CONVICTED (2024) | backyard breeders Bridget Reilly, born 15 October 1977, and Andrew Keating, born 11 September 1981, of 11 Brackenhall Road, Sheepridge, Huddersfield HD2 1EU – bred dogs without a licence.
Reilly and Keating pleaded guilty to breeding dogs without a licence, under Section 13 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
The case came to light when Kirklees Council Animal Health officers found evidence of the pair posting adverts for a range of breeds of puppies on various sales platforms.
Reilly pleaded guilty to 18 offences and was sentenced to two years’ community service and 15 days of rehabilitation activity.
She applied for a licence before attending court and is now a licensed dog breeder.
Keating pleaded guilty to 11 offences and was sentenced to 18 months’ community service and a further 25 days rehabilitation activity.
The outcome of the confiscation hearing will be heard in September 2024, which is when the financial penalties for the pair will be decided.
CONVICTED (2024) | serial domestic abuser and dangerous career criminal Arran Swift aka Arran Adey, born c. 1986, originally from Cowdenbeath, Fife but with links to the Lochend and Restalrig areas of Edinburgh and Cumbernauld in Glasgow – killed and mutilated a hamster with a hammer in a sick revenge attack against his partner.
The death of the little hamster, named Timmy, came to light after Swift sent the woman a chilling message, stating “Timmy isn’t going to survive”.
Police found the body of the animal, along with blood splatters where he had been thrown against a wall and a hammer covered in blood and hair.
The court heard that Swift carried out a litany of abuse after entering into a relationship with the woman in 2018 or 2019.
Fiscal depute Ronnie Hay detailed the abuse, including the destruction of the victim’s pet, committed after she took Swift back following a previous split.
He said: “The complainer felt sorry for him and invited him to stay with her.
“The accused’s behaviour did not vary – he began controlling what she was doing.
“He punched and kicked at walls and mirrors.
“They separated in September 2021 and she left her flat, leaving her pet hamster Timmy.
“Between September 6 and 16 telephone records showed 391 communications were made from his phone to her.
“These messages were also threatening – she received one saying ‘Timmy isn’t going to survive. Where are you?….bad move, goodbye’.”
Police went to the property and found evidence Swift was still living there – along with the grim discovery of the pet’s body.
Mr Hay continued: “They observed the deceased hamster, which appeared to have been struck off the wall.
“They contacted the SSPCA and an inspector attended and found the hamster and blood spatters on the wall.
“She saw a hammer with blood and hair on it.”
On an earlier occasion Swift trapped the woman inside her house, tied her hands together and followed her around the house – even watching as she used the toilet – and threatened to stab her.
On another occasion he hit her, resulting in her waking from unconsciousness in the bathroom.
After the woman left Swift initially, she found him inside her house. Swift had taken some important items, including jewellery and photographs, telling her he had taken “things that matter to you”.
He invited her to a Travelodge in Edinburgh with the promise of returning the items.
She texted her mother asking her to call the police as she needed help, only for Swift to beat her with a gin bottle.
Other incidents included stealing a television that had been taken in by a neighbour following delivery, making threats to kill her former partner, sending her photos to suggest he was in her local area and he stated he had put cameras in her home.
Swift, a prisoner at Edinburgh, admitted engaging in a course of conduct abusive of a partner or ex-partner at addresses in Fife, Edinburgh and Cumbernauld between October 2020 and January 2022.
Swift’s heinous crimes were so serious the case was remitted to the High Court in Dundee.
Presiding judge Lord Arthurson ruled that Swift poses a significant threat to the public should he be released from custody.
He said reports showed that Swift had “sadistic” tendencies and scored highly on a test to assess psychopathic behaviour.
He said: “You demonstrated extreme violence, controlling and somewhat sadistic behaviour towards your victim. You have used different aliases in relationships.
“When you are heavily intoxicated and in a state of inebriation you have felt the overwhelming desire to inflict serious pain on others. You have shown a lack of empathy. You have shown no anxiety about the consequences. There is an extremely high likelihood of you committing other offences and you have the capacity to cause lethal harm.
“You scored highly on the assessment for psychopathy. The risk of harm posed by you has been persistent over time. You have been violent against strangers and intimate partners.
