CONVICTED (2023) | Jac Elliot Jones born 5 January 1995, of Newgate Street, Llanfaes, Brecon, Powys LD3 but with family links to the village of Llandrinio – attacked his pet dog while high on drugs.
Persistent thug Jac Jones
Jones, who has at least one previous criminal conviction, launched a “drug-fuelled, unprovoked attack” on French bulldog Tommy in November 2022. His actions on the defenceless pet were described as being “of a serious nature … involving multiple kicks to the head and body”.
French bulldog Tommy survived a drug-fuelled brutal attack by his owner
Jones admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and was jailed for 18 weeks.
A deprivation order was also made against Jones, preventing him from ownership of Tommy in the future
A disqualification order was also made, relating to all animals, and this will last for 10 years. It prevents Jones from owning any type of animal, keeping them, participating in keeping them and from being party to an arrangement under which the defendant is entitled to control or influence the way in which they are kept, during this period.
In addition, he was ordered to pay a surcharge of £154 and £85 costs, which are payable on his release from prison.
CONVICTED (2022) | Rhys Burgess, born c. 1992, of Coryton Close, Brecon LD9 – threw his ex partner’s dog at a window in domestic abuse incident.
Rhys Burgess, who has a history of domestic violence-related offending, was jailed for more than three years after subjecting his ex-partner to a campaign of terror, which culminated in an incident in which he picked up a dog and threw her at a window.
Burgess admitted six charges, which included causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal in relation to the dog, a rescue named Roxy. She was described as “shocked” but wasn’t physically injured.
Roxy was said to be shocked but uninjured after she was picked up by Burgess and hurled with full force at a window. The serial domestic abuser had previously threatened to kill the dog in a campaign of terror against her owner.
He also admitted intentionally strangling his ex partner and unlawfully and maliciously wounding her70-year-old father, who is terminally ill.
He stole a mobile phone and subjected his ex to violence while doing so and is also said to have caused criminal damage to various items, including car wing mirrors, a mobile phone, fan, laptop, printer, desk, earphones, Perspex windows, internal doors and a lock mechanism belonging to the woman. All five offences are alleged to have taken place in Brecon on September 2.
He also pleaded guilty to engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour in relation to the ex partner between August 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022.
He continuously engaged in behaviour which was controlling or coercive, including constantly texting and calling the woman, threatening to kill an animal, family or himself if the relationship ended, and controlling her friendships and places she frequented.
Prosecutor Georgia Donohue told the court the defendant had been in a relationship with the woman for two years.
“It was initially positive but turned toxic,” said Ms Donohue.
“The defendant moved into her property in August of 2021, which is when the relationship turned violent.”
Rescue dog Roxy is believed to have come from Brecon Dog Rescue
Ms Donohue said Burgess first assaulted the woman in August 2021, punching her to the face and strangling her.
A further assault took place in August 2022.
“At the end of the evening he asked her if he could stay the night, but she said he must leave and this angered him,” said Ms Donohue.
“He strangled her and she nearly lost consciousness. He accused her of cheating with her friend; [the woman] said he headbutted her and threatened to kill her, her dad and her dog.”
A further assault occurred at the Brecon Jazz festival the same month when Burgess headbutted the woman outside the Bank pub following an argument and later followed her home, assaulting her in the garden.
The most recent incidents occurred on September 2, with Burgess triggered by a text message he received from the woman after he had been abusive to her over text following a night out.
“He turned up at her property in a highly agitated state,” said Ms Donohue.
“He was shouting and began causing damage, he pushed her across the kitchen; her father attempted to intervene but the defendant pushed [him], causing him to fall and hit his head; he was bleeding heavily from the head.
“He then went into the garden and smashed up an outhouse. [The woman] attempted to call 999 while the defendant disarmed [her father] who had picked up a chopping board.
“He then picked up her dog, Roxy, and threw it at full force at the window. He kicked the bathroom door, making a hole, then grabbed [the woman] by the throat and strangled her until she felt faint.
“He only stopped when [the father] intervened, hitting him with a metal pole. He threw her mobile across the road then ripped out the phone line and internet as he left, causing damage to a wing mirror on her car.”
A danger to women and animals: father of two Rhys Burgess has a history of domestic violence dating back to 2013.
Acting for the father-of-two, Nick Strobl said his client knows there is “something wrong with him”.
“There is very little that can be said in mitigation,” he said. “He is aware his actions that night were a disgrace.
“He works hard and is respected at work, but there is clearly an issue about him in relationships. He told me today he knows there is something wrong with him and he has already taken action to address this while in custody so when he is released he can become a better person.”
Of the September 2 incident, Mr Strobl said: “He went to the property in a rage and damaged as much as he could. The dog was shocked but fine after the incident and no injuries were caused.”
