CONVICTED (2024) | hare coursers George William Miller, born July 1991, of Loupsfell Drive, Morecambe LA4 4SB and Lewis Sheridan, born 21 October 1986, of 128 Thicketford Road, Bolton BL2 2LU
The pair were seen hare coursing near the Lincolnshire villages of Twenty and West Pinchbeck on Friday 13 October 2023. They were spotted walking across arable land with their two long dogs. The dogs -one beige in colour and the other black – were seen chasing and catching hares.
Caught red handed: convicted hare courser Lewis Sheridan
The men had arrived in the area in a silver Skoda car which they had left near to a farm in the area. They had tried to hide the car behind some foliage.
On arriving back at the car, the men were challenged by the local farmer who had tried to block the car in with farm machinery. In a bid to escape, the Skoda was driven at speed across grassed areas and onto the A151.
Sheridan and Miller were arrested when their car was seen and stopped by officers from Lincolnshire Police’s Rural Crime Action Team (RCAT), around an hour later.
The men’s car was seized along with the two dogs and equipment including three thermal cameras, a video camera and four mobile phones.
Information obtained from the recording devices and mobile phones pinpointed the men’s unlawful activities and provided evidence of their offending.
During interview the men lied that they had the landowner’s permission to undertake pest control in the area.
On 1 May 2024 Sheridan and Miller pleaded guilty to hunting a wild mammal with a dog, contrary to Schedule 1 of the Hunting Act 2004.
Both men relinquished ownership of their dogs who have subsequently been rehomed.
Sentencing | 10-year Criminal Behaviour Orders banning them from entering onto any private land in Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire or Nottinghamshire during hare coursing season (31 July to 30 April) with a sighthound, ground, long dog, lurcher type dog or crossbreed or be in the company of any other people with that type of dog. Ordered to pay a total of £4,575.50 in full by 30 May 2024.
George Miller, who’s originally from Lancaster (Slyne Road) with links to Heysham, has a roofing company called Lancashire and Cumbria Roofing Ltd.
In March 2021 Miller received a three-year ban on breeding and selling dogs after being convicted of illegally trading puppies. He was prosecuted by Animal Protection Services following their investigation into his activities.
Lewis Sheridan is also a roofer. His wife runs a dog grooming company called Your Faithful Friend Limited, which operates from premises on Bury Road, Bolton BL2 6BB.
CONVICTED (2024) | Amanda Hawkins, born 3 April 1974, of Keighley Avenue, Colne BB8 9EP – failed to get veterinary treatment for her dog’s chronic ear infection and skin condition.
Hawkins admitted one animal welfare offence in relation to nine-year-old Labrador, Robin, whom she had left to suffer for at least two months.. The RSPCA had provided Hawkins with a voucher for veterinary treatment but she claimed she had mislaid it.
Sadly, Robin’s condition had deteriorated to such an extent that a vet decided he should be put to sleep on welfare grounds.
In written evidence to the court, RSPCA Inspector Vicki Brooks, who attended Hawkins’ home in Keighley Avenue, Colne, said: “I was immediately aware of the unpleasant smell that I associate with dogs that have skin issues. I advised her that I was there to check that she had taken her dog for veterinary treatment in relation to a number of health issues.
“Robin was in lean body condition and had extensive fur loss and a skin condition affecting most of his body. I could see patches where he had scratched or rubbed himself to the point of bleeding. His ears were swollen and deformed, and he was shaking his head regularly which was a sign that he most likely had an ear infection.
“Amanda Hawkins told me that she had not taken Robin to the vet because she could not afford it. I reminded her that a previous colleague had issued her with an assistance voucher to contribute towards her veterinary costs and she told me she had lost the voucher.”
Hawkins was told Robin required urgent treatment and as she had not followed previous advice, animal welfare officers may have been committed.
She agreed for the officer to take him and he was seen at the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital later that day.
In written evidence, the vet who saw him said: “Robin had signs of chronic ear problems. Both the left and right ear canal were markedly thickened, meaning it was not possible to examine them while he was conscious.
“There was a diffuse reddening of the skin over much of the dog’s body with thinning hair, especially over the back. The presence of live fleas was also noted.
“Examination under a general anaesthetic showed that the right ear canal was narrowed so far as being completely closed over. The extent of scarring, thickening and signs of infection in both ears are likely to be associated with significant pain and discomfort for this dog. Aural haematomas, as suspected in this case, often arise from head shaking as a result of ongoing ear irritation/infection.
