Tag Archives: London Borough of Greenwich

Dogs, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders, Traveller Animal Crimes

Strood, Kent / Eltham, South-East London: Sammy and Jay Daniels and Ricky Kerswell

July 25, 2023 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED | puppy farm dealers/backyard breeders Samantha Louise Daniels, nee Ludlow, born 3 August 1987, and husband Jayson George Daniels, born 10 September 1988, both of Willow Road, Strood, Rochester ME2 2LW, and Ricky Billy Kerswell, born 8 November 1989, from Beaumanor Gardens, Coldharbour Estate, Eltham, London SE9 3HG – for the mistreatment of two Dachshunds with severe skin conditions.

Puppy farm dealers, breeders, dog abusers Sammy and Jay Daniel from Rochester, Kent, and Ricky Kerswell from Eltham, SE London

The’ Daniels and their associate Ricky Kerswell, a traveller, admitted cruelty to a female wirehaired Dachshund known as Coco and to a female wirehaired Dachshund puppy by failing to provide veterinary treatment in respect of the animals’ skin disease.

Puppy neglected by Puppy farm dealers, breeders, dog abusers Sammy and Jay Daniel from Rochester, Kent, and Ricky Kerswell from Eltham, SE London

In a written statement from an RSPCA inspector, the court heard that Coco and the puppy had been found in a downstairs small room at the rear of a property in Willow Road, Rochester. They were found in dirty conditions. Fleas were evident and they had fur loss.

A vet who attended the location also provided a written statement for the court. It was said that Coco’s “skin had large patches of hair loss and small areas of inflammation”.

He added: “The dog had a strong smell typical of animals with severe skin disease. The bald patches were particularly obvious around the eyes, on the ears, and on the limbs and tail. Patches of infected and red skin were noted on the belly, neck and rump.”

The puppy was also said to have “a lot of hair loss”.

The vet said: “The ears were bald and leathery due to the severe skin disease.

“The pup smelt much stronger than the mother and was noticeably withdrawn and depressed. She scratched and rubbed her belly at least every minute. Fleas could also be seen crawling over her body.”

Animal abuser Ricky Kerswell from Eltham, SE London

Puppy farm dealers, breeders, dog abusers Sammy and Jay Daniel from Rochester, Kent

Both were said to be suffering by the vet due to the severe skin disease.
Following a hearing at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court on 10 July both of the dogs were signed over to the RSPCA. At sentencing an order to remove further dogs was also made.

In RSPCA care the two Dachshunds made a full recovery and have been cared for by some of the charity’s dedicated foster carers.

The Daniels have indicated that they intend to appeal.

Sentencing | ordered to pay £333 costs and a £114 victim surcharge. Samantha Daniels received a 10 week tagged curfew, Jayson Daniels received 108 hours unpaid work and Kerswell was ordered to undertake 108 hours unpaid work plus 20 RAR days. All were disqualified from keeping dogs for a woeful 18 months (expires early 2025),

ITV News
London Post
Kent Online

Additional Information

Ricky Kerswell is a tree surgeon by trade. His company name is Cut Above the Rest Tree Care Ltd. Facebook business page here.

Dogs, Hoarders, Lifers, Worst of the Worst

Greenwich, South-East London: Suzanne Wimbledon and Shuman Rashid

February 2, 2023 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2023) | hoarders Suzanne Wimbledon, born c. 1979, of Aylmer House, Eastney Street, London SE10 9NU, and Shuman Rashid, born c. 1974, now of Oakley Lane, Lambeth – starved four large dogs kept in squalor at their tiny flat.

Hoarders and animal abusers: Suzanne and Shuman Rashid from Greenwich, South-East London

Suzanne Wimbledon, aka Suzanne Rachid, and partner Shuman Rashid starved their pets because they didn’t want them to defecate inside the flat. The four dogs ended up so emaciated they could barely walk and one of them died from malnutrition.

Dogs starved to emaciation in the flat of hoarders Suzanne and Shuman Rashid from Greenwich, South-East London

The pair first came to the RSPCA’s attention in March 2022 when their emaciated Great Dane named Zara died in an animal hospital. Inspectors attended the couple’s flat in Eastney Street where they found a husky-type dog called Rocky and a Staffie cross called Kiko. Both had been severely neglected.

