CONVICTED (2024) | Bogdan Gruia (aka Bogdan Gruya), born 28 June 1990, of 178 Frodingham Road, Scunthorpe DN15 7NN – part of a group of men that stole a pregnant ewe from a farm, slit her throat and left her to bleed to death.
Roma gypsy Gruia, who came to the UK from Craiova in Romania, indicated a plea of guilty to aiding and abetting “a person unknown” to cause unnecessary suffering to a protected animal by cutting her throat and leaving her to bleed to death.
The remains of the sheep and her unborn lambs were found in an alleyway near premises in the control of Gruia, a garage owner who gave the court an alternative address of Digby Street in, Scunthorpe
The sheep had been stolen from a farm near Epworth, and subsequently slaughtered in an inhumane manner.
Gruia was found not guilty of handling stolen goods.
Three other suspects are still being sought by Humberside Police who have released images of them.
Speaking after Gruia’s conviction, PC Grant of Humberside Police’s Rural Task Force said: “This is the first conviction for an incident relating to the theft of sheep in the North Lincolnshire area since it became a local problem in 2018.
“Operation Bo Peep has been running since 2021 to tackle this issue and has, over the last three years, reduced sheep theft by 80%.
“I hope this conviction gives the farming community confidence that the police take this matter seriously and will bring offenders to justice.
“Three suspects for this incident are still outstanding, so I appeal to the public again to identify them.
“Anyone who believes they can identify the outstanding suspects can call Humberside Police on 101 and quote investigation reference 22901960470. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Sentencing | fined £769, ordered to pay a £308 victim services surcharge and £85 in costs to the Crown Prosecution Service.
CONVICTED (2024) | John Cameron Lindop, born 20 March 2000, of 7 Albion Hill, Epworth, Doncaster DN9 1HU* but with family links to Gainsborough, and Lucy Elizabeth Melrose, born 20 June 2000, of Hawthorne Road, Ferryhill DL17 9DP but originally from Gateshead – killed and burned a puppy and abused other animals in a campaign of horrific cruelty.
John Lindop and Lucy Melrose were convicted of a litany of cruelty offences against numerous animals including three dogs, one of whom was sadistically killed by one or both defendants, a chicken and a Shetland pony
John Lindop and Lucy Melrose committed a series of sickening offences against defenceless animals. These included killing a puppy and burning the remains, beating a second dog, riding a small lame pony, and setting a dog on a chicken while filming the carnage.
At the time the pair lived together in a flat in Fifth Street, Horden, County Durham.
It was said in court that the pair were in a tempestuous relationship and took out their frustrations on their pets.
Lurcher Max, who was described as subdued and withdrawn, had suffered injuries to his abdomen. He required treatment by the PDSA for muscular damage and other injuries
They appeared at Durham Crown Court on Friday 16 February 2024 and were given suspended prison sentences.
The crimes came to light following an RSPCA investigation led by Inspector Clare Wilson, which spanned two years and involved multiple animals.
The charity was first alerted to the couple in February 2022 when a member of the public contacted the RSPCA after bringing Max, a lurcher they had recently rehomed, into the PDSA Gateshead with injuries to his abdomen, and blood in his urine.
Inspector Clare Wilson said: “Max was very subdued and withdrawn, he was hanging his head and was attached to drips when I first saw him.
“I immediately noticed that his muzzle was very swollen as was his right side near his shoulder. There was blood visible in the white of his right eye too. I was told that he had been weeing blood.
“There was bruising visible on his abdomen and sheath and there were blood marks on his legs and I saw old scars on his rear legs near his feet. His nails were not scuffed as we would expect if he had been hit by a car so the vet told me that they thought he had been beaten or kicked.”
The member of the public who brought the dog into the vets had rehomed him from Melrose and Lindop the day before and she had brought the lurcher to the vets as soon as she realised he was injured.
Tally had inflammation of an ear which should have been treated by a vet
A vet report found Max had suffered blunt force trauma injuries, brought on by physical abuse.
