CONVICTED (2023) | Jac Elliot Jones born 5 January 1995, of Newgate Street, Llanfaes, Brecon, Powys LD3 but with family links to the village of Llandrinio – attacked his pet dog while high on drugs.
Persistent thug Jac Jones
Jones, who has at least one previous criminal conviction, launched a “drug-fuelled, unprovoked attack” on French bulldog Tommy in November 2022. His actions on the defenceless pet were described as being “of a serious nature … involving multiple kicks to the head and body”.
French bulldog Tommy survived a drug-fuelled brutal attack by his owner
Jones admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and was jailed for 18 weeks.
A deprivation order was also made against Jones, preventing him from ownership of Tommy in the future
A disqualification order was also made, relating to all animals, and this will last for 10 years. It prevents Jones from owning any type of animal, keeping them, participating in keeping them and from being party to an arrangement under which the defendant is entitled to control or influence the way in which they are kept, during this period.
In addition, he was ordered to pay a surcharge of £154 and £85 costs, which are payable on his release from prison.
CONVICTED (2022) | Rhys Burgess, born c. 1992, of Coryton Close, Brecon LD9 – threw his ex partner’s dog at a window in domestic abuse incident.
Rhys Burgess, who has a history of domestic violence-related offending, was jailed for more than three years after subjecting his ex-partner to a campaign of terror, which culminated in an incident in which he picked up a dog and threw her at a window.
Burgess admitted six charges, which included causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal in relation to the dog, a rescue named Roxy. She was described as “shocked” but wasn’t physically injured.
Roxy was said to be shocked but uninjured after she was picked up by Burgess and hurled with full force at a window. The serial domestic abuser had previously threatened to kill the dog in a campaign of terror against her owner.
He also admitted intentionally strangling his ex partner and unlawfully and maliciously wounding her70-year-old father, who is terminally ill.
He stole a mobile phone and subjected his ex to violence while doing so and is also said to have caused criminal damage to various items, including car wing mirrors, a mobile phone, fan, laptop, printer, desk, earphones, Perspex windows, internal doors and a lock mechanism belonging to the woman. All five offences are alleged to have taken place in Brecon on September 2.
He also pleaded guilty to engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour in relation to the ex partner between August 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022.
He continuously engaged in behaviour which was controlling or coercive, including constantly texting and calling the woman, threatening to kill an animal, family or himself if the relationship ended, and controlling her friendships and places she frequented.
Prosecutor Georgia Donohue told the court the defendant had been in a relationship with the woman for two years.
“It was initially positive but turned toxic,” said Ms Donohue.
“The defendant moved into her property in August of 2021, which is when the relationship turned violent.”
Rescue dog Roxy is believed to have come from Brecon Dog Rescue
Ms Donohue said Burgess first assaulted the woman in August 2021, punching her to the face and strangling her.
A further assault took place in August 2022.
“At the end of the evening he asked her if he could stay the night, but she said he must leave and this angered him,” said Ms Donohue.
“He strangled her and she nearly lost consciousness. He accused her of cheating with her friend; [the woman] said he headbutted her and threatened to kill her, her dad and her dog.”
A further assault occurred at the Brecon Jazz festival the same month when Burgess headbutted the woman outside the Bank pub following an argument and later followed her home, assaulting her in the garden.
The most recent incidents occurred on September 2, with Burgess triggered by a text message he received from the woman after he had been abusive to her over text following a night out.
“He turned up at her property in a highly agitated state,” said Ms Donohue.
“He was shouting and began causing damage, he pushed her across the kitchen; her father attempted to intervene but the defendant pushed [him], causing him to fall and hit his head; he was bleeding heavily from the head.
“He then went into the garden and smashed up an outhouse. [The woman] attempted to call 999 while the defendant disarmed [her father] who had picked up a chopping board.
“He then picked up her dog, Roxy, and threw it at full force at the window. He kicked the bathroom door, making a hole, then grabbed [the woman] by the throat and strangled her until she felt faint.
“He only stopped when [the father] intervened, hitting him with a metal pole. He threw her mobile across the road then ripped out the phone line and internet as he left, causing damage to a wing mirror on her car.”
A danger to women and animals: father of two Rhys Burgess has a history of domestic violence dating back to 2013.
Acting for the father-of-two, Nick Strobl said his client knows there is “something wrong with him”.
“There is very little that can be said in mitigation,” he said. “He is aware his actions that night were a disgrace.
“He works hard and is respected at work, but there is clearly an issue about him in relationships. He told me today he knows there is something wrong with him and he has already taken action to address this while in custody so when he is released he can become a better person.”
