CONVICTED (2022) | Reece Armstrong, born 4 February 1996, of no fixed abode but originally from Guildford, with links to Stanwell, Camberley and Folkestone – lunged at a police dog with a zombie knife.
Career criminal Reece Armstrong told a police officer “I’m going to kill your dog” when they responded to an incident in Folkestone.
After swinging the blade and catching PD Blue’s collar, Armstrong fled but was located by firearms patrols in the town centre five days later.
Image source: Kent Police / Twitter
He again tried to flee but was caught with the help of a police drone and detained.
Armstrong’s “utterly abhorrent behaviour” began on the afternoon of March 23, 2022, when police responded to reports of an altercation between two men in Endrook Valley.
An officer attended the area with PD Blue and approached Armstrong at around 4.20pm.
After initially interacting well, his mood changed and he brandished a large zombie knife from his hoodie.
He became very aggressive and moved towards the officer and Blue, threatening to kill the animal.
Fearing for his safety and for Blue’s, the officer shouted at Armstrong to stop and step back. He ignored the commands and swung the knife at Blue, with the blade catching his collar.
Armstrong then fled the scene. Fortunately, Blue was not harmed.
He was arrested days later following the use of a police drone to follow his movements across town.
Following his arrest officers located the zombie knife he had used in his attack on Blue.
After being interviewed in custody and charged in relation to the offences committed, Armstrong was immediately recalled to prison for breaching the terms of his licence in relation to a separate conviction. He was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on 7 July 2022.
Investigating officer PC Sophia Lateu said: “Armstrong’s behaviour was utterly abhorrent; PD Blue and his handler were extremely lucky to be able to walk away from this incident unharmed.
“Every day our officers are required to attend unpredictable, challenging and sometimes volatile situations. However, like any other job, officers should be able to perform their roles without being the subject of such disgusting and potentially dangerous actions.
“Any assaults on police officers, staff or our police dogs are completely unacceptable, and we will not hesitate to prosecute those who put their safety and the safety of other emergency workers at risk in this way.”
CONVICTED (2021) | puppy farmer/horse dealer Geoffrey John Bennett, born c. 1954, of Hurst Farm, Portsmouth Road, Ripley, Woking GU23 6EY – kept dozens of animals in squalor on his puppy farm; some found collapsed and dying in filthy conditions.
Geoffrey Bennett
Geoffrey Bennett, a dealer of low value horses and donkeys with strong links to the travelling community, was jailed for 19 weeks having pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to two horses and one goat, failing to meet the needs of 171 animals, and six offences of failing to properly dispose of animal by-products.
Bennett “accepted no responsibility nor expressed anything resembling remorse” in relation to the charges, Recorder Darren Reed told the court.
A total of 204 animals were discovered and tragically two starving horses and a collapsed goat had to be put down at the scene to prevent them from any more suffering.
The 201 others were taken for appropriate care, including 129 horses and donkeys, 59 dogs, three alpacas, five goats, four chickens and one duck.
Some of the sickest animals received immediate veterinary care while others were taken for treatment nearby, and those that were considered fit to travel by on-site vets were transferred to various charities and sanctuaries.
Bennett and partner Christine Kelly went on trial, accused of 24 counts, most of which were related to animal cruelty. The case against Kelly was later discontinued although she went on to be prosecuted for other animal welfare offences*.
RSPCA rescuers worked with Bransby Horses, Redwings, The Horse Trust, The Donkey Sanctuary and World Horse Welfare in “one of the biggest coordinated rescue missions the UK has ever seen”.
Rescuers discovered two starving ponies, suffering from cyathostominosis, in one pen and a goat collapsed in another. Sadly these animals couldn’t be saved.
Herds of ponies, many riddled with worms, were living out in fields with hazardous metal and broken fencing sticking up from the thick mud. Inside two barns were pens full with donkeys, goats, alpacas and ponies, many of them standing on top of 2ft to 3ft of months’ worth of waste and faeces.