The report said: “Max was bleeding from both nostrils which were dripping blood. He had soft tissue swelling around his left eye and bruising on his neck. He also had visible bruising and swelling on both sides of his ribs and thighs and heavy bruising on his abdomen. The injuries suffered by Max are consistent with low energy impacts, such as kicking, being hit by fists, or thrown from a few metres down or falling down the stairs.
“Out of each of these scenarios it is my opinion that being kicked is most likely due to the placement of all his injuries. In my opinion, he has been hit or kicked to the muzzle and kicked repeatedly – possibly multiple times to his abdomen as bruising and injuries were more extensive there.”
When interviewed, Melrose claimed that Lindop had, “kicked him like a football and stamped on his head.”
It was later revealed that during the investigation, the couple had hid other dogs from the RSPCA, including a lurcher called Bambi and a German Shepherd dog called Tally.
Melrose later showed these dogs to the RSPCA’s investigating officer. Tally was underweight and her right ear was crooked and inflamed with a severe ear infection.
Durham Crown Court heard how the vet found Tally suffered due to the ear condition which would have caused irritation and pain for at least 10 days or longer.
A report stated that the person responsible for Tally had failed to seek veterinary advice for her ear condition and therefore had failed in protecting her from pain and suffering.
During the investigation, Melrose’s phone was seized and found to contain shocking videos depicting more animal welfare offences. This included Bambi, a fawn coloured lurcher, being baited and set on a chicken. Lindop claimed Melrose was responsible for this but “accepted he found it funny at the time, but did not know if the chicken had died as he had gone to the chip shop”.
A video on Melrose’s phone showed her riding a lame Shetland pony called Dinky, who was much too small for her
A series of other videos on her phone showed Melrose riding a Shetland pony called Dinky who was struggling under the weight of carrying her and was clearly lame in one leg.
Analysis of the videos by a vet revealed: “The female was far too large for both the saddle and the pony and as a result her body overhangs the back and sides of the saddle. The female is carrying a whip in her right hand and trying to force the pony to trot forwards.”
The 16-second video showed her hitting the pony with a stick 10 times.
The pony tries to avoid having to move forward and only moves forward at a trot once she has been repeatedly smacked with the whip and this is due to the fear and pain of being hit. The mouth of the pony is often open due to her discomfort and the pony is visibly lame on the right forelimb.
Text messages between Lindop and his mother were also discovered in which Lindop asks “If a dog’s been hit and nearly dead am I not in the right to finish it off so it’s not in pain or does that mean I killed it?”.
With the reply: “She killed it, you put it out its misery but you would both get done as should have been done by a vet humanely.”
Lindop then replied to his mother: “Won’t find it now like coz burnt it (sic).”
The burned remains of Welsh herder puppy Hades were found on scrubland near a railway line in Horden, County Durham
The charred remains of Hades, a 12 week old Welsh Herder puppy, were also found close to a railway line in an area of scrubland in Hordon, Peterlee, where there were burnt patches on the ground and fragments of Hades’ bones were discovered by the RSPCA.
Lindop claimed in graphic detail that Melrose had killed him whilst Melrose told investigators that Lindop had “hung him from a door until he was brain dead.”
The prosecution said they were unable to say who killed Hades but the method of his death was “sadistic” and involved him being hung from a door and killed with a hammer.
Lindop, whom it was said in court is living with his family in Gainsborough in Lincolnshire, admitted two counts each of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and permitting or failing to stop unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
Melrose admitted two counts each of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, and permitting or failing to stop unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, plus one of causing an animal fight to take place by baiting a chicken with a dog.
In mitigation, the court heard how the pair had challenging backgrounds and it was felt that rehabilitation is possible, given their young age.
Philip Morley, for Lindop, said he was, “not a sophisticated man”, having had “limited education” and is thought to suffer with an undiagnosed learning difficulty.
He said despite that, he has held down a variety of jobs and, “largely kept out of trouble”.
Mr Morley said at one stage Lindop formed a relationship with Melrose which he described as “toxic” and for which there is, now, no prospect of any reconciliation.
“It was clearly an unhealthy relationship for either party and not a good environment for those animals to be kept in.
