Tag Archives: Derby

guinea pigs, Hoarders, Multiple Species, rabbits, Small Furries

Oakwood, Derby: Tania Walker

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CONVICTED (2023) | pet hoarder Tania Walker, born 14 May 1964, of Meadow View Close, Oakwood, Derby DE21 2UL – kept 16 rabbits and guinea pigs in a dirty, rat-infested garage.

Animal abuser and hoarder Tania Walker from Derby, UK
Driving instructor Tania Walker, who the court heard found it hard to say no, to others took on more animals than she could properly care for and kept them in poor conditions. Image source: Facebook, Tania Walker

Walker, a self-employed driving instructor, pleaded guilty to cruelty charges in relation to eight rabbits and eight guinea pigs kept inside the cluttered, unsanitary garage.

The animals were roaming freely inside the building which was littered with old, soiled hay and thick, hard faeces stuck to the floor.

Rat droppings were visible on many surfaces and the rodents could also be heard moving about in the roof space overhead when RSPCA officers investigated a welfare concern on May 25, 2022.

Derby pet hoarder Tania Walker kept rabbits and guinea pigs in poor conditions and failed to feed them a proper diet
A vet estimated that some of Tania Walker’s animals had been suffering for at least two months

All of the guinea pigs were unneutered males with many of them suffering bite wounds to their faces, ears and hindquarters.

No clean areas had been provided for the animals. Instead, fresh bedding had been put on top of older soiled material which was becoming deeper and more compacted. Most of the floor and nesting areas were covered in rabbit and guinea pig faeces.

There was a smelly, damp and soiled hay bale in the corner of the garage while, outside, bags of dirty bedding were piled high. .

Around 25 kilograms of carrots – which are high in sugar and should only be fed to rabbits and guinea pigs in small amounts – had been tipped onto the floor in a huge pile on top of the faeces, along with around 10 kg of rabbit nuggets.

Rat droppings were seen on surfaces inside the garage, including a table and on the lids of two barrels, although it was hard to determine whether there were any on the floor due to the large amount of other faeces and rabbit pellets.

Sadly one guinea pig had died after being bitten by a rat. A dead rabbit was also found at the scene.

Derby pet hoarder Tania Walker kept rabbits and guinea pigs in poor conditions and failed to feed them a proper diet

RSPCA Inspector Rachel Leafe, who had attended the scene, told the court “I saw a deceased rabbit by the side of the garage which was wrapped loosely in a bag.

“The rabbit looked to have died recently. One of its eyes was missing completely from the socket. There was a large gaping hole in the side of the neck and another on the stomach. I was concerned the rabbit had been attacked by another rabbit or rats.

“I could see several guinea pigs that had issues from just observing them on the floor. Two looked to have sore eyes which were partially shut.

Two others appeared lame and I also noted several with fur loss and what looked like bites or skin irritation. Several of the rabbits and guinea pigs had tears in their ears.”

The court heard how the inspector attended the premises again the following day accompanied by a vet who decided it was too unsafe for the animals to stay there and all were likely to suffer if their circumstances did not change.

Upon veterinary examination, the guinea pigs were found to be suffering from bite wounds, open lesions, fur loss, lameness and torn ears and the rabbits also had bite wounds, infected and damaged ears, sores and excessively long nails.

In her evidence, the vet told the court: “It is my opinion that the owner had not taken enough precautions to keep these animals safe from predation. In this instance, from rats and housing multiple unneutered same-sex animals together.

“Due to healed wounds and ripped ears on the vast majority of them, care and management towards these animals have been poor and in my opinion some of these animals would have likely been suffering for in excess of two months.”

In mitigation the court heard that Walker had looked after and taken in animals for decades – including a dog from abroad who she still had. While it was conceded that the care Walker had provided for the 16 rabbits and guinea pigs had been poor, she sometimes found it hard to say no to taking in homeless animals.

The surviving animals went to RSPCA animal centres in Derby and Burton to be rehomed.

Sentencing | 18-month community order; £5,000 costs and £95 victim surcharge. Banned from keeping all animals except dogs for 10 years (expires April 2033).

