CONVICTED (2023) | Lovelle Paharsingh,born 13 February 2003, of Heneage Road, Grimsby DN32 9NP – failed to take a kitten with an unexplained lip injury to the vet.
Paharsingh, who’s originally from the Shiregreen area of Sheffield and retains family links to the city, changed his plea from not guilty to guilty.
The charges were in relation to an unnamed black and white kitten.
Paharsingh admitted failing to care for or obtain proper veterinary care for an injury to the animal’s lip.
The condition of the kitten was not reported.
Sentencing | fined £270 and ordered to pay a victim services surcharge of £34. Banned from keeping cats for eight years,
CONVICTED (2023) | Kerri Dunstan, born c. 1988, of 27 Anderson Street, West Marsh, Grimsby DN31 2LY – failed to treat her kittens’ severe flea infestation, leading to them dying.
Mother-of-three Dunstan pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the kittens by failing to provide adequate or any parasitic control.
This failure led to the kittens becoming anaemic and subsequently dying.
One of the flea-ridden kittens found in the Grimsby home of Kerri Dunstan
Dunstan also pleaded guilty to failing to take reasonable steps to ensure the needs of the animals were met, namely by failing to provide any or adequate parasitic control, to investigate and address the cause of the kittens’ poor bodily condition and to failing to take any steps to resolve any severe flea infestation affecting the animals.
Another two kittens from the same litter had died three days before the RSPCA visited the home, while a fifth had been taken to the Blue Cross in Grimsby in a “barely responsive” state and also passed away.
Magistrates heard how an RSPCA animal rescue worker, Hannah Williams, had visited Dunstan’s home in August 2022. She found two kittens in a lethargic state and crawling with fleas. They were taken for immediate veterinary treatment, but died the following day.
In her evidence to the court, the vet who examined the two kittens rescued by the RSPCA said: “Both of them were suffering from severe anaemia with heavy flea infestation and hypothermia. They were placed in an incubator to try and raise their body temperatures and were sprayed with Fipronil and combed for fleas. They were syringe fed milk regularly and their temperature was also monitored.
“By night-time, both kittens showed some improvement in demeanour and their temperatures had risen, but still below the normal acceptable range. Monitoring continued overnight and they were both given subcutaneous fluids.”
Sadly, the kittens continued to deteriorate and could not be saved. Their mother, a three-legged black and white cat called Luna, was also removed from Dunstan’s house and taken for urgent treatment.
The kittens’ mother, Luna, was also in a poor condition but recovered in the RSPCA’s care and was rehomed
On examination, Luna was found to be underweight and also suffering from a heavy flea infestation, with scabs around her ears and neck which had been caused by constant scratching. Like the two kittens, she was seized by police under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Dunstan was on holiday at the time the kittens were seized, but said during interview that she had “used flea bombs and sprays” inside the house. She apologised for what had happened and said that she had not realised the level of care the animals required, the court heard.
Magistrates said they could not understand why she had allowed the kittens to get into such a poor state. Luna has since been rehomed by the RSPCA, and a deprivation order was also ordered by the court to protect another cat living at the property.
Sentencing | 16-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 month; costs of £500 and victim services surcharge of £154. One adult cat was surrendered to the RSPCA. Disqualified from keeping animals for ten years (expires June 2033).
CONVICTED (2022) | ultra-violent career criminal Matthew Boulter, born 2 March 1988, of Ainslie Street, Grimsby DN32 0LY – bit a police dog and assaulted an officer during arrest.
Boulter, described in 2019 as “Grimsby’s most violent man“, was arrested on the evening of 14 August 2022 after police were called to a series of incidents at a venue in Bethlehem Street, Grimsby. It is believed that Boulter assaulted two female bar staff members, a DJ and a customer.
While officers tried to detain him, Boulter punched and kicked some fencing towards one officer, causing them minor injuries.
PD Xander was dispatched to assist with the arrest, but Boulter bit him on the head and then grabbed and twisted his collar.
Humberside Police said Boulter was being arrested after assaulting three people and causing criminal damage outside the venue.
He pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency services worker, causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, assault, criminal damage and two counts of battery.
PD Xander
Det Sgt Thomas Crosfill said: “Assaulting emergency service workers is not acceptable, and our police dogs provide vital assistance to us. They are part of the police family.
“The earlier incidents occurred in a very public location and will have caused distress for the victims and passers-by. We want to ensure our towns are safe for people to live, work and visit, so I am pleased that Boulter was quickly arrested and sentenced for these offences.
“Thankfully, PD Xander quickly made a full recovery and was back at work the next day.”
In June 2019 Grimsby Live published an article on Matthew Boulter’s “career of violence from baby-faced ASBO kid to brutal street thug”, noting that he had been involved in violence or served prison time for half of his life.