“You have found it impossible to take responsibility for your behaviour. You have had eight previous partners and have shown concerning behaviour towards seven of them.
“You have described your own fantasies about harming others in the past. You killed your victim’s pet animal and mutilated the body. You repeatedly threatened to kill your victim and her family and burn down her house. This was sustained, coercive and controlling behaviour over 16 months.”
Lord Arthurson said: “I have concluded that the nature, gravity and pattern of offending are such as to demonstrate that your liberty will endanger the lives of the public at large.”
Swift will initially serve three years and nine months in prison but will be subjected to a lifelong restriction order meaning that only the parole board can decide if Swift can be managed in the community.
Swift was also made subject to a lifelong non-harassment order.
The court was told that Swift was already subject to two other non-harassment orders, had served 19 previous prison terms and was on a community payback order at the time of the latest offence.
Sentencing | three years and nine months in jail. Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR).
CONVICTED (2024) | Sampson Richards, born 18 August 1995, of Liberty, Lestraynes Lane, Penryn TR10 9EL – goaded his dog into chasing and attacking a deer.
Richards pleaded guilty to an offence under the Deer Act 1991 after an RSPCA investigation led to his prosecution.
The animal charity was alerted after video clips showing a dog being encouraged into chasing down and attacking the young deer were shared on a Facebook group.
The footage, which was filmed at night, shows the 13-month-old beige saluki cross lurcher named Butch biting the terrified animal and shaking him vigorously while he screams out in pain. The voice of a male, who captured the footage under torch-light, is heard encouraging the dog throughout the chase and attack.
The video closes with the person filming saying: “It’s good for you to be able to see this”.
A vet, who examined the footage as part of the RSPCA investigation, said in their statement for the court: “The duration of the video was 73 seconds long, however this would not have represented the whole duration of the incident.
“I expect that the footage was started after the person in the video had realised that his dog was in pursuit.
“When the footage ended the deer was clearly still alive. We cannot say how long before the poor creature was put out of its pain, nor what method was used for this. Hence, the incident was probably far longer than the duration of the video.
“This extremely distressful video shows the illegal coursing of a deer by a lurcher. ‘Lamping’ refers to the usage of a specialised torch to enable the pursuit. Such a light was later found at the premises of Sampson Richards.
“The dog was actively encouraged and helped to chase and attack the deer and clearly praised for his activities by the person making the video.
“The deer was terrified and afraid and suffered great pain and distress. At no time did the person try to stop the chase. No attempt was made to pull the dog off the deer whilst the person was standing right over it.
“There was no evidence that the deer was to be swiftly and humanely dispatched, in the likelihood that it was too badly injured to be taken to a vet for first aid treatment.
“We have no idea how long the total chase went on for. We have no idea how long before the deer was euthanased. We have no idea whether the person making the video let the dog kill the dog, presumably by ripping its throat apart, or whether the person shot it or cut its throat himself.
“One thing that we can be sure of is that the deer suffered terribly.
“Unlike animals such as dogs, horses, cattle and sheep, deer do not vocalise under normal circumstances, only when they are terrified or in pain or during the mating season. Thankfully it is extremely unusual to hear a deer vocalise. It is without doubt that this deer suffered terribly.”
A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: “We share our space with wildlife and need to show respect and kindness. Animals feel pain, just as we do, and we’re appealing to everyone to show care and consideration to all animals.”
The full charge against Richards read: That on or about November 21, 2022 in the vicinity of Liberty Barn, Lestraynes Lane, Penryn, Cornwall, or elsewhere within the jurisdiction, you did, while on any land, attempt to take, kill or injure any deer without the consent of the owner or occupier of the land or other lawful authority, contrary to Section 1 (2)(a) of the Deer Act 1991.
Butch was signed over into the care of the RSPCA for rehoming.
Sentencing | 12-month community order with 180 hours of unpaid work; £400 costs and £114 surcharge; forfeiture and confiscation of the lamping lamp.
CONVICTED (2024) | Lauren Hatch, born c. 1977, of Ridgewood, Shard End, Birmingham B34 6TD – kicked a police dog in the neck because he was biting her crime-prone son’s leg.