“Ear disease with this appearance takes some time to develop. In the early stages, a simple ear infection may not cause significant suffering, but the level of scarring seen here is likely to have caused significant suffering for at least two months, likely significantly longer.”
In interview, Hawkins said that Robin had started nibbling himself and that he was treated regularly for fleas and bathed in flea shampoo. She said she had switched his food to wheat-free but that got too expensive and nothing had worked.
RSPCA Deputy Chief Inspector Susie Micallef, who was also involved in the investigation, said: “This was a particularly sad case to deal with. Robin’s suffering could have been avoided had he received early veterinary intervention and his owner acted on the help and support that had been given to her.”
Sentencing | 12-month community order with 200 hours of unpaid work; £114 victim surcharge. Five-year ban (expires May 2029).
CONVICTED | mother and son Susan Shaw, born 10 April 1964, and Jack Wynne, born 13 November 1993, of Blakehall, Skelmersdale WN8 9AZ – starved one dog to death and seriously neglected another.
The body of French bulldog Gucci was found in a mummified state in the bath. She weighed just 3.5kg – around a third of the average weight of a healthy dog of her breed.
Officers then found Violet, who was severely dehydrated and malnourished. At 7.6kg she was also significantly underweight.
The dogs’ feeding bowls were dry and there was no water for them.
An expert vet witness said in a statement read to the court that Violet “was shaking and when offered water drank it quickly.”
A second vet who examined Violet found that she was underweight and had issues with her eyes and skin.
Within three months of vet treatment she gained over 3kg (6.6lb) in weight and her eyes and skin started to improve.
Shaw and Wynne pleaded guilty to five animal welfare offences each.
A snake and a fish were also found at the property and were signed over to the RSPCA’s care.
Sentencing | Shaw: 26-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months. Wynne: three-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months. They were both ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £154. Both are banned from keeping animals for 10 years.
CONVICTED (2024) | wildlife killers Thomas Graham Michael Lloyd, born 28 December 1986, of Slaidburn Drive, Lancaster LA1 4QX; Jay Stuart Jones born 5 March 1987, of Barley Cop Lane, Lancaster LA1 2PP; and Steven Dixon, born 9 November 1983 of 63 Keswick Road, Lancaster LA1 3LF – for sadistic cruelty towards multiple deer and at least one badger.
Tom Lloyd (left) and Jay Jones were both sent to prison for serious wildlife offences
The sadistic trio were all convicted of a range of wildlife offences, including cutting a deer’s throat and restraining a deer to enable dogs to attack it.
Tom Lloyd was the ringleader of the sick gang of criminals
Tom Lloyd pleaded guilty to four offences of causing unnecessary suffering to deer and a badger, with videos showing the deer’s neck being stood on to enable dogs to attack the animal, and the deer’s throat being cut repeatedly. He was sentenced to 33 months in prison and was disqualified from keeping dogs for life.
Jay Jones pleaded guilty to one offence of causing unnecessary suffering to a deer by restraining the animal to allow dogs to attack it. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison and was disqualified from keeping dogs for six years.
Steven Dixon pleaded guilty to one offence of causing unnecessary suffering to a deer by repeatedly cutting its throat. He was sentenced to 17 months in prison which was suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to complete 20 rehabilitation days, a six-month mental health programme and 100 hours of unpaid work.
One man was caught on camera slashing a terrified deer’s throatOther videos showed dogs being set upon a badger and a deer
In February 2022, Lancashire Police seized a mobile phone from Jay Jones which revealed videos showing wildlife offences and the RSPCA were called to assist.
The charity’s Special Operations Unit (SOU) worked with police who executed warrants at premises occupied by all three defendants in May 2022.
Two dogs of the four seized from backyard breeders Tom Lloyd and Jay Jones were pregnant
Four dogs were seized: a black lurcher called Hector and a tan and white lurcher, called Chanelle from Lloyd; and a dark brindle lurcher, called Blaze, and a grey merle lurcher, called Dixie, from Jones.
Dixie and Chanelle were both pregnant and had puppies in the RSPCA’s care.
A number of videos showed the cruelty inflicted on deer and a badger.
A written statement, presented to the court in an expert witness report said: “The videos presented have been produced in darkness with the use of a lamp to illuminate the activity of a number of lurcher type dogs pursuing and attacking deer and a badger.
