Tag Archives: Derbyshire Dales

Dogs, Organised Animal Crime, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders

Derbyshire puppy farmers Stephen Buxton, Susan Heath, Oliver Lucas

March 4, 2024 misanthropic 3 Comments

CONVICTED (2024) | Stephen Buxton of the Breach Cottage, Breach Lane, Sudbury, Ashbourne DE6 5HH, Susan Heath of 61 Foss Road, Hilton, Derby DE65 5BJ, and Oliver Lucas of Sudbury Park, Sudbury, Ashbourne DE6 5HU – ran an unlicensed puppy farm on which 28 dogs and puppies were kept in filthy and unsanitary conditions.

South Derbyshire District Council prosecution of cruel and greedy puppy farmers Stephen Buxton, Susan Heath and Oliver Lucas — Susan Heath and Stephen Buxton

Puppy farmer Oliver Lucas from Ashbourne, Derbyshire. — Oliver Lucas

In 2020 officers from South Derbyshire District Council were notified that dogs were being bred at the family home of Stephen Buxton without the necessary breeding licence. When council officers contacted Buxton, he denied this but was reminded of the legal obligations.

In 2021 council officers received intelligence that dogs were being sold on social media by owners using different names, but all based at Buxton’s address. A court warrant was obtained by the council and officers visited the premises on June 7, 2022.

A total of 28 adult dogs and pups were found in agricultural buildings at the site.

Conditions were found to be cluttered and dirty, with extensive faecal and urine contamination. The premises was infested with flies and a dead rat was sighted .

The odour in the building was described as overpowering.

All of the dogs at the site were observed to be anxious, wary and in some cases afraid of contact with humans.

Using powers granted under animal welfare legislation, council officers seized the dogs and transported them to a local kennels. Veterinary examination determined that they had all been neglected for a lengthy period

Three weeks after the warrant, all of the dogs were signed over to the legal control of the local authority.

All of the animals were returned to full health and were found permanent homes.

Following the council’s investigation, three people were charged with offences relating to unauthorised breeding of dogs and animal welfare offences. All three pleaded guilty to these offences.

Stephen Buxton admitted one offence of causing unnecessary suffering, nine offences of failing to ensure welfare and two offences of breeding without a licence. He was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 190 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £114 victim surcharge and £5,000 contribution towards the prosecution costs.

Oliver Lucas admitted two offences of causing unnecessary suffering, three offences of failing to ensure welfare and one offence of breeding without a licence. He was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 100 hours unpaid work, ordered to pay a £114 victim surcharge and £2,000 contribution to the prosecution costs.

Susan Heath pleaded guilty to breeding without a licence and was fined £180. She was also ordered to pay a £72 victim surcharge and £400 towards the prosecution costs.

District Judge Flint remarked that they had prioritised money over animal welfare and should be ashamed of the conditions in which they kept the dogs. . He held Buxton as most responsible and the chief protagonist, as it was his property and he clearly knew that he should have been licensed. The judge commented that if he had been found guilty after trial, he would have looked at sending him to prison.

DerbyshireLive

Cats, Dogs, Lifers, Multiple Species, Serial Animal Abusers, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Ilkeston, Derbyshire: Kelvin McKendry

April 29, 2021 misanthropic 3 Comments

#MostEvil | violent career criminal Kelvin McKendry, born 22 November 2001, most recently of Cotmanhay Road, Ilkeston, with previous addresses in Swadlincote and Brailsford in Ashbourne, Derbyshire – beat his pet dog to death and seriously injured a cat in a series of attacks

Evil Kelvin McKendry subjected his British Bulldog, Marley, to a horrific assault which left the pet with traumatic injuries to his head, body and internal organs

McKendry, who has previous convictions for violence, subjected his British Bulldog, Marley, to a horrific assault which left the pet with traumatic injuries to his head, body and internal organs.

Following the incident, which took place at McKendry’s home in Ilkeston on February 13, 2020, the criminal buried him in nearby woodland.

Kelvin McKendry's victims Marley and Gypsy — Kelvin McKendry’s victims Marley and Gypsy

When a youth offender worker questioned where Marley was, McKendry claimed he had died the previous night and he had buried him in a field where he used to walk him.

The RSPCA were contacted, but when they went to McKendry’s address in Cotmanhay Road he was not there and they were unable to locate him.

Four days later Derbyshire police received information that led them to where the dog was buried.

A pathologist’s report concluded Marley had suffered “horrific” life threatening injuries caused by multiple blunt force trauma.

McKendry with a previous dog, named Bracken. His fate is unknown. — McKendry with a previous dog he owned. The fate of the dog, named Bracken is unknown.

The vet report said: “The life-threatening injuries suffered by Marley caused internal bleeding and shock, from which he ultimately died.”

In the meantime McKendry had left the Ilkeston area and was only found when the RSPCA were called to reports of an injured cat in Rose Hill, Woodville, near Swadlincote, on July 21, last year.

When inspector Rachel Leafe, along with police, went to investigate what had happened they found a cat called Gypsy had been thrown against a wall, leaving her with a broken pelvis.