The flat where hoarders Suzanne and Shuman Rashid from Greenwich, South-East London starved four dogs to emaciation

RSPCA Inspector Natasha Wallis said: “The small flat appeared to be that of a hoarder’s property. There were multiple boxes stacked on top of one another, with little room to manoeuvre inside.

“When I stroked Rocky along his back and sides, I could easily feel the bones along his spine, hips and rib cage indicating he was significantly underweight. He appeared wobbly and weak when walking.

“Kiko had little space to move inside a small cage which only contained a blanket.”

RSPCA Inspector Harriet Daliday said that she was told by a vet that Rashid said he “did not feed his dogs the correct amount to stop them defecating inside the flat”.

Rashid said he had rehomed a Neopolitan Mastiff called Kali in January 2022.

A vet told the court: “Kali was never a healthy weight from August 2018 until January 2022, when she was reportedly rehomed, while Zsa Zsa recorded the lowest possible body condition score between July 2021 up to March 2022 when she died from emaciation.

“Rashid and Wimbledon were instructed to feed the dogs more but claimed it “made the dogs produce more faeces”.

The vet added: “They frequently went against veterinary advice and frequently missed arranged appointments to check the weights of both dogs.

“The dogs attended all their appointments with coats on, even during the summer months, presumably to hide the fact they were severely underweight.”

In court Rashid pleaded guilty to five offences under the Animal Welfare Act, while Wimbledon pleaded guilty to three offences.

In mitigation, the pair claimed they had done their “incompetent best for the four dogs” but both have disabilities – Rashid has a back injury and Wimbledon is deaf.

The magistrates said it was an “appalling case of animal cruelty”, although they added that the defendants’ early guilty pleas meant they could suspend their custodial sentences. Both were given lifetime bans on keeping animals.

Speaking after the sentencing, Inspector Wallis said: “It was daily torture for these poor dogs to be kept in this flat – they were being starved in what appeared to be a hoarder’s property. Three of the dogs became emaciated and the other was confined to a cage. The defendants were repeatedly told to increase the dogs’ intake of food, but they didn’t and that is why Zsa Zsa died.

“But not only did they physically suffer from being starved but also mentally as they had no stimulation as they were confined in a small property for days on end, which would have been extremely depressing for the dogs.

“Since they have come into our care, Rocky has put on weight and has returned to a healthy condition. Kiko was a nervous and anxious dog, but thanks to the care and attention of staff at our animal centre he has really come out of himself.”

Sentencing | 12-week prison sentences, suspended for 12 months.; 100 hours of unpaid work each; a total of £428 each in costs and surcharge. Banned from keeping animals for life.

Independent
My London

Cats

Eltham, South East London: Monica Bell

May 13, 2022 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2022) | Monica Bell, born c. 1949, of 100 Altash Way, Eltham, London SE9 3JH – for neglect of her ailing pet cat.

Bell admitted to causing and allowing the cat, named Fluffy, to suffer by failing to investigate and take remedial steps to address his declining weight and condition.

She caused and allowed the animal to suffer, and failed to take reasonable steps to prevent it from happening – according to the courts.

Bell did not “seek immediate veterinary assistance” in respect of Fluffy’s “collapsed state”.

She also did not make suitable care arrangements to ensure that the needs of Fluffy were met – in that a suitable diet was needed to protect him from pain, suffering, injury and disease.

The court said Fluffy’s suffering was unnecessary.

It is not known if Fluffy survived.

Sentencing | ordered to pay £210. Disqualified from owning or keeping any animals for three years.

This is Local London

Dogs, Worst of the Worst

Greenwich, South-East London: Ben Taylor

February 26, 2022 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2022) | Ben Daniel Taylor, born c. 1977, of Coleraine Road, London SE3 8NU – left his dog to waste away with painful terminal cancer.

Taylor pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to his 10-year-old mastiff, Bozo. The dog was diagnosed with terminal bone cancer in early 2020, and further x-rays showed it had probably spread to his lungs.

Taylor was advised that bone tumours are extremely painful for dogs and even normal activity would likely lead to fractures because the bone was weakened.

