Tag Archives: Norfolk

Lowestoft, East Suffolk: Danny Williams

CONVICTED (2024) | violent career criminal Daniel Williams, born c. 1993, of no fixed abode but with links to multiple areas of Suffolk and Norfolk* – killed a pet cat and left another with such serious injuries she had to be put down.

Sadistic cat killer Danny Williams, who has links to various parts of Norfolk and Suffolk

Williams was sentenced to a total of four years and six months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to the following charges:

  • Two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal – 24 months’ imprisonment to run consecutively and 24 months’ imprisonment to run concurrently.
  • Intentional suffocation – 14 months’ imprisonment.
  • Threatening to disclose private sexual photographs and images with intent to cause distress – 2 months’ imprisonment to run concurrently.
  • Two counts of sending an electronic communication containing a threat – 10 months’ and 6 months’ imprisonment to run consecutively.
  • Two counts of damaging property – One month’s imprisonment for each count to run concurrently.
Sadistic cat killer Danny Williams, who has links to various parts of Norfolk and Suffolk

Early reports stated that Williams had attacked the cats with a baseball bat.

The crimes were committed during 2022 after Williams entered a property in Lowestoft.

Sadistic cat killer Danny Williams, who has links to various parts of Norfolk and Suffolk

Other incidents included smashing windows of a business in the area as well as sending threatening messages to individuals that included threatening to assault someone with a baseball bat.

Sadistic cat killer Danny Williams, who has links to various parts of Norfolk and Suffolk

Detective Constable Matthew Fox of Suffolk Police said: “Williams’ behaviour during this period was controlling, it was threatening and it was severe; culminating in the brutal attack on two defenceless and innocent animals.

“He failed to control his emotions in the most extreme manner and has caused damage to cars, buildings and businesses, but most of all he has caused untold damage to the lives of a number of people.

“Now he will have time in prison to consider the fear and pain he has put onto other people, in the knowledge that even once released, if he breaches the conditions placed on him, he will face yet further punishment.”

Sentencing | 54-month custodial sentence, 10-year restraining order. A 10-year disqualification order applicable to all animals.

Suffolk Police
Suffolk News


*Williams’ last address before his latest bout of imprisonment was Orchard Close, Boughton, King’s Lynn, Norfolk. He has links to the following areas: Dereham, Norwich, North Walsham, Lowestoft, Diss, Swaffham, Attleborough, Bungay/

Colne, Lancashire: Jamil Khan

CONVICTED (2023) | Jamil James Khan, born 1 September 1993, of 9 Mason Street, Colne BB8 9BU – subjected two kittens to multiple attacks, causing one to suffer fatal injuries.

Khan, who has links to Norwich and Bacup, Lancashire, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the kittens called Obi and Amidala, between April 1 and July 4, 2022.

The court heard how Khan took Obi to Stanley House vets where he claimed the kitten had been injured by a dog.

An examination revealed Obi had suffered fractures to his jaw and skull.

Two days later, on July 3, Khan phoned the vets again and said Obi was shallow breathing but still alive. He attended the vets within a few minutes by which time Obi had died, This time he said the kitten had been involved in a road traffic accident

The vet challenged Khan since the kitten’s injuries were not consistent with this account. Khan replied three times “I just can’t tell you’”.

The matter was referred to the police, who arrested and interviewed Khan that same day. He refused to answer any questions and responded with “no comment”.

A search of Khan’s property found another kitten, Amidala, who was handed over to the RSPCA.

She was taken to Greater Manchester Animal Hospital where it was found she had at least one fractured rib.

A post-mortem examination on Obi at the University of Liverpool found multiple fractures across his body and blood in his stomach, which shows he was alive when being subjected to the physical violence.

Joanne Daniels, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, said both animals had been subjected to blunt force trauma on multiple occasions, while Obi suffered from high energy blunt force trauma and was alive at the time.

Mitigating, Rhianydd Clement said Khan had spoken about being stressed at the time of the abuse. She said that he panicked when speaking to the vet and realised the gravity of the situation he was in, which is why he did not tell the truth.

