CONVICTED (2022) | puppy farmer and Crufts dog show judge Gareth Lawler, born c. 1965, previously of Hendy, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, but now living in the town of Monmouth – ran an illegal breeding operation where dogs were kept in awful conditions.
Shamed Kennel Club judge Gareth Lawler – who has been going to Crufts for more than 30 years – made £153,000 from puppy farming.
He was found to have bred 27 litters in just four years, with dogs selling for anywhere between £500 and £2,000 a time.
He bred and sold highly-sought after breeds including English springer spaniels, cocker spaniels, Tibetan terriers, Hungarian vizslas, longhaired dachshunds, shih tzu crosses and cockerpoos.
Carmarthenshire Council wanted to search Lawler’s home “due to the unsatisfactory conditions his own dogs were being kept in and refusal to allow officers to access areas where other dogs and puppies were housed.”
A spokesman said: “The subsequent search and online investigations by Council Officers uncovered breeding dogs and puppies being kept in poor conditions as well as evidence of large-scale unlicensed dog breeding.
“Twenty-seven litters were bred between 24th July 2016 and 22nd July 2020, 11 of which were bred in the last 12 months, despite being advised of current dog breeding regulations on more than one occasion.”
Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, said: “I would like to praise the actions of our Animal Welfare team who uncovered unlicensed dog breeding, as well as dogs being kept in unacceptable conditions during an inspection which forms part of the dog boarding licensing procedure.
“Mr Lawler is well-known on the dog show circuit, having judged English Springer Spaniels, Cocker Spaniels and Welsh Springer Spaniels at Kennel Club shows and this case indicates the importance of licenses for dog boarding and breeding, both of which are in place to protect the welfare of dogs.
“The Council is committed to ensuring that breeders and boarders of dogs in Carmarthenshire follow the rules that are in place which ensure that breeding dogs, their puppies and those being boarded are being kept in proper conditions”.
Lawler was ordered to repay £78,000 in three months or go to jail for 12 months. The £78,000 sum would be confiscated from Lawler under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Lawler was also fined £500 for the unlicensed breeding and was given six months to pay this. If he doesn’t a further 14 days prison sentence will be activated
Posts from Lawler’s social media accounts appear to show he is a member of the English Springer Spaniel Club of Wales, and frequently shares updates on dog competitions and judging.
CONVICTED (2022) | Ryan James Fowler, born c. 1980, of Monmow Keep, Monmouth NP25 3EX – kept 10 pet snakes in horrific conditions.
Fowler was prosecuted following an RSPCA investigation. He pleaded guilty to two animal welfare offences in that he caused unnecessary suffering to a snake – a female ‘banana spider’ type royal python – by failing to get timely and appropriate veterinary advice for its poor condition.
In a written statement, presented to the court RSPCA inspector Sophie Daniels said she found 10 snakes in Fowler’s flat.
Eight were found in a bedroom – seven of these were royal pythons and one was a boa constrictor.
She said: “All eight snakes were contained in small plastic tubs with no hide or enrichment provided.
“None of the snakes were able to stretch out to their full length and in several cases, not even half their length.
“None of the snakes had any water. The room was smelly.”
She said that all the snakes except one appeared to be underweight or dehydrated to varying degrees.
One of them was extremely thin and had a very triangular body shape and was also far less responsive than the other snakes, it was said.
In a written statement provided to the court from a veterinary surgeon, it was stated that they believed that all of the snakes apart from one were in a poor body condition.
The snakes were seized and placed in the care of the RSPCA. There has been an improvement in their condition and they will now be rehomed.
Sentencing | £1,190 in a fine, costs and a surcharge. Banned from keeping reptiles for five years (expires October 2027).
CONVICTED (2021) | Rebecca Davies, born c. 1967, of 3 Stafford Road, Caldicot NP26 5DE – left her cat to suffer with an ulcerated tumour on her leg.
Mitzi
Rebecca Davies failed to provide veterinary treatment for an ulcerated tumour on her pet cat’s leg, which eventually required amputation.
Davies pleaded guilty to the two offences, both of which concerned five-year-old tortoiseshell cat Mitzi.
She was first visited by RSPCA inspector Christine McNeil on May 6, 2020, following welfare concerns regarding Mitzi.