Recorder David Harris said Burgess had previously received a suspended jail sentence for assault and harassment and breaching a restraining order, both in 2013; another suspended sentence in 2018 for criminal damage and threatening behaviour; and he served 12 weeks in prison for assaulting an ex-partner in 2019.
He told Burgess: “The pre-sentence report says there are a number of concerns. It says you need to feel in control and exertion of authority over others bolsters your self-esteem.
“It says you will use strangulation as a way to punish and regain control. The risk you pose to partners has escalated and the commission of these offences is your most grave to date.”
Sentencing | jailed for a total of three years and five months. Nine weeks were added for the animal cruelty charge to be served concurrently. Five-year restraining order, banning him from contacting his ex partner or her father.
On 27 November 2022 Wales Online published an article in which Burgess’s ex, Natasha Morgan ( Roxy’s owner) gave details of her and her dog’s ordeal at the hands of serial domestic abuser Rhys Burgess. The following extract describes the incident where Roxy was targeted by Burgess:
Natasha said Burgess knew her dad was terminally ill with cancer. She said he was aware that in May her father had been given a “few months to live”.
She continued: “As I was getting a towel for my dad’s head he was smashing up whatever he could. He tried to smash the glass in both the front and back doors but he wasn’t able to. He headbutted them so many times. He kicked the doors inside the house. Two doors downstairs had holes in them and one was completely falling off the hinges.
“He went into the living room where the dog was cowering. She’s a rescue so she’s afraid of any shouting and she would get afraid of him when he was angry. As he was shouting he shouted [at the dog]: ‘Oh, and you’ and he picked her up and threw her into the window. I thought she was going to go straight through the window. She bounced off and she didn’t know what to do – she looked so scared. Then she ran away. By the time the police came she was gone. I looked around as I thought she might have been in the garden and she wasn’t.”
Natasha said her dog had never run away before and she worried she might run into the road. However luckily the police found her and she was returned without any obvious injuries.
CONVICTED (2020) | Peter Bourne, born June 1987, of Cliff Road, Borth, Ceredigion SY24 5NN – sexually assaulted two horses with a paintbrush
Sick pervert Peter Bourne was caught on CCTV sexually assaulting two horses
Peter Bourne, who is a company director of holiday lettings business Cambrian Leisure Ltd, was caught on CCTV on September 19, 2019, approaching two horses – named Hannah and Urani – from behind, before sexually assaulting them.
Video footage then showed him sniffing the paintbrush he had used in the attack.
Bourne’s interference with the horses was confirmed by vets to have caused both animals to suffer unnecessarily.
Sexually abused horse Hannah, whose owners moved away following the attack
RSPCA inspector Keith Hogben said: “Hannah and Urani are two horses who have been put through a horrific ordeal, which this individual must reasonably have known would cause them suffering.
“Fortunately, CCTV footage meant we could detect these crimes and take action.
“It must have been exceptionally distressing, too, for the horse’s owners to know a man targeted and interfered with these animals in such a manner. Thankfully, we have secured justice for the suffering these horses were caused by this man’s actions.”
The two horses have recovered from the incident and remain with their two owners.
Sue Neville, owner of Hannah, said: “This has been such an emotional time for me, and the whole family. It was such a disturbing incident, that was really the last thing we expected to happen.
“If it wasn’t for the RSPCA, we would have been completely lost. They have helped secure justice for Hannah; and have been supportive and amazing throughout.
“We’ve moved house on the back of this incident, to protect our horse. It’s caused us a great deal of anxiety and worry.
“Hannah was always such a friendly and trusting horse; but she is now nervous and anxious to strangers. We are just so relieved justice has been served.”
Urani’s owner Pippa Wells added: “It’s been a really difficult time for us – and this is certainly not something you’d ever expect to happen.
“Without the RSPCA taking this forward, we wouldn’t have secured justice for Urani. This has totally transformed my opinion of the work of the RSPCA.
“Fortunately, Urani is now fine – but this is obviously something no horse should have to face. Thankfully, a positive outcome was secured at court.
Sentencing: 150 hours of unpaid work; ordered to pay £390 in costs and charges plus £150 compensation to each of the two horse owners. Eight-year ban on keeping animals (expires July 2028).
CONVICTED (2019) | Ryan William Harrison, born 08/07/1994, of Green Lane, Caldicot, Monmouthshire NP26 4HH, Tomas Young, born c. 1993, of East Pentwyn, Blaina, Abertillery, Monmouthshire NP13, and Cyle Jones, born 09/11/1987, of Cwrt Tarrell, Newgate Street, Brecon, Powys LD3 8ED – for the barbaric persecution of wildlife, which included skinning alive a baby badger, and cruelty including violence to dogs
Clockwise from the left Tomas Young, Cyle Jones and Ryan Harrison
Ryan Harrison, Cyle Jones and Tomas Young were jailed for badger baiting and animal cruelty following a probe by a BBC Wales TV programme.