She added Khan had taken full responsibility for his offending and he is extremely remorseful.

Khan had been studying a psychology degree at Burnley College but has abandoned his course after one year due to the prosecution case.

Sentencing, Recorder David Temkin said: “Over the course of three months you mistreated both of those cats.

“The vet pressed you on how Obi died and the police were called. You were arrested on July 3 and interviewed but provided no comment and the police searched your house.

“They found a second kitten and it was medically examined and found to have at least one rib fracture.

“Those kittens were subjected to blunt force trauma and on both occasions suffered pain from your abuse. You failed to meet their needs.

“Your behaviour was clearly violent and must have been regular. You continued until one lost its life.”

Sentencing | 18 weeks in prison suspended for 18 months; 35 rehabilitation activity requirement days; £300 fine to be paid at £30 for week. Disqualified from keeping, owning or caring for animals for 10 years.

Lancashire Telegraph

Ditchingham / Harleston, South Norfolk: James Musk and Megan Caston

CONVICTED (2023) | backyard breeders James William David Musk, born 27 November 1989, of 25 Windmill Green, Ditchingham, Bungay NR35 2QP and Megan Louise Caston, born 18 November 1995 of 2 Barley Close, Harleston IP20 9GB – for allowing illegal ear cropping.

James Musk bought a 12-week-old puppy knowing her ears had been illegally cropped. He and then girlfriend Megan Caston then failed to get treatment for the puppy's ears when they became infected.
James Musk bought a 12-week-old puppy knowing her ears had been illegally cropped. He and then girlfriend Megan Caston then failed to get treatment for the puppy’s ears when they became infected.

Musk pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering and aiding a prohibited procedure in relation to an XL Bully puppy called Ocean.

Norfolk backyard breeders James Musk and Megan Caston allowed their puppy's ears to be illegally cropped
Norfolk backyard breeders James Musk and Megan Caston allowed their puppy's ears to be illegally cropped

The backyard breeder admitted being involved in the mutilation of Ocean whom he had arranged to buy just days after her ear flaps had been cut off to make her look more menacing.

The illegal procedure, which left just a few centimetres of cartilage, led to the dog’s wounds becoming infected.

Norfolk backyard breeders James Musk and Megan Caston allowed their puppy's ears to be illegally cropped

Both Musk and Caston admitted causing unnecessary suffering after failing to provide pain relief, antibiotics or seek help from vets.

The RSPCA were called in when the dog’s plight was discovered after a police search in Ditchingham, near Bungay, on February 9, 2023,

Sara Pratt, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said photos found on Musk’s phone showed him with Ocean still with her ears shortly before buying her.

Messages exchanged with a dog breeder in Leicestershire included one stating: “I’ll speak to someone, I’ll get the ball rolling”, which Ms Pratt said was a reference to having the puppy’s ear cropped.

Other XL dogs with previously cropped ears were also discovered during the search, including another American Bully called King Kong.

Driven by profit: animal welfare evidently figures very low in the priorities of unscrupulous breeders Musk and Caston who routinely produce puppies like this one bound to suffer from major breathing difficulties

Speaking after the case RSPCA Inspector Dean Astillberry said: “Ear cropping is a horrific immoral, unnecessary and repulsive practice which has absolutely no benefits for the dogs and can cause them lifelong health, behavioural and social problems.

“This is done purely for cosmetic purposes. We would urge the public and anyone looking to buy a puppy to remember this is an illegal procedure, which has a hugely negative impacts for the dogs themselves.

“I am pleased to say Ocean is doing very well and is thriving in her foster home and we would like to thank the Norfolk police officers for all their help and support with this case.”

Norfolk backyard breeders James Musk and Megan Caston allowed their puppy's ears to be illegally cropped

A spokesperson for Norfolk police said officers had carried out a warrant under the Animal Welfare Act with the RSPCA when Ocean was seized and taken into care.

“Ocean was not microchipped, was unregistered, and had had her ears recently cut off to the base,” they added.

“Her wounds were infected and had ineffective stitching, showing the illegal practice to have been conducted without any appropriate skill or aftercare.