Of the September 2 incident, Mr Strobl said: “He went to the property in a rage and damaged as much as he could. The dog was shocked but fine after the incident and no injuries were caused.”
Recorder David Harris said Burgess had previously received a suspended jail sentence for assault and harassment and breaching a restraining order, both in 2013; another suspended sentence in 2018 for criminal damage and threatening behaviour; and he served 12 weeks in prison for assaulting an ex-partner in 2019.
He told Burgess: “The pre-sentence report says there are a number of concerns. It says you need to feel in control and exertion of authority over others bolsters your self-esteem.
“It says you will use strangulation as a way to punish and regain control. The risk you pose to partners has escalated and the commission of these offences is your most grave to date.”
Sentencing | jailed for a total of three years and five months. Nine weeks were added for the animal cruelty charge to be served concurrently. Five-year restraining order, banning him from contacting his ex partner or her father.
On 27 November 2022 Wales Online published an article in which Burgess’s ex, Natasha Morgan ( Roxy’s owner) gave details of her and her dog’s ordeal at the hands of serial domestic abuser Rhys Burgess. The following extract describes the incident where Roxy was targeted by Burgess:
Natasha said Burgess knew her dad was terminally ill with cancer. She said he was aware that in May her father had been given a “few months to live”.
She continued: “As I was getting a towel for my dad’s head he was smashing up whatever he could. He tried to smash the glass in both the front and back doors but he wasn’t able to. He headbutted them so many times. He kicked the doors inside the house. Two doors downstairs had holes in them and one was completely falling off the hinges.
“He went into the living room where the dog was cowering. She’s a rescue so she’s afraid of any shouting and she would get afraid of him when he was angry. As he was shouting he shouted [at the dog]: ‘Oh, and you’ and he picked her up and threw her into the window. I thought she was going to go straight through the window. She bounced off and she didn’t know what to do – she looked so scared. Then she ran away. By the time the police came she was gone. I looked around as I thought she might have been in the garden and she wasn’t.”
Natasha said her dog had never run away before and she worried she might run into the road. However luckily the police found her and she was returned without any obvious injuries.
CONVICTED (2022) | Jamie Martin Bowen, born 27 April 1993, of 363 Violet Close, Newtown SY16 1HN – killed his girlfriend’s two cats by “punching them repeatedly”.
The injuries caused to Nala and Fuego by Bowen were so severe that the vet who treated them thought they could have only been caused by being hit by a vehicle.
Bowen admitted attacking the cats while “in a rage” and the court heard he had been through a period of mental health difficulties preceding the incident.
Two of Bowen’s cats. It’s not known if these are the cats that died.
One cat was already dead when Bowen and his partner took them to the veterinary practice, while the other had to be euthanised. He deemed both had been killed by blunt force trauma to the head and chest.
Bowen was said to have “become hysterical” and subsequently confessed to killing them both. He initially denied causing unnecessary suffering to the cats but later changed both pleas to guilty.
Prosecutor David Mainstone said the vet who treated Nala and Fuego became suspicious.
“The defendant and his partner had taken the two cats to Hafren Vets in Newtown, where the lead vet immediately saw one was dead, while the other was close to death,” he said.
“He spoke with the defendant and his partner to obtain consent to euthanise the cat as attempts to revive it were unsuccessful.
“The defendant said he had been struggling with his mental health and he admitted he’d killed the cats. The vet believed the cats must have been killed by being hit by a vehicle as their injuries were consistent with that sort of injury.”
He said the living cat had a fractured skull and injuries to its limbs.
Bowen later admitted he had punched the cats repeatedly in the head before calling his partner home to help him take them to the vets.
“He said he did not know why he’d done it and was not under the influence of drink or drugs at the time,” Mr Mainstone added.
“He said he had not taken his prescribed medication and this would have contributed to his actions. He said he did not intend to kill them.”
Bowen’s lawyer said his client had an “extremely gentle” side to his character. He told the court the couple have other cats, who are being cared for by the sister of Bowen’s partner.
Sentencing | eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. Community mental health treatment requirement; 20 rehabilitation days; £656 in costs and charges. Banned from owning animals for 10 years.
CONVICTED (2019) | badger baiters Christian Adam Latcham, born 02/09/87, of Cymmer Road, Porth CF39 9BE, Jamie Richard Rush, born 13/03/92 of Church View, Talgarth, Brecon LD3 0DG, Cyle Griffith Jones, born 09/11/87, of Cwrt Tarrell, Newgate Street, Brecon, Powys LD3 8ED, and Thomas Lawrence Young, born 16/12/92, of no fixed abode but with links to Portskewett in Caldicot and Blaina, Abertillery
South Wales badger baiters Thomas Young, Christian Latcham, Cyle Jones and Jamie Rush jailed after BBC undercover investigation.
