Tag Archives: Leicester

Dogs, Hoarders, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders

Hamilton, Leicester: Sean Palmer

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CONVICTED (2024) | Sean R Palmer, born 19 September 1987, of Langtoft Road, Hamilton, Leicester LE5 1FU – found with 18 poorly dehydrated dogs inside his van after being stopped by police; breached a previous ban.

Other dogs discovered in cramped conditions in Palmer’s vehicle were severely underweight and had untreated wounds, with one later dying.

Palmer, who has links to Syston and Loughborough, was driving the white van when he was stopped by officers from the Leicestershire and Rutland Rural Policing Team on the A47 in Leicestershire last February during a routine procedure.

Inside the van, officers discovered 10 bulldogs and eight puppies all with a variety of welfare issues inside cages.

Three were even found wearing shock collars, while a number were underweight and dehydrated.

Untreated wounds were also found on a number of the dogs, with one dying of malnutrition before he could reach vets.

A subsequent investigation by police and the RSPCA revealed that Palmer had been handed a a three-year disqualification order on keeping dogs by Lincoln Magistrates in February 2022. .

Despite the order, Palmer admitted to owning all of the dogs, but claimed he was dealing with “personal issues” at the time. He told investigators he was also sleeping in the same van alongside the dogs.

Following an RSPCA prosecution, Palmer pleaded guilty to four animal welfare offences including “causing unnecessary suffering” and “failing to provide veterinary treatment” for the dogs’ injuries.

He was given a suspended prison sentence and woeful seven-year ban on keeping dogs.

Speaking after sentencing, RSPCA Inspector Richard Durrant said: “The conditions inside the van were shocking – to have such a large number in such cramped conditions.

“A vet deemed many of the dogs including the pups were suffering. We are so very grateful to the Leicestershire and Rutland Rural Policing Team for all their support in what was a very upsetting case.”

Sentencing | 15-month jail term suspended for two years; 25 rehabilitation activity days; 100 hours of unpaid work; £250 court costs. Banned from keeping dogs for seven years (expires March 2031).

Harborough FM
LeicestershireLive

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Leicester: Benn Ryan

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CONVICTED (2024) | Benn Ryan, born c. 1988, of no fixed abode, Leicester – caught on camera whacking his dog causing the pet to yelp in pain.

Ryan was immediately arrested after police officers witnessed him hitting the dog.

The incident, which happened on Monday, March 11, 2024, was filmed and later uploaded to social media.

He pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and to being in possession of Class B drugs and was fined £80. No mention of a ban.

Leicestershire Police and the Court and Tribunals Service Centre could not say what had happened to the dog after the incident.

LeicestershireLive

Cats, Hoarders

Burbage, Leicestershire: Teresa Hawtin

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CONVICTED (2024) | cat hoarder Teresa Hawtin, born c. 1975, of Duport Road, Burbage, Hinckley LE10 – kept 58 felines in a faeces- and urine-covered flat.

RSPCA prosecution of cat hoarder Teresa Hawtin, from Burbage, Hinckle, Leicestershire. Image: RSPCA.

Two of the 58 cats found at Hawtin’s flat were were dead when the RSPCA entered the property. A third cat was put to sleep after being transferred into the charity’s care.

Hawtin claimed to be a “caring cat lover” who had previously run a cat rescue service.

However, in the preceding six months or so, the number of cats she was looking after had “increased dramatically” due to people asking her to “take in stray cats and cats that had been abandoned”.

RSPCA prosecution of cat hoarder Teresa Hawtin, from Burbage, Hinckle, Leicestershire. Image: RSPCA.

RSPCA Inspector Helen Smith said Hawtin’s flat in Shilton Road, in Barwell, Leicester, was “one of the worst properties” she had attended in her 25 years as an inspector. She added the smell of urine and faeces was “overpowering”, with excrement covering “every surface” in the flat except for a small sofa.