His record for violence include a previous attack on a police dog in 2006 during which officers were also assaulted.
By 2014, aged 23, Boulter already had 60 convictions to his name and has continued to offend in the years since.
Boulter with Georgia Michelle
Following his latest conviction, Boulter’s current girlfriend ‘Georgia Michelle’ took to Facebook to justify his attack on PD Xander. She wrote that the police dog “attacked him and would not let go so he bit it”.
She said Boulter had sustained “puncture marks all over his stomach” during the incident, adding that “police ain’t innocent here and they wonder why people fight and resist arrest. Fkin gross behaviour.”
#MostEvil | Oliver James Vatcher, born 27 August 1998, of 89 Ainslie Street, Grimsby DN32 0LZ, and Paige Annie Smith, born 6 November 1997, of Daubney Street, Cleethorpes DN35 7NU -subjected two kittens to repeated acts of sickening violence.
Paige Smith and Ollie Vatcher were banned from keeping animals after two kittens in their care, including Simba (pictured), were found with several broken bones.
Ollie Vatcher and Paige Smith were banned from keeping animals for five years after two kittens in their care sustained multiple broken bones which caused them “significant pain and suffering.”
On November 16, 2020, the RSPCA was called to investigate after another animal charity raised concerns for one of the kittens, seven-month-old Simba.
The charity said Simba was displaying a number of injuries in a short space of time – which were consistent with non-accidental injury.
She had sustained head trauma, a broken tail, a left hind femoral fracture, three fractured ribs and a possible dislocated jaw.
On January 20, 2021, RSPCA inspector Thomas Hutton was also told by a vet at the other animal charity that Simba’s sibling Nala had been admitted with similar injuries.
The vets were concerned about the circumstances surrounding the injuries and advised that Nala had three rib fractures of different ages, a canine fracture and a femoral fracture.
The court heard that Vatcher and Smith accepted that non-accidental injuries were caused to the kittens, but claimed they had not caused them and were not aware who did. They claimed they do not believe it was each other who caused the injuries and that they “did not see” them being caused.
Both pleaded guilty to an offence of causing unnecessary suffering to two kittens by failing to prevent the infliction of multiple non-accidental injuries
Speaking after the case, RSPCA Inspector Thomas Hutton said: “The injuries sustained by both cats would have caused significant pain and suffering.
“Both kittens received treatment for their injuries and have recovered well and have since been rehomed.”
Sentencing: 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. Smith was also ordered to carry out 15 rehabilitation activity days and Vatcher 10 days. They were ordered to pay £500 each in costs and disqualified from keeping all animals for five years (expires January 2027).
CONVICTED (2022) | Michael Richard Martin, born 16 October 1984, of Hainton Avenue, Grimsby DN32 – failed to provide care and attention for two dogs kept in a filthy cage at his home.
The dogs were kept in a cage with filthy rags for bedding. English bull terrier Bella was suffering from an untreated skin condition.
Martin was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to English Bull Terrier Bella and and an American Bulldog cross called Spike.
The dogs were discovered in the appalling conditions at Martin’s previous address in Eleanor Street, East Marsh on September 3, 2019.
Both dogs needed urgent veterinary care and Bella needed her long nails trimming as she struggled to walk.
Martin was convicted following a trial in his absence of causing unnecessary suffering to Bella by failing to provide the necessary veterinary care and attention for her skin condition and for failing to provide the necessary care and attention for her ingrowing nails.
Bella’s nails curled into her pads causing her pain and discomfort and rendering her unable to walk properly.
He also caused unnecessary suffering to Spike for failing to provide veterinary care and attention for his ear infection.
Martin had denied four offences, including three of causing unnecessary suffering to his pet dogs by not getting them the medical treatment they needed.
He faced a further charge of not providing a suitable environment.
Prosecuting, Rachel Taylor said how Bella had a skin condition and her skin was red and sore looking with patches of fur loss on her legs, body and face. She was also slightly underweight.
Her nails had been cut by a vet following her removal as they were curling round and had been protruding back into her pads making it very difficult for her to walk.
Spike was very active and friendly but slightly overweight.
He had been prescribed medication for an infection in his ears upon examination by a vet, following his removal.
Spike had an untreated ear infection and was overweight.
The prosecutor said the dogs were being kept in an East Marsh flat that was untidy and dirty. A cage at the flat had old dirty rags for bedding. A vet report stated it was “completely unsuitable for these animals to be housed in.”
Both the dogs were removed from the home due to concerns for their welfare and were later signed over.
The dogs were signed over into the care of the RSPCA and have since been rehomed to new families.
In mitigation the defendant said he did not have time to look after the dogs due to work and had been let down by friends.
Sentencing: 200 hours of unpaid work over 12 months; £895 costs and charges. Disqualified from keeping all domestic pets for life.
