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) | 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.
CONVICTED (2023) | persistent wildlife persecutor, dog abuser and all-round scumbag Joseph Shaun Whittam, born 7 June 1990, previously of Carnforth, Lancashire, but now of Greenset Close, Lancaster LA1
Joe Whittam Whittam was disqualified from keeping all animals for life in December 2018, but officers discovered three dogs and four ferrets as his Lancaster home
Whittam, who was previously jailed in December 2018 for setting fighting dogs on a pet cat and a fox and failing to treat his dogs’ injuries, was caught breaching his lifetime ban on keeping animals.
In court on Friday 20 January 2023 he pleaded guilty to the following offences.
causing unnecessary suffering to a brown Patterdale terrier known as Thugly by failing to provide veterinary treatment for injuries following an encounter with a wild mammal
failing to take steps to ensure that Thugly’s needs were met in that he let him engage in an encounter with a wild mammal, leading to him becoming injured
Thugly had facial injuries consistent with fighting wild animals
He was also in breach of a disqualification order which banned him for keeping animals for life by keeping four ferrets and a dog.
In April 2021 officers from the RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit joined officers from Lancashire Police when they executed a warrant in Greenset Close, Lancaster,, due to a suspected breach of a disqualification order.
RSPCA inspector Jason Bowles said: “In the yard there were three hutches and two of those hutches were contained in a brick-built shelter and were positioned one on top of the other. In the top hutch, there were three adult ferrets that looked to be in normal body condition.
“Adjacent to the house by the back door there was a hutch on its own with a single adult ferret inside that looked to be in normal body condition.
“I was informed by a police officer that this ferret had just been transferred to this hutch at the start of the warrant being executed as it was loose.”
A woman at the address claimed to own three dogs found at the home while Whittam admitted owning the ferrets. He was told to rehome them immediately.
Sentencing | four custodial sentences to run concurrently – 23 weeks’ custody for two offences in regard to Thugly and 18 weeks’ custody for each of the breaches of the disqualification order.
CONVICTED (2023) | Daniel Welbourne, born c. 1964, of Thurnham Street, Lancaster LA1 – failed to get veterinary treatment for a young border collie found straying and in significant pain
Animal abuser Daniel Welbourne from Lancaster
Welbourne was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to the male border collie named Reggie.
He let the badly injured dog roam unsupervised in the city while he was in ‘significant pain and distress’ and had lost the use of both of his back legs.
Reggie was in immense pain and had lost the use of his back legs
Reggie was suffering from a severe flea infestation and a suspected broken pelvis when he was collected by an RSPCA officer after being found collapsed in a garden on August 14, 2022.
Despite his lack of mobility, he had been regularly allowed to wander the streets in the week before he was found and had not been seen by a vet.
In court, Welbourne admitted one charge of causing unnecessary suffering, following a prosecution by the RSPCA.
The court heard how Reggie was rushed to the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital after the charity had been called by a concerned member of the public.
Despite the best efforts of RSPCA vets, Reggie didn’t recover and was euthanised to end his suffering
On arrival, he was reluctant to get up from a sitting position or attempt to get down from the kennel in the back of the officer’s van.
After being lifted out onto the ground, his body language was that of an extremely uncomfortable dog who was tense, hunched up, panting heavily and fearful of making any attempt to change position or walk, the court was told.
Severely lame in both back legs, Reggie would cry out in pain after trying to walk just three or four metres.
He was carried into the hospital and had to be sedated to allow vets to examine him.
Spinal or neurological problems were thought to be the most likely issues after x-rays ruled out chest, pelvic and rib injuries.
In evidence to the court, one of the examining vets said: “Reggie was likely to have been in significant pain and distress throughout this week.
“He was unable to express normal behaviour and was suffering significantly both with severe pain, and with fear and anxiety related to the expectation of further pain.
“His owner failed to present Reggie for veterinary care during this week, despite him showing clear evidence of pain and injury.”
Welbourne was interviewed by RSPCA inspector Amy McIntosh on August 22.
He told the officer he didn’t think he had done anything wrong and that he thought his dog would get better on his own.
Despite being given strong painkillers and anti inflammatories, Reggie’s condition sadly did not improve in the days that followed and he remained in significant discomfort, becoming distressed during handling.
The veterinary team who were caring for him advised Welbourne that he was suffering and the kindest thing to do would be to put him to sleep, which his owner consented to.
Speaking about the case Inspector McIntosh said: “This was an extremely sad case as Reggie was only a young dog and his owner should have sought veterinary help at a much earlier stage.
“His welfare needs were clearly not being met and despite the fact he was severely lame in both back legs, he was left to roam unsupervised, prolonging his pain and putting him in even further danger.”
Sentencing | 12-month community order with 200 hours of unpaid work. Ordered to pay a total of £250 in costs and surcharge. RSPCA’s costs of £1667.88 are to be paid from central funds. Four year ban on keeping dogs (expires January 2027).