“He’s deeply sorry and ashamed for what happened.
“The relationship got on top of him and he clearly took his eye off the ball.
“Both have now moved on and he has a new life in Gainsborough, working with his step-father in roofing and window cleaning.”
Mr Morley said, ironically, Lindop has a background of looking after animals and won a number of rosettes for training dogs in his younger days,
But he added that his client does not accept responsibility for the death of Hades, for which he has shown “genuine upset and remorse.”
Aspiring Only Fans skank Melrose shows off her tacky tattoos
Katie Spence, for Melrose, said her previous employment involved working with animals, but the entire experience of what went on during her relationship with Lindop has put her off any future involvement, regardless of the punishment and bars put on her by the court.
“She is extremely remorseful for any behaviour and wishes she had dome more than she did in these circumstances (to prevent it).”
Judge Peter Armstrong also mentioned mental health issues and commented that Lindop was now in a secure relationship with a baby on the way.
He said due to their age, their immaturity, and lack of previous offences, he was “just” able to suspend the inevitable prison sentences on both defendants.
He said, given the volatile relationship the pair were involved in, “I suspect you were taking out your frustrations on these animals in your welfare.”
He said he would not try to pinpoint who was primarily responsible for, “this catalogue of most unpleasant offending.”
Speaking about the case, RSPCA Inspector Clare Wilson, said: “This has been the most challenging case of my career so far and has been extremely distressing to investigate. It is clear that many animals suffered untold pain and mental torture at the hands of these defendants and I am immensely relieved that they will not be permitted to care for animals again for a long time.”
The RSPCA said Dinky was owned by a third party and is doing better now after recovering from her mistreatment. The dogs were brought into the care of RSPCA Felledge Animal Centre in Chester-le-Street where they have now been rehomed.
Sentencing | each were given 16-month prison sentences, suspended for two years. Both will undergo 40 days of rehabilitation and Lindop was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work. Both were disqualified from keeping all animals for 15 years.
CONVICTED (2022) | Ian Anthony Bowman, born October 1972, of The Bungalow, Arties Mill Grounds, Wressle Road, Brigg DN20 9LF – kept donkeys and ponies knee-deep in mud and riddled with lice.
Ian Bowman, who works as a chef, neglected ponies and donkeys in his care and has been banned from keeping them for the next 10 years.
Bowman pleaded guilty to animal welfare offences relating to three donkeys and two Shetland ponies that he was responsible for.
Officers from three animal welfare charities found issues including overgrown hooves and donkeys repeatedly biting and scratching themselves due to lice.
The RSPCA investigated the matter in January and February 2021 alongside The Donkey Sanctuary and Bransby Horses, based in Lincoln.
Mick Flower, the deputy head of prosecutions at the RSPCA, said: “The welfare officers across the three charities discovered the three donkeys and two ponies were being kept in poor condition and had been provided with inadequate shelter.
“Some had live lice in their coats and significantly overgrown hooves with no evidence that a farrier had attended for many months.
“The animals had also not received adequate worm control or sufficient dental care.”
The charges being faced by Bowman included causing unnecessary suffering to one donkey and not ensuring that the needs of all five animals were being met.
A vet said in their witness statement: “Dental care, hoof care and endoparasite control are all part of the preventative healthcare that a responsible owner would provide to their equines.
“These are not optional extras of horse ownership and are required in order to keep the animals healthy, pain-free and to provide good welfare standards.
“This horse owner has therefore neglected most of the basic preventative health care requirements of these equines and that has ultimately caused suffering in two out of five of them.”
All of the animals were taken in by Bransby Horses and after receiving veterinary care they were slowly introduced to relevant herds.
Rachel Jenkinson, the welfare manager at Bransby Horses, added: “After they were found to be living in unsuitable conditions – knee-deep in mud and riddled with lice – and without their basic needs being met, we were keen to remove these equines as soon as possible.
“The complex needs of donkeys and ponies are completely different and were not being met in this mixed group environment.
“They are now receiving the individual care they require and are flourishing after months of hard work by our teams.”