McKendry was arrested in connection for other matters, including a one-year long campaign of violence in Ashbourne which saw him injure at least five people in separate incidents.

He was sentenced to a two years in a young offender institution for those offences, and was charged with animal cruelty offences while in prison.

Inspector Leafe said: “According to the pathologist report it is clear poor Marley had suffered from a series of injuries which led to his death.

“Gypsy was also in a suffering state after McKendry threw her against a wall. She had emergency surgery and after weeks of cage rest I was pleased to hear she had made a good recovery at Derby’s Abbey Street Rehoming Centre.

“Now called Aggi she has now been nursed back to health thanks to dedicated staff and has just moved into her forever home in the countryside.”

McKendry pleaded guilty to two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and two charges of failing to take reasonable steps to ensure the needs of an animal for which he was responsible.

Sentencing: jailed for 19 weeks. £121 victim surcharge Lifetime ban on keeping all animals.

Derby Telegraph

farms / smallholdings, Food Production

Matlock, Derbyshire: David Grant

July 23, 2018 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2018) | David Richard Grant, born 1973, of Smedley Street, Matlock DE4 3JD – kept malnourished and lame sheep in appalling conditions.

David Richard Grant, who had a previous conviction for animal cruelty, kept poorly sheep in appalling conditions

David Grant pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to sheep at a smallholding in Bakewell, Derbyshire Dales.

Investigating Police Constable Karl Webster said: “When visiting Grant’s smallholding in Bakewell on February 26 police and trading standards officers found conditions to be woefully substandard with far too many animals being kept for the facilities available.

Hillside Animal Sanctuary investigated animal neglect at David Richard Grant’s smallholding

“A flock of over 40 sheep were housed in a small shed with contaminated bedding which had led to high instances of lameness due to foot-rot.

“Others were very thin and suffering the effects of malnourishment.

“The attending vet took the decision that four of the sheep needed to be put down to end their suffering. Many more were in need of medical treatment.

“Other animals at the location were also found to be living in substandard conditions.”

The court heard how Grant failed to provide suitable living conditions, treatment and veterinary care for the animals resulting in pain and suffering.

PC Webster added: “The conviction came as a result of an investigation by our Rural Crime Team and Derbyshire County Council’s Trading Standards department which began in February.

“The foundations of the case lay with members of the local community alerting the Hillside Animal Sanctuary about the conditions at the smallholding. Fears for future of Barrow Hill’s historic church and ‘architectural gem’

“This was followed by some excellent work by their operatives to obtain evidence of the conditions which was later passed to the police.”

Hillside Animal Sanctuary stated that they received reports that Grant was keeping animals in terrible conditions. A sanctuary spokesman said that an investigator visited and filmed the terribly neglected and many lame sheep and the findings were reported to the Derbyshire Rural Crime Team who joined forces with Derbyshire Trading Standards to bring charges against David Grant.

Sentencing: ten weeks of custody suspended for 12 months with 180 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay a £115 victim surcharge and £85 costs. Banned from owning or keeping livestock for ten years.

Derbyshire Live

donkeys and mules, Equine Abuse, Lifers

Ashbourne, Derbyshire: Mark Barber

February 20, 2018 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2018) | Mark Barber, born 8 June 1977, of The Waterings Farm, Blore, Ashbourne DE6 2BT – for leaving two donkeys to suffer in agony with overgrown hooves

Mark Barber and abused donkeys Jessica and Jasmine.

Farmer Mark Barber pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the two jennys, at Derby Magistrates’ Court on 15 February 2018. He admitted failing to seek vital treatment for the pair.

The RSPCA and the Donkey Sanctuary found the animals, Jessica and Jasmine, with hooves so overgrown they were unable to walk normally.

Close-up of one of the donkey's overgrown hooves.

“These two beautiful donkeys were left to suffer because Mr Barber failed to arrange veterinary or farrier treatment,” said RSPCA inspector Charlotte Melvin,

“After a concerned member of the public called us about the state of two donkeys they’d seen on the Barbers’ farm, I called Hannah Bryer, head of welfare at the Donkey Sanctuary, to help and when we arrived we were shocked at what we saw.

“Both donkeys, Jessica and Jasmine, were out in a field and their hooves were so long we could barely coax them to take a few steps – they were in agony.

“Mr Barber had left Jessica and Jasmine without any farriery or veterinary care for a really long time, even though it was clear that they were suffering.

“Thankfully, after we called a vet who certified their suffering immediately, Mr Barber signed the donkeys into our care and after carefully loading them into the horsebox, they were taken straight to the Donkey Sanctuary to receive the expert care they so desperately needed.”

The pair were taken to the Donkey Sanctuary in Buxton, where Jessica was found to have severe sarcoids on her legs and belly.

Barber was not charged with any offence relating to the sarcoids, but her condition was so serious, a veterinary specialist advised that she would not recover and she was put to sleep.

Jasmine has recovered and is still with the sanctuary in Devon.

Ms Bryer, head of welfare at the Donkey Sanctuary, said: “Cases like this are incredibly sad as they can be so easily avoided.