Lauren Hatch
The court heard that Hatch ‘reacted like any other mother’ after being woken up by a commotion at her home.
She also kicked out at a police officer after being placed in handcuffs for lashing out at PD Jack, who was thankfully not injured.
PD Jack was uninjured due to the protective clothing he was wearing
Prosecutor Jonathan Purser stated police were called to an incident on March 6, 2024, where someone was lying injured in the road. He said: “The defendant was present and her son tried to make off on foot. As part of him being detained a police dog was used.
“The defendant was said to have kicked the dog to the side of the head which resulted in her being arrested and she was also said to have delivered a kick to the officer who detained her, resulting in temporary pain only.”
Hatch admitted assault by beating an emergency worker and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
Hatch with son Jordan (surname tbc)
Mitigating, Shabana Sharif, defending, said her client “behaved as a result of hearing her son screaming and being bitten” adding that she had “reacted like any other mother.”
Sharif explained that Hatch had “mental health issues” and was engaging with support services.
District Judge Michelle Smith said she was “satisfied this was an isolated incident” and imposed a community order.
Sentencing | 12-month community order with 20 rehabilitation days; £40 fine and £50 compensation to the officer.
CONVICTED (2024) | illegal dog breeder Edith Nishanthy Nixon of Monkton Close, Stanhope, Ashford TN23 5ET – neglected multiple puppies in her care, leading to many dying through malnourishment.
Nixon was prosecuted under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 for illegally breeding dogs. The case was brought by Ashford Borough Council.
She was responsible for breeding at least 10 litters of Pomeranian pups between 2020 and 2022 without holding an animal activity licence for dog breeding.
She advertised her dogs through social media and also placed adverts on classified site Freeads.
After receiving a complaint from a buyer of one of the dogs, the council carried out an investigation.
Nixon admitted that a number of puppies had died due to a lack of milk, and demonstrated a lack of basic care or knowledge which could have prevented the suffering and deaths of the pups.
She failed to act promptly when the pups were first noted to be subdued and lethargic, with a lack of understanding of how to tell if pups were dehydrated.
There was also no process in place to monitor the pups’ healthy growth and food intake through regular weighing.
On 13 March 2024, Nixon pleaded guilty to the offences at Folkestone Magistrates Court.
Cllr Liz Wright, Cabinet Member for Communities and Health, said: “This case sends out a clear message that the council will not tolerate the flouting of licensing laws that regulate this sector.
“The checks, inspections, and monitoring associated with licensing help to ensure that premises are suitable for dog breeding, that the licensee is competent, and that the welfare of the dogs and pups is not compromised through the breeding activity.
“It also acts to give buyers confidence that the pets they purchase come from a reputable breeder, who is subject to routine and unannounced inspection.”
Speaking after the court case, RSPCA Kent Chief Inspector Nick Wheelhouse said: “Puppies have become a valuable commodity and, unfortunately, that has attracted people who want to exploit them in order to make profit.
“Sadly, some breeders do not prioritise the health and welfare of their dogs, and unsuspecting members of the public unknowingly buy puppies who are sick.
“We’d urge anyone who is thinking of getting a dog to consider taking on a rescue instead of buying a puppy. Anyone who is looking for a puppy can use The Puppy Contract to help them buy a happy, healthy dog.”
Sentencing | 100 hours of unpaid work; costs of £2,701.50 and victim surcharge of £114. No mention of a ban.
CONVICTED (2024) | wildlife killers Thomas Graham Michael Lloyd, born 28 December 1986, of Slaidburn Drive, Lancaster LA1 4QX; Jay Stuart Jones born 5 March 1987, of Barley Cop Lane, Lancaster LA1 2PP; and Steven Dixon, born 9 November 1983 of 63 Keswick Road, Lancaster LA1 3LF – for sadistic cruelty towards multiple deer and at least one badger.
Tom Lloyd (left) and Jay Jones were both sent to prison for serious wildlife offences
The sadistic trio were all convicted of a range of wildlife offences, including cutting a deer’s throat and restraining a deer to enable dogs to attack it.
