CONVICTED (2015) | former vet Oliver Fraser Lown, born c. 1985, of Main Road, Kesgrave – jailed for having sex with a dog and a horse and having “grossly offensive, disgusting or obscene” images of animals
The court heard Suffolk Police were called to Lown’s home – a converted garage at his parents’ house – following an assault allegation by his now ex-girlfriend.
Officers took no further action over the claim, but they did confiscate computer equipment and found seven videos featuring bestiality.
Lown had a previous conviction for possessing similar images featuring animals for which he was sentenced to a 12-month conditional discharge by Northallerton magistrates in North Yorkshire in 2012.
He was struck off the UK professional register in 2014 by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) following a disciplinary hearing into his previous offences.
Sentencing Lown, Celia Dawson, JP, said pre-sentence reports showed he had a “lack of remorse” and had tried to justify his offences.
He used to be a drummer in punk rock band The 4130s but was kicked out after his conviction for animal rape.
Update February 2021
On Tuesday 9 February 2021 the Irish Times reported that Lown, now living in Letterkenny, Ireland, faces extradition back to the UK where he faces multiple charges of sexual activity with animals and of having extreme pornographic material.
The report states that 1,219 extreme pornographic images were recovered from the hard drive of Lown’s laptop after his arrest on April 4th, 2019 as well as 3,512 extreme pornographic videos.
Lown is charged with sexual offences involving animals, making indecent photographs of children and possessing extreme pornographic images. He is also accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice and possession of heroin.
CONVICTED (2015) | Samuel Paul Healey, born 12 August 1987, of Graham House, Timperley Gardens, Redhill RH1 2BQ – subjected a young mastiff to repeated beatings, resulting in her death from extensive injuries
Healey punched and kicked the two-and-a-half year old female tan mastiff, called Puppy leaving her suffering from blunt force trauma. Her injuries were so bad that vets had no choice but to put her down.
Following the sentencing, RSPCA Inspector Robert Jackson said: “This was a hugely distressing case. A post-mortem showed Puppy suffered extensive injuries caused by blunt trauma used with considerable force.
“The vet said this caused extensive suffering. Puppy did not die quickly.
“The defendant has anger issues and said he was in a rage and very frustrated. He was very penitent afterwards and is seeking treatment for his anger management issues.”
Sentence: 12 weeks in prison, suspended for two years; 100 hours of unpaid work; £500 costs. Banned from keeping animals for ten years (expires January 2025).
CONVICTED (2014) | Barry John Garside-Neville, born 12 July 1984, most recently of Hall Farm Road, Gayton, King’s Lynn PE32 1RB – kicked and burned a Staffordshire Bull Terrier with cigarettes
In May 2014 Barry Garside-Neville, who has a string of previous criminal convictions for shop lifting and drug possession, was found guilty of subjecting a Staffy named Ruby to physical trauma.
The court heard how Garside-Neville picked up the dog and threw her against a wall “so the dog dropped to the floor”.
He then kicked the animal and also blew into her nose, which could have potentially suffocated her.
Police seized Ruby on 21June 2013.
In an interview with the RSPCA Garside-Neville said he had “given the dog a little tap on the arse after she pissed on the sofa“.
When Ruby was examined, she was also found to have a “severe skin condition” which caused alopecia and would have left the animal “very itchy”. They also found a recent cigarette burn on Ruby’s muzzle and a similar lesion on her shoulder.
Sentencing | jailed for four months. Banned from owning animals for life.
CONVICTED (2014) | Matthew Coffin aka Matthew Jones, born 11 September 1986 and as of 2022 living in Ennerdale Road, Redbridge, Southampton SO18 2EQ – swung a cat by her tail like a yoyo.
2022 photo of Matthew Coffin, who also goes by the names Matthew Jones and Matthew Davies.
Coffin was at his then home in Vanguard Road, Townhill Park, Southampton, with his girlfriend, Emma Davies, when the abuse to the cat, Daisy, was first seen by visiting friends. When they returned the following day they witnessed even more.
Distressed by what they saw, they filmed it on a mobile phone before alerting the RSPCA.