The inspector was told the cat, who was out, had a sore on her left hind leg, which appeared to be getting worse and was causing her to be lame.
Davies said she had no way of getting Mitzi to a vet, didn’t think they were open, and that funding was an issue.
The following day, the RSPCA arranged for Mitzi to be seen to by a vet. The vet who examined Mitzi later that morning confirmed she had a tumour of some sort and would have been suffering for at least three weeks. She said the limb would need to be amputated and tests carried out to see whether the tumour had spread.
Mitzi was given pain relief and the vet advised that the leg would need operating on in a maximum of seven to 14 days.
Inspector McNeil telephoned Davies on May 12 for an update, magistrates heard. Davies told the inspector that she had been in contact with a vet and had sent them Mitzi’s photos and notes. She was unable to provide the name of the vet she had spoken to, but thought it might be ‘Catherine’.
Subsequent calls revealed that the veterinary practice had not provided any advice regarding treatment, and could not do so without seeing Mitzi first.
Davies was reminded again of her obligations and the fact that Mitzi needed an urgent operation within a specific time frame. Davies said she was still waiting for some money that was owed to her and was trying to do everything she could to get her treatment. She denied her cat was suffering and again declined the offer of transport or signing Mitzi over into the care of the RSPCA.
Two days later, the veterinary practice that Davies claimed to have rung told inspector McNeil they did not have a vet or a nurse by the name of Catherine. On May 26, they confirmed that Mitzi had still not been seen and they had no record of her.
On June 2 inspector McNeil returned to Davies’ house, along with a police officer. By this time, Mitzi’s wound was raw, moist and bleeding, with a strong smell of infection. Davies repeated that she still had no money and was doing everything she could for her cat.
Inspector McNeil immediately took Mitzi to the same vet who had treated her in May. The mass on her leg had grown, measuring between 3 cm and 3.5 cm across, and between 6 cm and 6.5 cm long. She had lost weight and was reluctant to use the leg, which had significantly wasted away due to disuse. A successful operation to amputate her leg was carried out a few days later, and subsequent tests revealed that the tumour had not spread.
Magistrates said Davies’ lack of action amounted to gross negligence and had caused Mitzi serious harm. They said the case crossed the threshold for custody, but they were imposing a suspended sentence because of Davies’ previous good character and the effect that prison would have on her mental health.
Mitzi made a good recovery in the care of the RSPCA following her operation, but sadly was found dead in her kennel five months later.
Sentencing: 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months; £522 in costs and charges. Five-year ban on keeping all animals (expires December 2026).
#The List Karl Mark Hobday, born 06/11/1970, of 175 Newport Road, Caldicot NP26 4AE – left his pet dog in pain with chronic and severe skin disease for nearly two years.
Callous Karl Hobday failed to take his black Labrador Holly to the vet for treatment despite her suffering
Hobday failed to take black Labrador Holly a vet for treatment and the creature was in such a “shocking” condition that an RSPCA inspector at first couldn’t identify her breed.
Hobday pleaded guilty to an offence under the Animal Welfare Act when he appeared at Newport Magistrates’ Court this week.
Cruelty victim Holly has made an amazing recovery in the RSPCA’s care
Speaking after the case, RSPCA inspector Sophie Daniels said: “This dog was suffering for many months with chronic conditions which left her skin so raw, sore and thickened.
“The court heard she had suffered because her owner had not sought veterinary care, which is heartbreaking and means her suffering could have been easily avoided.
“Initially, it was very difficult to even identify the breed of this black labrador, as the skin was in such shocking condition.
“Fortunately, Holly has undergone a remarkable, heart-warming transformation in RSPCA care and has been happily rehomed. Her story is an amazing example of why the RSPCA exists.”
Sentencing: 12-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work; ordered to pay £485 costs and charges. Banned from keeping animals for five years.
#MostEvil | Matthew David Benjamin, born 18 May 1982, of Yew Tree Bungalow, Earlswood, Shirenewton, Chepstow NP16 6AN – kicked his pet dog repeatedly until he died in extreme pain and distress
Diesel was subjected to a brutal attack by his owner Matthew David Benjamin, and died in agony. The builder, who is rumoured to have previous convictions for violence, was said to be wearing steel toe-capped boots as he kicked the dog repeatedly.