Tom Lloyd was the ringleader of the sick gang of criminals
Tom Lloyd pleaded guilty to four offences of causing unnecessary suffering to deer and a badger, with videos showing the deer’s neck being stood on to enable dogs to attack the animal, and the deer’s throat being cut repeatedly. He was sentenced to 33 months in prison and was disqualified from keeping dogs for life.
Jay Jones pleaded guilty to one offence of causing unnecessary suffering to a deer by restraining the animal to allow dogs to attack it. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison and was disqualified from keeping dogs for six years.
Steven Dixon pleaded guilty to one offence of causing unnecessary suffering to a deer by repeatedly cutting its throat. He was sentenced to 17 months in prison which was suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to complete 20 rehabilitation days, a six-month mental health programme and 100 hours of unpaid work.
One man was caught on camera slashing a terrified deer’s throatOther videos showed dogs being set upon a badger and a deer
In February 2022, Lancashire Police seized a mobile phone from Jay Jones which revealed videos showing wildlife offences and the RSPCA were called to assist.
The charity’s Special Operations Unit (SOU) worked with police who executed warrants at premises occupied by all three defendants in May 2022.
Two dogs of the four seized from backyard breeders Tom Lloyd and Jay Jones were pregnant
Four dogs were seized: a black lurcher called Hector and a tan and white lurcher, called Chanelle from Lloyd; and a dark brindle lurcher, called Blaze, and a grey merle lurcher, called Dixie, from Jones.
Dixie and Chanelle were both pregnant and had puppies in the RSPCA’s care.
A number of videos showed the cruelty inflicted on deer and a badger.
A written statement, presented to the court in an expert witness report said: “The videos presented have been produced in darkness with the use of a lamp to illuminate the activity of a number of lurcher type dogs pursuing and attacking deer and a badger.
“Two videos indicate a male person to have repeatedly stabbed and cut the skin of the animal’s neck causing further suffering via the mechanism of pain while already being attacked by dogs.”
In one of the videos, Lloyd, who is filming, says: ‘Here we are lads, got a stag’, and shows a deer that has been caught being attacked by dogs.
Later in the video, one of the men can be seen holding the deer’s head while he cuts its throat with a knife.
RSPCA SOU officer Jason Bowles, who led the investigation, said, after sentencing: “We investigate some horrific cases and, sadly, see animals suffering truly gruesome acts at the hands of people.
“The videos in this case are yet another example of the barbaric torture that we regularly see being inflicted upon wildlife we should all be trying to protect and help.
“Sadly, people who enjoy these hideous pastimes continue to offend across the picturesque, rural countryside of England and Wales. “But the RSPCA will not rest in bringing people like these to justice.”
Tom Lloyd’s feral offspring are doomed to turn out just like their evil father
Sergeant James Pinder, who led the warrants and searches for Lancashire Police, said: “The guilty pleas in this case were entered/im after a two year-long, detailed investigation by the RSPCA and Lancashire Police’s West Division Rural Task Force. I’d firstly like to praise the thoroughness and tenacity of those investigators.
“The extremely graphic nature of the many videos recovered shocked all who worked on the case.
“I welcome the sentences imposed and hope they send a clear message to those people who would seek to commit similar offences. “I would encourage anyone with information about the illegal persecution of wildlife to report it by calling 1010, or anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Blaze, Chanelle (and her nine puppies), and Dixie (plus her seven puppies) can all now be rehomed.
Hector will remain in RSPCA care subject to a further court hearing regarding his ownership.
CONVICTED (2024) | notorious puppy farmer Eugene Daly, born 6 April 1982, of 88 Derryfubble Road, Dungannon BT71 7PW – transported very young and unwell puppies from Northern Ireland to Great Britain.
Company director Eugene Daly, operator of a dog breeding establishment (DBE) licensed for over 200 dogs by Mid-Ulster Council, was fined after admitting to a charge of ‘transporting a dog not fit for the journey’. The paperwork held by Daly was also inaccurate and fraudulent.
Daly, sole director of Hillside Kennels Ltd and Daly Transport Ltd, was prosecuted after a consignment of his puppies was stopped and examined at Belfast Port.