Litter trays were overflowing, she said, and there were pools of diarrhoea on the floor. There were also “hundred of flies alive and dead”, the RSPCA said.

All of the remaining cats have since been re-homed, the charity added.

Ms Smith said: “The environment was completely unsuitable, and the smell from the ammonia was overpowering.

“The defendant also claimed she had run a cat rescue, but the conditions these cats were kept in were completely inappropriate for such a large number of cats.

“The RSPCA had tried to help the defendant on a large number of occasions – but she chose to ignore any offers of support.”

Hawtin was well known in her local area for collecting cats

Hawtin pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the needs of the majority of the cats were met, and failing to ensure they had a suitable, hygienic and safe environment. She was found not guilty of causing unnecessary suffering and of not providing timely and appropriate veterinary treatment for eight of them.

She told the court she had tried her best and felt those eight cats did not need veterinary treatment at the point at which she was looking after them, prior to the RSPCA attending. She added that she realised there were too many to look after and that was the reason she signed them over to the care of the RSPCA.

Sentencing | ordered to pay £100 in costs, a fine of £230 and a victim surcharge of £92. Banned from keeping cats for just two years (expires March 2026).

LeicestershireLive

Dogs, ear cropping and tail docking

Walthamstow, London: Ramadan Murati

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CONVICTED (2022) | Ramadan Murati, born c. 2002, previously from Leicester but now of Folkestone Road, Walthamstow – had a puppy’s ears cropped.

Bully's ears were sore and red, with exposed cartilage
Bully’s ears were sore and red, with exposed cartilage

Albanian national Murati was warned that the procedure to his 15-week-old dog Bully was illegal, but he went ahead with it anyway.

The RSPCA was contacted by a veterinary practice after he took the dog for a vaccination, and the vets could see he had recently had his ears cropped.

Bully was placed in the care of the animal rescue team after RSPCA inspector Herchy Boal attended.

Leicester Magistrates’ Court heard that Murati previously asked vets and the RSPCA where he could go to get Bully’s ears cropped – and was told in no uncertain terms that he cannot do this.

The inspector said: “I could see instantly that the puppy’ ears had been recently cropped, they appeared sore and red, but were not actively bleeding.

“The puppy was called Bully and was around 15 weeks old. He was friendly and on taking a closer look I could see that his ears were starting to heal and granulate, but were still sore.

“Both ears flaps had been cut, with exposure of the cartilage surfaces.”

An expert vet said that there was no evidence of any “conventional surgical technique, sutures or dressing” covering the ears.

The vet added: “In my professional opinion the patient was subjected unnecessarily to a procedure, that regardless of the medical care provided, always implicated discomfort and potential pain during and after the procedure.

“The degree of pain will have been depending on the degree and depth of the anaesthesia and analgesia that was provided when the procedure took place.”

Inspector Boal added: “Bully was also quite old to have had his ears cropped which again would have been more painful for him and he could have further health issues from this in years to come.

“I am happy to say that Bully was signed over to the care of the RSPCA and has since been rehomed to a lovely family who completely adore him.”

Sentencing | Fined £120 and ordered to pay costs of £150 and a £34 victim surcharge. At the magistrates’ court, Disqualified from keeping all animals for just two years (expires November 2024).

Guardian Series
MyLondon

farms / smallholdings, Food Production, Lifers, Multiple Species

Charnwood, Leicester: Ricardo James

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CONVICTED (2021) | Ricardo O James, born 14 February 1979, of 97 Bale Road, Leicester LE4 9BG – left dead animals to rot on his farm while others went without food or water.

Ricardo James, owner of James Farms, Keyham Lane East, Scraftoft, Leicester allowed his animals to suffer in poor conditions while leaving dead sheep and lambs in a plastic container on his land.

Leicestershire Trading Standards Animal Health Team officers and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) raised a number of concerns about the poor condition of the animals during a visit to the farm on November 3, 2020.