“Collaborative working between the police and the RSPCA led to a successful prosecution of the owners and should discourage anybody considering this procedure.”

Sentencing |
Musk: 20 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months. Banned from owning or looking after animals for 20 years.
Caston: eight-week jail sentence suspended for a year. Banned from involvement with animals for 10 years.

Eastern Daily Press

Dereham, Norfolk: Paul Comer

CONVICTED (2023) | Paul Comer, born c. 1967, of 5 St Hilda Close, Dereham NR19 2EH – allowed his pet rabbit to become so poorly he had to be put to sleep.

Bugsy had numerous health problems after being neglected by Paul Comer from Dereham, Norfolk. Image: RSPCA
Heartless Paul Comer said that Bugsy was “out of sight and was an unwanted responsibility he had acquired”

Comer pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a male lop-eared rabbit called Bugsy in that he failed to provide adequate professional veterinary care and attention for his eye infection and failed to meet his welfare needs.

Bugsy had been kept on the bottom level only of a two-tier hutch. The housing was inadequate with no bedding and was also filthy with layers of excrement.

No hay, grass or fresh food was available for the rabbit.

Bugsy had numerous health problems after being neglected by Paul Comer from Dereham, Norfolk. Image: RSPCA

A vet who examined Bugsy said in their report: “In my opinion the rabbit was suffering a great deal of pain and discomfort. This suffering could have been prevented by adequate attention and appropriate veterinary treatment.

“Moreover, the rabbit had also been caused to suffer mentally and physically due to extremely poor husbandry with its needs not being met to the extent required by good practice (inadequate diet, in particular lack of dietary fibre), lack of space to move and to express normal behaviour, as well as lack of company of its own kind (as he was kept as a solitary animal which is not appropriate for a species that is gregarious).“

Sadly, the vet took the difficult decision to euthanise Bugsy due to his poor condition.

Bugsy had numerous health problems after being neglected by Paul Comer from Dereham, Norfolk. Image: RSPCA

Speaking about the case, investigating RSPCA Inspector Emily Astillberry said: “In 18 years as an RSPCA Inspector, I have never seen a rabbit with so many obvious health problems that was still alive. He didn’t stand quite upright, his head was tilted to the right so that his right ear was touching the table, with the tip of the left ear a couple of inches off the table.

“The right eye was covered with a thick, white/yellow coloured discharge that smelled of infection and when we gently cleaned it away, the eye underneath was swollen, pink and looked extremely sore.

“All over the back of the rabbit, the fur was matted and underneath and around the back, there was a huge area of matted faeces covering his bottom and tummy towards the back.

“His ears felt firm and were tender to touch. We put him on the floor and he tried to walk across the room. He was unable to walk properly, dragging his back legs along as they slipped underneath him when he took a step. Sadly this is a case of neglect to a helpless animal who was left forgotten in awful conditions.”

In mitigation the court heard Comer had been reluctantly left with the rabbit. He said he had sought to provide his own treatment for the eye infection which had appeared to clear up. He said the rabbit had been out of sight and was an unwanted responsibility he had acquired.

Sentencing | fined £916 and ordered to pay costs of £300 plus victim surcharge. Disqualified for five years from keeping small caged animals including rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, chinchillas, mice, rats, ferrets, degus, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians (expires March 2028).

Norfolk Live
EDP24

Downham Market / King’s Lynn, Norfolk: Kathleen Townley, Mark Baylis, Zach Townley

CONVICTED (2022) | Kathleen Townley, born 12 March 1969, of Wellington House, Glebe Road, Downham Market PE38 9QN – failed to seek veterinary care for her injured cat.

Kathleen Townley was only convicted of failing to take her injured cat to the vet, but was initially charged with attempting to kill him.

Townley was charged alongside co-accused Mark Baylis of the same address, although he was cleared following a trial. Townley’s son Zach Townley, born 17 March 1999, of 14 Silver Green, Fairstead, King’s Lynn PE30 4SG, was charged with inflicting the injuries on the male tabby cat, Ozzy, but pleaded not guilty and the case against him was discontinued .