The clip showed Coffin grinning as he grabbed Daisy and bounced her around like a yo-yo while sitting with Davies (who did nothing to intervene) on the sofa in their flat.
Prosecutor Sarah Wheadon told the court: “In a vet’s opinion, suffering was caused for the period she was bounced and swung by her tail and this suffering was unnecessary.
“If it had continued as shown it is very likely she would have sustained injury. A responsible owner would realise that treating Daisy in this way was totally inappropriate.”
The court heard how Daisy and another cat, Charlie, were quickly removed from Coffin’s care.
Coffin pleaded guilty to two cases of causing unnecessary suffering to the animal.
In mitigation, the court heard Coffin, unemployed, had accepted he should not have done it and regretted his actions. He was also apparently undergoing mental health assessment for recent depression and blackouts.
Victim Daisy suffered no long-term effects from the abuse inflicted on her by sick Matthew Coffin.
RSPCA Inspector Penny Baker, who removed the cats with police officers, welcomed the sentence.
Inspector Baker said: “The video, taken by Coffin’s friend, clearly shows him swinging the cat by its tail on several occasions.
“He said his young nephew was coming to stay and pulled cats tails so he was getting Daisy used to it.
“This is a terribly heartless thing to do and I was shocked when I saw the video of him pulling her up and down several times.
“What makes it worse is that he had done this the previous day and was happy to repeat it.
“I am very pleased with the sentence as it shows how seriously magistrates took the offence he committed, which was clearly a deliberate act.”
Vets X-rayed ‘timid’ Daisy and found no lasting damage, Inspector Baker said.
Inspector Baker added: “I found poor Daisy very timid, but since she has been in our care she’s become a lot more friendly.
“Had this mistreatment gone on as she grew and got much bigger, there’s a far stronger chance she could have been badly injured.
“Coffin lifted Daisy up entirely by her tail, and the weight of this could have really hurt her.
“He admitted in court that he was basically showing off.”
Sentencing | 12-month community order with 150 hours of unpaid work. Banned from keeping any animals for 10 years (expires January 2024).
CONVICTED (2013) | Richard Canlin, born 24 August 1978, previously of Clay Cross, Derbyshire and as of 2018 of Elnor Street, Langley Mill, Nottingham – battered one dog to death in a series of vicious attacks and seriously injured another months later.
Canlin, who went on to be convicted of murder, subjected Staffy-type dogs Leyla and Daisy to ferocious beatings.
He initially denied causing the dogs’ severe injuries and claimed they had been involved in a road traffic accident.
But a vet said the injuries had been deliberately inflicted and Canlin later admitted five charges, during a hearing at Chesterfield Magistrates Court on May 1, 2013.
Daisy died a horrific death after enduring months of vicious brutality at the hands of her owner Richard Canlin
The body of Daisy was found in a holdall in Canlin’s cellar in 2012. She had suffered multiple head traumas and fractured ribs. It was also reported that she had been strangled. Canlin was also charged with failing to provide veterinary care for an eye injury.
Leyla had head injuries consistent with blunt force trauma
A second dog, Staffy-cross Leyla, was found four months later, cowering at the top of the stairs, suffering from head injuries.
The charges, of causing unnecessary suffering and failing to provide appropriate veterinary treatment, date from April to October 2012.
Brian Orsborn, prosecuting said the dogs had suffered deliberate blows to the head.
RSPCA inspector Nick Wheelhouse added: “This is an extremely horrific and disturbing case and it was horrendous to find the dog stuffed in a holdall and see blood on the floor.”
Felicity Clarke, defending, said Canlin suffered from psychopathic tendencies. She added: “At the age of nine or ten he was in care due to violence in the family and his parents were not able to cope with his behaviour. From that age he had been hearing voices and having blackouts.”
Ms Clark went on: “He has the lowest capacity of intelligence. 99 per cent of the population are more intelligent than him.”
Canlin said that he could not remember what had happened to the dogs but accepted he must have caused the injuries.
Sentencing:Canlin was sentenced to 23 weeks in prison and banned from keeping animals for life.