Several dead sheep and lambs were found in a blue plastic tub in an area where around 20 other sheep, seven cattle, 13 goats, 20 pigs and 12 geese were also being kept.

James was warned and advised to fix six issues which the inspectors had classed as ‘requiring improvement’.

But animal health team officers and APHA veterinarian then found the standards in which animals were being kept had “rapidly deteriorated” in several areas when they revisited the site on November 13, 2020.

A number of animals on the land had been left without fresh water, adequate food or suitable shelter.

“Of the six points of requiring improvement, only one had been acted upon,” a spokesperson for the county council said.

Mr James was then charged with ten different offences, which included:

  • Failing to dispose of livestock animal carcasses without undue delay
  • Two charges of failing to ensure the needs of the animals were met
  • Failing to provide pigs with continuous access to fresh drinking water.
  • Failing to provide livestock with buildings which could be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected
  • Failing to provide pigs with accommodation with a covered floor
  • Not providing a suitable environment to five cattle which had a poor body condition
  • Not providing a suitable diet to five cattle with a poor body condition
  • Not protecting five cattle with a poor body condition from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
  • Failing to provide a sufficient number of skilled staff

Sentencing

James pleaded guilty to all 10 related offences and was sentenced to 12 weeks in custody, suspended for 12 months.

He was also handed a life disqualification from keeping and dealing in farmed animals, which in accordance with the law will be suspended for a 21-day period to allow the animals to be removed.

As part of his sentence, James will not be able to appeal for his disqualification to be lifted for five years,

He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £128 and contribute £500 towards the prosecution’s costs. The Leicestershire County Council Trading Standards Service accepted a collection order of £75 per month with the first payment within 28 days.

Leicestershire Live

Dogs, Veterinary Malpractice

Leicester: Jatinder Dhami

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CONVICTED (2019) | veterinary surgeon Jatinder Dhami, born 16 July 1971, of Woodlands Close, Oadby, Leicester LE2 4QP – for violence towards animals in his care

Dr Jatinder Dhami, a vet with the Vets4Pets practice in Springfield Retail Park, Market Harborough, admitted attacking a Staffordshire bull terrier named Sasha after she supposedly bit him following her booster injection. A receptionist at the practice witnessed Dhami kicking the helpless dog twice and then stamping on her.

She described how she saw Dhami kick Sasha “with the front of his toes, the kick propelled her to slide along the floor to the extent of the lead, she looked up and whimpered, cowered and had her ears back.”

She continued; “She got up and the respondent then took a step towards her and kicked her again, causing her to slide along the floor again.”

The receptionist then swore at Dhami, who is her employer, before leaving in tears.

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) committee had the power to strike Dhami off the register, leaving him unable to practise.

But instead they decided that, based on good references and character witnesses, it would be unlikely to happen again and a suspension was appropriate.

Dr Dhami told the committee he had domestic and family pressures and had been working long hours. He said in his statement: “I do not, and never have, sought to defend what was an irrational and adrenalin-fuelled action, but equally my actions were in no way premeditated.”

The committee also heard Dr Dhami and his family had been receiving “hostile communications” due to the case.

The committee took that into account during its decision making. It said in its report: “As recently as yesterday, the respondent received an anonymous letter couched in clearly racist terms.

“The committee deplores the fact that the respondent and his family have been subjected to this campaign.”

The committee also said they were assured by one of his colleagues who gave evidence on his behalf that Dr Dhami would not kick another animal.

The report stated: “The committee was particularly impressed by the evidence of a registered veterinary nurse who has worked with the respondent for about 12 months.

“She had no doubt about the respondent’s professionalism and care for animals.”

The committee members decided to give him a suspension of four months.

The report said: “The committee is satisfied that a period of suspension is sufficient in this case to protect the welfare of animals, maintain public confidence and to declare and uphold proper standards of conduct.”

Two other allegations relating to a kitten and a Jack Russell dog were dismissed by the committee.