Puppy farmer and transporter Eugene Daly is pictured with dog groomer girlfriend Sandra Millar who is alleged to sell puppies on his behalf
The case arose as part of Operation Paws for Thought, a multi-agency initiative led by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) aimed at clamping down on the low-welfare trafficking of puppies between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
Checks carried out on exports made by Daly discovered that destination addresses held for the puppies were false.
Veterinary examination of the puppies found that some of them were not eight weeks old.
Many seemed poorly socialised, had extended tummies and a pot-bellied appearance consistent with worm infestation.
The bedding in the cages appeared wet and quite heavily soiled. This contradicted Daly’s assertion that the puppies had only been loaded less than two hours previously.
Daly pleaded guilty and was fined £400 plus £15 offender levy.
Daly’s partner is Sandra Millar of Stiloga Road, Eglish, Dungannon BT71 7QH. According to the anti puppy farming campaign group Do Better DoneDeal Millar, a dog groomer trading under the name Happy Tails, sells farmed puppies on her boyfriend’s behalf, while lying that they are home-bred.
CONVICTED (2024) | Stephen Buxton of the Breach Cottage, Breach Lane, Sudbury, Ashbourne DE6 5HH, Susan Heath of 61 Foss Road, Hilton, Derby DE65 5BJ, and Oliver Lucas of Sudbury Park, Sudbury, Ashbourne DE6 5HU – ran an unlicensed puppy farm on which 28 dogs and puppies were kept in filthy and unsanitary conditions.
Susan Heath and Stephen BuxtonOliver Lucas
In 2020 officers from South Derbyshire District Council were notified that dogs were being bred at the family home of Stephen Buxton without the necessary breeding licence. When council officers contacted Buxton, he denied this but was reminded of the legal obligations.
In 2021 council officers received intelligence that dogs were being sold on social media by owners using different names, but all based at Buxton’s address. A court warrant was obtained by the council and officers visited the premises on June 7, 2022.
A total of 28 adult dogs and pups were found in agricultural buildings at the site.
Conditions were found to be cluttered and dirty, with extensive faecal and urine contamination. The premises was infested with flies and a dead rat was sighted .
The odour in the building was described as overpowering.
All of the dogs at the site were observed to be anxious, wary and in some cases afraid of contact with humans.
Using powers granted under animal welfare legislation, council officers seized the dogs and transported them to a local kennels. Veterinary examination determined that they had all been neglected for a lengthy period
Three weeks after the warrant, all of the dogs were signed over to the legal control of the local authority.
All of the animals were returned to full health and were found permanent homes.
Following the council’s investigation, three people were charged with offences relating to unauthorised breeding of dogs and animal welfare offences. All three pleaded guilty to these offences.
Stephen Buxton admitted one offence of causing unnecessary suffering, nine offences of failing to ensure welfare and two offences of breeding without a licence. He was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 190 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £114 victim surcharge and £5,000 contribution towards the prosecution costs.
Oliver Lucas admitted two offences of causing unnecessary suffering, three offences of failing to ensure welfare and one offence of breeding without a licence. He was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 100 hours unpaid work, ordered to pay a £114 victim surcharge and £2,000 contribution to the prosecution costs.
Susan Heath pleaded guilty to breeding without a licence and was fined £180. She was also ordered to pay a £72 victim surcharge and £400 towards the prosecution costs.
District Judge Flint remarked that they had prioritised money over animal welfare and should be ashamed of the conditions in which they kept the dogs. . He held Buxton as most responsible and the chief protagonist, as it was his property and he clearly knew that he should have been licensed. The judge commented that if he had been found guilty after trial, he would have looked at sending him to prison.
CONVICTED (2024) | Richard Loveridge, born 2 December 2004, of Stonebow Road, Drakes Broughton, Pershore WR10 2AP – for kicking a cat.
Richard Loveridge
Loveridge, a traveller, admitted animal cruelty in relation to a cat named Fefe. The cat’s condition was not reported. The incident took place in Kidderminster on June 28, 2023.
The charge he admitted reads: “Cause unnecessary suffering to a protected animal – namely the cat, by an act, namely kicking, and you knew or ought reasonably to have known that the act would have that effect or be likely to do so.”
Sentencing | one-year community order with 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days; fined £40 and ordered to pay £50 in compensation and £114 victim surcharge.
