CONVICTED (2024) | Daniel Glancey, born 10 July 1989, of Eighth Avenue, Blyth NE24 2QE – allowed his pet Rottweiler to become severely malnourished.
Glancey admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the eight-year-old dog, known as Xena.
His cruelty came to light after Xena was found straying and picked up by an animal welfare officer from Northumberland County Council.
Xena was picked up by the local authority animal welfare officer as a stray and taken to a vet for examination. Photo credit: Northumberland Dog Rescue
Concerned about the dog’s extremely poor condition the officer took her to a vet where she was was given a low body condition score of 2/9. She weighed just 19kg and her hip bones, ribs, spine and skull were protruding through her fur. She was weak with overgrown nails and infected eyes.
Weighing just 19kg, Xena’s hip bones, ribs, spine and skull were visibly on show. She was weak, had overgrown nails and discharge to her eyes. Photo credit: Northumberland Dog Rescue
Xena was traced to Dan Glancey after he and partner Katie White placed ‘missing dog’ posts on social media. In one post Glancey described Xena as being “a little underweight” due to illness.
The animal welfare officer called Glancey to discuss their concerns about Xena’s condition. He fed them a pack of lies about Xena being under the care of a local vet practice after being poisoned by fertiliser. He later admitted she hadn’t seen a vet blaming lack of money and vets said her appalling condition was simply due to a lack of proper nutrition and diet.
Glancey relinquished Xena to the animal welfare officer who placed her in the care of Northumberland Dog Rescue to be nursed back to health. Following her recovery, Zena was adopted and is loving life in her new home.
Sentencing | nine-week custodial sentence, reduced to six weeks for his early guilty plea, suspended for six months; ordered to pay a surcharge of £154 and costs of £300. Disqualified from keeping all animals for ten years.
CONVICTED (2023) | Margaret Stanners, born c. 1975, and Keiron Cruise, born c. 1986, of Benridge Park, Blyth NE24 4TE – for allowing two German Shepherds to become emaciated through malnourishment.
Stanners and Cruise pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the two dogs, named Buddy and Bella, who were found emaciated and infested with fleas at their home.
The court heard that Stanners had told RSPCA inspector Rachael Hurst, when she called at her property on February 27, 2023, that the dogs were “getting better” after having initially lost weight.
But the inspector said in a statement that the dogs had looked “incredibly thin” when they ran out from the back of the property to greet her.
“I could see their spine, hip bones and ribs, while across their backs they had hardly any fur. Their skin was flaky and there was a malodorous smell,” inspector Hurst told the court.
Stanners gave the inspector permission to take Buddy, who is around 10 years old, and Bella, aged eight, to see the vets.
Buddy weighed just 21.4kg (47.2lb) and a vet scored him one out of nine in a body condition rating. He had a flea infestation, an eye infection and mild anaemia.
Bella, who weighed 18.3kg (40.3lb), was also scored one out of nine in the same test. She had hair loss on her back and skin abrasions where she had been scratching due to the fleas.
The vet said in an expert report that both dogs had lost weight because of inflammatory bowel disease, but their weight would not have plummeted so low had they been fed an adequate diet. Both dogs quickly gained weight in the care of the RSPCA. In two months, Buddy put on 7.7kg (17lb) and Bella 7kg (15.4lb).
Speaking after the sentencing, inspector Hurst said: “They have both put on weight and are making progress in our care at Felledge Animal Centre, although they are not quite yet ready to be rehomed.”
Sentencing | eight-week custodial, suspended for 18 months; costs of £250 plus victim surcharge of £154. Banned from keeping animals for five years (expires August 2028).
CONVICTED (2023) | Diane Boyden aka Diane Branley, born 1 January 1964, of Ark Royal Close, Blyth NE24 4DQ – failed to get veterinary treatment for her elderly dog.
On October 15, 2022, RSPCA inspector Kirsty Keogh-Laws attended the home of Diane Boyden to investigate a welfare concerns for her 14-year-old dog, Teagan.
Emaciated Staffy Teagan was put down after being found with numerous untreated health problems
Inspector Keogh-Laws wrote in a statement: “Teagan appeared to be very underweight – I could clearly see her hips, ribs and spine. She had a large lump on her right shoulder, around the size of a tennis ball. It was hard to touch. She also had a lump on her back leg.