Source: Derbyshire Times (article removed)
Update | October 2020
Richard Canlin was jailed for life with a minimum of 22 years after being convicted of murdering his landlady and dumping her body in a wheelie bin.
Canlin had denied murdering Nicola Stevenson but was convicted at Hove Crown Court.
Jurors heard he carried out a “frenzied attack” on Ms Stevenson, striking her with a hammer no fewer than 11 times.
Her partially-decomposed remains were found in Lewes in November 2019.
The judge told Canlin he was “a consistent and persistent liar” who clearly had a moderate personality disorder.
Jurors heard how Ms Stevenson had emailed a police officer on 10 October, the day she was killed, asking for help because her lodger was “getting abusive”.
The judge told Canlin: “I feel that you were almost certainly jealous that she had a flat and was cared for by social services. You determined you were not going to leave.”
In a victim impact statement read to the court, Ms Stevenson’s mother Jennifer Ashby said her daughter’s death had been “an act of horror”.
Describing her daughter as feisty and determined, she said: “No parent should ever have to bury their child.”
After the hearing, Det Ch Insp Chris Friday said Ms Stevenson had allowed Canlin to stay at her flat in Stansfield Road and when she asked him to leave he took advantage of her kindness and attacked her.
He said: “He then carried on as if nothing had happened, assuming Nicola’s life, spending her money on things for himself, living in her property and telling friends she had gone away.”
#MostEvil | Jack Carling, born 30/04/1994, previously of Euston Close, Hull and more recently (2019) living at 17 Lupton Road, Sheffield S8 7NE – tortured his two dogs with daily beatings; one dog had to have an eye removed, suffered a broken hip and leg and permanent facial injury. He later died from his injuries.
Dog abuser Jack Carling from Hull and Biggie, who later died from his injuries.
Gentle Staffie Biggie was beaten so badly by his cruel owner Jack Carling that he lost an eye and was left permanently disabled. Whilst he initially seemed to be recovering, he died from his injuries just one month after Carling was jailed.
Troy Allen, who lived with Carling in Farringdon Street, west Hull, said Biggie and his other dog Sophie lived in fear of their owner.
Prosecutor Philip Brown said: “Troy said Jack would get angry with the dogs, he witnessed him beating the dogs. He said they would get into the smallest of spaces to hide from him.
“He said he would beat them every day. He didn’t let them out, they would just stay on the sofa, scared.”
Biggie and Sophie were seized by the RSPCA on January 7, 2013.
September 2020 image of vicious dog killer Jack Carling
Mr Brown said: “Vets said there was evidence of a self-healed fracture to the leg and a fracture to the hip.
“There was also an injury to an eye, which required it to be removed. That was caused by trauma.
“[Biggie] was also suffering a nasal discharge, which was treated with antibiotics but kept returning. It was causing such concern that vets decided to carry out an invasive, intensive operation to open up the nasal cavity.”
During the operation, vets noticed part of Biggie’s skull was ten times thicker than it should be. There was also damage to cartilage and tissue, which vets concluded was also the result of trauma.
Mr Brown said: “He was caused immense physical suffering by the repeated malicious trauma inflicted on him.
“He has experienced daily fear, wondering what would happen to him next. He is disabled for life. The vet says it is upsetting to think this lovely-natured dog could be subjected this degree of treatment.”
The court heard the dogs were also kept in “wholly unsuitable” living conditions, with the floor covered in urine and excrement.
When RSPCA inspector Hannah Bryer began investigating the case, Carling told her: “I don’t know who you think you are and I don’t care what you say.You won’t do anything anyway, they’re not that bad.”
Carling pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering, failing to prevent suffering from injury or disease and failing to provide a suitable living environment.
He has several previous convictions for violence.
Carling’s solicitor Michael Robinson said: “I have known Jack for many years and I am surprised at the extent of the suffering he accepts causing this animal.”
Carling had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity, he said.
Judge Rutherford said: “It is rare that I have seen a dog subjected to such acts over such a long period to of time to survive.
“The dog has been left disabled as a direct consequence. You have shown complete arrogance in the manner you have behaved towards the animal and those investigating this case.”
