Tag Archives: Mendip

Dogs, ear cropping and tail docking, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders

Glastonbury, Somerset: Che Lord

2 Comments

CONVICTED (2021) | Che Osiris Lord, born c. 1983, of Meare Road, Glastonbury BA6 – arranged for three puppies to have their ears cropped

One of the puppies rescued from Che Lord of Glastonbury, UK
One of the puppies rescued from Che Lord

Lord, who is originally from Biggin Hill, Westerham, Kent, allowed three of his dogs to be subjected to the painful and illegal procedure in December 2020.

A veterinary report presented to the court explained that in addition to the acute inflammation and pain associated with the cropping process there may also be a number of longer term welfare concerns related to the tissue removal and altered ear posture.

In the report, veterinary surgeon Dr Sean Taylor said: “As with any tissue removal there will be associated chronic scarring and stimulation of associated nerves which may result in chronic pain.

“Dogs communicate with each other via body language in a similar way to humans and part of this communication involves ear movement and position.

“Mutilation of the ear pinna results in a dramatically altered ear shape which may hinder the dog’s ability to communicate effectively.”

RSPCA Inspector Miranda Albinson, who investigated the case, said: “Ear cropping is illegal in England and Wales, under Section 5 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

“While it is still legal in some European countries and US states, it is illegal here which means owners cannot crop their dogs’ ears, or send them to have their ears cropped by someone else.”

All three of Lord’s dogs, described as American XL bulldogs, will now be rehomed.

Sentencing: 12-month community order, with 40 hours of unpaid work; total of £195 costs and charges. Deprivation order on his three dogs but not disqualified from getting more.

ITV News
Somerset County Gazette

Dogs, Lifers, Serial Animal Abusers, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Frome, Somerset: Carl Athey

5 Comments

CONVICTED (2019) | Carl Steven Athey, born 25 September 1991, of Dorset Close, Frome BA11 3HL – kicked and strangled a border collie to death

Dog killer Carl Steven Athey of Frome in Somerset

Carl Athey was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison after he was convicted of animal cruelty for kicking and strangling a four-year-old border collie named Gracie to death.

Dog killer Carl Athey's partner Robyn Garman with Gracie
Gracie with Robyn Garman. Garman is standing by Athey despite his conviction for killing her dog

Gracie belonged to Athey’s partner, Robyn Nicole Garman, who is standing by him.

Cruelty victim Gracie died from multiple injuries inflicted by Carl Athey

Athey, who owns two other dogs – Jack Russell terriers Ruby and Chloe – was convicted of two counts of physical harm to Gracie, which ultimately resulted in the dog’s death.

Cruelty victim Gracie died from multiple injuries inflicted by Carl Athey
Gracie died from multiple injuries following a series of attacks by Carl Athey

The second of these counts left her so badly injured she was presented to vets in an unresponsive and comatose state and was ultimately put down.

The vets then contacted the RSPCA to investigate.

Dog killer Carl Athey's partner Robyn Garman with Gracie

A post mortem examination showed a number of recent blunt force trauma injuries including three broken ribs, liver damage consistent with a kick, blunt force trauma to the head and signs of strangulation on the neck.

According to the RSPCA, Athey denied responsibility for Gracie’s injuries, claiming on the first occasion that he had tripped while holding a shopping bag while failing to provide any explanation for her severe injuries on the second.

Dog killer Carl Athey from Frome in Somerset, UK

He did admit to being the only person in the house at the time of Gracie’s injuries.

Dog killer Carl Athey's partner Robyn Garman with Gracie

RSPCA Inspector Miranda Albinson, who investigated for the charity, said: “This saddening case involved a defenceless dog who lost her life because of the series of serious injuries that had been caused by Athey.

“The veterinary reports and the post mortem exposed the deliberate ill-treatment which tragically led to her death.

“There is never an excuse for harming an animal or for failing to treat an animal with the kindness and respect they deserve.”