Derbyshire Live

Bestiality / Zoophilia, Dogs

Chellaston, Derby: Robert Hurley

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CONVICTED (2022) | pervert Robert Hurley, born c. 1970, of Griffon Close, Chellaston, Derby DE73 5PB – filmed his dog performing sex acts on a woman and uploaded the footage to a bestiality website.

A court has heard that after police seized the footage and charged Hurley, he told a probation officers that it was “two consenting adults” engaging in the behaviour. Now, having been convicted, he has lost his job.

In court, district Judge Jonathan Taaffe said: “To describe this matter, as you did to (the probation officer) as ‘two consenting adult behind closed doors, what does it matter?’ displays an error of judgement at best and at worst degenerate and depraved behaviour. Any right-thinking person would see the type of behaviour you videoed and uploaded, even with the consent of the other person, as some form of abuse.

“Little or no thought was given to the welfare of the animal involved and I am satisfied your attraction to depraved areas of bestiality has to be confronted full-on. It was you who videoed it and it was you who encouraged the dog to perform sex acts and then proceeded to upload the images on the website.”

Ben Payne, prosecuting, said police went to Hurley’s address on January 31, 2021, to investigate a domestic incident from which no charges have been brought. He said the defendant’s phone and other electronic devices were seized during the visit and on the phone there were 25 videos and three images. It was identified that it was the defendant on the footage and a woman and the dog was performing a sex act.

The prosecutor said: “It was a poodle and the dog was being incited to engage in various sexual acts with the female by the defendant. There was also evidence of him uploading videos to a bestiality website, which is an aggravating feature.”

Hurley pleaded guilty to possessing extreme pornographic images.

Sentencing | 40 rehabilitation sessions with the probation service; 100 hours of unpaid work; £180 in costs and victim surcharge. Five-year sexual harm prevention order.

Derbyshire Live

Animal Abandonment, Dogs, Worst of the Worst

Oakwood, Derby: Victoria Taylor

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CONVICTED (2021) | Victoria Taylor, aka Victoria Woodrow, born c. 1973, of 2 Ingledew Close, Oakwood, Derby DE21 2WA – locked her elderly Staffy outside of her home, leaving the dog collapsed and terrified as fireworks went off around her.

An RSPCA inspector found underweight 18-year-old Staffy Missy cowering under a bush in the pouring rain as fireworks went off around her. She was very cold, covered in mange and had a painful untreated eye infection. She was also emaciated.

Now Missy’s owner, Victoria Taylor, has been banned from keeping animals for five years.

The court heard how the RSPCA were called to Taylor’s address on Saturday, November 1, 2020 after a member of the public reported seeing a collapsed animal in the garden.

Inspector Rachel Leafe was sent to the property that evening but there was no one inside the house, so she went to a neighbour’s garden and could see a very underweight elderly dog curled up under a bush in the dirt.

Animal abuser: Victoria Taylor from Derby. Picture: Facebook

Inspector Leafe said: “I used a ladder to look over the fence into the garden.

“Here, directly beneath me, lay curled up under a bush on the dirt an elderly looking, very underweight medium-sized dog.

“There were odd sprigs of fur, enough for me to tell she should have been tan or red in colour. The whole body was covered in what looked to be mange.

“I could see there was no man-made shelter at all available for her. The back door to the property was shut so she could not get inside. I could not see any food or water or any empty bowls.

“I whistled to her and she eventually, very reluctantly, stiffly and unsteadily got up and walked a few yards before lying back down on the wet ground.”

Rachel said it was a cold night, pouring down with rain, and fireworks were going off so she called Derbyshire police to attend and Missy was rushed to a vet for emergency treatment.

An expert independent vet said in a report: “She was severely emaciated with a body score of 1.5 on a scale of 0 to 5, with 0 being the thinnest body condition.

“She had a severe dry eye.

“The condition is caused by the body reacting to its own tears as part of an immune reaction.

“This condition is extremely painful and both corneas were inflamed and cloudy.

“She had long pointy nails showing that she had little or no exercise for some time.”

Missy underwent weeks of treatment during RSPCA care but by December 3 new lumps and tumours were appearing all over her body and it was found she had an aggressive form of lymphoma cancer, and had just a few weeks to live.

A vet decided the kindest thing to do was to put Missy to sleep, to end her suffering, while she was still under general anaesthetic.

