CONVICTED (2022) | Leeann Baird, born 8 August 1990, of 12 Cameron Place, Kincardine, Alloa FK10 4RD – banned from owning animals for ONE YEAR after she allowed her dog to become emaciated and malnourished
Baird pleaded guilty to failing to provide adequate nutrition or veterinary treatment for a seven-year-old whippet named Preston.
Scottish SPCA officers visited the house on April 23, 2021, after receiving reports of a neglected dog . Another person answered the door and initially denied having any dogs at the time.
However Preston was found inside in an emaciated condition and overgrown nails. His coat was dry and flaky.
Animal welfare officers seized the dog and took him to a vet where it was found that he weighed just 10.7kg. He ate ravenously when offered food.
It was estimated he had been caused unnecessary suffering for at least 28 days but most likely longer, through malnutrition. Blood tests revealed there were no underlying health conditions that could have caused this.
Baird claimed she had considered seeking treatment for Preston but could not afford it.
Scottish SPCA inspector Mairi Wright said: “We are pleased that Baird was handed a £200 fine and ban.
“Baird was responsible for the welfare of Preston and sadly his needs were not met.
“We understand that veterinary costs can become a worry, but ignoring Preston’s condition was not the way to handle the situation and caused him an unnecessary amount of suffering.
“We are glad that Preston finally received the treatment he needed and is now in a loving home getting the care he deserves.”
Sentencing | £200 fine and a woeful one-year ban (expires July 2023).
#MostEvil | John Wilson Haxton aka John Falconer, born 9 August 1992, previously of Murrayburn Green, Edinburgh and at time of publication living in Glenrothes, Fife – beat his dog so badly she had to be put to sleep to end her suffering.
Haxton beat Roxy so severely the retinas of both eyes became detached.
Haxton was found to have abused his Staffordshire bull terrier dog, Roxy, leaving her blind with severe swelling.
Haxton first came to the attention of the Scottish SPCA in 2018 after reports had been made to its animal helpline of people having witnessed him kicking or abusing Roxy in public or hearing noises suggesting he was beating the dog inside his home.
The animal charity investigated, but at the time there was no evidence to support the reports and he was only issued warnings.
However, in 2020 members of the public intervened after he was seen to be badly beating Roxy in public.
Two members of the public took Roxy from Haxton and she was bleeding from the eye, had cuts across her body and her neck had significant swelling. She was very distressed and was urinating blood.
Roxy had suffered repeated attacks by her owner sustaining injuries so severe that she had to be euthanised on humane grounds.
The charity intervened again and inspector Fiona Thorburn met the members of the public at the vet where Roxy had been taken for emergency treatment.
The vet found numerous injuries on Roxy which suggested recent trauma including central blindness.
At that time, the vet determined that her vision would likely not return.
Roxy was required to stay at the hospital for 24 hours before she was transferred into the care of the Scottish SPCA.
Further examination found that she also had arthritis and a serious hip injury.
These conditions, as well as her recent injuries and blindness, were causing her immense pain and suffering and the sad decision was made to put her to sleep on welfare grounds.
Inspector Thorburn said: “The post-mortem showed that there had been bleeding to Roxy’s eyes for at least two days. The bleeding is generally associated with trauma to the eye and, in this case, to both of Roxy’s eyes. Her retinae were detached at least three days before her death which supports claims that Roxy was regularly beaten by Haxton.
“The vet concluded that Roxy had been caused severe unnecessary suffering as a result of the beating she received on May 2, 2020 and that the injuries sustained were a result of blunt trauma to her face, head and abdomen. She would have been caused immeasurable physical and mental pain and she was left terrified and anxious of human contact.
“It would have been clear to any responsible owner that Roxy needed emergency veterinary treatment.
“We liaised with the vet Roxy was registered with and found that earlier in 2020, she had been kicked so badly that she suffered a dislocated hip. Surgery to repair the injury was booked in but not taken forward.