Just a month after his vicious owner was sentenced, Biggie very sadly succumbed to his injuries. Sentence: jailed for three months and banned from keeping animals for life.
Carling was jailed again in July 2015 after threatening his neighbour with a samurai sword. He was described in court as having “a violent streak” (original newslink, Hull Daily Mail, removed).
CONVICTED (2013) | Kalson George Abbey, born 28/09/1972, of Devon Close, Macclesfield SK10 3HB – subjected his dog to regular beatings over three months before she was rescued by a ‘posse’ of neighbours
Kalson Abbey and beaten puppy Mishka, who had blood on her coat and horrific bruising under her fur
Former soldier Kalson Abbey repeatedly whipped six-month-old Northern Inuit Mishka with a braided strap in a series of “punishment” beatings because she kept soiling his carpet.
His aggressive yells of “bad dog” and the terrified yelps of pain from the animal so distressed neighbours in the cul-de-sac where he lived that in a dramatic rescue mission they confronted Abbey on his doorstep and forced him to hand over his pet.
They took Mishka to the RSPCA, whose vets discovered savage bruising on her body.
Former soldier Abbey whipped his dog in a series of beatings. He was caught out when concerned neighbours confronted him on his doorstep
Jobless Abbey denied causing unnecessary suffering and claimed he was the victim of a “vendetta”. But he was convicted after four neighbours gave evidence.
One nearby resident who asked not to be named said yesterday: “Abbey is nothing but a cowardly bully. That dog is only tiny and a fraction of his size. It’s no wonder the neighbours had to step in to rescue her.”
The court heard Abbey had fed and walked Mishka regularly but routinely gave her severe beatings and on one occasion was seen holding the dog off the ground by dangling her from a lead around her neck.
A policeman and an RSPCA officer took Mishka into kennels after her rescue. There, a vet discovered she was suffering from “very extensive bruising and superficial lacerations with one area consistent with an injury from a braided strap or similar object”.
Prosecutor Claire Aldridge said even Abbey’s ex-girlfriend complained about his behaviour and produced a video on her iPhone in which he is heard shouting “bad dog Mishka, bad dog Mishka”.
Miss Aldridge added: “The defendant is an angry man who beats his dog and an incident caused several neighbours to attend his home.
“They acted out of concern for a puppy they felt was in need of rescuing. He inflicted repeated emotional and physical trauma. Even a healthy dog can be an abused dog.”
Abbey’s defence lawyer John Gallagher said his client had two prolapsed discs and could not have harmed the dog. He added: “My instructions are that he intends to appeal.”
But bench chairman Shelagh Mayer said: “The offence occurred over a prolonged period of time and we believe that the act was committed with intent and there was injury.’’
RSPCA officer Emma Timmis said: “We are very happy that he has been given a ban and thankfully Mishka is not going back to him.”
Sentencing: six-week custodial sentence suspended for two years. Ordered to pay £250 towards the £5,000 costs of the prosecution and Mishka’s kennel feels. Banned from keeping any animal for five years (expired March 2018).
Abbey was convicted of animal cruelty for a second time in connection with a kitten’s untreated fractures, which a vet said had been caused by ‘high energy blunt force trauma’
An investigation was launched into the welfare of kitten, called Missy, after a concerned member of the public reported Abbey to the RSPCA.
Abused kitten Missy
Abbey was visited by Inspector Jenny Bethel on January 2, 2020, who asked to see the four-month-old kitten.
Inspector Bethel could see the kitten was struggling to walk and offered to take her to the vet but Abbey refused. She advised Abbey that he must take her to a vet as soon as possible and that she would be checking if he had.
However, a few days later, on January 8, a neighbour found the injured kitten struggling outside Abbey’s property and took her to a nearby vet for treatment.
The vet was concerned about how the injuries to Missy were caused and called the RSPCA.
Inspector Andy Harris collected Missy from the vets and she was transferred to the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital for treatment where staff could see she was struggling to walk due to her injuries.
An X-ray revealed that Missy had a fractured left hip joint and two fractures of the left thigh bone. All showed various signs of bone remodelling.