“Teagan appeared to be struggling to walk and appeared uncoordinated and disoriented when trying. She struggled to stand for any length of time and appeared confused.”
Boyden conceded that Teagan had not been seen by a vet for several years.
With Boyden’s permission, Inspector Keogh-Laws took Teagan to a vet, where the dog was immediately euthanised on humane grounds.
A huge lump was found on Teagan’s shoulder but she hadn’t been seen by a vet for years
In a statement the vet who assessed Teagan wrote that the dog had “extreme difficulties”, adding that she was “emaciated and with an ongoing health condition or severe starvation”, several masses on her body and possibly chronic kidney disease.
The vet added: “Having this in consideration, I would have concerns that Teagan is suffering. This could have been avoided with regular health checks that could have allowed early detection and therefore immediate action.”
Speaking about the case, Inspector Keogh-Laws said: “This is a very sad case where a dog suffered because she didn’t get the veterinary treatment she needed earlier.
“Owners should always take their pet to a vet if there are any concerns about their health to avoid them suffering unnecessarily.”
Sentencing | ordered to pay £100 costs, a £120 fine and £48 victim surcharge. 10-year ban on her keeping animals (expires March 2033).
CONVICTED (2022) | Kerry Patterson, born 24 May 1986, and Reece Milburn, born c. 1991, of 3 Weardale Avenue, Blyth NE24 5LG – starved a dog to the brink of death and left her infested with mites.
Reece Milburn and Kerry Patterson pretended they’d found lurcher Tiggy in a poor condition by the side of a road in Blyth, Northumberland, and reported it to the local authority.
Tiggy had been starved to the brink of death.
An officer who subsequently went to the pair’s home was so disgusted and shocked at the state of the animal that he described it as the “worst case he’d seen during his 15 years in the job”.
The court heard that every bone in Tiggy’s body was sticking out, she was almost hairless, majorly dehydrated, had a skin condition and was infested with mites.
The lurcher was completely skin and bone weighed less than half her ideal weight. She was also suffering from dehydration, dermatitis and skin infection with mite infestation and severe hair loss.
She was taken to the vets and, amazingly, after six weeks of intensive vet care, Tiggy recovered and gained 10kg in weight.
Northumberland County Council released an appeal to find Tiggy’s owners and discover how she came to be dumped in Blyth.
However, an investigation showed Milburn and Patterson had lied about finding her and she had been in their care for months.
Each pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal. They also pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the welfare of their Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Enzo, who also had a skin condition and mite infestation.
Daniel Bambury, prosecuting, said Milburn and Patterson contacted the council on December 3 2019 to tell them they’d taken a stray dog in that they’d found abandoned in Blyth.
Arrangements were made for an officer to visit their address to collect the animal the following day.
Tiggy and Enzo recovered in the care of BARK.
Mr Bambury continued: “On arrival, the officer was met by the defendants. He found a female lurcher curled up in the living room.
“At first, he thought the dog had died. She was emaciated, she had no hair and he could see every bone in her body.
“In his 15 years in the job, it was the worst he had ever seen. The defendants again said the dog had been found in a field at the back of the house the night before and they had brought it back to their home.
“The dog couldn’t stand or walk.”
Tiggy was taken to a local vets, where she was found to weigh just 10.85kg, had a low body temperature, a skin condition and a mite infestation.
She was given intensive treatment, a special diet and constant supervision at Berwick Animal Rescue Kennels (BARK) and gained nearly 10kg in just six weeks.
She went on to make a full recovery.
Mr Bambury said Staffy Enzo was also seized from Patterson and Milburn. He was suffering from a skin condition and a mite infestation.
Mr Bambury added: “On December 18 2019, an appeal for information went out about Tiggy.
“After this went out, numerous calls and emails were received saying the two defendants had owned Tiggy all along.”
The court heard that Milburn and Patterson had been given the lurcher by an associate some months prior and hadn’t deliberately ill-treated her.
Mark Harrison, defending, continued: “Each were distracted by their own grief of the unlawful killing of a friend and relative.
“They accept, much to their shame, that they did nothing to alleviate the dog’s issues until, eventually, they came to their senses and contacted the local authority.
“They are profoundly ashamed and each find it difficult to look at the photos. They can’t understand why they left her in such a state for so long.”
Sentencing: both were given a 12-week jail sentence and banned from keeping animals for life.