Sentencing: ordered to pay a total of £2,330 in fines, costs and charges. Ten-year ban on owning equine animals but can appeal after five years.
CONVICTED (2022) | “sick in the head” Alfie Bradford, born c. 2003, from the village of Messingham (full address tbc) – deliberately ran his vehicle into a gaggle of geese, killing one and injuring five others.
Alfie Bradford was caught on camera after a twisted act of animal cruelty.
The sickening incident took place in the car park of Cleethorpes boating lake on Sunday 24 October 2021. At the time, local charity Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue issued an appeal for information which led to Bradford being identified and apprehended.
Originally, there were to be no criminal proceedings brought against Bradford, but following a public outcry Humberside Police decided to review the case and ultimately charged him with a number of counts.
Bradford appeared at Grimsby Magistrates Court on 12 January 2022 charged with driving without due care and attention, using a vehicle to pursue wild birds for the purpose of killing them and intentionally killing a wild bird.
Inspector Steve Peck said: “This was a cruel and selfish act which has understandably caused distress to the local community.
“I want to thank the initial caller for reporting the incident as well as the local community for their support throughout the investigation and court proceedings.
“I hope that this sends a clear message to anyone else considering harming our wildlife.”
Sentencing: ordered to pay fines totalling £1085 as well as a victim surcharge.
CONVICTED (2021) | Susan Foster, born 3 September 1961, most recently of Hazel Avenue, Crowle, Scunthorpe DN17 4LS – killed her neighbour’s family dog with poisoned meat.
Evil Susan Foster threw meat laced with antifreeze and rodenticide into her neighbour’s garden where it was eaten by German shepherd Roxy, who was euthanised after four days of vomiting.
The incident took place in June 2020 and only came to light once the dog, a German shepherd named Roxy, fell ill and became lethargic, as she was seen vomiting and not eating food properly.
A vet gave Roxy intravenous fluid therapy and antibiotics, but her condition continued to worsen. As her prognosis was considered to be very poor, she was put to sleep on humane grounds.
Meat samples from the item consumed by Roxy were preserved and analysed, and it was found that the presence of antifreeze and rodenticide was inside.
Inspector Bradshaw at the RSPCA was given footage which showed items coming over the fence into Roxy’s owner’s property, and it was also discovered that the defendant interfered with her neighbour’s security camera.
Inspector Bradshaw, said: “This was an incredibly sad case – Roxy was a beloved pet – and her owners were heartbroken by their loss.
“This act caused Roxy an immense amount of pain and suffering, and deteriorating clinical signs meant this poor dog ended up losing her life as a result.”
Sentencing: 26-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months; 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days. Ordered to pay £2,040 in court costs, £627 compensation to Roxy’s owners and a £120 victim surcharge. Disqualified from keeping all animals for 12 months (expired December 2022).
CONVICTED (2020) | Paul Whitehead, born c. 1972, of Ravendale Street South, Scunthorpe – failed to get veterinary attention for his desperately ill dog
Eight-year-old Yorkie/poodle cross Tootsie was so poorly that vets felt they would need to put her to sleep as soon as RSPCA officers brought her to them in March 2019.
Her owner, Paul Whitehead, admitted causing pain or suffering to the animal by not ensuring veterinary attention.
Rachel Taylor, prosecuting, told the court that Whitehead’s former partner alerted the RSPCA when she saw Tootsie.
RSPCA inspector Kate Burris took the dog to a vet, where it was found that her weight had gone from 7.6kg to 3.9kg.
The vet recommended the dog should be put down because she was so unwell. She had been suffering for months from a disease which prevented enzymes from digesting food.
Tootsie was excreting blood but Whitehead had not got proper treatment for the animal, even though he had tried feeding her.
Tootsie died three days after being taken to a vet and had suffered significant pain.
The RSPCA began an investigation and interviewed Whitehead. Vets who had previously cared for Tootsie said they remembered her being a “chunky” dog.
Inspectors also checked the owner’s two other dogs but they were found to be in reasonable health.
It was revealed in court the owner suffered from multiple sclerosis and had bi-polar disorder.
