to take steps to ensure her needs were met
Victim Shadow as she was before being cruelly abandoned by her selfish owner, Josh Exall.
The RSPCA had received reports of a thin dog at a property in Whittlesey in January 2022. RSPCA Inspector Justin Stubbs had attended the property and had found an emaciated dog loose in the garden.
He contacted the police who attended and seized Shadow on welfare grounds and placed her in the care of the RSPCA.
Inside the house Inspector Stubbs saw two bowls in the kitchen. There was no food and little water. She had been left for days in the same blocked off area of the kitchen, and was only able to toilet in her own living space.
The RSPCA said the fact that there was no faeces there appears to suggest that Shadow had either eaten it due to hunger or that she had not been fed and therefore there was no food going through her to produce faeces.
Shadow was discovered in an emaciated condition in the kitchen of the property. Her food and water bowls were empty. A lack of faeces indicated that she had eaten them in desperation.
In his defence, Exall said he was very sorry and he should have done better for Shadow.
Speaking after the case Inspector Stubbs said: “Shadow’s owner had failed in the most basic needs, of supplying appropriate food and water, for a prolonged time.
Despite her ordeal Shadow, who was “skin and bone” greeted her rescuers enthusiastically. As well as emaciation, she was suffering from hair loss likely related to lack of nutrition.
“Shadow, was a particularly friendly dog, absolutely craving attention.
“She was left for days, with no exercise, no interaction with human or another dog, and had nothing to do in a small, bare kitchen.
“She was signed over and has been doing well in RSPCA care and has now been rehomed.
“I would like to express my thanks to the members of the public who had done all they could to help Shadow.”
Sentencing |180 hours of unpaid work; costs and charges totalling £495. Disqualified from keeping animals for 10 years.
CONVICTED (2021) | Alexander Phillip Boyd, born 17 February 1986, of 167 Kirkby Road, Dartford DA2 6HD – left his elderly Staffy collapsed on the kitchen floor in her own urine and faeces.
Father-of-three Alex Boyd pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to his 13-year-old dog, Mercedes.
The court heard how RSPCA inspector Deborah Rutherford was called to Boyd’s flat in April 2021 after neighbours raised concerns about the welfare of the dogs.
She spoke to Boyd outside and he invited her to come and check on the dogs a few days later.
One of Inspector Rutherford’s colleagues returned that weekend but there was no answer at the door so he left a card.
She said: “On May 6 our national control centre had a call from Mr Boyd saying one of his dog’s back legs weren’t working and she was going to the toilet where she laid.
“He said he couldn’t afford vet bills so wanted to give the dog up.
“Myself and animal rescue officer Emma Byrne went to the property and Mercedes was collapsed on the floor.
“She was in very poor body condition with her hips protruding.
“She was barely responsive and was lying on a urine-soaked quilt under the window in the kitchen.
“There was food and water available in the kitchen but her condition meant she couldn’t access either.”
Boyd signed a euthanasia consent form and the RSPCA officers scooped Mercedes up and took her to a nearby vet surgery.
An RSPCA spokesman added: “Sadly, as expected, vets felt there was nothing they could do to help Mercedes and put her to sleep peacefully.”
In her statement, the vet who examined Mercedes, said: “Mercedes was unable to sit up or stand. She was extremely thin. Her muscle condition was poor over her lumbar spine and hind legs.
“There was a very strong smell of stale urine caused by the soaking of her fur and skin.
“Faecal material was present around her anus, perianal area and the base of her tail.
“When her head was lifted, she showed extreme pain by vocalising. The decision was made to euthanise Mercedes due to the fact that she was suffering and beyond veterinary help.”
Tests found that Mercedes was suffering a chronic urinary infection and chronic malnutrition. They believe she’d been suffering like this for at least a week.
A second dog – a male Staffy called Buster – was rehomed.
Speaking after the sentencing hearing, Inspector Rutherford added: “Part of owning a pet is ensuring that they receive prompt and proper veterinary attention at the first sign of illness, discomfort or injury.
“Sometimes, being a dog owner means making difficult and upsetting decisions, particularly when our pets are old and reaching the end of their lives.
“It’s completely unacceptable to leave a pet in such a condition such as Mercedes to suffer and languish in such pain.
“I’m so sad that we couldn’t save her but I feel relieved that we could be there with her at the end to show her love and kindness, and to allow her to slip away with some peace, so that she wouldn’t suffer any longer.”
Sentencing: 12 weeks in prison, suspended for two years; costs of £500. Disqualified from keeping dogs for five years (expires August 2026).