CONVICTED (2022) | Ashley Grundy, born c. 1990, of Preston Street, Kirkham, Preston PR4 and Steven Paul Robinson, born c. 1982, of Devonshire Street, Lancaster LA1 4TQ – decapitated a dog and left his head on a door handle in act of revenge
Steven Robinson (left) and Ashley Grundy
Violent career criminals Ashley Grundy and Steven Robinson were in The Baron’s Rest pub in Astley Village on May 19 2018 when they got into a dispute with another customer.
Grundy, whose previous convictions include dangerous driving and possession of a knife, threatened the customers in the pub and then in the early hours of the following morning the pair drove to the victim’s address in Whittle le Woods. They stole the pet Yorkshire terrier called Bailey and drove back to the Baron’s Rest where they decapitated the dog.
The victim’s mother and her child discovered the sickening sight after the duo dumped the dog’s body at the pub and left his head on the handle of an address in Astley Village where Bailey lived.
The pair were sentenced to 19 months in prison for criminal damage and outraging public decency.
The Crown Prosecutor described the incident as an act of revenge and intimidation which was intended to cause maximum fear to the victims.
Police launched an investigation following the incident and carried out extensive enquiries to bring the sadistic pair to justice.
The carcass of Bailey was later discovered in the bushes at the side of the Barons Rest. An extensive CCTV trawl showed the defendant Robinson discarding an item into the bush using a car mat to wrap the item in which was later found to be Bailey’s decapitated body.
Sgt Paul Harrison, who led the investigation, said: “This was a lengthy investigation which involved a number of officers. Officers sat through hours of CCTV and had to go through distressing incidents to compare the DNA from Bailey’s head and carcass to the DNA of the blood found in and on the vehicle that Grundy and Robinson were using. I’d like to thank all the officers involved who worked tirelessly to bring this investigation to a conclusion. I now hope that this can give some closure to the victim who lost a beloved pet due to the barbaric act of these two individuals.”
CONVICTED (2021) | John (‘Johnny’) Reid, born c. 1990 , of Bartholomew Road, Morecambe LA4 4RR – beat his horse in public and neglected her welfare.
Abused pony Pebbles was underweight with prominent shoulders and backbone and her ribs visible. Her cruel owner, Johnny Reid, also kept her in a sparse and filthy stable with no bedding.
Johnny Reid, a gypsy traveller with a history of violent offending, was filmed by a member of the public repeatedly beating the yearling filly, known as Pebbles.
Onlookers described how they saw Reid hit Pebbles forcefully with his arm raised above his head and he appeared to strike her every few seconds for several minutes.
The horrific incident of animal cruelty occurred in the vicinity of Westgate, Morecambe on October 10, 2020.
The footage played out in court showed Reid hitting Pebbles hard at least 15 times with a blue plastic pole. Each blow to Pebbles is heard on the footage and Reid is heard saying: “It’s gotta learn”.
RSPCA Inspector Will Lamping launched an investigation and found Pebbles was underweight with prominent shoulders and backbone and her ribs visible.
He described how the stable she was kept in was not in good condition; the floor was covered in horse faeces and there was ivy – which is poisonous to horses – growing at the back.
Inspector Lamping highlighted how Pebbles had no clean area or bedding to stand on or any feed available to her. She was also seen chewing the wood of her stable which horses often do when they are not receiving adequate nutrition.
A vet attended and her report, which was submitted to the court, said: “The stable had no bedding in whatsoever. The floor was deep in wet and faeces, with a number of plastic bags also being present mixed into the faeces. This environment was completely unsuitable for a horse due to its unsanitary conditions.
“There was nowhere clean or dry for the horse to rest in comfort, or to protect it from the cold, hard stone floor”.
Pebbles was taken into possession by police and placed into the care of the RSPCA.
Mitigation was given in court that the conditions Pebbles was being kept in were only temporary and Reid was intending to sell her on.
After the sentencing hearing, Inspector Lamping said: “Reid’s actions caused Pebbles, pain, fear and both physical and psychological suffering. She was very young and as a yearling she required teaching to educate her rather than being reprimanded in such a way. By beating a pony in a way that causes fear and pain can ultimately affect how she learns and interacts with humans going forward.”
Reid transferred ownership of Pebbles over to the RSPCA who will now be able to continue her rehabilitation and find her a loving new home.
Sentencing: 10 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months; a total of £328 in costs and charges. Five-year ban on keeping animals but can appeal after three years (expires November 2026).
CONVICTED (2021) | Tara Freda McMenamin, born 7 August 1986, of 5 Crossgill Place, Ryelands, Lancaster LA1 2UF – failed to take a dog with a fractured leg and ribs to the vet.
Over seven days in March 2020, McMenamin caused unnecessary suffering to a bull terrier named Cleo, who had suffered fractures to her ribs and a leg. The cause of the injuries remains unexplained.
After originally pleading not guilty to the charges against her, McMenamin changed her plea to guilty.
She was therefore convicted under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 for causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
Sentencing: eight-week curfew; £295 in costs and charges. No ban.