A report by a probation officer revealed he had been targeted by vandals who branded him a “paedo” and smashed his windows.
The report said: “He admits he did not give enough attention to the dog and he is sorry. Dogs are his life.”
For Whitehead, Peter Cruickshank said: “Mr Whitehead loves his dogs. He had loved his dog for six years. It suffered from a pancreatic disease.
“This is not a case of deliberate neglect or suffering. He accepts he did not do enough. He wishes he had done more.
“He is sorry and misses Tootsie.”
He added that Whitehead had broken up with his partner and his life was in “emotional turmoil.”
Whitehead had owned dogs for 20 years previously.
Mr Cruickshank said: “He gave well-intentioned but incompetent treatment. It is an isolated incident. He is at a low risk of harm and has a long history of happy dog ownership.
“It is a sad case. He was overwhelmed by his condition.”
Whitehead was allowed to keep his other dogs Chester and Ziggy because there was no evidence that they were being neglected.
Magistrates also said there was insufficient evidence to prevent Whitehead from looking after dogs in the future.
Sentencing: 12-month community supervision order with a 12-week curfew. Ordered to pay costs of £500.
CONVICTED (2020) | Aaron James Williamson aka Aaron-James Bagshaw, born 12 August 1999, of Westerdale Way, Grimsby DN37 9BY* – subjected a kitten to regular beatings and bit off his ear.
Self-proclaimed monster Aaron Williamson aka Aaron-James Bagshaw, a convicted cat abuser from Grimsby, Lincs
Williamson, who also uses the surname Bagshaw, was banned from owning animals for life after a court heard about his sickening catalogue of abuse against the young cat, known as Litten.
The abused kitten’s new family have said that he is doing ‘fantastic’ and is ‘absolutely adorable and really good-natured’.
The thug admitted he had lost count of how many times he had punched Litten, and said he did so whenever he was angry. He also bit the kitten’s ear multiple times, removing most of it.
Williamson admitted one offence of causing unnecessary suffering to a kitten. Sentencing William, the judge described his actions as “sickening”.
The RSPCA confirmed three kittens were rescued from Williamson’s home on September 11, 2019, following a tip-off.
RSPCA inspector Kate Burris said: “Williamson tortured this kitten. He admitted repeatedly biting Litten’s ear, which resulted in the loss of most of it, and that he had lost count of the times he had punched Litten. He said he did it when he was angry.
“District Judge Curtis said his daily abuse of small, defenceless animals who were unable to harm him and were at his mercy was sickening.
“He said that Williamson had called himself a monster in interview, and that was accurate as to how he behaved.
“We are extremely grateful to the witnesses who contacted us, and got these kittens out of this situation despite the position that put them in. It was very brave.
“I was surprised how friendly Litten was when I first met him given the abuse he had suffered, he was so affectionate and loving and was rubbing his face against mine during his veterinary examination.
“I just knew he was going to make a perfect addition to any family.
“I am so happy that he has found a fantastic new home, with people who love him and are caring for him in the way he always should have been cared for. It could have been a very different outcome for him if we hadn’t been able to intervene when we did.”
Williamson’s two other kittens found a new home together in Derbyshire.
Sentencing | 12 weeks in jail. Ordered to pay £250 costs and a £120 victim surcharge. Lifetime ban on keeping animals.
CONVICTED (2019) | for multiple cruelty charges Jodie Annabel Fairbrother (aka Jodie Lewis), born 30 September 1978, and husband Paul Jack Fairbrother, born 10 July 1969, formerly of Immingham, Lincolnshire, but now said to be living in Nar Fokak, Cyprus, with daughter Libby-Jo Fairbrother who was also initially charged.
Jodie Fairbrother ran the 4Paws boarding kennels and veterinary clinic in South Killingholme, North Lincolnshire, for three years, while husband Paul Fairbrother carried out maintenance
Mother-of-four Jodie Fairbrother, whose last known UK address was Aberdovey Drive, Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees TS16 9EZ admitted 10 offences of animal cruelty at 4Paws veterinary clinic – six of which related to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
The Fairbrothers kept dogs, cats and horses in filthy and overcrowded conditions.