A vet told Stratford Magistrates’ Court: “The owner was advised that amputation was not in Bozo’s best interests given the size of the dog, and the advanced state of the cancer with suspected spread to the lungs. It was strongly recommended that Bozo be euthanased.”

However, Taylor refused to put Bozo down and asked to be referred to a specialist surgeon for a second opinion. Bozo was discharged with medication and referred to a specialist, but Taylor then cancelled that appointment.

On May 20, 2020, he contacted his vet again to say that Bozo had deteriorated and organised for him to be euthanised. However, Taylor never attended the appointment and failed to attend further medication, leaving Bozo in a state of suffering.

A month later, on June 15, Bozo was brought to an animal hospital in a horrific state where his bones were prominent because he was extremely thin.

The vet said: “On examination, Bozo was collapsed, unable to ambulate, lying on his right side, consciously depressed, seemed unaware of his surroundings and showed severely reduced responsiveness to surroundings and people. He was groaning. The body condition score was assessed as 1/5 (1 being emaciated, 5 being obese), and he weighed 40.8kg. The bones of the spine, pelvis, ribs, shoulder blades and skull were prominent.”

The vet said Bozo had a raised heart rate, abnormal breathing and his leg was swollen and ulcerated with a “putrid, foul smell”.

They took the decision to put him to sleep immediately before taking x-rays which showed the “complete destruction of the bone in his lower leg” and the tumour had “progressed significantly”.

Bozo’s body was seized by police and taken to the Royal Vetinary College for a post mortem which found Bozo had a malignant bone tumour originating in the leg and spreading to multiple bones, including the ribs and vertebrae, and the lung. It also found a bacterial infection.

The post mortem report said: “Both of these disease processes would have been painful and caused suffering… The size of the tumour and extent of spread, would be consistent with this occurring over a period of months.”

The court was told that Taylor was a “well-meaning” but incompetent dog owner. Deciding on his sentence, magistrates said that by delaying Bozo’s euthanasia Taylor had caused serious and substantial suffering.

RSPCA inspector James Whipps said: “Vets looking at the clinical evidence estimated that poor Bozo had been suffering for months and the condition of his body showed that he’d deteriorated more and more as the weeks passed.

“Making the decision to have your pet put to sleep is the hardest part of pet ownership, but it is so important to ensure that your pet is not suffering and that they have a good quality of life. Sadly, on this occasion, Bozo was left to suffer despite the expert advice of vets.”

Sentencing: 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months; £628 in costs and charges. A ONE-year ban.

My London

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Greenwich, South-East London: Grant Smith

April 19, 2017 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2017) | Grant Smith, born 12/01/1995, of Flintmill Crescent, Greenwich, London SE3 – caught on camera throwing dogs to the ground on his balcony.

Grant Smith, from Greenwich, London, was filmed picking up his two small dogs by the scruff of the neck and throwing them on the floor — Grant Smith was filmed picking up his two small dogs by the scruff of the neck and throwing them on the floor

Smith was filmed picking up his two small dogs by the scruff of the neck and throwing them on the floor at his home in Flintmill Cresent.

The shocking footage shows Smith “making threatening movements and shouting towards the dogs” before picking up Jack Russell Ruby and throwing her across the balcony.

He then goes back into the flat before grabbing Shar Pei-type dog Keylo and throwing him to the ground.

Smith was investigated by the RSPCA and was convicted of two offences related to his treatment of his two dogs.

Keylo (top)) and Ruby were rescued from their violent owner by the RSPCA

He was convicted of failing to meet his dogs’ need to be protected from pain suffering, injury or disease by his threatening behaviour and rough handling.

He was also found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to Keylo through threatening behaviour and rough handling, contrary to section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act.

RSPCA inspector Nick Wheelhouse, who investigated the case, said: “Smith was seen coming out onto his balcony, making threatening movements and shouting towards the dogs, Smith then picked up Ruby by the scruff of the neck and threw her across the balcony.

“Smith then returned to the balcony where he grabbed Keylo by the scruff, lifted him over his shoulder and threw him to the ground.

Violent dog abuser Grant Smith from Greenwich, South-East London — Thug Grant Smith is originally from Eltham in Bromley

“Smith claimed in his defence that this is how mothers treat their puppies, but his behaviour clearly went beyond the boundaries of acceptable treatment and that was reflected in the court’s decision to convict him of two offences.”

