CONVICTED (2024) | Ian Rosenberg, born c. 1964, of South Haven Close, Hamworthy, Poole BH16 5BJ – illegally bred and sold puppies.
Illegal dog breeder/dealer Ian Rosenberg (right) with one of his many traveller friends
Rosenberg, who has strong connections to the traveller community, is said to have earned £53,260 through his illegal activities, which he will have to repay.
An investigation led by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) into Rosenberg’s operations ran between October 2019 and July 2022, and involved a raid of his Hamworthy property in July 2021.
The warrant was issued by Dorset Police, welfare checks were done by the RSPCA and the council’s Animal Welfare Officers were able to investigate at his premises.
Rosenberg was found to be housing 50 dogs and five litters of puppies.
Trading Standards then carried out a financial investigation which led to the successful prosecution.
This was the first successful conviction by BCP Council in bringing an unlicensed breeder to justice.
In court, he was found guilty of breeding three or more litters of English Bulldog, French Bulldog and Cocker Spaniel puppies over a 12-month period.
He was also found guilty of selling the puppies without a licence.
Sentencing | two months in prison, suspended for 12 months; 120 hours of unpaid work; repayment of the money he benefitted from through his illegal activity, with £10,500 having to be settled within a three-month period. If any of the payments default, Rosenberg will face six months in jail.
CONVICTED (2023) | Liam Brown, born c. 1998, of Grosvenor Gardens, Boscombe, Bournemouth BH1 4HH – broke into a farm, tied up a calf with a belt and raped her.
“Sadistic” pervert Liam Brown was found by farmers with his trousers down and ‘clearly having sex with a calf’ at the farm in Burton, near Christchurch, Dorset.
He tried to get away and jumped a fence into another pen but was trampled by cows.
He cried as he lay on the floor and told farmers, “I’m sorry, I f*” up.”
Brown was subsequently charged with sexual penetration with a living animal and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
Prosecuting, Matthew Mortimer said that the owners of the farm, which is off Martins Hill Lane, had set up a surveillance system following suspicions cattle were being “interfered with”.
It followed declining health among the livestock, and even deaths, as well as incidents where items of clothing and surgical gloves had been found on the farm.
Shortly before midnight on June 12, 2022, a calf was heard making a ‘distress sound’ prompting the farmers to check the CCTV.
Viewing live footage from the farmhouse they saw a figure chasing a calf around with what appeared to be a belt.
The court heard how the defendant ran away after realising he had been caught, and in doing so, fell into another animal cage and was trampled by cows.
He was confronted by the farm owners, and when one asked if the abused animal was tied up, he responded that ‘he had finished and untied the calf’.
A DNA sample taken from a calf the following day proved ‘intercourse’ had taken place.
The defendant was known to the farmers as some of his family previously worked at the farm.
While they suspected that animals were being abused, the farm owners said ‘the truth was something they could not comprehend’.
Mitigating, Olivia McGonigle noted her client was remorseful and was “devastated by the pain he has caused”.
She told the court: “Mr Brown has been open and honest with the probation service about the offence.
“He has been open about the difficulties he has with his behaviour.”
Mrs McGonigle said that the defendant was “working to address his behaviour” and was being supported by his girlfriend.
She added that Brown had moved away from the area and had no intention to work with any livestock.
Summarising, Judge Keith Cutler CBE said: “This is a very alarming, bizarre and worrying case.
“A man of your age getting involved in this behaviour – I’m sure you look back on it with shame and embarrassment.
“Your actions did cause unnecessary suffering to this animal.
“I hope that nothing like this will ever happen again.”
Speaking to the Daily Mail after the sentencing hearing, one of the farm owners said she was concerned that Brown would strike again and still checks the cattle pen every morning.
She said: ‘You never think that somebody could be so depraved.
‘It was my job to feed the calves. They would be fine when I left them at night and then I would find them ill in the morning and struggling to breathe.
‘I thought they had pneumonia so I was trying to treat them for that but it was actually because he was strangling them with his belt.
‘He took his belt off to tie the calf to the gate.
‘He should have gone to prison.’