CONVICTED (2020) | John Benjamin Cook, born 13/11/1993, and his brother William Cook, born 11/07/1989, both of Little Acres, Longfield Avenue, New Barn, Longfield, Dartford DA3 7LA – ran a puppy farm alongside a cock-fighting ring
Dogs and puppies were kept in deplorable conditions at a puppy farm operated by William Cook (left) and his brother John. The pair also hosted cruel cock-fights for other gypsies.
Gypsy travellers John and William Cook were convicted of a number of animal welfare offences.
In July 2018 RSPCA officers executed a warrant at the sprawling property in New Barn the brothers share with their extended family, including wives, children and parents, after a member of the public who had bought puppies from them raised concerns.
Deplorable conditions at the puppy farm operated by gypsy brothers William and John Cook from New Barn, Longfield, Kent
In total, 18 dogs, including spaniels and beagles were removed along with two cockerels.
Officers also seized a number of mobile phones from the site and a suspecting cock-fighting pit was uncovered. Analysis of the mobiles showed the brothers were involved with fighting and later forensics tests found the blood of at least four cockerels on the pit.
During the four-day trial the court heard how John Cook was accused of causing suffering to a number of dogs, failing to provide them with vet care for stomach and teeth problems and keeping them in unsuitable conditions.
William Cook, who is now banned from keeping all animals for three years. His equally twisted brother is only banned from keeping dogs.
William Cook was accused of a number of offences relating to cockerel fighting.
John Cook pleaded guilty to the offences, while William Cook was convicted of the offences under the Animal Welfare Act.
RSPCA inspector Carroll Lamport, from the charity’s special operations unit, said: “Many of the dogs being kept at the site had health and welfare problems, including untreated gastrointestinal and dental issues.
William Cook is a leading member of a cock-fighting ring. Here, he is pictured with brother-in-law, Owen Lee
“We also had serious concerns over the conditions they were being kept in. The dogs and puppies were being kept in dirty, wet conditions with no bedding.”
Sentencing: William Cook – 120-day prison term – suspended for two years. Ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work. Disqualified from keeping any animals for three years.
John Cook – 90 days in prison – also suspended for two years; 160 hours of unpaid work. He was disqualified from keeping dogs for three years.
Bans expire February 2023.
Both men were ordered to pay £1,000 in costs plus a £115 victim surcharge.
CONVICTED (2018) | Viktor Molnar, a vet from Darenth Fishing Complex in Dartford – bypassed rabies laws and illegally imported puppies from Hungary
Vet Viktor Molnar imported puppies to the UK illegally, bypassing rabies laws
Molnar, who advertised himself as a mobile vet, pleaded guilty to offences under the Rabies Order 1974 and the Animal Health Act 1981, and to an offence under the Pet Animals Act 1951 for using his premises a a pet shop without a licence.
He was brought to justice after a retired teacher from Renfrewshire, Scotland, bought a miniature dachshund puppy called Janet from him for £700. The puppy was sick on the journey home from Bury, so she contacted Molnar to request a copy of the animal’s pet passport.
She also took Janet to a vet in Paisley, where the puppy was estimated to be aged between eight and 12 weeks, much younger than the age suggested on the vaccination card.
Bury council said that as a result, the puppy was too young to have been brought into the UK legally.
The vaccination card had no record of a rabies jab or tapeworm treatment, so Renfrewshire council was contacted and the puppy quarantined.
Council bosses there alerted their counterparts in Bury.
An animal health inspector visited Hungarian-born Molnar’s flat in February 2016 and found four adult dogs and five miniature ‘teacup’ dachshund puppies inside.
Bury council said Molnar purchased the puppies online and they arrived by van the night before with Hungarian-issued pet passports.
The inspector, a court heard, sought advice from a veterinary practice where the puppies were estimated to be under 12 weeks old, rather than the 17 weeks indicated by their pet passports.
The council said it meant they would have been too young to be vaccinated and lawfully brought to the UK as a result.
Those puppies were quarantined as well as Bury Licensing Service launched a probe into Molnar.
Bury council said the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has been contacted over his fitness to continue practising as a vet.
Angela Lomax, head of trading standards and licensing at Bury council, said: “Young puppies should never be transported long distances into the UK, yet underage and unvaccinated puppies continue to be illegally sent here from abroad – often in appalling conditions – and are destined to be sold via online adverts to unsuspecting members of the public.”
Sentencing:
Molnar was given a 270-hour community order and disqualified from operating a pet shop or a boarding facilities for 10 years.
He was also ordered to pay compensation of £2,686.93 to the woman who purchased the dog and £2,500 court costs.
Molnar was struck off the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons’ register after being found found unfit to practice veterinary surgery.
The Committee said that Molnar had put “material interests over those of the profession and the public” and that his actions had posed “a real risk” to the puppies.
Due to the seriousness of the offences committed by Molnar, the Committee concluded that the case could “only be properly dealt with” by removing his name from the register.