Her husband, Paul Fairbrother, admitted three offences of animal cruelty, including one charge of causing unnecessary suffering to a British bulldog and two charges relating to animal welfare.
Jodie and Paul Fairbrother are now living in Cyprus
The charges were brought by the RSPCA after it conducted one of its largest raids in March 2018 at 4Paws in Killingholme, North Lincolnshire.
One of the 144 dogs rescued during a raid on 4Paws in March 2018.
More than 60 staff from multiple agencies worked throughout the day to remove 160 animals.
4Paws, which imported 4,600 dogs from overseas over a 15-month period, operated an unlicensed boarding kennels and veterinary clinic after their licence expired.
The animals were found in “abhorrent” conditions.
Some animals were left unattended in baskets and cages for up to 95 hours. Many were kept in cramped kennels with no access to food or water.
They also had untreated health conditions such as respiratory problems or ear infections and untreated wounds.
The body of a deceased dog was found at the clinic and it was later discovered the dog had distemper, a lethal viral disease.
One dog was kept in a cage for four days without food and water and then ‘euthanised’ by Fairbrother, who had no veterinary qualifications.
Three dogs had to be put to sleep and two had Brucella canisa, a serious contagious disease that can be passed onto humans. Another tested positive for distemper.
A total of 144 dogs and 16 cats were then taken in by the RSPCA and Dogs Trust.
Libby-Jo Fairbrother
Other charges against the Fairbrothers were dropped at an earlier hearing and all 17 charges were dropped against daughter Libby-Jo Fairbrother.
A former volunteer at 4Paws told the local newspaper about the horrors she had witnessed during her time there. She described how animals at the veterinary clinic were kept in “disgusting” conditions, with 10 to 15 dogs being kept in any one kennel.
Many of the animals were sick or injured and left untreated by Jodie Fairbrother.
The volunteer also said that the animals had been “living in their own filth” as the kennels were never cleaned properly, and the animals were never looked after, with around 80 new dogs arriving at the kennel every week.
They said: “I used to help out at the clinic and some of the things that I have seen were just disgusting.
“There were 10 to 15 dogs all into one pen, and just roaming about. There was not one bed for a dog.
“Thursday is delivery day, when they get usually around three vans full of dogs from Romania brought to the site. But the most horrible thing is to see them left outside the clinic, sometimes for over a day, just sitting in those vans howling.
“The animals are always getting out and running loose about the place.”
Other local residents hit out at the treatment of horses at the centre, saying they had been left in a field during the heat of the summer without food or water. Residents said they had intervened to feed the animals themselves claiming that clinic staff had informed them they were “too busy”.
Numerous other residents alleged that after speaking out about the conditions at 4Paws, they received threats.
Sentencing | Jodie Fairbrother – jailed for 18 weeks, suspended for 12 months. Paul Fairbrother – jailed for 12 weeks, suspended for 12 months. Both were ordered to pay £500 costs and a £115 victim surcharge each. Both were banned from keeping or trading in animals for five years (expires September 2024).
CONVICTED (2019) | Gavin Hardy, born 29/09/1979, of Greengate Lane, Immingham DN40 3EZ, Troy Wagstaff, born 06/03/1988, of Willow House, Willow Close, Ulceby DN39 6UR, and Arturs Grigorjevs, born 02/11/1986, of Weatherill Street, Goole DN14 6ED – relentlessly abused pigs by kicking them in the face and jabbing them with pitchforks; caught on camera slamming a gate into one animal’s head
These three men regularly subjected defenceless pigs to “gratuitous, appalling and sickening” brutality
Hardy, Wagstaff and Grigorjevs, former employees of Goxhill’s Fir Tree Farm, which is operated by Elsham Linc, all admitted causing unnecessary suffering to pigs.
The case was brought by the RSPCA following an undercover investigation by animal rights group Animal Equality.
Hidden cameras were put inside the farm and these uncovered horrific footage of abuse.