A vet report stated the injuries were caused by ‘high energy blunt force trauma’ which would not have occurred in the home environment – and Abbey stated the kitten had not been outside his garden.
The vet added that injuries to the kitten were what he would expect to see in the case of a road traffic accident and said Missy would have suffered for at least 14 days as Abbey failed to get her veterinary treatment.
Missy was given pain relief but needed an urgent operation and the RSPCA returned to Abbey’s house to seek permission for this.
The hearing was told Abbey was in breach of a lifetime ban on keeping animals at the time of the offence, which was imposed in 2013 after he was convicted of another animal welfare offence.
Inspector Andy Harris said: “Missy’s leg was saved and she adapted to her disability.
“I am pleased to say that last week she was rehomed by the RSPCA Bury and Oldham district branch and is now enjoying life.”
During the interview, Abbey said he thought the kitten, which he said he found as a stray, dragged her leg because she was in-bred.
He said he intended to take the cat to the vet following the RSPCA visit but that Missy went missing before he could.
Abbey also said he thought he had been banned from keeping animals for five years [this is what was originally reported].
Abbey pleaded guilty to one animal welfare charge.
At the sentencing on November 5, 2020, Abbey was given a lifetime ban and also ordered to pay £500 costs, an £80 fine and £32 victim surcharge.
CONVICTED (2012) | farmworkers James Dove, born c. 1985, of Arundel Road, Wymondham NR18 0JE and Geoffrey Towell, born c. 1958, of White Elm Cottage, Eccles Road, Norwich NR16 2JE – for repeated acts of cruelty towards sows and piglets.
Sadistic pig abusers Geoff Towell (left) and James Dove
Geoffrey Twell pleaded guilty to five counts of cruelty to pigs and piglets by hitting five sows with a plastic pipe – one 35 times – unlawfully killing three pigs by hitting them on the head with a metal bar and using unnecessary force to handle piglets.
He also pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to protect pigs from pain and suffering by lifting pigs by the ears and dropping them from waist height.
James Dove pleaded guilty to two charges of cruelty by hitting sows with a plastic pipe and throwing pigs over a barrier and two charges of failing to protect pigs from suffering by lifting them with excessive force, lifting pigs by the ear and leg, dropping them to the ground and kicking them while moving them.
One pig farm worker was jailed and another given a suspended prison after undercover footage showed shocking cruelty at the East Harling farm
Undercover footage taken between July and September 2011 by an undercover activist from Animal Equality showed the men beating pigs on Harling Farm in Thetford.
Sentencing the defendants, District Judge Peter Veits said Towell had acted with “no care” and although Dove had played a “lesser” role, his behaviour was “abysmal”.
“These are amongst the worst cases of cruelty I’ve seen,” he added.
Speaking in mitigation of Towell, Jamieson Plummer told the court his client was under pressure while working at the farm.
“There were 300 pigs there and he asked the owner [Stephen Brown who committed suicide in February 2012 after the animal cruelty came to light] for help and the help that came was the activist who had a different agenda and so he was still single-handed trying to look after the pigs,” he said.
Mitigating on behalf of Dove, Ian Fisher, said the likelihood of the defendant re-offending was “microscopic”.
“Public shaming brings with it its own very unusual punishment,” he added. “He wasn’t in any sort of position of control and was drawn into the situation that he had no training for and was only involved in this because of the shortcomings in the system.”
Animal welfare protesters demonstrated outside Norwich Magistrates’ Court as the men walked in, shouting “shame, shame on you” as Dove entered the court building and “scum” as Towell arrived.
A spokesman from Essex Animal Defenders said: “We think the custodial sentence for animal abuses needs to be increased.
“At the end of the day they only end up serving three or four weeks.
“When it’s farm animals the public don’t seem care as much as when it’s cats or dogs.”
“This is local so it’s caught our attention and we’re hoping for a custodial sentence because it would give out a strong message.”
Sentencing: Geoffrey Towell was imprisoned for 18 weeks and banned from working with animals for ten years (expired August 2022).
James Dove was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, suspended for one year, ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work and pay prosecution costs of £300. Dove was banned from working with farm animals for five years (expired August 2017).
