CONVICTED (2021) | Wayne Cleminson, born 31 July 1962, of Wingate Avenue, Morecambe – illegally traded in puppies
Cleminson pleaded guilty to his involvement in the unlicensed sale of animals as pets as well as the unlawful sale of pets after it was found that he was illegally selling Golden Retrievers, Cockapoos and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
The proceedings were brought by Animal Protection Services, a registered charity that investigates and prosecutes organised animal cruelty, and follows an investigation into the unlicensed sale of puppies in the North West.
A spokesperson from Animal Protection Service described Cleminson as an “opportunist” who exploited the system to make a quick buck.
“Court fines of this nature are based on the offenders weekly income,” the charity representative told LancsLive.
“As you can see from the fine, Cleminson is reasonably well paid. He is an example of an opportunist who has been utilising puppy trading to make money.
“It is quick and easy to do, Cleminson made more than £22,000 in two months, that is why we are seeing people who are working reasonably paid jobs that are exploiting the system.”
Sentencing: ordered to pay more than £1,200 to the court and was banned from dealing in canines for just one year (expired March 2022).
CONVICTED (2021) | illegal puppy farm trader Alexandra Burke, born 27 December 1996, of 16 Fairhope Avenue, Lancaster LA1 2LY
In a prosecution brought by charity Animal Protection Services (APS), Alexandra Burke, who is a gypsy, was charged with the unlicensed sale of animals as pets, as well as the unlawful sale of pets, under unfair trading regulations.
Burke’s exploits were exposed by APS who investigated online listings she had placed on the Pets4Homes website.
Over a six month period, Burke sold several litters of Labrador Retrievers and Cockapoos illegally.
According to APS, Burke made £21,550 from her illegal sales.
She pleaded guilty to the offences and was fined £320 and ordered to pay a contribution to prosecution costs of £450. She was disqualified from dealing in dogs (both selling and breeding) for three years (expires March 2024).
CONVICTED (2021) | puppy farmer George William Miller, born July 1991, previously of Woodlands Drive, Heysham, but as of May 2024 of of Loupsfell Drive, Morecambe LA4 4SB – for the illegal sale of dogs.
Miller, a traveller, was charged with two offences relating to the illegal sale of dogs.
The proceedings were brought by Animal Protection Services, and follows the charity’s investigation into the unlicensed sale of puppies in the North West.
Miller pleaded guilty to the crime of the unlicensed sale of animals as pets under the animal welfare act as well as the unlawful sale of pets in regards to consumer protection laws.
Miller made more than £15,000 from sales of Miniature Dachshunds, Cockapoos and French Bulldogs.
Animal Protection Services representative, Jacob Lloyd told LancsLive that Cockapoos, a crossbreed of Cocker Spaniels and Poodles, are the most commonly farmed dog seen by the charity.
He said: “We see Cockapoos all the time, they are the most popularly farmed breed that we’ve come to see.
“There are just the breed of choice at the moment, there is a huge demand for this sort of working cross breed.
“We are also seeing a huge increase in organised crime taking advantage of this demand, it is something that is fuelling the increase in dog thefts throughout the country.”
Animal Protection Services investigated Miller after he sold several dogs through the Pets4Home website.
Jacob says the investigation was difficult but ultimately worth the efforts of the charity as Miller pleaded guilty to both animal offences and was slapped with a hefty fine.
He added: “Trading of puppies without a licence is not acceptable. The undermining of the statutory licensing regime is a risk to animal welfare and consumer protection.
“The illegal puppy trade has become a low risk, high reward trade and we are determined to ensure that opportunists and organised criminals are brought before the courts to face justice.”
Sentencing | ordered to pay £1,173 in fines and a £900 contribution to prosecution costs. He was disqualified from dealing in dogs (both selling and breeding) for three years (expired March 2024).
CONVICTED (2020) | Daniel Brockhill, born 21/02/1968, of 16 Robin Crescent, Heysham LA3 2WG – for cruelty to two ponies
One of Daniel Brockhill’s neglected horses was underweight, depressed and riddled with lice
Brockhill, a Romany gypsy and alleged backyard breeder of diseased Staffordshire bull terriers, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to two ponies
The first animal, a dark brown cob mare, was left with a ‘stinking open wound’ caused by the tight bridle rubbing her, as well as a small cut to her nose, and areas of fur missing on the face.
The second animal, a black and white piebald cob mare, was spotted wandering in the field “aimlessly” in a dull and depressed state.
The weak and malnourished pony was not very responsive and had an elevated heartbeat and temperature. She was riddled with lice and eggs that had been present for at least 10 days, and had fecal staining on her hind legs indicating serious diarrhea.
The court was told Brockhill had only bought this pony three weeks earlier.
Prosecuting, Paul Ridehalgh told the court that a worker from World Horse Welfare had attended a field in the Twemlow Parade area of Heysham where 13 horses were kept. Most were in good body condition, but one had a bridle that was “clearly too tight” around her nose.