CONVICTED (2022) | Lyndsay Netherton, born c. 1981, of 7, Merton Square, Blyth NE24 1ER -repeatedly kicked her dogs and pushed their heads into a concrete floor
The cruel incident took place in Blyth Market Place, Northumberland. Police attended the scene after the call from the concerned witness.
Netherton’s drunken behaviour was caught on an officer’s body-worn camera and showed her being barely able to talk or stand as she shouted and swore.
The 40-year-old, of Merton Square, in Blyth, was arrested and later pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly.
She denied two counts of animal cruelty, but was convicted after trial.
Prosecutor Niamh Reading, said the witness was in Blyth Market Place at around 4.15pm on July 2 last year when she spotted Netherton and the two dogs.
Miss Reading added: “The defendant seemed irate and had a bottle of vodka, which she was drinking from. The witness saw the defendant bend down and use her open hand and place it on one of the dogs.
“The witness watched as she then pushed down until the dog’s head was squashed on the concrete floor before she lost her grip. She did this a number of times in an aggressive manner and she was gritting her teeth while doing it. The dog appeared to be scared and the defendant was seen kicking both that dog and the other dog.”
The court heard that one of the animals broke free and ran towards the witness, apparently “seeking protection”. Miss Reading continued: “She could see scars all over its face and the dog stayed by her side, even though the defendant was calling it back.”
Magistrates were told that Netherton tried to stand but “face planted” the ground and had to support herself holding on to a tree. When officers arrived, they noticed that she was foaming at the mouth, her speech was slurred, her pupils were dilated and she’d wet herself.
Graham Crouth, defending, said Netherton still denied attacking the animals and planned to appeal her conviction.
He added: “She doesn’t have a drink problem, she’s not an alcoholic. It’s rare she gets in that kind of state. It occurred because of something that had happened to her that particular day.”
Sentencing: 12-month community order, with 100 hours of unpaid work; £715 in costs and charges. She was not banned from owning animals with the chairing magistrate Iain McCourt telling her this would be “disproportionate”.
CONVICTED (2021) | Douglas Oliphant, born c. 1964, and Michelle Wilkinson, born 14 December 1967, both of 107 Dalton Avenue, Lynemouth, Morpeth NE61 5TF – kept 23 ducks and chickens in tiny filthy cages.
Oliphant and Wilkinson kept the birds in plastic recycling crates covered with netting and rabbit hutches in their two-bedroom, mid-terraced house in Lynemouth.
Six cockerels were being forced to live in a single crate.
The pair also kept a dog and two cats in inadequately sized cages, which didn’t have a clean supply of fresh drinking water or suitable bedding.
All the animals were seized after an inspection by the RSPCA.
Oliphant and Wilkinson each pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to ensure animal welfare.
Alex Bousfield, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, said the animals were seized on July 27, 2021.
“This is a case that involves quite a large number of animals, 26 in total, all housed in quite a small dwelling – a mid-terraced, two-bedroom house, which was entirely unsuitable for the occupation of these animals”, Mr Bousfield continued.
“It was so crowded and it was not suitable and not healthy for the defendants either.
“RSPCA inspectors intervened at an early stage so, thankfully, only one duck had any health issues and that was something to do with a leg and not related to its housing conditions.
“Six cockerels were being kept in a recycling tub with netting on the top and other birds were being kept in rabbit hutches.
“Clearly, they were being fed and watered as there were no problems with the animals’ weight.”
The court heard that the chickens and ducks were covered in their own faeces, as were the cages they were being kept in.
Mr Bousfield said Oliphant and Wilkinson had not been deliberately cruel but rather didn’t have the knowledge or capability to look after the animals.
Mr Harrison, defending, said the retired couple, who already owned the cats and dog, had bought the birds in a bid to make a “better and more simple” life for themselves.
He told the court that Oliphant was intending to keep them in his allotment but hadn’t got it ready in time.
“With a mixture of naivety and poor planning, the birds grew and their needs grew much quicker than anticipated,” Mr Harrison added.
The court heard that the pair, who had been living in “hoarding conditions”, had now cleaned out their home.
The couple were allowed to keep the two cats and the dog.
Sentencing | 12-month conditional discharge; £300 in costs. Banned from keeping fowl for 12 months (expired December 2022).