Leicester Mercury

Animal Abandonment, Dogs

Woodgate, Leicester: Patryk Angelov

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CONVICTED (2019) | Patryk Angelov, aka Patryk Sanczo, born c. 1992, of Dunton Street, Leicester LE3 – left an American bulldog named Diablo tied up outside a supermarket for several hours.

Patryk Angelov and the American bulldog he abandoned for hours outside a supermarket
Irresponsible Patryk Angelov and the American bulldog he abandoned for hours outside a supermarket

Four-year-old American bulldog Diablo was left alone outside Aldi “for hours” by Patryk Angelov and a concerned shopper was bitten on the wrist when he went to check on the distressed animal.

The dog then chewed through his lead and began running round the car park of the store in Woodgate, Leicester.

Police were called and were able to calm Diablo down before taking him to kennels.

Officers then tracked down forlkift truck driver Angelov, who was oblivious to the dog’s ordeal.

Patryk Angelov and the American bulldog he abandoned for hours outside a supermarket
Patryk Angelov is originally from Elk in Poland but now works as a forklift truck driver in Leicester

Angelov admitted being the person in charge of a dangerously out of control dog which caused injury. He also admitted a charge of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

Nigel Chapman, prosecuting, said the incident happened on January 10, 2019.

“The defendant took the dog on a lead to Aldi and unfortunately forgot to take him home,” he told the court.

“He left it tethered outside the store.

“A customer was a little concerned for the dog’s welfare. He saw it was cold and unattended. He went to stroke its head and the dog bit him.

“The dog managed to break free from its lead by chewing through it. It went off round the car park and the police were called.”

Mr Chapman said the victim suffered puncture wounds and nerve damage as a result of the bite.

He added that the man had previously been confident around dogs but had since developed an aversion to them.

In a statement to the court he said: “I do not trust dogs now. I try to avoid them for fear of being attacked.”

Mr Chapman told magistrates that Diablo remained at police kennels, adding: “Because there was an injury you have to consider a destruction order.”

The court heard the dog had never previously bitten anyone.

Mr Chapman said there could, however, be a contingency destruction order – meaning Diablo would be spared if he was kept on a lead and muzzled while out in public.

Sajid Munir, defending, said: “On the day he (Angelov) was under the influence of alcohol.

“He had gone to Aldi to purchase some more alcohol to cope with a relationship breakdown.

“He tied the dog to a post and had gone home. He completely forgot that he had the dog with him.

“When he realised he was distraught. He feels sorry and regrets the actions of the dog.”

Mr Munir added: “The defendant made a terrible mistake that day.

“He says it is not the dog that should be punished. It is him who should be punished.

“The dog was no doubt scared to be tied to a post for that period of time.”

Mr Munir read a letter to the court from Angelov’s father, who owns Diablo, who described his son as a good boy who cared for him as he suffers with terminal cancer.

Magistrates agreed to the contingency destruction order and banned Angelov from being in charge of or owning a dog for five years.

Sentencing | 12-month community order with 60 hours of unpaid work; £150 compensation to the man who was bitten; £200 towards the police cost of keeping Diablo in kennels and an £85 victim surcharge. Banned from being in charge of or owning a dog for five years (expires May 2024).

LeicestershireLive

Equine Abuse, farms / smallholdings, Food Production, horses and ponies, Multiple Species, Worst of the Worst

Bradworthy, Devon: Rebecca Tucker and Luke Morley

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CONVICTED (2018) | smallholders Rebecca J Tucker, born c. 1972, of Bradworthy, and Luke J Morley, born c. 1981, now of Leicester – kept horses, cattle and pigs in squalid conditions without food and water.

Animal abuser: Becky Tucker from Bideford, Devon. Pic: Facebook
Becky Tucker

Tucker and Morley, who previously lived together in Boards Court, Bideford EX39 4FJ,  pleaded guilty to a range of charges under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007.

Trading Standards Officers, Animal and Plant Health Agency vets and RSPCA inspectors were called to the pair’s premises at various times during December 2017 and January 2018 and found animals being kept in poor conditions and a state of neglect.