“We are grateful for the combined efforts of the RSPCA, Derbyshire Police and all involved in investigating this case. The disqualification order serves to protect the welfare of donkeys in the future, but of course the most important outcome is that Jasmine is now fit and well, with a safe and secure future ahead of her.”

Sentencing | Barber was fined £383 and ordered to pay £500 costs and a £38 victim surcharge. He was also disqualified from keeping donkeys for life.

Horse and Hound
DerbyshireLive

Animal Abandonment, Cats, Dogs, donkeys and mules, Equine Abuse, horses and ponies, Multiple Species

Erdington, Birmingham: Nicole Williams

June 6, 2017 misanthropic 3 Comments

CONVICTED (2017) | Nicole (Nicki) Williams (aka Victoria Nicole Williams and with numerous aliases including Nicola Archer Lloyd, Nicki Matthews, Esther Matthews, Julie Williams, Nicole Fraser and Nicole Field) born 15 April 1974, at the time of conviction living at Grace Road, Leicester, but most recently (January 2018) of Slade Road, Erdington, Birmingham B23 7PN – abandoned four dogs, five kittens, nine horses and two donkeys

Alleged serial con artist Williams, who also has links to the areas of Chesterfield and Matlock in Derbyshire, pleaded guilty to four offences of failing to meet the needs of her animals.

The animals were left at a livery yard but Williams failed to return to feed or clean them. Williams moved her animals into the livery yard on Wharf Road, Stanton Hill, Sutton-in-Ashfield, on 24 October 2016 – but within a week it was clear she was not returning to clean and feed them.

RSPCA Inspectors Sarah Gardner and Kristy Ludlam attended the yard to find the animals living in poor conditions.

Animals abandoned by Nicki Williams at a DIY livery yard

Kristy said: “There were five kittens being kept in a horse box with no food or water. There were no litter trays, so the horse box was filled with urine and faeces, which was also in their empty food and water bowls.

“There were four dogs being kept in an enclosure which was covered in faeces and urine and all of the dogs were in a poor condition with matted fur and urine stains on their feet.

“The two donkeys were being kept in a paddock which had no hard-standing ground for them or shelter – two things which donkeys need.

“They were also being kept in the same paddock as the horses, which we would never recommend as donkeys have different needs to horses.

“They (the animals) were living in horrific conditions.”

All animals have now recovered and have either been welcomed into new homes or been reserved by new owners.

Sentencing | 120 hours of unpaid work; £750 in costs and victim surcharge of £75. Five-year ban on owning animals (expired June 2022).

ITV News

Dogs, foxes, hunting with dogs, hunts, Wildlife Crime / Bloodsports

Ashbourne, Derbyshire / Tutbury, Staffordshire: Johnny Greenall and Glen Morris

August 10, 2012 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2012) | Meynell and South Staffordshire hunt master John Edward Greenall, born July 1960 of Wootton Hall Estate, Wootton, Ellastone, Ashbourne DE6 2GW, and hunt field member Glen Morris, born c. 1969, of Ludgate Street, Tutbury, Burton-on-Trent DE13 9NG – illegally hunted fox cubs with hounds.

Johnny Greenall (right) and Glen Morris pictured outside court

Greenall, son of the Baron of Daresbury, and hunt employee Morris were secretly filmed by anti-hunt protesters trying to kill foxes near Hilton in Staffordshire.

Both men denied breaching the Hunting Act but were both convicted.

Footage played in court showed members of the Meynell and South Staffordshire Hunt surrounding a wood at Suffield Farm in Sutton on the Hill in October 2011.

The hounds entered the wood to hunt young foxes in a sport known as ‘cubbing’.

One fleeing fox was scared back into the wood by the surrounding huntsmen who were clapping their hands.

Hunting foxes with dogs was made illegal in the 2004 Hunting Act.

Summing up, the judge said: “The evidence that Greenall was the hunt master is not in dispute nor is the fact that he was there that day.

“Greenall gave an innocent explanation as to why he was there in his police interview. But he has chosen not to give evidence in front of me.

“This is because the evidence would not stand up to any scrutiny.”

Tim Bonner, from the Countryside Alliance, was disappointed with the ruling. He said: “I am surprised at the verdict when there is no evidence in which foxes are shown to be pursued, let alone being caught by the hounds.”

Steve Harris, head of enforcement at The League Against Cruel Sports, said: “We are very pleased that Derbyshire Police thoroughly investigated this case and that the Crown Prosecution Service were willing to allow a court to decide on who was telling the truth.”

Sentencing | Greenall was fined £3,515 and Morris was ordered to pay £515.

Wildlife Guardian

Update October 2012

The not so honourable Johnny Greenall stepped down from his role as chairman of The Meynell & South Staffordshire Hunt, citing the court case as his reason.

Source: North West Hunt Saboteurs

Additional Information

Johnny Greenall owns the Duncombe Arms pub/restaurant in Main Road, Ellastone, Ashbourne DE6 2GZ with wife Laura Greenall.

Their son, former jockey Jack Greenall, owns the Pheasant Inn in Hungerford, Reading.

UK Animal Cruelty Files