CONVICTED (2021) | bloodsports fanatic Robert Lashley, born c. 1994, of Richardson Street, Ashington NE63 – failed to seek treatment for his Patterdale terrier’s unexplained lower jaw injury
Lashley failed to get treatment for his terrier’s painful jaw wound.
Robert Lashley pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the dog, known as Bash.
Lashley, whose Facebook profile shows him lamping and holding the bodies of brutalised wild animals, was only prosecuted for failing to get treatment for Bash’s injury.
The RSPCA inspector who led the investigation said: “I found Bash, a black and tan terrier with an injury to his lower right jaw – it looked sore and in need of veterinary treatment.
“Lashley claimed a friend had taken Bash to receive treatment but there were no such records nor could the veterinary staff remember a dog being brought into the surgery with such injuries.”
One photo taken from Lashley’s Facebook profile shows him lamping while holding the body of a dead fox
Police seized Bash and placed him into the RSPCA’s care so he could receive vet treatment.
The dog’s infected wound was weeping, swollen and painful. He was given antibiotics before undergoing surgery.
Bash’s wound healed and he has since found a loving new home.
Sentencing: a total of £950 in fines and costs. 10-year ban on keeping animals.
CONVICTED (2020) | Christopher Baldry, born 22/02/1953, of Nelson Avenue, Nelson Village, Cramlington, Blyth Valley NE23 1HG – left his pet dog in agony with skin infection and open wounds on her face
Baldry was banned from keeping pets after leaving bulldog Tetty to suffer with a painful skin condition which covered her face. She also had conjunctivitis
The eight-year-old dog was rescued from a property in Cornwell Crescent, Bedlington, in May 2018. Inspectors found she had been sprayed with a purple wound first aid spray, which is commonly used as antiseptic by farmers.
Neglected dog Tetty was suffering from a severe skin condition which had spread to her eyes and the ears
But despite her painful condition, she hadn’t been taken to see a vet.
RSPCA inspector Jaqui Miller, who investigated, said: “Poor Tetty was reluctant to move due to the pain she was in. I took her to the vet and they confirmed that she was suffering with a severe skin condition. She had open, bleeding wounds on her face and was suffering from conjunctivitis.
“Her skin was so sore and infected, you could literally smell the infected skin on her. It was very distressing to see this dog in such a poor state.”
The court heard how Baldry had not taken Tetty to the vet to treat this flare up of her skin condition and he admitted he had been using the purple first aid spray for years.
The vet who examined Tetty confirmed she would have been suffering from the skin condition for at least four weeks due to the pain she was in.
She started to do well in RSPCA care and her skin condition improved. However, the charity says Tetty later developed tumours on her lungs, and a vet decided it was best to end her suffering by putting her to sleep.
Inspector Miller added: “It’s extremely sad that this case didn’t have a better outcome for poor Tetty, but at least Tetty was rescued when she was and didn’t continue to suffer.”
In his own mitigation, Baldry told the court he suffers with learning difficulties and needs an appropriate adult.
Sentencing: ordered to pay a total of £1,050. Banned from keeping all animals for 10 years but can appeal after five years.
CONVICTED (2020) | June Redford, born 07/03/1958, previously of Oxford Street, Blyth and son Robert Redford, born 13/03/1978, of 30 Richard Street, Blyth NE24 2HF – neglected and starved their pet dogs and kept them in appalling conditions
Gizmo (left) and Rocco were rescued from a life of misery at the hands of their terminally useless owners
The pair, who are members of a notorious ‘family from hell’ who terrorised their neighbours with anti-social and criminal behaviour for years, were convicted after their animals were found riddled with fleas, suffering with hair loss and living in their own faeces.
The court heard a veterinary nurse from St Clair Veterinary Care, in Blyth, raised concerns after Redford brought a dead male Chihuahua cross named Bambi into the practice and enquired about costs for a cremation.
The veterinary nurse complained to an animal welfare officer on October 11, 2018, after Bambi was found to have had an emaciated body condition of 2/9 and a severe flea infestation. A post-mortem identified prolonged malnutrition, severe dehydration and severe flea infestation.
On the same evening the animal welfare officer was contacted by Alexa’s Animals dog rescue after a female Shih Tzu named Xena had been signed over to the rescue centre by the defendant. She had advised she was being evicted and needed Xena to be rehomed.