“Two videos indicate a male person to have repeatedly stabbed and cut the skin of the animal’s neck causing further suffering via the mechanism of pain while already being attacked by dogs.”
In one of the videos, Lloyd, who is filming, says: ‘Here we are lads, got a stag’, and shows a deer that has been caught being attacked by dogs.
Later in the video, one of the men can be seen holding the deer’s head while he cuts its throat with a knife.
RSPCA SOU officer Jason Bowles, who led the investigation, said, after sentencing: “We investigate some horrific cases and, sadly, see animals suffering truly gruesome acts at the hands of people.
“The videos in this case are yet another example of the barbaric torture that we regularly see being inflicted upon wildlife we should all be trying to protect and help.
“Sadly, people who enjoy these hideous pastimes continue to offend across the picturesque, rural countryside of England and Wales. “But the RSPCA will not rest in bringing people like these to justice.”
Tom Lloyd’s feral offspring are doomed to turn out just like their evil father
Sergeant James Pinder, who led the warrants and searches for Lancashire Police, said: “The guilty pleas in this case were entered/im after a two year-long, detailed investigation by the RSPCA and Lancashire Police’s West Division Rural Task Force. I’d firstly like to praise the thoroughness and tenacity of those investigators.
“The extremely graphic nature of the many videos recovered shocked all who worked on the case.
“I welcome the sentences imposed and hope they send a clear message to those people who would seek to commit similar offences. “I would encourage anyone with information about the illegal persecution of wildlife to report it by calling 1010, or anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Blaze, Chanelle (and her nine puppies), and Dixie (plus her seven puppies) can all now be rehomed.
Hector will remain in RSPCA care subject to a further court hearing regarding his ownership.
CONVICTED (2024) | Dane Crawford, born c. 1993, and Shelby Wallis (born 3 October 2000), both of 18 Howgill Avenue, Lancaster LA1 2HG – for offences relating to illegal ear cropping and serious wildlife crime.
Lancaster man Dane Crawford was jailed for 30 months and given a lifetime ban for a ‘portfolio’ of animal cruelty offences against a fox and his own pet dogs, while partner Shelby Wallis walked free with a suspended prison sentence and 10-year ban.
Crawford and Wallis both pleaded guilty to four offences under the Animal Welfare Act, which included failing to treat their two lurchers’ injuries, including one badly fractured leg, and for allowing the ears of two of their bullbreeds – Drey and Shakira – to be illegally cropped.
Crawford also admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a fox after setting dogs on the wild animal inside a garage.
Dogs recovered from the couple included bull breeds Drey and Shakira, both of whom had illegally cropped ears.
The RSPCA launched an investigation following reports of puppies having their ears cropped, leading to a warrant being executed by police at a property in Lancaster in February 2022.
A number of dogs were present but there was no evidence of any crimes having been committed.
During the property search, two mobile phones were recovered which contained images and videos of wildlife being attacked by dogs. This prompted a further warrant, on November 1 2022, in which Crawford was arrested.
Lurchers Major and Lassie were found with untreated injuries after being used by Dane Crawford to attack wild animals including foxes.
During this search, more dogs were found at the property, including two lurchers – called Major and Lassie – with untreated injuries, and bullbreeds with cropped ears. Five dogs in total were removed and placed into RSPCA care.
An image recovered from Crawford’s mobile phone showed Crawford with one of his dogs and a dead fox.
Investigators also looked into the images and videos from the phones, two of which showed foxes being set loose in confined spaces with dogs encouraged to attack them.
RSPCA Inspector Will Lamping, who led the investigation, said after the case: “An image was recovered showing Crawford in very distinctive trainers with one of his dogs, holding a dead fox.
“We could identify him within the video of the fox being attacked because of these trainers.”
A vet assessed the lurchers and bullbreeds after they were removed from the home of Crawford and Wallis.
She described Major’s facial injuries as “unusual” and “traumatic”, and suspected they’d been caused by another animal at least 72 hours before. She said, in her witness statement, that the owner should have sought veterinary advice.
She described Lassie’s fractured leg as ‘a traumatic wound’, adding: “I am not sure how it happened but the dog has been left with a very painful leg and the owner had not sought timely veterinary advice. As such there was development of swelling and more pain, and infection.”