Sentencing: 20 weeks in jail; total of £865 costs and charges; deprivation order for Ruby and Chloe. Banned from keeping animals for life.

SomersetLive

Additional information

Several friends of Carl Athey have come to his defence today (19/10/2019) and to protest his innocence. It is suggested that Athey’s partner is in some way involved in Gracie’s death and that other animals in the household Robyn Garman shares with Athey and her seven-year-old son have come to harm. One or two have said that Gracie may even have been harmed by the child. Garman herself has this to say:


We may never know the truth, but if the allegations about a child being to blame for Gracie’s death are true then that is extremely concerning and there absolutely must be intervention by social services.

Dogs, hare coursing, hunting with dogs, Organised Animal Crime, poaching, Traveller Animal Crimes, Wildlife Crime / Bloodsports

Frome, Somerset: Tommy Sherred and Joby Ayres

1 Comment

CONVICTED (2017) | hare coursers Joby Ayres, aka Joby Hughes, born c. 1988, of Pines Residential Site, Berkley Lane, Frome BA11 2NJ and Tommy James Sherred, born c. 1996, of the travellers site in Gypsy Lane, Frome BA11 2NA

Joby Ayres (left) and Tommy James Sherred

East Somerset travellers Sherred and Ayres pleaded guilty section 30 of the Game Act 1831 at North West Wiltshire Magistrates’ Court.

On 14 January 2017, a green Ford hatchback was spotted on farmland in Bishops Cannings, near Devizes, and several men were sighted with dogs in the area, believed to be hare coursing.

When they were confronted by the land owner, they began to shout abuse before speeding off towards Horton. Two of the men made off across the farm land towards Bishop Cannings.

Officers from the Rural Crime Team spotted two men in the fields, the men ran away in the opposite direction.

Officers caught up with the pair and they were arrested on suspicion of daylight trespass in search or pursuit of game.

PC Marc Jackson said: “The Rural Crime Team is really pleased with the outcome of this investigation which saw a sizeable fine for the offenders in relation to daylight trespass offences under the Game Act.

“As the Rural Crime Officer, I have been working hard with members of Farmwatch and landowners around the Pewsey Vale area to disrupt and deter the coursing and poaching activity over the last year.

“We will continue to work with members of the Farm Watch community, and will seek to target persistent poachers with the powers given to us to counter anti-social behaviour, such as issuing Community Protection Notices. CPNs are aimed at preventing unreasonable behaviour that is having a negative impact on the local community’s quality of life.

“There is no doubt that damage to farm land, farm property, threats and intimidating behaviour towards farm workers is having a negative impact on the farmers and gamekeepers quality of life within Wiltshire.

“Wiltshire is not a soft touch and we will seek to prosecute individuals who seek to commit poaching related offence’s within the county where evidence exists.”

Sentencing: fined a total of £1,000.

Wiltshire Gazette and Herald

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Frome, Somerset: Scott Westlake

Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2011) | Scott Westlake, born 7 December 1987, of 9 Austin Close, Frome BA11 5AY – punched a dog in the face causing an eye injury

Dog abuser Scott Westlake from Frome, Somerset, UK

Westlake attacked the Staffy, known as Dogger, after becoming angry at having to clean up mess the dog had made. The RSPCA were alerted by concerned neighbours who reported sounds of a dog being beaten, and attended to find Dogger with a cut to his eye. The inspector told Westlake to take the dog to a vet but he only did so two days later.

The vet who examined Dogger concluded that his eye injury was consistent with being struck by a human fist and the person responsible would have caused unnecessary suffering to it as a result.

Dogger belonged to Westlake’s friend, Jason Dando, who had apparently “dumped” him on Westlake on many occasions. Dando has been cautioned by the police.

Sentencing: two-year conditional discharge, £500 towards costs; three-year ban on keeping animals (expired 2014).

Original source: SomersetLive (article removed)