Cyle Jones
The court was told that an RSPCA inquiry was launched following an undercover investigation by BBC Wales Investigates. The programme entitled The Secret World of Badger Baiters was shown in May 2018 and is currently available to watch on YouTube.
Following the programme’s broadcast warrants were executed at the addresses of the three individuals identified, being Young, Harrison and Jones
Ryan Harrison
A phone seized from Harrison contained numerous videos, text messages and images depicting hunting and animal cruelty offences. Video clips alone amounted to 447 with the majority of the material extreme in its nature.
The animal cruelty footage showed wildlife being killed and dogs with extensive injuries from being used to hunt animals. The voice of Harrison was heard and there were videos and pictures showing Young.
The RSPCA special operations unit also were able to view footage obtained by the BBC.
One particular horrific incident involved a baby badger which had been skinned alive by dogs.
The badger’s skin was split down the middle and pulled back from the body.
Shortly after the baby badger is seen to be still alive and is killed by Young hitting it with a shovel.
District Judge Neil Thomas described the trio’s offences as “medieval barbarity”.
Ryan Harrison
Harrison and Young pleaded guilty to six joint offences in that they did wilfully kill, injure or take a badger on four different occasions.
They also admitted attempting to take or kill a deer in the Forest of Dean, and causing unnecessary suffering to a boar by letting it be attacked by dogs and by stabbing the animal with a knife.
Harrison also pleaded guilty to another nine offences.These were:
Attempting to take or kill a deer
Attempting to wilfully kill, injure or take a badger on two occasions
Causing unnecessary suffering to a terrier dog called Ted by failing to obtain professional veterinary care for injuries to the dog’s lip and chin
Causing unnecessary suffering to a terrier by failing to obtain professional veterinary care for injuries to the dog’s chin area
Causing unnecessary suffering to a boar by causing the said animal to be attacked by dogs and by stabbing the said animal with a knife
Causing unnecessary suffering to terrier called Brock by failing to obtain professional veterinary care for injuries to the dog’s neck area
Two other charges of causing unnecessary suffering to a boar, by causing the animal to be attacked by dogs
Cyle Jones
Jones admitted two charges of unnecessary cruelty to animals, relating to two dogs that were injured.
He was given a custodial sentence because he was not allowed to keep dogs, having been previously convicted of having a dog dangerously out of control.
Tomas Young
In their defence, the men said they had grown up with countryside pursuits.
There was no mitigation, said the judge, as far as he could see.
“The absence of remorse was obvious,” he said.
Chief inspector Ian Briggs, from the RSPCA’s special operations unit, said: “The RSPCA’s special operations unit has to investigate some truly gruesome acts on animals. But the prolific nature of these horrific crimes are some of the worst I – and my inspectors – have ever had the displeasure of witnessing.
“This barbaric, deliberate and calculated torture has caused wildlife and dogs to suffer immeasurably, solely for the sadistic pleasure of a handful of depraved individuals.
“BBC Wales’ initial work on this case was very important, and firmly in the public interest – paving the way for the RSPCA to undertake this investigation and bring these perpetrators to justice.
“Sadly, people who enjoy inflicting such pain and suffering on wildlife continue to offend in Wales. The RSPCA will not rest in bringing people like these to justice.
“As well as BBC Wales, we’d also like to thank the police forces who assisted us on this case – Gwent Police, South Wales Police, Dyfed Powys and Gloucestershire Police.”
Sentencing: Ryan Harrison was jailed for 22 weeks, Tomas Young got 20 weeks and Cyle Jones was given 18 weeks. All three defendants were banned from keeping dogs for life.
CONVICTED (2018) | James ‘Jim’ Gray, born 04/06/1980, of Woodlands, Newbridge-on-Wye, Builth Wells, Powys LD2 3SB – starved terrier dog Storm to emaciation
Jim Gray
Stoner Gray, whose social media posts are filled with self-pity and despair about his self-inflicted shit life, was banned from keeping animals for five years after he starved four-year-old Storm to the point that “every vertebrae” could be felt under the animal’s shaggy coat.
When Storm was given a bowl of food after his rescue by the RSPCA, he was so hungry he ate it in eight seconds.
On Wednesday 18/07/2018, Gray was sentenced at Merthyr Tydfil magistrates court after pleading guilty to an offence of causing unnecessary suffering to Storm.
The court heard that on examination by a vet, Storm was found to be emaciated and is believed to have been suffering for at least two weeks.
RSPCA inspector Izzi Hignell rescued Storm from the rural location in December 2017 after the animal charity received a call about concerns for the dog’s welfare.
Inspector Hignell said: “Storm is a shaggy dog so it wasn’t immediately obvious that he was so skinny but as soon as I felt him I could feel every single vertebrae under his coat. He was a skeleton.”