CONVICTED (2020) | Thomas Andrew Wade, born 02/03/1993, previously of Mellor Street, Stockton-on-Tees, but as of September 2020 living in an NHS care facility in Park Avenue, Hartlepool TS26 0DZ – subjected his pet cat to prolonged torture which included putting her into a hot oven and flushing her down the toilet
Thomas Wade aka ‘Evil Tom’ most recently of Hartlepool but with links to Stockton on Tees and Grimsby
Wade claimed in court he heard voices from a WWE wrestler named Kane before launching the attack on the cat, known as Sweetie. During her ordeal, which came after she apparently “disobeyed” her twisted owner, Sweetie was put in a hot oven, flushed in a toilet, strangled with a TV cord and thrown against walls.
Wade then made disturbing voice recordings of himself where he spoke in detail about carrying out the horrific abuse and proclaimed: “No one can be more evil than myself.”
Despite the sickening cruelty, Sweetie miraculously survived the ordeal, but was hospitalised with severe third degree burns.
Wade pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal during his appearance at Teesside Magistrates’ Court.
Stuart Haywood, prosecuting, said loner Wade, who has learning difficulties and autism, received Sweetie as a gift from his sister as she thought it would be “good for him”.
The tabby was then given to Wade for a three week trial before possible adoption.
But on October 8, 2019, Wade went to his sister’s home and told her the cat “was not wanted anymore”.
Mr Haywood said his sister then went to Wade’s home where she “smelled a strong smell of burning”.
“The defendant was sitting on a settee and the cat was wet and breathing rapidly, he refused to say why,” he said.
He added that fur was then found in Wade’s oven. After more questions, Wade finally admitted what he had done, saying that it “felt good”.
His sister immediately notified the RSPCA and Sweetie was taken to a vet where she was found to be in a “terrible condition”.
She had sustained skin damage and “significant” third degree burns before being hospitalised.
The police soon became involved and Wade was arrested.
Rambling voice recordings were later discovered of Wade speaking about the abuse.
In the recordings, one of which was eight minutes long, he spoke in detail about attacking Sweetie.
In one sinister recording he said, “No one can be more evil than myself” and said he wanted to “rip out its tongue” after seeing her struggle while being “choke slammed”.
In another he referred to himself as “evil Tom”.
In police interview, Wade said he “threw her against four walls” and said he carried out the violence in part because he claimed he heard voice in his head from the WWE wrestling character, Kane, in his head.
Wade was also remorseless, telling officers “she had not suffered enough”.
He said he put the terrified cat in the oven “on high for five minutes” after throwing her against a wall and said he became infuriated at Sweetie for “disobeying” his orders for her not to go under his bed. The court heard that Wade had “no mental health” issues, but did have learning difficulties.
Matthew Agar, defending, said the incident was “shocking”, and said he “did not want to minimise” the offence.
He said it was his view Wade’s learning disability was a “contributing factor” and that he had serious concerns for him.
Mr Agar added that Wade was now aware of the severity of the offence and that he felt Wade had something like a “split-personality”.
He said that Wade had moved to Teesside from Grimsby and would “go weeks” without any other contact with people.
Sentencing Wade, district judge, Helen Cousins called him an “extremely dangerous man” and that she would liked to have “put him in prison for as long as I could”.
Sentencing: 18-week prison sentence, suspended for two years. Six months of mental health treatment. 30 rehabilitation activity days and 18-week hospital curfew. £440 costs. Banned from keeping pets for 10 years (expires 2030).
CONVICTED (2016) | Christopher Frost, born 9 October 1967 (deceased March 2021), and Gillian Webster, born 22 April 1958, formerly of Platt Street, Blackpool, and now Grimsby – failed to seek treatment for a young Jack Russell’s allergic skin condition, leaving her almost completely bald; left her behind when they moved house.
The couple failed to attend the court hearing and were found guilty in their absence of failing to stop the dog Libby’s pain and suffering. The court heard how Libby (pictured some months ago) had an allergy to fleas which could have been easily treated. Instead she ended up pulling out her own hair, ending up 80% bald.
RSPCA inspector Sarah Hayland attended the property following an anonymous tip-off but could not gain entry. She heard the dog yelping and could see Libby was suffering hair loss from her neck downwards.
A neighbour later let her in to the house and she took the dog to a local vet. Information from Libby’s microchip allowed the RSPCA to trace the owners who had gone to Grimsby. They were interviewed and Webster denied mistreating Libby and said she and Frost had made arrangements for neighbours to look after the animal whilst they were away.
Frost said that Libby had suffered from fleas and maintained the couple had got some treatment for her. The vet said that Libby’s hair loss was the result of a “long standing” flea allergy.
Following proper treatment, Libby recovered within a week.