Bennett failed to provide drinking water, parasitic treatment, adequate nutrition, dental care, hoof and nail trimming, veterinary treatment for infections, disease and lameness, clean and dry resting places and living space.
The charity also found dogs, some heavily pregnant, chained and tethered in a filthy yard, with others shut inside small cages or makeshift kennels.
During the raid, “bones and carcasses” were discovered wrapped in horse rugs on a muck heap including “one equine [carcass]”, prosecutor Hazel Stevens told the court.
Bone samples were collected for analysis and according to Ms Stevens, a goat leg was also found.
A video showing upsetting scenes of what the RSPCA discovered upon executing the warrant was played in court as Bennett watched on.
Twenty foals were born in charity care, two of which were stillborn, as well as six goat kids, one alpaca and nine puppies – but two died shortly after birth.
Defending, Michael Fullerton said Bennett was retired and had “no intention” of going back to farming.
He added: “In respect of the general condition of the farm, December 2018 and January 2019 were particularly wet.
“The areas with significantly muddy tracks, that was because tractor would go through to spread the hay for the horses. Muddy yes, but food was available for those in the field.”
Bennett was sentenced for causing unnecessary suffering to two horses and one goat, failing to meet the needs of 171 animals and six counts of failing to properly dispose of animal by-products.
Speaking about the case, RSPCA Special Operations Unit case officer Kirsty Withnall said: “The RSPCA and World Horse Welfare officers had received complaints about the farm and had been looking into these concerns and gathering evidence.
“This was a huge multi-agency rescue mission which was the culmination of weeks of planning and evidence gathering. In total, there were 100 staff from different agencies working on the case to help round up the animals.
“It took almost 12 hours on the day to assess all of the animals, load them into horse boxes and animal ambulances, and move them off-site; making it one of the biggest coordinated rescue missions the UK has ever seen.
“We had to have a plan in place that would allow us to remove a large number of animals on the day but we hoped that wouldn’t be necessary and had no idea what action would be taken until vets were able to assess all of the animals.”
She added: “The reason I do my job is because I care passionately about animals and I’ll be overjoyed when all of these animals are in loving homes being given the care, love and attention they deserve.”
PC Hollie Iribar from Surrey Police commented: “As a Rural and Wildlife Crime Officer for Surrey Police, I have witnessed some devastating acts of animal cruelty over the years.
“This was one of the most difficult cases I’ve seen, and I am grateful to the RSPCA and our other partner agencies for the hard work put in to bring this case to trial.
“I’m very glad that this heartbreaking case has seen a resolution in the courts, and that the animals involved were rescued and given a second chance at a happy and healthy life.”
A spokesperson from World Horse Welfare described the case as “challenging”, and added: “We are relieved that we were able to help remove so many horses from these conditions so they could have a better life and receive the care they deserve.”
Sentencing: jailed for 19 weeks and disqualified from keeping all animals for life.
Christine June Kelly was found guilty of 15 offences under the Animal Welfare Act after a trial over dates in June and August 2022.
Christine Kelly
Kelly was found guilty of failing to meet the needs of 131 equines by failing to provide a suitable environment, a water supply, adequate nutrition, routine dental or farrier care, or adequate parasitic treatment or control and treatment for prevention of illness and disease.
She was also convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a number of horses, dogs and goats.
She was handed a 26-week prison sentence – suspended for 18 months – as well as being disqualified from keeping all animals for life. A deprivation order – relating to 12 dogs and seven horses – was also issued, meaning the charities can now rehome them.
All other animals had previously been signed over for care by the charities or to be rehomed.
CONVICTED (2020) | Michael Rodger Warren, born 20 June 1985, of Avondale Close, Grangetown, Middlesbrough TS6 9SD and with links to Guildford, Blackpool, Whitstable and Worthing – let a German Shepherd starve to death and left another with severe muscle wastage in squalid faeces-littered house
White German shepherd Bolt had already starved to death by the time RSPCA inspectors gained entry to Michael Warren’s squalid home, while his other dog Panther tragically stood guard over the corpse.