Mr Ridehalgh described how the worker went to loosen the bridle and discovered “a red raw open wound” under the pony’s chin. The collar had become embedded within the hair and skin and a bad smell was emanating from the wound.
The charity worker alerted the RSPCA, and when another inspector attended they became concerned about the other horse who looked too thin.
Mr Ridehalgh added: “It was displaying extremely worrying behaviour and clearly was extremely unwell.
A veterinary surgeon who examined the animals concluded both had been caused suffering by Brockhill’s failure to act.
Despite her painful injury, the first horse was bright, alert and responsive But the second was scored just one out of five on her body condition – zero being emaciated.
Brockhill agreed to sign over both horses to the RSPCA.
The thin horse gained 8kg in the four weeks she boarded with the charity
During an interview, Brockhill admitted he owned both ponies but claimed he had only owned the malnourished one for three weeks.
He said he had when he arranged transport to a field in Skipton the horse was weak and could barely walk, and that he was “appalled” by her condition.
When it was pointed out that she should have been referred to a vet, Brockhill said he was experienced in keeping horses and it was his opinion the horse just needed a ‘good feed’.
The court heard Brockhill had a conviction for animal cruelty from 2002, but of dissimilar nature.
District Judge Paul Clarke said there had been a “high level of suffering”, but recognised Brockhill had co-operated with the RSPCA.
He remarked it wasn’t “deliberate cruelty”, adding: “It comes down to competence and horse husbandry.”
Sentencing: curfew; a total of £690 costs and charges. No ban.
CONVICTED (2019) | hoarder/breeder Kilmany Jane O’Connor (aka Kim O’Connor), born c. 1962, of Morecambe in Lancashire – banned from keeping animals for life after 54 dogs were found locked in tiny filthy cages at her home
Kilmany O’Connor pleaded guilty to five offences under the Animal Welfare Act – four of causing unnecessary suffering to 36 of her 54 dogs, and one of failing to meet all 54 dogs’ needs.
O’Connor’s home was raided by the RSPCA and police officers, after concerns were raised about the welfare of a number of dogs at the address.
Kilmany O’Connor has been banned from keeping animals for life after a raid on her home found 54 dogs stacked in small filthy cages
RSPCA Inspector Sam Morris described the scene.
The first thing that struck me when I walked through the front door was how cluttered the hallway was, with household items everywhere. There were three cages stacked on top of another, and each had a cockerpoo or cocker spaniel-type dog inside. The cages were filthy, and the dogs’ fur was badly matted with faeces.
All the cages within the property appeared to be similar in size, which measured approximately 50cm high, 44cm wide and 60cm in length – the dogs were barely able to turn around and lie down, stretch out or stand on their hind limbs and of course they couldn’t escape.
The situation got worse in the living room. It was very cluttered and filthy, and the smell inside was awful. The ammonia was overpowering. The curtains were drawn and thick with cobwebs. The windows were closed and the room was quite dark. This room contained 13 dogs in cages – two of the cages had two dogs inside. One dog was tethered to a table leg and there were five loose dogs.
Two more dogs were caged in the kitchen. Two dogs were caged in the utility room and 14 were loose. Another 14 dogs were caged in an upstairs bedroom, which was very humid.
Some of the dogs had obvious veterinary issues. None of the dogs in the property had access to water.
The dogs were all signed over at the scene and taken into RSPCA care. One of the dogs – Mindy – lost one of her front paws as a result of her neglect and another of the dogs – Fifi, who was tethered in the living room – now uses wheels to get around after having lost the use of her back legs, but all have been happily re-homed.
Sentencing: 16-week custodial sentence suspended for two years. Ordered to pay court costs. Lifetime ban on keeping animals.
CONVICTED (2019) | Yvonne McAllister, born 1963, of Wordsworth Close, Oswaldtwistle, Accrington BB5 4QP – kept a poorly Westie in a dirty and flea-infested cage under the stairs of her home
Cruel Yvonne McAllister pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the West Highland terrier known as Bobby.
The dog was spotted by a district nurse during a visit to McAllister’s home.
Image showing McAllister’s appalling neglect of Westie Bobby
The court heard how McAllister told the nurse that Bobby had a skin condition for which she had bought shampoo but hadn’t taken him to the vet.
She had also bought clippers but Bobby ‘wouldn’t let anyone near him to cut his nails’.
An RSPCA officer later attended the property and said he was ‘unrecognisable to him as a West Highland Terrier’ with grey skin which was ‘leather-like, thick and dry’.
The officer said Bobby must have had the skin condition for an ‘extended period of time’ and he was ‘subdued, lethargic and reluctant to move’. When he asked to take the dog to a vet McAllister refused and said she wanted an independent assessment.
Bobby had to be put to sleep to end his immense suffering caused by Yvonne McAllister’s long-term neglect of him.
RSPCA prosecutor Paul Ridehalgh said Bobby’s skin was pink with ears ‘twice the size’ as normal and his paws were ‘overgrown and had begun to twist’.