Townley with Mark Baylis, who was cleared of cruelty to Ozzy after a trial.

Townley pleaded guilty to failing to ensure Ozzy’s welfare. She pleaded not guilty to a second charge of attempting to kill the cat but this charge was also discontinued.

The court heard that RSPCA officers, acting on a tip-off about the cat, went to Townley and Baylis’s home on the morning of January 19, 2022.

Prosecutor Hugh Rowland said there were four other cats, two dogs and two corn snakes, all in apparent good condition.

After seeing Ozzy’s condition, the officers agreed with Townley that he would be signed over to the RSPCA.

Mr Rowland said: “When Inspector Kirby lifted Ozzy to place him in the cat basket, he tried to get away but couldn’t use his back legs properly.

“He was falling to one side and standing on his hocks and it was Inspector Kirby’s view that he needed to see a vet.”

The court heard that Ozzy’s apparent injury or disease was “readily observable”.

During Baylis’ trial, he admitted being jointly responsible for Ozzy but said he had denied the charge because his partner was the cat’s owner.

Baylis said he had noticed Ozzy limping “a day or two” before the RSPCA came and he intended to take him to the vet when he got paid that week.

Magistrates found Baylis not guilty, saying there was doubt over whether Ozzy needed urgent attention as the RSPCA had not examined him until the day after he was signed over to the charity.

During her sentencing hearing, Townley said she would have taken Ozzy to the vet’s but did not have enough money.

Her solicitor Ruth Johnson said: “I must stress that from the outset she has vehemently denied there was any mistreatment of the cat.”

The court heard that Townley had since rehomed all of her pets apart from two Chihuahuas.

Zach Townley was accused of inflicting the injuries on Ozzy but the RSPCA were unable to prove this.

Earlier in 2022 Zach Townley pleaded not guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, which related to inflicting a blunt force trauma and physical violence to Ozzy between January 1 and January 20, 2022.

The RSPCA also discontinued that case this week after offering no evidence.

The court heard that Ozzy’s condition improved with anti-inflammatory medicine and he has since been rehomed.

Sentencing | Townley was fined £80 and ordered to pay £100 costs and £34 victim surcharge.

Eastern Daily Press

Holt, Norfolk: Ricky McWee

CONVICTED (2022) | Ricky James McWee, born 23 November 1993, of Princess Court, Holt NR25 6BY – kept four snakes in disgusting conditions.

Ricky McWee
Ricky McWee


Reptile breeder McWee was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a reticulated python by failing to ensure the animal received care from a vet for a swelling to its mouth.

He was also convicted of two counts of failing to ensure the welfare of his four snakes. He had denied all charges.

The court heard that McWee and his ex-girlfriend Laura Graham had lived together at a flat on Cabbell Road in Cromer, Norfolk until they broke up in December 2020.

The pair of them ran a reptile breeding business from the flat named RnL Reptiles.

Laura Graham. Picture: Facebook.
Laura Graham, who describes herself in her Facebook profile as an “animal rescuer”, was a partner in the breeding business but appears to have washed her hands of any responsibility towards their care after she and McWee split.

Despite this, Graham told Hazel Stevens, prosecuting, that McWee was responsible for the snakes.

She said he was made to move out of the flat on February 17, 2021, after his dog bit her and that he was not to come back without police presence.

She told the court that she called the RSPCA on February 24 after seeing that the room where the snakes were being kept was a “pigsty”.

“I had asked him to come sort them out. He never did,” she said.

The court heard that RSPCA officer Dean Astiberry inspected the flat on February 26 and found a “very strong smell of reptile faeces, urine and rotting animals” in the bedroom where the snakes were being kept.

Their vivariums were dirty and contained faeces and old skin, he said.
In one vivarium there were two reticulated pythons in one enclosure. One of them was 12 foot long and was “dehydrated and underweight”.

The other, ten foot long, was suffering from mouth rot and was later taken to a vet but the infection was so extensive the animal needed to be euthanised.

One of the two Burmese pythons had odd breathing and no water.