When RSPCA inspectors visited Michael Warren’s filthy home on June 27, 2020, they discovered the stricken dogs, Bolt and Panther. Very sadly, Bolt had already died from malnutrition while Panther had been starved to the point of emaciation. He weighed just 17.5kg, which is around half the weight of a healthy German Shepherd.
He had also suffered hair loss and was riddled with fleas.
When interviewed Warren was said to show “very little remorse” for what happened and “at one point he got up to make a cup of tea”.
Panther and Bolt (white), who were left to starve by Michael Warren
Warren was charged with two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal but didn’t even turn up to his trial at the Magistrates’ Court.
Shocking hypocrisy: Warren lies on social media about Bolt’s cruel and preventable death
He was found guilty in his absence and also appeared on Thursday 10 July 2020 to be sentenced for breaching a suspended sentence order relating to an offence he was sentenced for in 2019.
Nicci Horton, mitigating, said her client had a diagnosis of dyslexia, had attended special needs schools in his youth and was taken into foster care at the age of six.
Ms Horton told the court that the puppies were bred by Warren’s mother, prolific backyard greeder Lucy Koca of Redcar. In June 2018 Koca had given her son two of the puppies as a birthday present but when he tried to return them, she refused to take them back.
Bolt and Panther as puppies
Ms Horton agreed her client had been “negligent” in his actions, adding that he had been mostly living at another address at the time.
Warren has six previous convictions for eight offences.
CONVICTED (2011) | hare coursers Eddie Cole, born 20 February 1982, and Matthew James Wenman, born 10 June 1986, both of South Oaks Caravan Park, Dorking Road, Chilworth, Guildford GU4 8NS but with links to Rudgwick, Horsham, West Sussex Matthew Giles, born c. 1979, of Hilltops Caravan Park, Stovolds Hill, Cranleigh GU6 8LE, Tony Frenny Giles, born 22 April 1985 of Twin Oaks, Knowle Lane, Cranleigh GU6 8JW and Nelson Hedges, born c. 1987, of Guildford Road, Normandy, Guildford GU3 2AR
Clockwise from bottom left Eddie Cole, Nelson Hedges, Tony Giles, Matthew Wenman, Matthew Giles
A group of illegal hare coursers who drove 150 miles to let their dogs chase hares in north Suffolk were fined and banned from driving in February 2011.
Eddie Cole, Matthew Giles, Tony Giles, Nelson Hedges and Matthew Wenman were each fined £1,000 and banned from driving for 56 days after they pleaded guilty to hunting a wild mammal with a dog.
Magistrates heard the five defendants had driven up from Surrey and Sussex with five dogs on December 12, 2010, and allowed their dogs to chase hares in a field in Flixton, near Bungay.
At least one hare was killed by the pack of dogs, which included a spring spaniel, a terrier and a seven-month-old puppy.
Colette Griffiths, prosecuting said the five men were found by police stretched out in a line as the dogs chased a hare which was killed.
Police had arrived at the field after a farmer in another field had noticed the men acting suspiciously and alerted officers.
In mitigation the court heard the men were all “extremely remorseful” and recognised “the consequences of their actions”.
Sentencing | fined £1,000 each plus £100 court costs.
Nelson Hedges was jailed for two months for dangerous driving after leading a 100mph police chase.
Officers from Cambridgeshire Police suspected Hedges was hare coursing in his silver Mazda Tribute after members of the public reported him.
The force’s Rural Crime Action Team (RCAT) spotted the vehicle, covered in mud and with dogs in the boot, driving through the village of Iselham, Cambs.
Police parked across the road and signalled Hedges to pull over but he swerved round the car, mounting a pavement, and sped off.
He drove at speeds of nearly 100mph in a 40mph zone and darted across two junctions without stopping.
In a bid to evade police capture, he even drove onto a field causing around £200 worth of damage to crops.
He was arrested after his vehicle came to a halt when police blocked it in another field.
Hedges was also disqualified from driving for 19 months, with an extended retest, after pleading guilty to dangerous driving and criminal damage,
We collate data on animal cruelty convictions in the UK