“This is a very harrowing case and one that will stay with me and, I’m sure, everyone involved. The level of suffering inflicted on Roxy in Haxton’s care is unimaginable. She was put to sleep as a direct result of Haxton’s actions. We had hoped he would never be allowed to care for an animal ever again.
“We are extremely disappointed given the severity of the injuries Haxton inflicted on Roxy that he did not receive a lengthier ban or custodial sentence. Haxton had opportunities to relinquish ownership of his dog were he not coping but he refused and instead her suffering continued.
“We would like to extend our gratitude to the two members of the public who witnessed Haxton beating Roxy in public and removed her from his care. Her injuries were so severe that who knows what would have happened if they hadn’t intervened. However, we wouldn’t recommend people put themselves in any danger in this sort of situation and to call Police Scotland and the Scottish SPCA should they witness a crime such as this.”
Sentencing | 300-hour community payback order. Five-year ban on owning and keeping animals.
Haxton is living with a woman named Sarah Falconer at a property in Caskieberran Road, Glenrothes KY6 2NT. It’s rumoured that the pair of them have bought a kitten together despite him being banned from keeping or owning any animal.
Haxton with girlfriend Sarah Falconer, who’s from Glenrothes.
CONVICTED (2022) | game warden Christopher Robertson, born 20 January 1972, of Pratt Street, Kirkcaldy KY1 1RY – banned from keeping pets for 20 years after his lurcher dog was found “extremely emaciated” and close to death.
The alarm was raised by a resident near the A822 layby and her gardener, on July 13, 2018 after they heard Robertson “roaring” and the sound of a small dog yelping, and a larger dog “screaming”.
This noise continued for about an hour, and both witnesses became increasingly alarmed for the welfare of the dogs.
The gardener phoned the police and two officers arrived at about 4.40pm.
They saw Robertson walking an extremely emaciated lurcher-type dog. She was almost completely bald and covered in sores. Her ribs and hips were protruding through her skin.
The dog would have died within hours if she had not been found in a lay-by as she had been neglected for months by Christopher Robertson.
As officers approached, Robertson tried to place the dog in the back of his pick-up truck. She was too weak to jump into the tailgate so Robertson lifted her in.
He became aggressive when officers approached and asked about his dog.
He said to them: “Fs it to do with you” and “there’s nothing wrong with her, f off. I’m not telling you my name, I’ve done f*** all.”
During the ensuing angry standoff, officers saw that Wilkinson had a knife with a 3″ blade attached to his belt. The knife was pulled out by one of the officers and thrown to safety.
Police called for back-up after Robertson slid underneath his vehicle where he stayed for around 20 minutes.
When he finally emerged, he was asked about his knife. He replied: “I’m a gamekeeper, it’s for gralloching deer.”
As well as the lurcher, police found a small Border terrier in Robertson’s truck. She appeared to be in better condition than the lurcher, who was so weak she couldn’t stand without assistance. She was seen to be even more emaciated up close and was covered in open sores. All four of her paws were bleeding between each toe.
Both dogs were taken to a local vet for treatment.
Vet Rhuairidh Mackenzie said: “The dog was extremely emaciated, with extensive patchy hair loss and numerous wounds to the body.
“She was so weak she struggled to stand or walk. She had profuse diarrhoea and was in need of immediate medical attention. She was given IV fluids.
“She was outwith the normal readings attributed to extreme malnutrition. We wrapped her paws in bubble wrap to increase her temperature.
“She weighed 8.3 kilos, when a dog of that breed would normally be 12 to 15 kilos. Normal food portions would have been dangerous to her liver.
“It was difficult to estimate how long it took to get to this stage. Scars and lesions were prolific. She had sores all over her body.
“The body condition of this lurcher was the worst I had ever seen. It was at the extreme end of mistreatment. No reasonable person could have looked at her and not known she needed treatment.”
Another surgeon Kate Jamieson added: “It’s my opinion that this case involved months of neglect.
“If the [lurcher] had not received treatment when she did, I think she would have died over the weekend.”