Inspector Lamping added: “In interview, Crawford told me he got the two lurchers six weeks before from Appleby. Wallis told me that the three bullbreed dogs were hers and that they’d been imported.”
Lassie and Major were signed over into the RSPCA’s care a few days after they were removed. After spending some time receiving treatment, were both rehomed. The bullbreeds were signed over at a later date.
Sentencing the couple, Judge Simon Medland KC said they had shown “cruel and neglectful behaviour” which caused the animals to suffer “to a substantial degree”.
Addressing Crawford in relation to the offences against the fox, he said: “Your behaviour was criminal and utterly shocking.”
Following the sentencing, Inspector Lamping said: “This case sends a clear message to those that choose to engage in wildlife persecution and ear cropping that their cruel activities will not be tolerated.
“It took many hours to comb through the videos and pictures on the phones recovered; but this work uncovered the serious level of cruelty shown to both the wild animals literally being thrown to the dogs – and to the puppies whose ears were being mutilated.
“The defendants’ own dogs were used in these attacks and were left without vet treatment for serious injuries – including a fractured leg.
“Both have been handed lengthy bans on keeping animals, and handed prison or suspended prison sentences, for their treatment of animals.”
Sentencing | Crawford: 30 months in prison; £3,500 towards costs. Disqualified from keeping all animals for life. Wallis: three-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months; 200 hours of unpaid work; £2,500 towards costs. Disqualified from keeping animals for 10 years.
CONVICTED (2024) | Michelle Joplin aka Michelle Hines, born 1 August 1972, previously of Ganneys Meadow Road, Birkenhead, Wirral, Merseyside, and now of Marine Road West, Morecambe LA3 1BU – neglected her dog so badly she collapsed and had to be put to sleep.
Joplin caused unnecessary suffering to her three-year-old bully type dog, Daisy between May 24 and June 16, 2023.
Victim Daisy was put to sleep after being found collapsed and in immense pain
A vet found the animal in a state of collapse, with her right side “sodden with urine, and skin inflamed and sore”.
Her nails were overgrown, she was suffering with hair loss.
Attempts to move her resulted in aggression, which the vet said was a sign of pain.
Joplin left the dog to suffer in foul conditions
Joplin admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal by failing to address signs of ill health.
Joplin told the court she had been “in a really bad place”.
Peter Mitchell, representing the RSPCA, said it was clear Daisy had been collapsed “for an extended period” when she was finally seen by a vet. Two other dogs in Joplin’s care – Marge and Skye – were rehomed.
Sentencing | 18-month community order with 150 hours of unpaid work, alcohol treatment requirement and rehabilitation. FIVE-year ban on keeping dogs (expires January 2029).
CONVICTED (2023) | Charlotte Emma Kenny (aka Charlotte McInally), born July 1985, previously of Finney Park Drive, Lea, Preston but now of Queen Street or Albert Road, Morecambe – for the starvation and neglect of three dogs and four cats.
Charlotte Kenny pleaded guilty to animal cruelty in relation to the following pets:
a brown dapple male bull breed type dog called Merlin
a black and tan 10-year-old Rottweiler type dog called Daisy
a two-year-old male Northern Inuit type dog called Harou
a black kitten called Loki
a tortoiseshell cat called Barney
a grey cat called Brie
a tabby cat called Maggie
Daisy (left) and Harou are two of the pets involved in the prosecution of Charlotte Kenny
Kenny was prosecuted by the RSPCA after the charity’s officers found her pets living in “disarray” at her previous home in Finney Park Drive, Preston, with animal faeces and piles of rubbish strewn throughout.
Three underweight and malnourished dogs were among the animals living at the house. A vet assessed that they had not been fed adequate nutrition for several weeks.
The RSPCA were contacted in January 2023 after a severely emaciated bull-breed dog called Merlin had been taken to a vet in a collapsed state. The dog was suffering from severe diarrhoea and had to be put to sleep.
The charity was sent Merlin’s clinical history and inspectors then made numerous unsuccessful attempts to speak to his owner, Charlotte Kenny.
During a visit to Kenny’s home inspectors could see several pets inside the squalid property, all of whom were in poor bodily condition. These included dogs Harou and Daisy and a cat. The charity left notices for Kenny to contact them but all went ignored.