The main culprit was Troy Wagstaff, a supervisor who, ironically, was actually the farm’s designated animal welfare manager responsible for animal welfare practice.
A severely scarred pig at Fir Tree Farm
Wagstaff admitted abusing numerous pigs between April 2 and April 27, 2018, by causing unnecessary suffering through inflicting blunt force trauma and physical violence.
He denied a second charge of abusing a pig by spraying paint into its nose. The prosecution offered no evidence on that matter.
Gavin Hardy
Gavin Hardy admitted causing unnecessary suffering to two pigs at the farm through inflicting blunt force trauma, physical violence and the inappropriate use of a pitchfork between April 25 and 27, 2018.
Arturs Grigorjevs
Latvian national Arturs Grigorjevs admitted causing unnecessary suffering to four pigs through inflicting blunt force trauma, physical violence and the inappropriate use of a pitchfork,when knowing that the act was likely to have this effect.
Cameras were planted in Fir Tree Farm after suspicions that pigs were being ill-treated and these revealed pigs being subjected to horrific abuse.
The pigs’ squeals can be heard as they try to escape from the men around the pens.
Gordon Holt, prosecuting for the RSPCA, told Grimsby Magistrates’ Court that there was “repeated abuse and cruelty” to “multiple pigs”.
Wagstaff was the unit’s supervisor for nine months and had worked there since 2006.
He was the designated animal welfare manager and had monthly meetings with others about animal welfare practice.
Hardy was a stockman and had worked at the farm for about 20 years.
Grigorjevs had worked with pigs for about nine years.
Elsham Linc, which is owned by the Godfrey family, sacked the men after an investigation, saying the actions were “abhorrent behaviour that does not represent our business”.
A ticking time bomb? Gavin Hardy’s own solicitor admitted that his client was desensitised to animal suffering having worked on Godfreys’ pig farm for 20 years
Gavin Hardy had shown “no remorse”, his legal team said. His lawyers claimed he was ”desensitised” to the rearing and slaughtering of pigs after working at the farm for 20 years.
Wagstaff was described by his lawyers as “weak and foolish” but “full of remorse”.
Latvian Grigorjevs pictured outside court
The court heard Artis Grigorjevs recognised that his behaviour was unacceptable.
Sentencing: The three were given an eight-week suspended prison sentence, 100 hours’ unpaid work and were banned from working with or transporting commercial livestock indefinitely. They must each pay £500 costs and a Government-imposed £115 victims’ surcharge.
CONVICTED (2018) Amanda Louise Holmes, born 21/11/1966, of Appleby Gardens, Broughton, Brigg DN20 0BA – allowed an elderly cocker spaniel to get into such a state he had to be put to sleep
Convicted animal abuser Amanda Holmes of Brigg in Lincolnshire
Holmes, a ward sister at Scunthorpe General Hospital, appeared at Grimsby Magistrates’ Court on Friday 6 July 2018.
She pleaded guilty to one animal welfare offence of causing unnecessary suffering to her cocker spaniel Maverick by failing to investigate and address the cause of poor body condition, lameness, severely matted fur and severe periodontal disease.
Spaniel Maverick was subjected to appalling neglect by his callous owner, Amanda Holmes
Speaking after the hearing, RSPCA inspector Samantha Weston said: “When we removed poor Maverick from Holmes’ care he was in a horrendous state.
“His fur was so matted he could hardly walk and he certainly couldn’t move around comfortably. His ears were like two huge, clumps and were rock-hard with matted, dirty fur.
“He was in a terrible state with sore eyes and rotten teeth. He was also lame and very underweight.
“He was an elderly dog and vets felt like he was in such a poor condition and was so unwell that the only option was to put him to sleep.
“It was devastating that he’d been through so much pain and discomfort and we couldn’t save him.”
The RSPCA said a second dog owned by Holmes was not ordered by the court to be removed from her care due to its age.
Instead, a warning notice was issued to her by the RSPCA and her son will take responsibility for the dog’s care.
Sentence: fined £630, ordered to pay costs of £300 and a victim surcharge of £63. Five-year ban on keeping any animal (expires July 2023).