Sentencing | 36-month community order with 150 hours of unpaid work; £600 compensation. Banned from owning or keeping livestock for ten years.
CONVICTED (2023) | backyard breeder Mark Amos Mabey, born c. 1964, of Bridge Close, Peatons Lane, Lytchett Matravers, Poole BH16 6HW – for cruelty to 11 severely neglected dogs kept in poor conditions.
Mark Amos Mabey, who is from a notorious Dorset-based traveller family, pleaded guilty to 11 counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
Mabey, who has previous for wildlife crime, was prosecuted alongside others* after police paid him a visit on 26 November 2022 and found 11 dogs living in poor conditions. A vet certified the animals to be suffering and they were seized by police under the Animal Welfare Act.
Alongside a suspended prison sentence and curfew order, Mabey is disqualified from having anything to do with dogs for the next seven years. This prohibits him from:
Owning dogs
Keeping dogs whether on a temporary or permanent basis
Participating in the keeping of dogs
Allowing any dogs to be kept at his residence or any property to which the defendant has control or ownership of
Being party to an arrangement under which he is entitled to control or influence the way in which dogs are kept
Participating in the sale or exchange of dogs
Transporting or arranging the transportation of dogs
PC Sebastian Haggett, of the Dorset Police Rural Crime Team, said:
“Mabey was responsible for causing unnecessary suffering to a significant number of dogs.
“As part of our proactive work, we ensured that the dogs have all since been lovingly rehomed and are being well looked after.
“I am pleased that the disqualification order was granted over an extended period of time to prevent Mabey from causing further harm to any dogs. This is an essential bit of legislation that can be used to protect animals.
“I would urge members of the public to please contact Dorset Police if they are aware of Mabey contravening the terms of his order.”
Sentencing | five-month custodial suspended for 18 months; five-month tagging order; 60 hours of unpaid work. Seven-year ban in relation to dogs only (expires October 2030).
Clockwise from top left Lewis Longstaffe, Jay-Lee Arnold, Lee Mabey, Tani MabeyCharges against Lee Mabey and two other suspects have been dropped
We are advised that the prosecution offered no evidence against Jay-Lee Arnold, Kylie Davies and Lee Mabey and the charges against them have been dropped.
CONVICTED (2023) | Shona Louise Hale, born c.1991, of 161 Littlemoor Road, Weymouth DT3 6AF – for the severe neglect of two malnourished dogs found in poor living conditions and with untreated ailments.
Hale, a self-employed doula trading under the name Amba Bump & Beyond, was found guilty of animal cruelty in relation to two wire-haired lurcher-type dogs named Branna and Sky
Branna was in particularly poor health with a chronic skin disease, which had caused major fur loss and scabby skin all over her body, plus visible scabs on her back, tail and legs. Live fleas could be seen crawling on both dogs, who were living in poor conditions.
On June 25, 2022, RSPCA rescuers were called to the address Hale shares with husband Callum Hale and their two children after concerns were raised about the welfare of the dogs.
RSPCA inspector Patrick Bailey said: “Sky was of thin body condition, with her spine and hips bones prominent. She had thinning fur on her lower back and the base of her tail and her skin was pink and inflamed.
“Branna was worse in condition. She had fur loss on her lower back, her hind legs and her tail as well as her stomach, chest, underneath her neck and thinning fur on her front legs. She had scabby skin all over, there were visible scabs on her back, tail and legs, particularly her back legs.
“You could also feel scabs on the skin of her head, neck and behind her ears, although they were concealed by slightly thicker fur in these areas.
“The fur that was present on her back legs was matted into knots. Live fleas could be seen crawling on both dogs. Both dogs were trying to rest on the sofa but constantly interrupted by itching which caused them to scratch, lick and nibble themselves.”
Mr Bailey persuaded Callum Hale to allow him to take the dogs to a vet for a welfare check. The veterinary examination found Branna was suffering unnecessarily due to a chronic skin infection, malesia and flea infestation and vets confirmed neither dog had had their needs met fully.
The dogs were taken into the care of an RSPCA rescue centre where there was a significant improvement in their condition after just two weeks of treatment.