On February 6, 2023, a warrant was executed by the police. Four cats found inside were immediately seized after a vet confirmed they were suffering because of the living conditions. Kenny’s surviving dogs Daisy and Harou had been moved to another address but were tracked down and removed.
RSPCA animal rescue officer Kelly Nix, who assisted with the warrant, said: “The conservatory looked like a room where dogs lived, it smelt of dogs, the couches had been ripped and they were full of dog hair and there were piles of empty cans of dog food, some of which had been chewed up.
“There was a strong smell of faeces and ammonia, the floor was damp and faeces could be seen. The lounge area looked in disarray, there were animal faeces on the floor that looked old, smashed pottery pieces, various other hazards and empty chewed up pouches of cat food.
“In the kitchen there were empty animal food bowls, more faeces and rubbish all over the floor, again the smell of ammonia was overpowering and the floor was damp. There was a mop bucket by the front door containing stagnant water. The ceiling above the sink had caved in so the water was inaccessible.
“The upstairs painted a similar picture, piles of faeces, some trodden into the carpets, mess and clutter, old dirty food bowls. The toilets were full to the brim with human faeces. The main bedroom you could hardly move in for junk, empty animal tins and rubbish.”
The rescued dogs were severely underweight -Daisy’s hip bones, ribs and spine were visibly protruding and she had long overgrown nails, scabby ears and an unkempt coat. She smelt of urine and her eyes appeared to be sticky and possibly infected. Harou was also in thin bodily condition. Although his coat was thick and fluffy, his spine and ribs could easily be felt and his legs and feet were tinged with urine stains.
A vet from the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital who examined all the animals on February 6 said the dogs were both visibly underweight and any reasonable person should have sought advice and treatment.
Daisy weighed 19 kg (41.8 pounds) when she was first examined – the average weight for a female rottweiler according to the International Canine Federation breed standard for Rottweilers is between 35 and 48 kg (77.1 to 105.8 pounds), depending on stature.
Harou weighed 24.6 kg (54.2 pounds) when first examined. Northern Inuits are a hybrid breed, however the Northern Inuit Society of America suggests the breed standard average weight for males is 36 – 48 kg (79.3 to 105.8 pounds) although again, this will vary with stature.
Both dogs made good weight gains in the weeks that followed and the vet said it was her opinion that their original weight loss was a result of inadequate nutrition for between three and four weeks, possibly longer.
Kenny had previously ignored warning notices from the RSPCA about the condition of the dogs and their living environment and had declined offers of help to reduce the number of animals she had.
In mitigation, the court was told she had been working as many hours as she could and had let the care of her pets slip as a result. Her personal situation had since improved and she had expressed remorse for what had happened and apologised.
All the animals were signed over to the RSPCA during the course of the investigation.
They were cared for by the charity’s Southport, Ormskirk & District and Preston & District branches and have since been rehomed.
Speaking after the conclusion of the court case, deputy chief inspector Susan Micallef, said: “This was a particularly upsetting case to investigate, and the situation could have been avoided had the owner followed the advice and guidance that had been given by the RSPCA previously.
“The animals were living in totally unacceptable conditions and the care they were receiving fell woefully short. The images of the dogs’ transformation are heartwarming, and I’m so pleased the animals that were rescued from the house have gone on to find lovely new homes.”
Deputy chief inspector Susan Micallef, said: “This was a particularly upsetting case to investigate, and the situation could have been avoided had the owner followed the advice and guidance that had been given by the RSPCA previously. The animals were living in totally unacceptable conditions and the care they were receiving fell woefully short.
“The images of the dogs’ transformation are heart-warming, and I’m so pleased the animals that were rescued from the house have gone on to find lovely new homes.”
Sentencing | 16 weeks prison suspended for 24 months; 12 month community order with 100 hours unpaid work; £400 costs to the RSPCA and victim surcharge of £154. Banned from owning animals for 10 years.
PROSECUTED BUT ACQUITTED (2023) | backyard breeder of XL bullies Aaron Harding-Beanland, born c. 1984, of Red Bank Road, Bispham. Blackpool FY2 9HX – for cruelty to two dogs kept at his home.
A court accepted that Aaron Harding-Beanland wasn’t to blame for cruelty to two XL Bullies as he was in prison at the time
Harding-Beanland pleaded not guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to two American XL bulldogs at his former home on School Road, Marton, Blackpool.