She said: “It has been the worst case of neglect that I have ever seen. Definitely the skinniest.”
Robertson admitted causing the dog unnecessary suffering in addition to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and possession of a knife in a public place.
CONVICTED (2021) | Ryan Stewart, born c. 1990, of 21C Winifred Crescent, Kirkcaldy KY2 5SX – allowed his pet dog to become malnourished and to suffer a painful skin condition.
The Scottish SPCA attended the home of father-of-two Ryan Stewart after receiving an anonymous tip-off that he was neglecting his pet dog, a Staffy cross known as Sky. Stewart answered the door but refused to let the investigator see Sky. claiming she was “very excitable”.
The inspector described the odour emanating from the property as being an “overpowering smell of urine and faeces.”
At this point, Stewart began blocking the doorway to his flat.
He continued making excuses to deter the inspector until someone else in the property opened the door and let the dog out.
Sky, who was around seven years old, had bones visible and was “clearly emaciated.” The dog, which Stewart had kept since it was a puppy, also had extremely long nails.
The inspector raised concerns and vets later diagnosed the dog with dermatosis and alopecia.
Stewart admitted causing Sky unnecessary suffering in that he failed to provide adequate nutrition, care and treatment.
He also pled guilty to failing to obtain veterinary advice or treatment for the dog, who was suffering from health conditions including weight loss and skin conditions including hair loss.
Stewart’s defence solicitor Kerr Sneddon said Sky, now in the care of SSPCA, was severely underweight when she was rescued and has made a “remarkable” recovery.
He said: “The situation got too much for Mr Stewart.
“He could no longer bathe the dog and had issues giving the dog enough food.
“He should have contacted a vet. He should have got medicated shampoo.
“He knew exactly what they would find and it was embarrassing.”
Sentencing: 65 hours of unpaid work. A ONE-year ban on owning animals (expired August 2022).
CONVICTED (2021) | Allan Petrie, born 28 August 1973, of 37 White Avenue, Leven KY8 4EN – drowned his Golden Retriever in a bathtub and sent the photos of the dog’s body to his ex partner
Allan Petrie and victim Jack
Twisted Petrie killed his 10-year-old dog Jack (pictured) at his home and texted horrific photographs of the aftermath to his ex.
In chilling text messages, Petrie told the woman: “I’ve just committed murder.”
He added: “Av put it oot his miserable f* life. And am next coming get your fucking collie.”
The text was followed by a smiling face emoji.
Sick Petrie also joked about harming his ex-girlfriend’s collie, shown above with Jack
Petrie, who according to his Facebook profile works as an HGV driver with Kiely Bros, pleaded guilty to the gut-wrenching charges in a letter to Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court.
He admitted that between November 8 and 17, 2020, he caused unnecessary suffering to his dog Jack in that he submerged the dog’s head in water, whereby he ingested liquid and drowned.
He also admitted to sending a message deemed grossly offensive, indecent, obscene or of a menacing character to his ex-girlfriend.
Sheriff James Williamson said he had been “totally astonished” reading Petrie’s guilty plea letter.
He deferred sentence until July 1, 2021, for background reports and for Petrie to appear in person.
Petrie has now had sentence deferred to September 2021.
He had been warned a custodial sentence was a possibility when a sheriff previously deferred sentence for a veterinary report on the dog’s health before it was killed.
Investigators were forced to dig up the body of the dog, called Jack, and a post mortem showed, in addition to aspirating water, the golden retriever had suffered a blunt force trauma.
CONVICTED (2021) | serial rapist Paul Hill, born c. 1965, of Kings Park Drive, Ayr – killed family pets to exert control over women
Sadistic monster Paul Hill drowned a former partner’s pet parakeet, killed another’s tiny kitten, threw a third girlfriend’s cat out of a window, and threatened to harm his own Alsatian bitch when a fourth woman told him she was leaving him.
The former bouncer was convicted of raping four women and physically assaulting eight women.