Storm was taken to a vet to be examined and while there, he was given a bowl of food. He was so hungry that he ate it in eight seconds.
“Storm was failed in every way,” said Inspector Hignell. “He was left on his own for long periods of time and he was not given regular food. He had been completely neglected.”
Since being in the RSPCA’s care, Storm has put on weight and is now looking healthy.
“He is a lovely dog and he is doing amazing now,” added Inspector Hignell.
Sentence: 12-month community order; £300 costs. Five-year ban on keeping animals (expires July 2023).
#MostEvil | Kimberley Georgina Dixon aka Kimberley Roberts, born 13 November 1994, and Calum Scott Jones, born 20 March 1992, previously of Heol Bowys, Llanfair Caereinion, Welshpool – starved their two dogs to death over a month
Dixon and Jones pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the dogs, a Labrador named Bronson and a German Shepherd named Kiara, by failing to provide them with an adequate diet and a suitable environment.
Mr Huw Wyn Williams, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, told the court the dogs had been starved for a month and locked in a utility room.
Concerns were first raised by Social Services in July 2015, which prompted RSPCA Inspector Lewis to visit the couple’s home.
Inspector Lewis noted the dogs were thin. The dog food brand was changed and by September 2015 the animals had gained weight.
Victim: Kiara was said to be “a picky eater”.
However, further concerns from Social Services were followed by reports on December 18, 2015, that the dogs had died and were buried in the garden.
The couple claimed the dogs were perfectly well the day before.
After an exhumation order was granted, the dogs were sent to Liverpool University for examination.
A post mortem stated there was no residual fat on the two pets.
Three days after their death, Bronson, who should had been 25 to 30kg, weighed 8.1kg.
Kiara should have weighed 30 to 40kg, but weighed just 11.6kg.
Victim Bronson as a puppy with Calum Jones
In the opinion of the vet, the animals would not have been able to stand, or would have found it very difficult, describing them as little more than skeletons.
The vet’s report also said the dogs would have collapsed 48 hours prior to their death, having not had nutrition for four weeks.
In interview the couple described Kiara as a “picky eater” and claimed that Bronson rushed through his food before throwing up.
“Picky eater” Kiara before her owners decided to starve her to death.
Owain Jones, defending the couple, told magistrates three reasons for them not to be jailed.
He said they took full responsibility and accepted they were “grossly negligent on many levels”.
Mr Jones also said they were badly upset, after failing to juggle looking after children and the dogs.
The defendants suffered with anxiety, Dixon also with depression, and Mr Jones described the couple as vulnerable and unable to cope.
Mr Jones also told magistrates he hoped they put a suspended sentence in place for the sake of the couple’s two young children.
He asked magistrates that if they imposed an order banning the couple from owning animals, could they make an exception for birds, as the family had a pet budgie, and if they lost that it would be “too much for the children”.
Magistrates described the couple’s gross negligence as “disturbing”.
Sentencing: Dixon was given a 12-week jail term, suspended for two years and Jones eight weeks, suspended for two years. Total of £230 costs and charges each. Both were disqualified from owning animals, apart from birds, for 15 years (expires 2031).
Original newslinks removed
2018 update
Calum Scott Jones and Kimberley Georgina Dixon have separated and are both living with new partners. He still lives locally at Trembanwy, Llanfair Caereinion SY21 0DY and but she has relocated to another part of Wales. Her current address is Lower Hill Street, Blaenavon, Pontypool NP4 9EP.
CONVICTED (2008) | Simon Evans, born 4 December 1967, of Pencader, Carmarthenshire, and Peter William McGuigan, born 14 May 1970 of Moelhedog Isaf, Pontsian, Llandysul SA44 4UB – caught badger-baiting with dogs
Badger baiters Simon Evans (left) and Peter McGuigan
Evans and McGuigan went equipped with dogs, nets and tracking devices to hunt badgers in October 2006.
A nearby landowner heard a commotion and called police.
When officers arrived a limp badger was found in the mouth of a lurcher dog belonging to them and a metre-deep hole had been dug close to a badger sett.
It was claimed the men had flushed out a badger and then watched for sport as their dogs fought it.
The pair were found guilty of four out of five charges brought by the RSPCA.
Simon Evans
Sentencing the duo, district judge Mark Layton said the matters were so serious only a custodial sentence was justified.
He said the only explanation as to why they had gone badger baiting at woodland near Boncath, Pembrokeshire, on 14 October 2006 was “for some sort of enjoyment”.
But he said how anyone could enjoy such “sickening and appalling acts of cruelty” was “quite incomprehensible”.
Sentencing: six-month suspended jail sentence; 240 hours of community work. £4,000 each in costs. Banned from keeping dogs for seven years (expired April 2015).