The skin on both dogs was a normal colour and was no longer greasy or smelly. There were no fleas and a significant reduction in the amount of scabs on Branna, who also had some new hair growth on her lower back.
Sky in healthier times. Source: Shona Hale, Facebook
The kennel staff also reported that the dogs had stopped scratching within 24 hours of their first bath on arriving at the RSPCA centre and their character had improved along with their physical condition.
Hale, who also keeps horses, was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal (Branna) by failing to provide adequate or effective professional veterinary care and attention for her severe and chronic skin disease. She was also convicted of failing to ensure the needs of animals she was responsible for were met.
Speaking after the case, RSPCA inspector Charlotte Le Brun, who investigated for the animal welfare charity, said: “Our plea to all animal owners is to make sure they always receive care and treatment from veterinary experts when they need it.
“Hale had been previously offered assistance from the RSPCA, including help with vet care for the dogs, but she did not take her dogs to the vet.
“Pets are completely reliant on their owners to ensure their needs are met and they are kept safe and healthy. Owning an animal is a privilege – and ensuring appropriate veterinary care is a key part of the responsibility we have towards our pets. It’s so sad that, in this instance, that responsibility was not met.”
Sentencing | two-year conditional discharge; £26 victim surcharge. Five-year ban applicable to dogs only (expires October 2028).
CONVICTED (2023) | Christopher M Feeley, aka Christopher Campbell, born 13 May 1981 of Whistley Waters, Milton on Stour, Gillingham SP8 4PT – failed to take his mysteriously injured dog to the vet.
Feeley, who with wife Amy-Rose Feeley owns and operates self-catering holiday lodges in Milton on Stour, near Gillingham in Dorset, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to wire-haired Vizsla Goose by failing to provide veterinary treatment for an unexplained injury to a rear leg.
Goose is having to get used to life on three legs following months of neglect by Chris Feeley
He left the eight-year-old dog to suffer for six months, leading to the leg having to be amputated.
Despite having at least one other pet – another wire-haired Vizla, Feeley was not banned from owning animals but was ordered to relinquish Goose, who is now available for rehoming with the Cotswolds Dogs & Cats Home.
Sentencing | fined £326 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £130 and £1,521.60 costs.
CONVICTED (2023) | kitten breeder Lorraine Jane George, born 19 May 1959. of Freshwater Road, Christchurch BH23 4PD – kept dozens of ailing Persian cats in squalid conditions.
RSPCA officers attended Lorraine George’s home on March 8, 2023, where they found the cats were living in the bathroom, bedrooms, ensuite and two pens in a conservatory of the property. All areas were littered with faeces and dirt.
The court was told that George kept and bred Persian cats and had given them a free run of her home.
But when the RSPCA visited her property along with officers from Dorset Police, many of the cats were in poor health, suffering from a number of ailments, including eye infections, respiratory illness, flea infestations, severely matted fur, while many were emaciated, two had ingrown claws and others dental issues.
One cat later had to be put to sleep to end her suffering.
George pleaded not guilty to 13 Animal Welfare Act offences, but was convicted after a trial.
RSPCA inspector Patrick Bailey said in a statement presented to the court that nearly all the ground floor of George’s property was inaccessible because of the amount of clutter.
“We were confronted by a wall of boxes and parcels, creating a thin walkway through the hallway to the kitchen, and I could hear cats calling throughout the house,” said the inspector.
“There was also a very strong, unpleasant smell of ammonia and it was impossible to enter the living room and dining room as they were stacked floor to ceiling with boxes of belongings.
The court heard that police found the defendant asleep on the floor of a bedroom, while her bathroom and an ensuite were occupied by cats.
The inspector added: “There were no clean facilities to use and it appeared to me the property barely functioned as a home anymore, instead it resembled a storage facility.”
RSPCA officers removed the cats from six living spaces so they could be assessed by vets in a mobile treatment vehicle.
A vet, who examined the cats, stated: “None of the pens provided a suitable environment for the needs of the cats as they were housing too many cats for the area provided. That along with poor ventilation and hygiene, contributed to the high prevalence of multiple infectious diseases.