The court also heard from a statement by Dillon Prest, of Swallow Aquatics in East Harling, who said conditions were “disgusting” and it was “very likely the animals had been neglected for quite some time”.

McWee told the court that he and Graham had bought the snakes together and that when he was living in the flat they were “well looked after”.

The chairperson of the bench said they realised McWee had difficulties after the break up but he had “made no alternative arrangements for the welfare of the animals”.

Sentencing: McWee was fined £100 and ordered to pay costs of £450 and a victim surcharge of £95.

North Norfolk News

Briston, Norfolk: Beverley Lowe

#MostEvil | Beverley Lowe (aka Beverley Atterbury), born 5 April 2001, of Old Post Road, Briston, Melton Constable NR24 7NB – drowned her two cats in the bath and dumped their bodies in her wheelie bin

Mother-of-one Lowe pleaded guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

The court heard how the cats – a black-and-white male called Gizmo and a tortoiseshell female called Delilah – would have suffered “fear, distress and panic” for at least four minutes when Lowe killed them in the bath at her home on October 22, 2020.

Johnathon Eales, prosecuting, said the dead cats were found wrapped in towels in a wheelie bin at Lowe’s house on October 24, after a friend of hers reported the matter.

The following day the RSPCA confiscated another cat and a pet chihuahua from Lowe.

Lowe had told authorities the cats had wandered outside when she left the door open while putting the rubbish out. She said she later found the cats with blood on them and that they had been in a road accident, so she put them in the bath to wash off the blood, and they drowned.

But an expert who investigated dismissed this claim, and said that while the cats had been through a “blunt force trauma”, the signs did not match a road accident.

Mr Eales said Lowe had no previous convictions and this was her first court appearance. He said: “This still leaves the burning question of why? Why do such a thing?”

Addressing the court, Lowe said: “I know what I did was wrong and I shouldn’t have done it. One of the witnesses kind of led me to kill the cats because she said that she would have done it after I said what had happened. Also because I was pregnant it was really stressful and it kind of led me to kill the cats anyway.”

Presiding magistrate Mary Wyndham said: “The harm was high because both cats, because of your treatment, were killed, and in a violent manner. And we’ve heard from an expert in this matter that great suffering was caused to both of these animals.”

Sentencing 18-month suspended jail sentence; costs of £728. Banned from owning pets for life.

Eastern Daily Press
Fakenham & Wells Times

King’s Lynn, Norfolk: Raimonda Burkauskaite

CONVICTED (2021) | Raimonda Burkauskaite, born c. 1985, of 20 Le Strange Avenue, King’s Lynn PE30 2PG – failed to get help for her badly injured Yorkshire terrier

Animal abuser: Raimonda Burkauskaite, a Lithuanian national based in King's Lynn, Norfolk, UK.


Yorkie Gucci had to have a leg amputated after his owner, Raimonda Burkauskaite, failed to get him veterinary treatment for a fracture.

The tiny dog was left suffering with the broken front leg for six weeks before he was taken in by the RSPCA. By then it was too late for the leg to be saved.

Animal abuser: Raimonda Burkauskaite, a Lithuanian national based in King's Lynn, Norfolk, UK. Picture: Facebook

Single mum-of-two Raimonda Burkauskaite, from Lithuania, had told police she could not afford the £1,000 bill for treatment but was told there were charities which could help.

A week later, after Burkauskaite was arrested for drink-driving at almost four times the legal limit, police noted she had still taken no action over Gucci.

She admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a dog and drink driving.

Animal abuser: Raimonda Burkauskaite, a Lithuanian national based in King's Lynn, Norfolk, UK. Picture: Facebook

Jonathan Eales, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said Burkauskaite, who had owned Gucci for eight years, didn’t know how he had suffered the fracture but the dog was seen to be yelping in pain.

He said: “Miss Burkauskaite failed to deal with that at all. The dog didn’t receive any veterinary attention for about six weeks.”

Mr Eales said: “What we find so frustrating with these offences is there is help available. Miss Burkauskaite was advised by the police officer that there was help available and she still didn’t take it.”