Police were called to the property and Bobby was taken to the Myerscough Veterinary Group. Mr Ridehalgh said Bobby had to be carried into the consultancy room because he was ‘unable to walk’ and ‘so weak he could not stand up’.
The vet said his nose was ‘dry and cracked’ and she couldn’t examine his ear canal because it was ‘too inflamed’. His eyes were also covered with a ‘thick green discharge’.
The prosecutor said: ‘In the vet’s opinion he was in a very poor condition. She observed that she had never seen an animal in such a condition previously.’
The court was told that Bobby ‘highly likely had an underlying systemic disease’ which led to ‘secondary bacterial infection’.
Mr Ridehalgh said the dog had suffered ‘for a period of at least several months and possibly longer’ and had to be put down after ‘long-term neglect’.
McAllister said she couldn’t afford to take Bobby to the vet and ‘nothing was done on purpose’.
Sentencing: 12-month community order with 50 hours of unpaid work, a three-month curfew, ordered to pay £600 costs. Banned from owning or keeping animals for five years (expires January 2024) .
CONVICTED (2018) | Andrew John Rooney, born c. 1973, of Mayfield Avenue, Lancaster LA1 2NY – found with two dogs, a cat, a budgie, a hamster and a guinea pig in breach of a 1997 ban on keeping animals.
Serial animal abuser Andrew John Rooney breached a previous ban.
Serial animal abuser Andrew John Rooney admitted breaching the lifelong disqualification between January 17, 2016, and July 17, 2018, by keeping two dogs, known as Shadow and Max, a cat known as Magic, alongside a bird, hamster and guinea pig.
Rooney pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to one of the dogs, a Labrador, by failing to seek adequate veterinary treatment for her skin condition between February and April 27, 2018.
Sentencing: 14 -week jail term, suspended for two years; rehabilitation activity requirement; 150 hours of unpaid work. Total of £615 costs and charges.
CONVICTED (2018) | Joseph Shaun Whittam, born 07/06/1990, of Langdale Road, Carnforth, Lancashire LA5 9AU – set his dogs on a pet cat and fox; failed to provide vet treatment for his injured dogs
Joe Whittam was jailed after filming “blood-curdling” videos of his dogs killing a cat and fox
Joseph Whittam, who also uses the surname Riding, pleaded guilty to four offences under the Animal Welfare Act in relation to encouraging his two dogs to attack a cat and a fox, as well as failing to provide veterinary attention for the dogs themselves.
The RSPCA joined Lancashire Constabulary to execute a warrant at Whittam’s address in August 2017 after intelligence that suggested he was involved in wildlife crimes with his two dogs.
The dogs – a terrier called Rex and a lurcher called Zip – were removed by police and placed into the RSPCA’s care. A mobile phone was also seized and investigators discovered a number of shocking videos saved on the phone.
RSPCA special investigation officer Jason Bowles said: “In one video, the two dogs are going crazy, barking and snapping at the mesh of a trap with a black and white domestic cat inside.
“In a second video, the cat is released along with the dogs and the dogs grab the cat and literally start to rip it apart while the cat screams and cries in pain. It is horrific and absolutely blood-curdling. Many of our staff here at the RSPCA haven’t been able to stomach watching it.
“One of the magistrates had to leave court after watching the sickening footage.
“The cat was killed although we never found the body and never traced the poor cat’s owners.”
He added: “In another video, the dogs can be seen attacking and biting a fox. In all the footage Whittam can clearly be heard encouraging the dogs and egging them on.”
Rex and Zip both had old injuries – thought to be caused by their attacks – which had not been treated. They received veterinary care and remain in the RSPCA’s care. They will be rehomed once the case has concluded.
Further analysis of Whittam’s phone uncovered images of a dog being encouraged to attack a gerbil and still images of the fox attack which show the animal being baited by the dog.
Whittam claimed the fox had been shot and injured before his dogs got hold of it.
Lancashire Constabulary’s Sgt James Pinder said: “This investigation began as a result of community information in relation to animal welfare and poaching offences.
“I hope the investigation clearly demonstrates that we will work with our partner agencies and will deal with offenders in a robust manner.
“The sentence, which marks the end of a 16-month investigation, is welcomed by Lancashire Constabulary and we hope it will send a clear message to those who think it is acceptable to partake in these criminal activities.”
Sentencing Whittam at Preston Magistrates’ Court, the chairman of the bench said the offences were sustained, deliberate and gratuitous
Sentencing: Jailed for 22 weeks; ordered to pay a total of £490. Disqualified from keeping animals for life.
In January 2023 Whittam was given a further custodial sentence after being caught breaching his lifetime ban on keeping animals. Whittam, now of Greenset Drive, Lancaster, was caught with ferrets as well as four dogs. A woman at the property (his mother?) claimed that three of the dogs were hers.
The fourth dog – a brown Patterdale named Thugly – had severe facial injuries consistent with animal fighting.