“The provision of food and water was inadequate and food bowls were dirty and empty, litter tray provision was inadequate; and there was a lack of enrichment for all the cats.”
One of the bedrooms some of the cats were living in was too hot, with poor ventilation, and the vet noted: “There was faecal staining all over the furniture, windowsill, bookshelves, bedside cabinets and faeces in the bed itself. The smell in this room was horrific.”
Among George’s cluttered possessions were a large number of sacks of cat and dog food and cat litter, but most of it had been left unopened.
The court was told the RSPCA had offered to rehome George’s cats in 2015 and provided her with advice on previous visits to the property.
George claimed some of the cats were thin because they had feline flu. The court was told that she also spent seven days in hospital in 2022 and a friend helped her look after the cats for a short period. In mitigation, the court was told about the defendant’s infirmity.
In all, the RSPCA removed 29 Persian cats from the property and they were treated for their ailments, although one was so unwell she had to be put to sleep. The cats remain in the care of the charity and will be rehomed.
Sentencing her, the judge, HHJ Fuller, KC, said: “You had an excessive number of cats, which you were incapable of caring for. You obstinately refused to accept advice from others relating to the cats’ care. All these conditions would have been obvious to a careful and competent cat owner.
“This is not a case of incompetent care, this was prolonged disregard. This is a case of obstinacy and obsession and you showed deliberate disregard for animal welfare.”
Speaking after the sentencing, inspector Bailey said: “This case is an example of how the RSPCA will make every effort to try to educate an owner on the correct way to look after their animals before taking legal action.
George also owns three dogs but as they all appeared in good condition she was only banned from keeping cats.
“Inspectors repeatedly tried to encourage the defendant to reduce her number of cats, improve animal husbandry and crucially seek veterinary assistance in a timely manner, including euthanasia when required.
“But sadly, she didn’t make decisions based on what was in the best interests of each individual cat.”
Sentencing | 26 weeks in prison suspended for two years.; ordered to pay costs of £53,275.78. 10-year ban on owning cats.
CONVICTED (2023) | Sonny-Joe Barney, born 18 March 2003, of 11 Summer Fields, Verwood BH31 6LG – goaded his dogs into attacking and killing a chicken.
Barney, a traveller, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a chicken by releasing dogs on it.
Dorset Police’s rural crime team found evidence of a dog being set on a chicken during an investigation into hare coursing. The chicken was killed in the incident, which took place in a field on 7 July 2022.
Sentencing | 12-month community order with 20 days of rehabilitation activity. 12-month disqualification order, which states that he must not transport or arrange transport, own, keep or take part in keeping dogs or chickens.
Barney was given a criminal behaviour order, banning him from owning wild animals or catapults, as well as to keep off private farmland.
Image: Dorset Police
He appeared at Poole Magistrates Court again on Friday 14 July, 2023, to be handed the criminal behaviour order. That states that for a five-year period, he must not:
Be in possession of a wild animal, wild bird or part of a wild animal or bird living or dead
Be knowingly in possession of a catapult or shot such as ball bearings or a hunting lamp including in a vehicle with a catapult or such shot in a place to which the public have access or private land as a trespasser
Allow a dog under his control off a lead except on private land with the landowners written permission which must be presented to a police officer on request
Be on private farmland, agricultural land or forestry land without written permission of the appropriate authority or landowner, this permission must be presented to a police officer on request
If Barney breaches any of the terms of the order, he can be arrested and taken back to court.
Police Constable Lauren Middleton, of Dorset Police’s Rural Crime Team, said: “Our investigation revealed evidence that Barney was believed to be involved in hare coursing and the offence for which he has been convicted shows that he has little regard for the welfare of animals.
“We have worked hard to compile evidence and secure this order from the court, which we hope will assist in stopping the defendant from reoffending in the future. We would like to send a special thank you to Dorset Council’s Community Safety Team for helping us secure this order.
“We hope this demonstrates to our rural communities that we will take decisive action against those who commit offences of this nature, and we would urge them to work with us by reporting any suspected breaches of the order to police so we can take further steps if necessary.”