Oliver Savington prosecuting for the RSPCA said one female dog, Marnie, suffered from hypothermia and dehydration and another, Sparkles, had a low body weight.
The dogs were seized by the RSPCA following a raid under a warrant.
Defending himself Harding -Beanland produced evidence to show he was living elsewhere at the time of the alleged offences.
He said: “I was in prison seeing six years and nine months for firearms offences.
“I was then released to approved accommodation under probation.”
He admitted he had bought Marnie for £4,500 from a breeder in Preston before he was jailed.
Acquitting Harding- Beanland the judge told him: “Certain aspects of this case disturb me.
“You were clearly not living at the property at the time and the case has not been proved to the required criminal standard.”
CONVICTED (2023) | Dudley Payne, born 27 August 1994, of Braintree Avenue, Penwortham, Preston PR1 9UN – tortured a puppy to death.
On September 1, 2023, Dudley Payne was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to the 11-week-old American bully puppy after a four-day trial at Preston Crown Court.
He was back in court for sentencing on Friday, 20 October.
Rocko was subjected to a litany of sadistic abuse at the hands of Dudley Payne and eventually succumbed to his injuries
During the trial, the jury heard that the RSPCA was contacted by a vet after the puppy, known as Rocko, was taken in dead on arrival on February 2, 2022.
The puppy, who had died 12 hours earlier, was taken to a vet with multiple non-accidental injuries
A post-mortem examination showed a number of non-accidental injuries including cigarette burns, head trauma and an eyeball prolapsed from the socket.
The puppy’s injuries included head trauma and a prolapsed eyeball
Rocko had been seen at the vet three days before for his vaccinations and was reported to be bright, alert and responsive.
In a statement read in court, RSPCA inspector Emma Dingley said: “The vet received the post-mortem results back and immediately contacted the RSPCA. He told me on the phone it was the worst post-mortem examination report he had ever read.”
Inspector Dingley contacted Payne, who confirmed he had owned Rocko for six days and bought him from a breeder named George Wilson.
When interviewed by inspector Dingley, Payne answered no comment to all questions.
A vet who gave evidence in court said Rocko’s injuries suggested “intentional harm”.
Cigarette burns were found on the puppy’s groin
The puppy had a ruptured liver, head trauma, a partial hip fracture and abrasions consistent with being scratched by fingernails.
He also had cigarette burns to his groin area and injuries to his abdomen, and lacerations to his liver and had inhaled the contents of his stomach.
Rocko’s heart also showed signs of having a massive rush of adrenaline before he died, showing the pup was terrified.
When the vet saw the results of the post mortem, he made a report to the RSPCA, and Payne was charged with causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
In a statement read in court at the trial, RSPCA inspector Emma Dingley said: ‘The vet received the postmortem results back and immediately contacted the RSPCA.
‘He told me on the phone it was the worst postmortem examination report he had ever read.’
Payne denied the offence, claiming Rocko was in poor health when he collected him from Mr Wilson, and needed ‘a bit of love’.
Payne’s defence said in court that Rocko’s injuries were caused by his owner while he was trying to do CPR on him, however this was disproved in court by the vet giving evidence.
The court heard that further enquiries were made with George Wilson, who confirmed he sold the puppy to Payne, adding that he was the biggest of the litter and very healthy when he left.
According to Wilson, Payne told him he had left the puppy alone with his five-year-old son while he went to the shop and thought the child must have injured the puppy.
Handing down a custodial sentencing of two years and nine months, the Honorary Recorder of Preston, Judge Robert Altham, said: ‘The only conclusion I can draw is that you tortured that dog to death. He must have died in agony and terror.
‘You have shown no remorse. I am driven to the appalling conclusion you did it to him because you enjoyed it.’
Speaking after the hearing, inspector Dingley said: ‘I will never be able to comprehend what happened to Rocko and why such a young animal was treated in such a cruel way.
‘This investigation will stay with me forever, but I’m pleased that we were able to get some justice for this little puppy, and I think the long custodial sentence reflects the gravity of this case.’
Sentencing | sent to prison for two years and nine months. Banned from keeping animals for 15 years.
CONVICTED (2023) | wildlife persecutor Brandon Lawlor, born 29 December 1999, of Lowerhouse Lane, Rose Grove, Burnley BB12 6HZ – goaded two dogs into fighting with a badger.