The Staffordshire bull terrier, known as Diesel and estimated to be aged between one and two years old, was killed in the early hours of December 4, 2019 at the home builder Shepherd shared with housemate Phillip Moseley.
Prosecutor Paul Ricketts read the court a witness statement taken from Moseley in which he described how he had heard Benjamin walk into the property and call the dog “in a soft voice” three or four times.
The dog then ran out of the housemate’s bedroom.
“I heard Matthew and the dog go into the kitchen because I could hear two claws on the kitchen floor,” Moseley said.
“The kitchen door was closed and there was silence for a few minutes. Then suddenly I heard Matthew scream.”
He said he heard Benjamin shout “stop pissing on the f***ing floor” before the dog began to “scream and yelp”.
“I could hear every impact against the dog’s body,” he said.
Moseley said the noise was so distressing “I was sick in the bedroom because of the trauma”.
Mr Ricketts said Moseley went to the kitchen door but he was unable to push it open.
Moseley then said he heard Benjamin say: “This f***ing thing is going to die”.
“The attack felt like it lasted forever,” he said.
“I honestly believe Mathew kicked the dog more than one hundred times.”
Mr Ricketts said the police were called and Benjamin was arrested.
Moseley said: “It is so upsetting to think about the suffering the dog went through.
“It was a lovely dog and it was defenceless.”
Matthew Benjamin kept Diesel in a cage in his filthy home
Judge David Parsons heard how a vet recorded that Diesel suffered wounds to his head and shoulders and “lacerations to the face”.
The dog had died after sustaining blunt trauma to his abdomen and head.
Mr Ricketts said: “After the defendant was arrested, he told the police he had completely lost his head and that the red mist descended.”
Andrew Twomlow of Twomlows Solicitors, mitigating, said his client entered his guilty plea on the basis Diesel was kicked six or seven times, which was accepted by the court. In his probation report, the defendant said he was stressed at the time of the attack and was “gutted” adding that “the dog didn’t deserve to die”.
The court was told that the case had attracted considerable interest on social media.
Scene of devastation: Benjamin’s kitchen following his cruel attack on his dog
Mr Twomlow told the judge: “The public outrage is understandable. The defendant has had his property and car damaged.
“He has been subject to a degree of vilification.”
The court heard Benjamin had only had Diesel for five weeks after being given the dog by a friend and didn’t know to train him. The defendant said his new pet had destroyed his house and his property but added that the dog could be “quite pleasant” and had taken it to work with him.
Benjamin, who is said to regularly take cocaine, has been jailed for just 17 weeks for killing a defenceless dog
Mr Twomlow said Benjamin owned a “successful business” called Honey Badger Construction and Plant Hire Ltd and had at one point employed 20 people. He currently trades under the name M. Benjamin Building Services.
Judge Parson told the defendant: “This was a cowardly and vicious attack on a harmless animal and you showed no empathy for its suffering.”
Sentencing: jailed for 17 weeks; £122 surcharge. Banned from keeping animals for life.
Benjamin was jailed for nine months after he pleaded guilty to a dangerous driving charge.
Update 31 January 2022
Matthew Benjamin was sent to prison again after setting fire to a family’s garage and taking a crowbar to their BMW.
Benjamin pleaded guilty to arson, burglary, criminal damage, drink-driving and driving while banned.
He admitted he had been behind the wheel despite being banned four months earlier for a dangerous driving offence.
Benjamin denied deliberately starting the fire — or knowing how it started — but admitted he had a smoke in the garage, telling police: “I remember it being my last fag and I dropped the fag butt down.”
The burglary and criminal damage cost the family £1,254. Benjamin has nine previous offences – including criminal damage with reckless endangerment of life and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal. The defendant was remanded in jail in September 2021 following his latest crimes.
Karl Williams, mitigating, said: “Alcohol misuse appears to underpin the offending behaviour. He now acknowledges this is a problem for him. His parents remain supportive. He has accommodation to rent from them upon his release.”
Mr Williams said his client had been drinking 10 to 15 pints a day while working from 6am until 7pm seven days a week in the run-up to the crime spree.
He said Benjamin had experienced difficulties in recent years, adding: “He separated from his ex-partner who was then murdered in 2017 by her partner who then immediately killed himself. There was also a bankruptcy in 2018.”