Taylor pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

Sentencing | 12-month community order, with 15 rehabilitation sessions, a total of £542 in costs, fines and charges. Five-year ban on keeping animals (expires June 2026).

Staffordshire Live
Mirror

Dogs, Lifers

Spondon, Derby: Hayley Langton and Derek Yeomans

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CONVICTED (2020) | Hayley Langton, born 18 December 1996, and Derek Yeomans, born c. 1950, both of Willowcroft Road, Spondon, Derby DE21 7FR – left their Akita to suffer in “unimaginable pain” over several months

An Akita suffered 'unimaginable pain' for months at the hands of Hayley Langton and Derek Yeomans of Spondon in Derby - pictured here outside court
Convicted animal abusers Hayley Langton and Derek Yeomans are now banned from keeping dogs indefinitely

Hayley Langton and Derek Yeomans pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the dog, known as Keeta, between August and September 2019.

An Akita suffered 'unimaginable pain' for months at the hands of Hayley Langton and Derek Yeomans of Spondon in Derby
Keeta had a severe skin condition and ear and eye problems. She hadn’t been taken to the vet for six years.

Keeta was found with no fur and her eyes were covered in a green discharge.

The dog was rescued by RSPCA workers and immediately rushed to a veterinary centre.

Southern Derbyshire Magistrate’s Court heard how the vet said they had never seen a dog with dry eyes so severe, causing her extreme pain and distress.

Andrew Cash, prosecuting, said the last time Keeta was seen by a vet was in September 2013.

The dog was owned by single mother Langton, but was kept at the house of Yeomans.

When testing the dryness on her eyes, both readings came back as zero – something the vet said they had never seen before.

An Akita suffered 'unimaginable pain' for months at the hands of Hayley Langton and Derek Yeomans of Spondon in Derby. Pictured is Langton

Mr Cash said Langton believed Keeta had a cold which had lasted around a month. However she failed to notice how serious her condition had become as she was out a lot and described her life as “chaotic”.

The dog has recovered, despite still showing signs of hair loss.

She has since been fostered by a veterinary nurse.

John Haye, mitigating, said Yeomans had not been fully aware of the severity of the situation the dog was in.

He said it was “fair to say” they had both taken their eye off the ball in terms of caring for the animal.

He revealed how Yeomans has ill health, suffers from high blood pressure and cares for his wife full-time.

An Akita suffered 'unimaginable pain' for months at the hands of Hayley Langton and Derek Yeomans of Spondon in Derby. Pictured is Langton

He said Langton also suffers a range of mental health problems and struggles to care for herself, “never mind a dog”.

He said: “They both express remorse and sorrow for what happened.”

District Judge Jonathan Taaffe said: “Keeta is now properly looked after and responding to love and care that any domestic animal needs.

“This is not a matter that Keeta suddenly became ill, developed skin conditions and eye problems.

“It’s a situation where Keeta has clearly been in great distress over a significant period of time.

“The pain and distress that the dog must have been in could not be imagined.

“When people have pets, they have responsibilities to look after them.

“I accept this is not a case of sadistic ill treatment of Keeta. This is more a case of neglect based on issues in your life.”

Sentencing: three-month curfew ; 12-month community order; ordered to pay £490 each in costs. Both were disqualified from keeping dogs for a period without limit.

Derbyshire Live

Bestiality / Zoophilia, Paedophiles / Sex Offenders

Norwich: Jack Butler

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CONVICTED (2019) | Jack Butler, born c. October 1997, previously of Stanley Street in Derby DE22 and at date of sentencing Beechwood Drive, Thorpe St Andrew, Norwich NR7 – caught with child and animal porn

Child and animal porn pervert Jack Butler, now of Norwich, UK
Child and animal porn pervert Jack Butler, now of Norwich

Butler was caught with sick child abuse images and movies showing people engaged in sex acts with animals. Police came across the vile photographs and films when they raided his then address in Derby.

Analysis of Butler’s MacBook uncovered all three categories of indecent images, the most serious of which typically show young children carrying out sex acts with adults.

Derby Crown Court heard how since his arrest in October 2018 Butler has lost his university place and relocated to Norwich.

But he was spared an immediate prison term after seeking out help from a specialist charity and being deemed at low risk of re-offending.