Xena was seen the following day by a vet who noted that she was in a poor state, her coat was heavily matted with large tats and had a very heavy flea infestation. He believed that the flea infestation had been in place for several weeks or potentially several months.
Due to concerns for other dogs possibly at Redford’s home, a warrant was obtained to enter the property in Oxford Street, Blyth.
The court heard how the property was damp, had waste piled high in all rooms, no working bathroom and a pungent smell.
A male Chihuahua called Gizmo was discovered inside with live fleas crawling all over his body and covered in scabs.
Gizmo was taken to the vets where he received flea treatment and a health check before being taken to Alexa’s Animal Rescue Centre.
The defendant was subsequently interviewed at the council’s officers where she admitted responsibility for Bambi, who she had owned for four and a half years. She acknowledged that he had fleas but didn’t think it was excessive and even though he had stopped eating and drinking, she did not take him to the vets.
Regarding Xena and Gizmo, she had noted scabs on both dogs but not fleas. The pair have since been nursed back to health and are enjoying life with their new owners.
In a separate incident, at a different address, June’s son Robert was also brought before the courts by Northumberland Council.
Animal welfare officers visited Redford’s home in October 2018 after obtaining a warrant and discovered Rocco, an elderly male Staffordshire Bull terrier cross, who was stiff, weak and in obvious distress and discomfort.
He was riddled with fleas, had severe hair loss, had red raw skin, had sores on his legs and a large lump on his hind leg.
The hallway in the home was littered with dog faeces.
Rocco was taken to the vets where he was given flea treatment, pain relief and antibiotics. He was then taken to Alexa’s Animals to start his recovery and rehabilitation.
A follow-up appointment at the vets just a few weeks later showed Rocco’s condition and demeanour had improved greatly. This highlighted the suffering he was under at the initial examination due to long term neglect and how easily this could have been avoided if treatment had been sought. Very sadly Rocco, who was around 16 years old, was put to sleep some time after his rescue after his mobility deteriorated.
Redford was interviewed under caution in December 2018 where he admitted he hadn’t taken the dog for treatment for financial reasons and that although he loved the dog he was embarrassed by his condition. The officer contacted People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) in Newcastle which offers free and low- cost veterinary care to sick and injured pets of people in need. Although Rocco was registered with them, he had never been in for treatment.
Sentencing: June Redford was given a 12-month community order with 25 days of rehabilitation activity. She was also fined £200 and ordered to pay costs of £250 and a victim surcharge of £90. She was disqualified from keeping all animals for 10 years (expires October 2030).
Robert Redford received a 12-month community order with 20 days’ rehabilitation activity, fined £100 and ordered to pay costs of £250 and a victim surcharge of £90. He was disqualified from keeping all animals for five years (expires October 2025).
CONVICTED (2019) | Robert Jason High, born 20 December 1996, and Damien Robert Beales, born 16 April 1998, James Street, Barrow-in-Furness LA14 1EH – neglected and starved a large number of cats; desperate animals resorted to cannibalism.
Robert High (left) and Damien Beales are now living in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria
Robert High and his partner Damien Beales left cats to starve at a property in Northgate Road, Stoneycroft, Liverpool L13
RSPCA officers discovered starving cats eating the decomposing remains of others when they visited the house on 25 April 2019.
Inside the disgusting home of Robert High and Damien Beales where starving cats ate each other to survive
They found up to ten cats who were so desperate and hungry that they had shockingly resorted to cannibalism.
Five dead cats were in the process of being eaten.
The grim remains were discovered by the property’s landlord who was so disturbed that he contacted the police who next alerted the RSPCA.
Beales and High both pleaded guilty to one charge of cruelty.
The prosecution has been previously adjourned after both men, Beales and High repeatedly failed to turn up.
Sentencing: 16-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months. Each ordered to pay £500 costs and a £115 victim surcharge. Banned from keeping animals for life.
High and Beales move around frequently. They only lived in Stoneycroft for five months. Prior to living there, they lived in Kirkdale, Liverpool. Neighbours of the Kirkdale property allege they overheard the couple accusing each other of raping cats.
High is said to have serious mental health issues, including self-harming. He had a now defunct YouTube channel called My Borderline Life on which he discussed his borderline personality disorder and also ‘sang’.
Update | August 2023
Current address: 127 Chestnut Avenue BLYTH NE24 1PJ
We collate data on animal cruelty convictions in the UK