The barrister said Benjamin had earned praise from HMP Swansea over the last five months for being “eager to learn” on a painting, tiling and plumbing course. He asked the judge to allow Benjamin to be released with a suspended sentence.
Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke noted Benjamin had told his probation officer that a friend was “holding £40,000 for him”. She said: “It is surprising he has so much money given his long history of financial problems.”
Mr Williams then spoke to his client for around a minute before telling the judge there must have been a “typographical error” from the probation officer and that Benjamin was in fact only owed £4,000 by his friend.
The judge rejected the barrister’s request for a suspended sentence. She said Benjamin had carried out a “revenge attack” with a significant impact on the victims.
She sentenced him to a year and 10 months in jail and a driving ban lasting three years and 11 months. Benjamin must also pay the victims £1,254 in compensation.
CONVICTED (2019) | Lisa Maria Rayner, born 29 January 1982, of Pontnewydd Walk, Cwmbran NP44 – failed to feed her pet shih-tzu a proper diet, leading to him becoming emaciated.
Rayner pleaded guilty to one animal welfare offence in relation to a shih-tzu type dog named Buster, who was found to be in an emaciated condition.
RSPCA inspector Izzi Hignell said: “When I found this poor little guy he was in an emaciated condition. He looked thin but as he is really fluffy you can’t really tell how bad his condition was. But when I felt him he was skeletal to touch. He weighed just 4.85 kilos. There was just no excuse for leaving him in this poor condition.
Buster transformed in the care of the RSPCA
“Since he has been fed appropriately and has been wormed he has put on weight and is now around double the size and is looking really healthy. He is such a lovely little dog and now following this outcome of this case, he will soon be made available for rehoming. He now weighs a healthy 8.950 kilos.
Sentencing: ordered to pay £600. Deprivation order for Buster. Banned from keeping animals for just three years (expired June 2022).
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) | Kathleen Davidson, born 06/10/1953, of Newport Road, Caldicot NP26 4AE – for the mistreatment of several horses and a dog
Some of the animals suffering while under the care of Kathleen Davidson of Caldicot
On Monday 02/07/2018 Davidson pleaded guilty to three offences of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
They were that she caused unnecessary suffering to a chestnut gelding called Zorro and a chestnut mare called Cassie by failing to address the cause of their poor body condition, weight loss and ailments, did not provide a suitable environment and diet including access to fresh drinking water to 11 horses and also caused unnecessary suffering to a black terrier type dog named Millie by failing to address her poor body condition.
When RSPCA inspector Emma Smith attended the location in Magor in December 2017 she found 11 horses in conditions that were not suitable. Between then and January RSPCA inspectors issued multiple warning notices. When they attended they always found a group of horses which were locked in a barn without food and water and others were loose outside and were close to a hazardous river.
Sadly, despite these warnings, and offers of help and guidance, the situation did not improve and at the end of January, RSPCA inspectors attended with a vet, who confirmed that it was not suitable for the horses to be there and the horses were removed.
Cassie was found to be very skinny with arthritis and Zorro was found to be thin and had an infected sheath – which is the area around his genitals.
A few days later a call came into the RSPCA reporting concerns of a dog at Davidson’s home and officers attended her address. They found Millie who was thin, had a skin condition, and a urine infection.
Inspector Smith said: “This was a classic example of someone who had taken on too much, and did not have the time or resources to care for their animals properly.
“It is frustrating as she was given lots of opportunities to turn things around and to make things right and we offered our assistance to help her reduce her animals. But she chose not to and we were left with no option than to remove the animals for their safety. It was a hazardous situation as it had been reported that horses had previously drowned in the river.
“Shockingly after removing the horses, a few days later we received a call to say she had a dog in a bad condition in her home. It is just a very sad situation, but there is no excuse for not caring for your animals properly.”
The 11 horses and Millie are in RSPCA care and are doing well. They will be placed into the rehoming system so they can find their forever homes.
Sentence: £832 fine plus £41 victim surcharge and £840 costs. Banned from keeping any animal for 10 years (expires July 2028).
Davidson was back in court having breached her 10-year ban on keeping animals. Following a tip-off, the RSPCA found two lurcher-type dogs at Davidson’s home. Her ban was extended by a further 10 years and she was given a curfew and ordered to pay costs and charges of £325.
We collate data on animal cruelty convictions in the UK