Lauren Butts, prosecuting, said police attended Butler’s then address in Stanley Street on October 23, 2018 as an internet (IP) address from the home had been linked to downloading child abuse images.

She said analysis of his MacBook uncovered 16 extreme pornographic images showing humans and animals engaged in sexual activity.

Also found were 44 of the most serious category A indecent child images, 60 category B and 43 category C.

Miss Butts said: “It is fair to say the police got them because the defendant told them where they were.”

She did not reveal to the court the ages of the children involved

Butler was arrested and pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing the illegal images.

Gareth Gimson, mitigating, said his client has lost his university place.

He said: “He is working with a charity called ‘Stop It Now’ and receiving counselling.

“His mum and dad sit in court and he knows he has brought an incredible amount of shame not just on himself but on them.”

Sentencing: 10-month prison sentence suspended for two years. Ordered to sign the sex offender’s register for 10 years and given sexual harm prevention order restricting his computer and internet use. He is to undertake 100 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation sessions with the probation service.

Derby Telegraph

Dogs

Mackworth, Derby: Kieron Hughes

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CONVICTED (2018) | Kieron Anton Hughes, aka Kieron McAuliffe, born 20 October 1992, of Aldwych, Mackworth, Derby DE22 4FG – left his pet dog starving and locked in a tiny space

Animal abuser Kieron Hughes from Derby, UK

Hughes pleaded guilty to a string of allegations under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 relating to causing unnecessary suffering to his crossbred dog Tilly.

These included failing to explore the cause of her poor body condition between September 11 and October 11, 2017, and, on or before October 11, not taking reasonable steps to ensure Tilly’s needs were met, in that she did not have a suitable environment or was not able to exhibit her normal behaviour patterns.

Starved and neglected dog Tilly, who went on to recover in the care of the RSPCA

RSPCA Inspector Sarah Burrows said: “Poor Tilly was very underweight from a lack of food when we found her.

“She was locked in a corner of the house by a baby gate in a tiny space that meant she could barely move around. Her nails were overgrown and she was in a very poor body condition. It was really sad to see a lovely dog like Tilly being kept in this way.

“Tilly was signed over to the RSPCA and it is now hoped she will find a loving forever home.”

Sentencing | 12 weeks in jail, suspended for 12 months; 120 hours of unpaid work; total of £615 in costs and charges. Disqualified from keeping animals for five years (expired February 2023).

DerbyshireLive

Animal Abandonment, Lifers, Reptiles / Exotics, Worst of the Worst

Alvaston, Derby: Fiona Simpson

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CONVICTED (2016) | Fiona Simpson, born 11 June 1982, of Shalfleet Drive, Alvaston, Derby DE24 0UR – starved four snakes to death.

Fiona Simpson

Mother-of-three Simpson didn’t feed her four snakes for several months at a time. Two hadn’t been fed at all for seven months while two more were so badly emaciated they had to be put to sleep.

Simpson also failed to keep a tank heated for the four snakes and in one case left a boa constrictor for dead in a plastic bowl inside a bag. It was found at her home by an RSPCA inspector with its nostrils “crusted over” and “lying in stinking yellow liquid”.

Fiona Simpson

Another snake, when examined by a vet, was found to have rotting skin in its jaws and was “wheezing and blowing bubbles from its mouth”.

And two other corn snakes were so malnourished they were “neglected to the point of emaciation”.

The court was told how all of the pets either died within days of being taken to the vet or had to be euthanised “on welfare grounds”.

Fiona Simpson

John Sutcliffe, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, said: “An expert snake vet who examined the reptiles said it was one of the worst cases (of neglect) he had ever seen.

“One of the snake’s bodies had simply shut down due to starvation while another suffered long-term starvation. One Boa was described as limp, floppy and lethargic and despite attempts to try and feed it, it could not swallow.

“Shed skin was blocking its nostrils and when she was interviewed, the defendant admitted she had not fed two of them for seven months and another for six months.”

The hearing was told how Simpson had bought the snakes in 2015 after “developing an interest” in them.

Andy Oldroyd, mitigating, said his client initially fed them “from instructions she read on the internet,” but had stopped as she was “unable to cope due to depression”.

Sentence: 12-month community order; £700 costs. Banned from keeping all animals for life.

Daily Mail