Animal abuser: Raimonda Burkauskaite, a Lithuanian national based in King's Lynn, Norfolk, UK. Picture: Facebook

Magistrates heard the drink-driving offence occurred on April 17 in Wisbech Road, when police saw. Burkauskaite driving with her lights on full beam at 2.30pm.

She was arrested after failing a roadside test and in custody blew 134 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath; the legal limit is 35.

Andrew Cogan, for Burkauskaite, said the drink-drive offence had occurred when she felt severely depressed and “foolishly” took her car to speak to a friend.

A new home has been found for Gucci by the RSPCA.

Sentencing: 12-month driving ban; 12-month community order with 100 hours’ unpaid work. She was ordered to pay costs of £50 to the RSPCA and £95 victim surcharge. Banned from owning a dog for five years (expires May 2026).

Eastern Daily Press

Norwich: William Mitchell, Michael Travell, George Harber

CONVICTED (2021) | travellers William Mitchell, born c. 1984, of Brooks Green Gypsy and Traveller Site, Mangreen Lane, Keswick, Norwich NR4 6US, Michael Travell, born c. 1985, of Beverley Road, Norwich, and George Harber, born c. 1995, of the travellers site in Shorthorn Road, Stratton Strawless, Norwich NR10 5NT – for hare coursing offences.

Norwich-based travellers Michael Travell (left) and George Harber were given criminal behaviour orders alongside another gypsy, William Mitchell
Norwich-based travellers Michael Travell (left) and George Harber were given criminal behaviour orders alongside another gypsy, William Mitchell after being caught setting dogs on hares.

Police officers were called to private land in Sharrington, near Melton Constable, at around 11.30pm on September 16, 2020, to reports of men with dogs.

Police arrived to discover a silver Citroen car with a dead hare inside.
Using night vision goggles, officers spotted two men with two Lurcher-type dogs hiding in the hedgerow.

Three men and a teenage boy were later questioned about the incident at Aylsham Police Investigation Centre after voluntarily attending.

The men were subsequently reported for hunting a wild mammal with dogs contrary to section 1 and 6 of the 2004 Hunting Act and summonsed to appear at court. All pleaded guilty to one count of hunting a wild mammal with dogs.

All three were each fined £500 and ordered to pay £145 costs, and a victim surcharge of £50.

The men were also given Criminal Behaviour Orders for three years. A confiscation order was made for three dogs which will now be rehomed.

The teenage boy was told no further action would be taken against him.

EDP24
Farmers Weekly

Peterborough, Cambridge: Oliver Jones

CONVICTED (2021) | Oliver Jones, born 16 October 1989, previously of Wood View Travellers Site in Leys Lane, Attleborough, Norfolk NR17 1NF and now Somerville, Peterborough PE4 5BB – for animal cruelty offences in relation to a starved foal with multiple health issues

Oliver Jones received a 20-year ban on owning horses after admitting cruelty to a mare and her foal
Oliver Jones received a 20-year ban on owning horses after admitting cruelty to a mare and her foal

Oliver Jones was given a suspended jail sentence and banned from keeping horses after severely neglecting the foal, named Hercules

Jones, who has a criminal record, was caught after trading standards officers were called to a site near Attleborough in 2019.

The court heard how the emaciated foal was among thirteen horses found in a small paddock full of muck and rubbish with no grass, after council officers, alongside World Horse Welfare, visited a site near Attleborough on 30 July 2019.

Oliver Jones received a 20-year ban on owning horses after admitting cruelty to a mare and her foal

A vet who examined the pair at the scene was so concerned they were immediately taken away for emergency treatment, with the foal suffering multiple health issues relating to nutrition, worming, basic care, and for the malformation of the foal’s legs.

Sadly, the mother of the foal had been severely affected by the neglect causing a chronic heart defect which later led to her sudden death.

Hercules went on to recover in the care of World Horse Welfare, and two years after his rescue, is now in good health and waiting to be rehomed.

Sentencing: 10 weeks in custody, suspended for 12 months. Banned from keeping horses for 20 years.

Diss Express
ITV News