His offending took place between 1987 and 2009 throughout the Tayside, Grampian and Fife areas.
At the High Court in Glasgow, judge Lord Mulholland told Hill: “You used coercive and controlling behaviour. You abused and belittled them. You harmed their pets as a way of punishing them.
“Your behaviour was cruel and despicable.”
Hill was ordered to be monitored in the community for three years after his release from jail.
Defence counsel John McElroy representing Hill said: “He continues to maintain his innocence.”
Hill denied committing a string of sexual and violent offences against former partners in Aberdeen and Dundee over a 22-year period and claimed any sex was consensual.
He claimed he acted in self-defence when he strangled a 59-year-old grandmother at a Christmas party until her face turned purple after drunkenly shouting, “I’m a killing machine.”
His victims said that Hill was an evil “psycho” who verbally abused, beat, strangled and raped them. One said he attacked her after she put a CD in his alphabetically arranged collection in the wrong place.
One terrified mum-of-two sobbed as she told how she took her children to her mum’s after she caught Hill having sex with another woman in their bed.
Later he phoned threatening to kill the family’s 18-year-old pet parakeets if she didn’t return.
She said: “I went home later on that night because I knew he wasn’t in the house.
“The kids went into the house and they saw there was only one bird in the cage. They found the other parrot drowned in the kitchen sink.
“He drowned it, because the sink was filled up with water.”
Another ex-girlfriend told how Hill wrecked the Tayside apartment he shared with her after she left him because of his violent behaviour.
She said. “I had a kitten. It was only a little wee kitten. He killed my kitten.”
Hill was also convicted of throwing another woman’s cat out of the window of a flat in Kincorth, Aberdeen.
The woman said that several times when she’d said ‘no’ to sex Hill started to strangle her. She said: “His whole face – his eyes – would change, he was like a completely different person. His eyes would go really dark. He just looked really evil.”
Hill, who appeared in court via a video link, was placed on the sex offenders’ register.
CONVICTED (2021) | Gail Riley Harrison (née Middleton), born c. 1969, and James A Harrison, born 29 October 1961, both of 7 Kirktoun Street, Ballingry, Lochgelly KY5 8NU – left their young Great Dane-cross to suffer with a catalogue of health conditions
The court heard that Jimmy and Gail Harrison didn’t understand their responsibilities to care for Archie (pictured)
Gail and James ‘Jimmy’ Harrison both admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the two-year-old dog, known as Archie, by failing to provide adequate care and treatment for his many ailments.
These included chronic and severe skin conditions, limb and feet conditions including alopecia, erythema, pruritus, pyoderma, bruising, ulceration, bleeding and overgrown nails.
The pair’s appalling neglect of Archie came to light after a workman visiting their home was concerned at the dog’s condition and reported the matter to the Scottish SPCA. The animal charity attended and took Archie into their care.
Great Dane cross Archie pictured around January 2019
Defence solicitor Alexander Flett said: “It truly is a case of neglect and not deliberate cruelty. They didn’t understand the responsibilities involved.”
Sentencing: fined £200 each. Banned from keeping or being in control of a dog for five years (expires January 2026).
CONVICTED (2020) | Martin Davidson, born 12/10/1995, of 23 Abbotsford Road, Lochore, Lochgelly KY5 8DT- trained four dogs to violently bait wild animals including badgers; failed to treat his dogs’ fighting injuries
Martin Davidson
Davidson kept videos of his dogs viciously attacking foxes and sickeningly posed for pictures with the injured or dead animals.
The father-of-two trained his dogs for animal fighting including badger baiting.
Davidson failed to take any of his dogs for veterinary treatment for their horrific facial injuries
He pleaded guilty to the charge along with failing to provide veterinary treatment to an injured dog in his care.
Davidson was investigated by the Scottish SPCA after the charity received intelligence about his behaviour.
Doomed: Davidson with his offspring
Three of the dogs involved in the case were male, brindle coloured bull lurchers named Tramp, Mojo and Sid. The other was a female, white and tan, Staffordshire bull terrier named Lady.