CONVICTED (2023) | Lukasz Michal Dawidkiewicz, born c. 1981, of St Swithun’s Road, Bournemouth BH1 – set his ex-wife’s home on fire, killing four of her pets.
Lukasz Dawidkiewicz killed two cats and two guinea pigs in a revenge arson attack against his ex-wife
Dawidkiewicz set fire to the first-floor flat in Alder Road, Poole, Dorset leaving “a scene of absolute devastation”.
Two cats and two guinea pigs died in the fire – while a third cat was able to escape.
Polish national Dawidkiewicz initially denied responsibility, claiming the pets must have knocked over a candle.
However, the court heard how he had sent his victim text messages threatening to set fire to the flat, using misogynistic language and telling her she would “return to find blackened walls and nothing to come back to”.
Dawidkiewicz was linked to the crime after his ex-wife showed the messages to police.
The fire tore through the flat in the early hours of May 1, 2022.
Investigators determined it was started deliberately, most likely by pressing a naked flame against a combustible sofa.
Dawidkiewicz pleaded guilty to reckless arson and causing unnecessary suffering to the animals.
In mitigation, his lawyer told the court his client suffered from mental health issues. He added that he hadn’t intended to kill the four pets, describing them as “collateral damage”.
Sentencing, Judge Robert Pawson said the offences were committed “against a backdrop of domestic abuse”.
“You became subsumed in resentment and were unable to rationalise the end of your marriage,” he said.
“There was a simmering anger which was exacerbated by your taking cannabis and alcohol.”
Sentencing | six years and six months in prison,. 12-year restraining order.
CONVICTED (2023) | John Edward Pritchard, born c. 1975, of Enham Green, Shaftesbury – caused unnecessary suffering to a group of young calves on their way to a slaughterhouse.
Livestock haulier Pritchard was in charge of transporting 35 calves on a two-hour journey from a farm in Sherborne, Dorset, to an abattoir in Wiltshire.
However, his double-decked livestock trailer was only designed to carry sheep when both decks were in use, because there was insufficient headroom on the lower deck for calves to stand.
When he arrived, the calves were unloaded by a member of staff who immediately noticed that the animals on the lower deck had injuries to their backs where they had bumped against the roof supports of the upper deck during the journey.
Many of the calves suffered injuries when they stumbled and fell down the trailer ramp which was twice as steep as it should be
Some of these injuries were up to 10cm long and an examination of the carcasses after slaughter revealed deep bruising.
The official vet at the slaughterhouse examined the calves and concluded that they had been caused unnecessary suffering.
CCTV footage of the calves being unloaded was shown to the court and this also revealed that the ramp angle for the upper deck was far too steep for calves to safely walk down.
The maximum permitted angle for such a ramp is 20 degrees but Pritchard’s was more than 40 degrees, with the CCTV showing the calves stumbling and falling down the ramp.
The court heard that to transport the calves safely and legally, Pritchard should have only used the lower deck on the trailer with the upper deck folded away.
This would have meant doing two journeys to the slaughterhouse but instead it was deemed he decided to put profit before animal welfare.
The prosecution was brought by Dorset Council following an investigation by its Trading Standards team.
Sentencing | 18-month conditional discharge; prosecution costs of £6,495 plus a £22 court surcharge.
CONVICTED (2022) | Gillian Margaret Carr, born c. 1961, of Fulbrooks Close, Bridport DT6 5DJ – neglected a Friesian horse, leading to his death.
Carr was found guilty of three charges of causing unnecessary suffering to the black Friesian horse called Henry.
The charges related to a course of conduct between December 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021.
Between these dates Henry suffered from muscular atrophy which Carr failed to investigate or address. She also failed to provide routine parasite care for worms and lice or provide a suitable diet for him.
Between December 29 and December 31, 2021, the animal collapsed at a field near Nallers Farm, in Askerswell, Dorset, and Carr failed to obtain or seek veterinary attention for him. Very sadly Henry died.
Carr pleaded not guilty to the charges but was found guilty following a summary trial
Sentencing | 12-week prison sentence, suspended for two years; 300 hours of unpaid work; £628 in costs and surcharge. Banned from keeping equine animals for a period of two years (expires December 2024).