Irish traveller Lawlor, a former jockey and employee of Sue Smith Racing, was prosecuted alongside accomplice Carl Harwood (sentenced in February 2021) after footage on his mobile phone showed him illegally fighting two dogs with a badger in Lancashire.
One of the dogs had 22 individual scarred puncture wounds on the side of his head from the incident.
Toby suffered a litany of injuries consistent with badger baiting
The “absolutely horrific” film, which was recorded in Burnley in June 2021, was described by an RSPCA inspector as “very difficult to watch and to listen to”.
Lawlor pleaded guilty to one offence contrary to the Protection of Badgers Act 1991 when he appeared at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court on September 21, 2023, in a prosecution brought by the RSPCA.
There had been a warrant out for his arrest.
Magistrates were told police found the disturbing footage on his mobile phone on August 13, 2021, after he was being investigated for non-related offences.
Two dogs, including a 14-month-old bull lurcher called Toby, were seen attacking the badger on the head, throat and back, with a male voice encouraging them on.
RSPCA inspector Lyndsey Taylor, along with the charity’s Special Operations Unit (SOU) and Lancashire Police’s Ribble Valley rural task force, visited the defendant’s house on October 19, 2021.
The court heard how they went into the living room and saw Toby being held on a lead.
The dog, who was wearing the same type of collar as that seen in the mobile phone footage, had a significant scar which ran lengthwise along almost the entire length of the top of his head.
On the left-hand side of the lower jaw and surrounding area there were 22 individual scarred puncture wounds, and on the right-hand side there were nine.
Harwood was convicted in relation to the same incident and sentenced in February 2023
More recent scarring and scabbing was seen underneath the dog’s left hind paw and lower leg.
Carl Harwood, who was at the property with Lawlor, told the officers the injuries had been sustained while out lamping and ratting.
Inspector Taylor was concerned about Toby’s welfare and he was seized by police and taken by the RSPCA to be seen by a vet.
In her evidence to the court, inspector Taylor described the mobile phone footage.
She said: “It was filmed in the dark but two dogs can be seen attacking a badger as initially, when the recording begins, a bright light can be seen being shone on the animals.
“The footage is very difficult to watch and to listen to, it is absolutely horrific.
“All the way through the footage the badger can be heard screaming in pain and it is extremely distressed, with the dogs heard panting also.
“At around eight seconds, when Toby has lost interest and has left the badger, a male voice can be heard to say something like ‘here Toby, Toby get it, get it.’
“The dog can then be seen joining the first dog in attacking the badger again.
“The men heard to be present during the recording made no attempt or effort to get the dogs under control and prevent them from fighting and attacking the badger.”
Her colleague, inspector Chris Haywood from the RSPCA’s special operations unit, which investigates wildlife crime, also gave evidence.
He said: “In my opinion, and based on previous experience, these wounds were caused by close combative contact with a badger.
“In 34 years of dealing with dogs I have never seen these types of injuries on any other breeds other than lurchers, bull lurchers and terriers, and known them to be caused by any other means than by a badger.”
In his evidence, the vet who examined Toby said the scars on his head, muzzle, throat and chest, represented skin injuries that had healed and had therefore occurred at least four weeks prior to his examination.
“In my opinion, Toby would have been caused to suffer in the absence of timely and appropriate veterinary care at the time of skin injury,” he said.
“With regards to the video footage, the person present at the time the two dogs were attacking the badger failed to take reasonable steps to intervene and bring the dog under close control in order to prevent him from continuing to fight with the badger, thereby failing to protect these animals from injury, pain and suffering.”
In mitigation, the court heard Lawlor had been a jockey who had come over from Ireland after his career had ended because of injury.
He said he accepted badger baiting was abhorrent and apologised for his actions.
Toby was cared for by the RSPCA. The whereabouts and owner of the other dog seen in the video are unknown.
Speaking after sentencing, inspector Taylor said: “This case has taken a long time to conclude but I’m pleased that both men who were involved in this case have been held to account for their actions.
“Illegal badger baiting causes significant pain, suffering, huge distress and even death to the animals involved, all for the enjoyment of people who take part in it and shockingly, find pleasure in such activities.
“We would urge anyone with information about incidents like this to report them to the RSPCA or their local rural crime team.”
Co-defendant Carl Harwood, of 16 Cobden Street, Padiham, Burnley BB12 8DS, was given a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and disqualified from keeping animals for five years in February 2023.