The dogs were found injured as a result of the hunting and are now in the care of the SSPCA where they will be rehabilitated.
Shameless Davidson regularly uploads images of shocking animal cruelty to social media
An SSPCA special investigations unit undercover inspector, who cannot be named, said: “We received intelligence that Davidson was keeping and training dogs for the purposes of animal fighting.
“We obtained a search warrant and gained entry to the home of Davidson where we found the four dogs.
One of the dogs rescued from a life of pain and misery at the hands of monstrous Martin Davidson
“The Staffordshire bull terrier, Lady, was in the house. She had significant scarring to her muzzle and lower jaw. These injuries are consistent with animal fighting, in particular badger baiting.
“The three lurchers were found outdoors in a kennel and run in the rear garden, far too small for their size and breed. Two had obvious, fresh injuries to their ears and heads.
“We also found animal fighting paraphernalia at Davidson’s residence.
“It’s all lies!” Davidson’s foul-mouthed partner tries to convince people (maybe even herself) that he’s just misunderstood
“This included hunting gear, blood-stained wellies and a spot lamp commonly using for lamping with dogs, which is hunting at night.
“Multiple images were discovered of his dogs pictured with dead animals at night. Some featured the dogs viciously gripping foxes between their jaws.
“During interview, Davidson admitted that the four dogs were not registered with a vet and did not receive any medication or treatment to ease their suffering from any of the injuries they had sustained
“Other photos showed Lady, Tramp, Mojo and Sid in the back of Davidson’s vehicle at night with fresh injuries. Our expert vets determined these were consistent with animal fighting, specifically with badgers and foxes.
“The disregard that Davidson had for the welfare of the wild animals he forced his dogs to fight, and for his own dogs, is unfathomable. The dogs are in our care and are currently receiving the rehabilitation they need.”
One of the many sickening images of animal cruelty found on Davidson’s phone
Sheriff Alastair Brown told Davidson: “You kept dogs for fighting and you kept them in conditions which were unsuitable to the extent that you weren’t meeting their needs properly.
“It’s been well known, because it gets publicity, that hunting with dogs, which appears to have been the reason for getting these dogs, is illegal.
“Beyond that, it’s perfectly clear to anyone with a grain of sense that there is substantial public disapproval of hunting with dogs, of dog fighting and failing to take care of dogs within your care.
“What you were doing was entirely unregulated – keeping dogs for fighting is reprehensible as well as criminal, and keeping animals in conditions in which there are harmed is deplorable.”
However, Sheriff Brown stopped short of a prison sentence after hearing Davidson previously served jail time for another matter, adding it was “regrettable” that this case had not been heard at the same time.
Davidson’s lawyer Alexander Flett of Martin Johnston & Socha solicitors in Dunfermline said his client had been dealt a “harsh lesson”, alluding to the fact that his previous court appearance had sparked “unwelcome attention” from animal rights activists.
Sara Shaw, head of the wildlife and environmental crime unit said: “Dog fighting is a cruel illegal activity which causes terrible and unnecessary suffering to animals.
“I welcome today’s sentence and the granting of the order preventing Martin Davidson from keeping any animal for five years.
“COPFS will continue to work to ensure those who participate in this barbaric practice are prosecuted and would encourage anyone who may have information on dog fighting to contact the police or the Scottish SPCA.”
Sentencing: 160 hours of unpaid work. Banned from keeping dogs for five years (expires October 2025).
CONVICTED (2020) | Helen Burt, born 04/01/1992, previously of Elder Place, Rosyth, and now Cairns Street East, Kirkcaldy KY1 – kept three Staffordshire bull terriers in squalid conditions
Convicted dog abuser Helen Burt from Rosyth, near Dunfermline, Fife, is banned from keeping animals for a mere five years.
Burt let the dogs, Codi, Mali and Shakira, live in a filthy home surrounded by their own excrement and failed to take them outside to do the toilet.