On one occasion a vet found 14 cattle in a newly built shed with no dry lying or bedding or food. There was also a small area adjacent where pigs were housed, and they had no access to water.

Rebecca Tucker and Luke Morley from Devon pleaded guilty to causing animals to suffer

On another day a vet arrived at the farm mid-morning to find the animals had not yet received any attention such as food and water that day.

When Trading Standards Officers visited they found 11 horses in a field with no suitable dry area for them to lie down in and they had no supplementary food.

Rebecca Tucker and Luke Morley from Devon pleaded guilty to causing animals to suffer

There was also a collapsed five bar gate, collapsed fencing and collapsing netting in the field posing dangers of sharp metal edges and nails and an amount of plastic and burnt rubbish in the area.

Some of the horses were in such a bad state, that the pair were found to have caused them “unnecessary suffering” and so the RSPCA took possession of them.

Rebecca Tucker and Luke Morley from Devon pleaded guilty to causing animals to suffer

During the hot sunny period in May vets were concerned about the lack of food, water and adequate shelter for the pigs – sunburn is a significant problem for pigs.

Trading Standards Officers returned to monitor the welfare of the animals and found further issues concerning diet, water and environment and reported their findings and subsequent advice to Tucker and Morley both verbally and in writing.

A further visit in June found eight pigs with a lack of dry bedding and a Belgian blue calf suffering from hair loss, scabs and a significant untreated lice infestation.

Despite repeated advice and intervention, Tucker and Morley made only temporary improvements, if any, in caring for their animals.

At the time of the offences it is understood that Tucker was the owner of the farming business and employed Morley to feed and care for the animals.

The Judge commented that Tucker “shirked responsibility” and put blame of the animals’ state on Morley, even though extensive advice had been provided to both by the inspectors.

Sentencing: 
Tucker – 17 weeks’ imprisonment for each offence to be served concurrently and suspended for 12 months. 180 hours of unpaid community work. Total costs of £390. 

Morley – 12 weeks’ imprisonment for each offence to be served concurrently and suspended for 12 months. 120 hours of unpaid community work. Total costs of £240.

Both – banned from keeping animals for ten years (expires October 2028).

DevonLive
BBC News

Animal Abandonment, Dogs, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders, Worst of the Worst

Leicester: Cameron Deazle

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CONVICTED (2018) | Cameron Deazle (aka Cameron Watson-Deazle), born c. 1995, of Neston Gardens, Leicester LE2 – left one Staffordshire bull terrier to die from starvation with a second dog just hours from death. 

Dog killer Cameron Deazle and the surviving dog, who was renamed Bobby and rehomed by the RSPCA.

Backyard breeder Deazle pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a dark brindle Staffordshire bull terrier and a white and brindle staffie by failing to provide adequate nutrition for the animals between May 9 and June 9, 2017.

Dog killer Cameron Deazle from Leicester.

A city council dog warden arrived at Deazle’s property after he contacted the council to collect two “stray” dogs, one of which – the white and brindle dog –  was found to have recently died at the property.

Dog killer Cameron Deazle from Leicester.

Liar Deazle initially denied owning the emaciated dogs.

James Lucas, RSPCA chief inspector for Leicester, said: “Sadly, as a result of these two dogs being left at the property for a long period with little or no food, one of the dogs sadly died and it was a close call for the other.

“They were both very skinny and this would have caused both dogs extreme suffering.

Surviving dog Bobby.

“The surviving dog, now called Bobby, is currently in RSPCA care where he is being nursed back to health. It is hoped he can now be rehomed to a loving new owner.”

Sentencing: 16 weeks’ imprisonment for the cruelty charge, and a further eight weeks’ imprisonment for breaching a conditional discharge; total of 24 weeks suspended for 18 months.  Total of £215 costs and charges. Banned from keeping dogs for just five years  (expired February 2023).