Sentencing: 12-month community order. Costs and charges totalling £285. Banned from keeping dogs for a year (expired 2018). Deprivation order on Keylo and Ruby.

News Shopper
Daily Mail
Evening Standard

Animal Abandonment, Dogs, Lifers, Worst of the Worst

Greenwich, South-East London: Logan Duncan

September 24, 2015 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2015) | Logan Duncan, born 10/10/1991, of Sandbach Place, Greenwich, London SE18 7EX – starved his dog to death

Oscar was found in a starved, skeletal state.

Logan Duncan was jailed and given a life ban from keeping animals after letting his pet Rottweiler, Oscar, become so emaciated he died on the way to receive emergency veterinary care.

Duncan pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to Oscar, after RSPCA inspectors were alerted to fears for his safety.

In December 2014, Oscar was found by the charity collapsed and in an extremely emaciated state. He also had a serious skin condition which caused a loss of fur.

He was taken immediately to a vets for emergency care but died in an inspector’s van on the way.

In August 2015, Duncan admitted he failed to provide proper veterinary treatment for the dog’s declining health and for an unsuitable environment in his care.

RSPCA inspector Callum Isitt said: “It was a very sad Christmas last year. The sight of poor Oscar was heartbreaking – he was skin and bone.

“It would have been obvious to anyone that something was seriously wrong. He weighed just 17.5kg – a third of what a dog his size and breed should have weighed. He also had a severe skin condition which meant the dog’s fur was either thin or missing.

“He was unable to get to his feet and had to be carried to my van. I rushed him straight to the vets but very sadly he died en route. You can’t help thinking ‘If only they’d called us earlier’ it could have all been very different, which is just so sad.

Sentencing: jailed for 20 weeks; £730 in costs. Life-long disqualification from owning all animals.

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Animal Abandonment, Dogs, Lifers, Serial Animal Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Plumstead/ Thamesmead, London: Stacey Lockhurst and Paul Brunsden

September 7, 2012 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2012) | Stacey Louise Lockhurst, born 14 December 1984, of 218 Elmley Street, Plumstead, London SE18 7NL, but with strong links to the Erith area and also Dartford, and Paul James Brunsden, born 09/06/1987 of Fieldfare Road, Thamesmead, London SE28 8HR and with links to Hornchurch and Erith – left a German shepherd dog to starve to death in a crate.

Dog killers Stacey Lockhurst and Paul Brunsden from South-East London

Stacey Lockhurst and partner Paul Brunsden kept the dog, named Jack, in a squalid cage at Lockhurst’s old home in Forest Road, Erith, where he starved to death in an inch of his own excrement. When RSPCA inspectors found the cage, it was teeming with flies and maggots and littered with plastic bags and a takeaway food carton.

Jack’s water bowl was full of excrement, as was his mouth.

Lifting Jack out of his container, the RSPCA inspector could clearly feel his spine from the underside of his body and described him as “the thinnest dog she had ever seen”.

A cat and two kittens were also seized from conditions described as “likely to cause suffering”

RSPCA Inspector Alison Fletcher said: “It is heartbreaking that this poor dog lived and then died in the squalor of this cage,
hungry, thirsty and alone. This kind of cruelty is simply horrendous and anyone looking at the photo of this dog can see the suffering.”

Sentence:
Lockhurst – 20-week prison sentence, suspended for a year, banned from ever keeping animals again.
Brunsden – jailed for 20 weeks and banned for life from keeping any kind of animal.

News Shopper
Daily Mail

News and Updates

On 31 January 2017 the News Shopper reported that the body of an emaciated dog that had been starved to death had been found dumped in a bin bag in Charlton, South-East London.

The male brindle-and-white Staffy, thought to be about a year old, was discovered by a dog walker in Fairlawn Garages in Cherry Orchard Estate.

The Cherry Orchard Estate is just under three miles from Elmley Street, Plumstead, where Stacey Lockhurst has lived since late 2016 (address still current as at March 2020).

In February 2017, a man alleged in an animal welfare group that the dog had belonged to Lockhurst and she had been seen dumping the body.

Although this information was passed on to the RSPCA, no one has been prosecuted in relation to the dog’s death.

UK Animal Cruelty Files