At Dunfermline Sheriff Court she pled guilty to a charge under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, after failing to provide the dogs with a suitable environment or to meet their needs, between January 11 and 25, 2018.
Two of the three dogs rescued from Helen Burt’s filthy home.
The charge detailed how her treatment of the dogs would have caused them psychological suffering and put them at risk of injury and disease.
They were exposed to urine, faeces and household debris including open tin cans and broken furniture.
Burt failed to provide adequate water and ventilation for the animals, left them in an unhygienic environment and failed to allow them to exhibit normal behaviour.
She also neglected to take the dogs outside to defecate or urinate.
Conditions inside Burt’s house
Animal welfare charity Scottish SPCA investigated the case.
Scottish SPCA inspector Sarah Gregory said: “The living environment for these animals was cramped and filthy.
“The entire property was uninhabitable and appeared to have been used as a kennel rather than a home.
“The smell was an overwhelming stench of ammonia, dirt and faeces that made your eyes water. Faeces were trodden into the floor with fresh matter on top.
“There was litter and broken furniture throughout the property.”
The female dogs were kept in this cage with no bedding.
She said the female dogs, Shakira and Mali, were found in a cage in the living room, with no bedding or resting area.
All of the dogs appeared in good body condition, despite the living environment and high risk of disease due to the contamination in the house.
“Not allowing the dogs adequate opportunities to toilet outside the house meant the dogs would be caused stress and potential mental suffering by having to toilet in the same area as they were confined to for sleeping and eating,” she added.
“Burt did not sign the dogs over into our care which meant that we’ve been caring for them for almost two years. As they are part of a case, we’ve been unable to rehome them until this conclusion. It has cost the society almost £30,000 to care for Codi, Mali and Shakira.
“We welcome the outcome of this case. It was clear that Burt was not able to provide these animals with even the most basic of care.”
Sentencing: community payback order with supervision and a requirement to do 100 hours of unpaid work within six months. Five-year ban on keeping dogs (expires January 2025).
CONVICTED (2019) | Heather Jones, born 28 May 1970, of King Edward Street, Glenrothes KY7 6AW – left three horses to starve in a field.
Heather Jones of Glenrothes, Fife, left horses to starve in a field
A horse named Zante was in an emaciated state after Heather Jones failed to provide enough food for him. He and two other horses kept by Jones in a field in Coaltown of Balgonie, were handed over to the Scottish SPCA. The animals have since been rehomed.
Jones was said to have been a keen horsewoman, having kept horses for years and competed in shows around the country.
At Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court she was reprimanded by Sheriff Grant McCulloch for failing to care properly for Zante.
Sheriff McCulloch also expressed concern for three dogs she keeps and requested further information from the animal charity which investigated the case before he decides how to deal with her.
Jones admitted causing Zante unnecessary suffering between December 10, 2018, and January 10, 2019, by failing to provide adequate nutrition leading to him becoming emaciated.
Her denial of causing unnecessary suffering to two other horses, Toruk and Smith, was accepted by the Crown.
Sheriff McCulloch told Jones: “It’s clear that for whatever reason for a period you did not properly care for one of your horses.
“You did, through inaction or improper action, cause Zante to suffer unnecessarily.”
He said that fortunately Zante’s body condition had improved since being taken from Jones’ care and he was now thriving.
Solicitor Alistair Burleigh said Jones had suffered from mental health issues and had been “completely and utterly isolated” when the offence occurred.
He said: “She knows her failures were quite serious. She is deeply ashamed of how this came about.”
Mr Burleigh said Jones had been highly dedicated to her horses, taking them to events all over. He said: “All that has gone by the wayside.
“She took the appropriate steps to sign these horses over to the SSPCA and all three of them have been rehomed.
“It’s obvious she has a huge void in her life as a result of not having any horses.”
Sentencing | 12-week structured deferred sentence to allow Jones to engage with psychiatry services and for a further report from the Scottish SPCA. Unfortunately the outcome was never reported.