LeicestershireLive

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Leicester: Luke Keeber

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CONVICTED (2018) | Luke Keeber, born 3 November 1991, of Fairburn House, Aikman Avenue, Leicester LE3 9JT – violently assaulted a seven-month-old puppyConvicted dog abuser Luke Keeber from Leicester

Keeber, who had pleaded not guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, was at his ex-girlfriend’s house in Biddle Road, New Parks, Leicester, on June 20, 2017, when a neighbour heard what she described as a dog “screaming”, Leicester magistrates were told.

The neighbour, Josephine Sutton, called the police and they went to the property and recovered the injured seven-month-old female bull mastiff puppy, called Mercy.

During a trial at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on Monday 08/01/2018, Mrs Sutton said: “I was at home in the back garden and I heard Luke shouting at the dog. I heard the dog screaming and yelping.

“I heard thudding as though the dog was being kicked at the fence or thrown into it.”

PC Michael Coulter, who attended the home of Keeber’s ex-partner, Candice Gail Wolverson, said in a statement read out in court: “The dog was shaking, soaking wet and not aggressive.

“I called the dog to me and could see both of Mercy’s eyes were bloodshot and swollen. Mercy was unsteady on its legs.

“Mercy was cowering from Keeber and pushed itself into my legs and was pawing at me for affection.”

The dog belonged to Keeber but lived with Wolverson and the three young children the pair have between them. Wolverson, born 7 February 1988 and of Biddle Road, Leicester, was also charged with causing unnecessary suffering to an animal but during the trial the magistrates decided there was not enough evidence against her and the case was dropped.

Keeber later told police he had seen his two-year-old son pulling Mercy’s tail. He said Mercy was growling and trying to nip at his son so he “slapped” the dog once in the face and then used the hose on her as a punishment.

Giving evidence at the trial, Keeber said: “She was trying to jump round and snap at him. I run at her and punched her straight in the face.

“I did want to hurt her because I was extremely emotional. I hosed her down.”

Keeber told the court: “I feel like a scumbag for hosing her down but I protected my child from a dog bite.”

However, the court heard Mercy was found to have not only haemorrhages in both eyes and swelling to her temple but also “crush” injuries to one paw, grazes and soreness under one leg and lesions and other bruises. The magistrates decided the number of injuries was inconsistent with Keeber’s account.

Keeber was found guilty of animal cruelty.

Sentence: 120 hours of unpaid work, total of £335 towards costs and charges; banned from keeping a dog for five years (expired January 2023).

Leicester Mercury

Update | August 2023

Luke Keeber, now of Great Arler Road, Knighton, Leicester, was back before the courts to face domestic violence charges.

Keeber, who had now racked up 23 previous convictions including common assault, using threatening behaviour and of course animal cruelty, admitted causing grievous bodily harm to his partner.

The court heard he smashed the woman in the face, breaking her jaw and leaving her crying in agony.

He also threatened to “bury” his partner during the row in front of their 11-year-old daughter at their home in Biddle Road, New Parks, Leicester.

The argument was partly recorded on a video clip in which the sound of the punch to the woman’s jaw can be heard, followed by cries.

Recorder David Richards said: “There is anguished cry – similar to the cry of that puppy you abused in 2018.”

The court heard that following the incident on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, Keeber’s partner required reconstructive surgery and now has a metal plate holding her jaw together. That treatment ended in May but she is still suffering with numbness and swelling.

Paul Prior, representing Keeber, told the court his client still saw his children once a week and paid money to them. He asked Recorder Richards to suspend the sentence so that Keeber, who owns his own plastering business, can continue to support them.

Sentencing Keeber, Recorder Richards said: “It’s the children that only just keep you out of prison today. I’m sure I could be criticised for this but I’m going to suspend your sentence.”

Keeber was given a two-year sentence, suspended for 18 months. He will have to spend 10 days with probation, complete their Building Better Relationships course and do 200 hours of unpaid work.

Leicester Mercury