CONVICTED (2023) | Raki Islam, born 7 November 1978, of 195 High Street, Prestonpans EH32 9AY – for the mistreatment of multiple dogs kept at the home she shared with co-accused (but acquitted) Kevin John Martin born 16 November 1971.

Raki Islam and husband Kevin Martin had faced charges in relation to seven dogs suffering from a number of health conditions including demodectic mange, deep bacterial pyoderma, malassezia, pachy dermatitis, giardiasis, verminosis, a parasite burden, and severe bilateral conjunctivitis.

The pair were already well-known to the Scottish SPCA. Inspector Fiona Thorburn said the charity had “received multiple reports to our animal helpline dating back many years, with concerns about living conditions and animal cruelty and neglect at both the locus in Prestonpans and other properties in East and West Lothian.

Regarding the investigation and prosecution, Inspector Thorburn said: “In June 2021 a report was made to our helpline and videos sent to us of 13 dogs being kept in the rear garden of the property on High Street [Prestonpans] which was covered in faeces and had no adequate shelter.

“The videos were extremely concerning with seven of the dogs appearing to be underweight and virtually bald with very thickened skin.

“With sufficient evidence a warrant was granted by the procurator fiscal, the property was attended along with Police Scotland and the local authority.

“Entry to the property was forced and the 13 dogs were found in the garden which was heavily soiled with diarrhoea, faeces and urine. There was not enough shelter provided for the number of dogs and the smell was overwhelming.

“Several of the dogs were bald and suffering from very severe skin conditions. Their eyes and ears were also painful and infected with copious discharge, and some were underweight.

“All 13 of the dogs were removed and taken for immediate veterinary examination and treatment.

“Seven puppies were found to have a heavy mange burden, which is usually only evident in animals with compromised immune systems. They had chronic secondary infections because of this which affected their skin, ears, eyes, feet and genitals, causing pain and irritation.

“The puppies also had giardia, meaning they were both infected by, and actively shedding, the parasite causing severe diarrhoea. If left untreated this disease can be deadly.”

Islam and Martin were charged with failing to provide adequate care and allowing dogs to suffer. They were also said to have failed to provide adequate shelter and bedding and exposed the animals to faeces and urine between July 1, 2019, and June 14, 2021.

Martin faced additional allegations of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at his home on February 23, 2021.

Martin, who is no stranger to the courts with previous convictions for offences such as assault and failure to adhere to a dog control notice pleaded not guilty to all charges against him and these were accepted by the crown.

Islam pleaded guilty to a single charge but, quite unbelievably, dodged punishment altogether.

Instead she was admonished by the court and will still be allowed to keep animals.

SSPCA inspector Thorburn expressed her disappointment over the latest shocking injustice by the Scottish courts.

She said: “We feel saddened that despite the time and effort we have taken putting together a case where Islam has been charged, she has only been admonished. We believe this decision will likely result in more dogs suffering unnecessarily in the future.

“The dogs removed from Islam’s property took several months to fully recover in the care of the Scottish SPCA and thankfully have now found loving homes where their welfare needs will be met.”

Scottish SPCA News

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Additional Information

In February 2015 the Daily Record published an article on Kevin Martin’s dispute with neighbours over a herd of 24 pigs kept in inadequate conditions at his Magic Farm business in Willow Rise, Haddington, which he ran with brother-in-law Shafiqul Islam.

The pigs were seized in February 2014 under animal welfare laws.

Martin appealed against the seizure but his case was thrown out at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

Martin complained to the Record that he had been discriminated against by “the poshest people in Scotland” who “bombarded the council with ridiculous complaints about me”.

The Record also reported that Martin, who “has a conviction for violence and had criminal associates”, was targeted by gangland enforcer Frank Doris in 2008 when a £30,000 contract was put on his head. Doris was hired by a property developer named Martin Black, who claimed he was living in fear of Martin after a soured business deal.

Martin said he moved to East Lothian to put his past behind him.

He said he kept the pigs for a planned social inclusion project he wanted to set up to help inner city kids learn countryside skills.

Martin, who describes himself as an “ethical entrepreneur”, claimed police raided the Magic Far business after receiving a tip-off he was running a cannabis farm.

He has a colourful business history, including interests in diamond mines in Sierra Leone and importing coconuts from Bangladesh and admitted tax evasion during a trial.

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In March 2020 Kevin Martin was given a three-year ban on owning dogs after allowing a large-breed dog to roam and attack two of his neighbours’ pets.

The dog – a Turkish Kangal – savaged a retriever and a terrier in the grounds of the Whittingehame Estate, east of Haddington, East Lothian.

The Kangal – originally bred to protect livestock from wolves, bears and jackals – attacked both dogs by pinning them to the ground and biting them to the neck while out on walks with their owners.

Martin had been served with a dog control notice following a series of complaints from several worried residents of the exclusive £1.5million apartments in 2018.

But he continued to allow the guard dog, named Mia, out on her own to patrol the grounds before the out-of-control animal then went on to carry out the attacks on his neighbours’ pets.

Martin, who runs a social enterprise for disadvantaged children called the Earthy School Project, denied being the owner of the dog and breaching the control notice, and stood trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on several dates in 2019.

The court was told that Martin had been served with the dog notice on September 5, 2018 after numerous complaints from Whittingehame residents about the Kangal being allowed out on her own.

Martin claimed he had bought the 30kg guard dog as “a livestock guardian” as foxes had attacked his geese and hens, but denied being the actual owner of the animal.

Martin was also facing a separate allegation of assaulting sheriff officer Alex Horne, who had attended at his property in July 2018.

Mr Horne told the court that he was climbing a gate when Martin nudged it with his vehicle during a visit to the estate to serve him a notice. He also said Martin had attempted to punch him during the confrontation.

Following the evidence, Martin was found guilty of failing to adhere to a dog control notice and allowed his animal to attack other dogs, causing injury, at Whittingehame Estate on four occasions on September 14 and 29, October 3 and 28, 2018.

Martin was also found guilty of assaulting sheriff officer Alexander Horne by driving a vehicle at and colliding with a fence Mr Horne was surmounting and attempting to punch him on July 16, 2018.

The sheriff fined Martin £200 and ordered him to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work in the community.

East Lothian Courier