CONVICTED (2012) | Jake Adderley, born 9 September 1989, and Rebecca Perkins, born 9 January 1993, at the time of Belmont Road, Brierley Hill, but with a most recent known address (2017) of Barne Close, Stourbridge DY9 7PA – for cruelty to a dog beaten so badly she had a hole in her head.
Dog killers Rebecca Perkins and Jake Adderley
The unnamed Jack Russell had to be put down due to the severity of her injuries. Vets treating the animal said they believed she had suffered a blow to the head on two occasions.
Owners Jake Adderley and Rebecca Perkins both denied causing the pet’s injuries but admitted failing to provide veterinary treatment.
The court heard the dog was taken to Water Front Veterinary Centre with a hole in her head and a fractured skull on October 28, 2011. She was struggling to stand due to brain damage.
Mr Nick Sutton, prosecuting, said: “Someone has assaulted this animal and beaten it to death.”
Perkins had taken the dog to vets on two previous occasions.
On September 27, 2011, the dog was taken to Water Front Veterinary Centre with swollen eyes and on October 14 she was taken to the PDSA with bruised eyes, swelling under the jaw and a fractured rib.
Mr Michael Davies, defending Perkins, said the couple bought the dog through the internet. He said: “On October 28 she returned from shopping trip to find that the dog was in a very poor state, the injuries were apparent.”
He added: “She accepts that she should have known that between October 19 and 28 it was quite clear there was something wrong and she should have done something about it.”
Mr John Harmshaw, defending Adderley, said: “He noticed things, but did not take action. I must add there were quite a number of other people who entered the home.”
The pair were due to be sentenced in September 2012 but the outcome was not publicly reported.
CONVICTED (2012) | Raymond Glyn Weedall, born 3 September 1950, of 97 Crook Lane, Winsford CW7 3DN – found guilty of charges relating to cockfighting and animal cruelty.
Weedall, a farrier*, was sentenced on May 18, 2012 for offences including mutilating cockerels and possessing sharpened metal spurs to attach to birds during fights.
The prosecution followed a joint RSPCA and police raid on Weedall’s home at 9am on June 8, 2011, when police seized more than £15,000 and found dozens of cockerels in Weedall’s care that had had their wattles cut off – a practice common in bird fights. They also seized cockfighting DVDs and metal spurs.
Weedall claimed the seized cash was accrued legitimately, and that he was only interested in exhibiting cockerels, but he was found guilty of ten offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Those were that on June 8 2011 at a property in Crook Lane, Winsford, he kept seven cockerels for use in animal fights, kept sets of metal spurs for use in animal fights, carried out a banned procedure on seven cockerels by removing their wattles, and failed to properly care for three polecat ferrets.
He was also found guilty that, on June 8 2011 at a smallholding in Dalesford Lane, Northwich, he failed to properly care for 59 cockerels, failed to provide suitable perching for18 cockerels, removed the wattles of 37 cockerels, and kept 37 cockerels for use in animal fights.
Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, he pleaded guilty to keeping a wild goldfinch. He was found not guilty of failing to meet the needs of a black lurcher-type dog.
The RSPCA spokesman added: “Cockfighting is a barbaric and outdated so-called sport. Birds can take up to an hour to die in a fight.
“We hope that anybody connected with cockfighting will see from this case that there are very serious repercussions.”
Sentencing | 20-week custodial sentence – suspended for two years; 150 hours of community service; six-month curfew; ordered to pay a total of £50,000. Banned from owning animals for life.
Source: Winsford Guardian (no longer available)
Update | February 2013
*Weedall was struck off by the disciplinary committee of the Farriers Registration Council after being found guilty of serious professional misconduct.
The finding was made on the grounds that Weedall had been convicted in May 2012 of various offences under the Wildlife and Countryside act 1981, the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Fire Arms Act 1968 following his prosecution by the British RSPCA.
On the direction of the committee, in the absence of an appeal, Weedall’s name was removed from the register of farriers on January 13, 2013.
This means Weedall can no longer legally carry out farriery or describe himself as a farrier, or any term which suggests he is one. For him to do so would be a criminal offence under the Act.