CONVICTED (2018) | Bill Ripley, born c. 1972, and Moses Brinkley, born 25/09/1956, both of the travellers site in Claywood Lane, Bean, Dartford DA2 8BU – forced cockerels to fight to the death
Bill Ripley whose aliases include Shamo Bill and Shamo King Bill
Ripley, who is known in cockfighting circles as Shamo Bill or Shamo King Bill, and accomplice Moses Brinkley were investigated by the RSPCA and police after graphic videos were posted on Facebook.
The charity said the cockfighting was both “high level and organised” and one of the biggest cases it had seen.
RSPCA inspector Carroll Lamport said: “We joined police officers as they executed warrants at three plots on a travellers’ site in Bean, Kent, where we were able to identify some of the ‘venues’ shown online in the fighting videos.
Images taken at the cockfighting den based at a travellers site in Dartford, Kent
A total of 242 birds were found at the site, as well as fighting “paraphernalia” such as spurs and muffs, and books on the blood sport. A makeshift pit had been built next to a caravan for the birds to fight.
Officers downloaded videos of cockfights from social media accounts and mobile phones.
One video showed a fight during which cocks pulled out mouthfuls of feathers and pecked each other in the eyes with their sharp beaks. The fight continue for 10 minutes until one bird was drenched in blood and the other collapsed, struggling to breathe.
Prosecutor Andrew Wiles told magistrates cockfighting was outlawed in Britain in 1835, but remains prevalent in the UK and throughout the world.
These defendants deliberately fought birds, the result of which is to cause them suffering,’ he said.
‘The Facebook material, which is extensive, suggests Mr Ripley, has been breeding, keeping, selling and fighting cockerels for a considerable time. It shows an interest dating back to 1990,’ said Mr Wiles.
‘There were in fact a total of 45,000 images downloaded.’
The court heard Brinkley told the probation service ‘it is the culture of the travelling community’ and he and his friend ‘did it for fun’.
Speaking outside court, Inspector Lamport said: ‘For that level of organised fighting I would have expected a prison sentence.’
‘I’m somewhat disappointed because I think cockfighting is a very, very cruel activity and the level of what these guys were doing is at the very top.
‘This is organised and prolific cockfighting, causing immense suffering to the cockerels involved.
‘I think the disqualification was very light and I would have hoped they would have been banned for life.
‘These guys were doing organised and regular cockfights and promoting what they were doing, with people coming from all over the country and abroad.
‘It is a barbaric sport that was made illegal for all the right reasons.’
He added: ‘On a cruelty ranking, this is right at the top level where animals are forced to fight.
‘The wounds they get are horrendous and the suffering is caused over a long period of time.
‘This is an abhorrent act. Most people would be horrified to see the results of cockfighting and to think it goes on in this country is appalling.’
However, Brinkley’s daughter Violet Smith said the men, who lived on a travellers’ site, had been treated unfairly.
Bill Ripley with Moses Brinkley’s daughter, Violet Smith
She said: “That is a travellers’ community thing to keep animals. We aren’t cruel to animals. We’re the type of people who put food out for animals. I don’t think it’s fair.”
Ripley and Brinkley each pleaded guilty to three charges of being present at an animal fight, one offence of keeping a premises for use in an animal fight and one offence of keeping animals for use in fighting.
The charges include five fights between July 2016 and March 2017, during which two birds were killed.
Sentencing: Ripley was given a 14-week sentence, suspended for a year, and Brinkley a 10-week term, suspended for a year.
The men were ordered to undertake rehabilitation, pay £865 in costs, and were disqualified for two years from keeping game fowl.
CONVICTED (2015) | Gary Charles Stockford, born 24/08/1973, previously of Swanscombe, Kent, and more recently (2019) of Kale Road, Erith DA18 4BJ – subjected a dog to a 45-minute beating
The vicious beating delivered by Gary Stockford, in Dartford town centre, lasted 45 minutes, prompting several disgusted shoppers to call the police.
Every time his master called him, the loyal dog, known as Benny, returned to his side, only to be kicked and punched again and again.
Several witnesses called police after they saw Stockford attack his dog near to the Orchard Theatre in July 2015.
RSPCA inspector Vikki Dawe said: “Witnesses saw Benny being repeatedly hit and kicked, in vicious bursts, over a period of about 45 minutes.
“They said the poor dog kept coming back to the defendant when he was called, only to be attacked all over again. They were so distressed by what they saw they called us.
“It is totally unacceptable to be violent in this way towards an animal. Benny showed clear signs of submission and distress.
“Thanks also must go to the witnesses who were brave enough to agree to give evidence so Benny’s owner could be prosecuted.”
Sentencing: 12-week custodial sentence, suspended for 24 months; total of £1244 in costs and charges. Banned from keeping animals for just five years (expired December 2020) .