Latcham, Jones, Rush and Young were caught badger baiting by an undercover journalist working for BBC Wales. All four denied the charges against them, but were found guilty following a trial.
Christian Latcham has 12 previous convictions for 24 offences, including for causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
The four men loaded a pick-up van with shovels and dogs to go to a “pre-arranged” location to dig for badgers in the countryside.
Tomas Young also has previous animal cruelty convictions.
Prosecutor Jon Tarrant said: “They were attempting to take a badger.”
The group did not know they had been joined by the undercover investigator – known as John.
Cyle Jones has 13 previous convictions for 18 offences, including animal cruelty. Cyle Jones with wife Lucy Jones, who regularly clicks ‘love’ on Facebook posts showing her husband and his associates engaging in animal baiting.
Giving evidence, a BBC researcher said Young introduced him to three other men before they set off on the hunt on March 24, 2018.
He said: “The discussions were that Thomas, Christian and two other individuals were going to West Wales to a pre-designated location and that they were going to be digging for badgers.”
He added that the men met at Latcham’s house where he had a garage transformed into “kennels” – with cages and dogs.
They then set off from the Rhondda Valleys, South Wales, to Llanddewi Velfrey in Pembrokeshire.
Serial abuser Christian Latcham
The undercover investigator said the men discussed that they would “dig for billies/badgers” on the journey.
He said when the men arrived at a field they donned “wellies and country wear” and put collars on the dogs to track their whereabouts.
He said: “They explained to me what would happen when they put the dogs down into the tubes, as they called it. Into the set.
“They explained about monitoring the dog in the ground.”
The court heard that when the dog stopped underground the men began to dig.
He added: “When it stopped I was told that was when we would dig down.
“When we dug down there wasn’t anything with that dog.
“We repeated this cycle for a number of hours.”
The court heard that larger dogs were brought to the holes “in readiness” to attack the badgers.
One hole was so deep that Latcham’s head could not be seen above the ground as he stood in it.
Christian Latcham has 12 previous convictions for 24 offences, including for causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
Cyle Jones has 13 previous convictions for 18 offences, including animal cruelty.
Rush has eight previous convictions for nine offences and has previously been sentenced to two years in prison.
Rush has eight previous convictions for nine offences and has previously been sentenced to two years in prison.
Of the four defendents only Rush gave evidence during the four day trial in front of District Judge Neil Thomas.
Judge Thomas said: “I have no difficulty coming to the unreserved conclusion, that he was not telling the truth.”
Jamie Rush shows precisely why he’s an inadequate little man …
When Cyle Jones was taken away, someone in the public gallery shouted “keep your head up love”, he was previously jailed in June 2019 for 18 weeks after admitting unnecessary cruelty to animals, relating to two dogs who were injured.
Sentencing: Latcham was jailed for 26 weeks, Jones and Rush for 22 weeks. Thomas Young was sentenced to 20 weeks in custody, suspended for 12 months and will be subject to a curfew. Young and Jones are already banned from keeping dogs for life and Latcham has an indefinite ban following a 2011 cruelty conviction.
CONVICTED (2019) | Ryan William Harrison, born 08/07/1994, of Green Lane, Caldicot, Monmouthshire NP26 4HH, Tomas Young, born c. 1993, of East Pentwyn, Blaina, Abertillery, Monmouthshire NP13, and Cyle Jones, born 09/11/1987, of Cwrt Tarrell, Newgate Street, Brecon, Powys LD3 8ED – for the barbaric persecution of wildlife, which included skinning alive a baby badger, and cruelty including violence to dogs
Clockwise from the left Tomas Young, Cyle Jones and Ryan Harrison
Ryan Harrison, Cyle Jones and Tomas Young were jailed for badger baiting and animal cruelty following a probe by a BBC Wales TV programme.
Cyle Jones
The court was told that an RSPCA inquiry was launched following an undercover investigation by BBC Wales Investigates. The programme entitled The Secret World of Badger Baiters was shown in May 2018 and is currently available to watch on YouTube.
Following the programme’s broadcast warrants were executed at the addresses of the three individuals identified, being Young, Harrison and Jones
Ryan Harrison
A phone seized from Harrison contained numerous videos, text messages and images depicting hunting and animal cruelty offences. Video clips alone amounted to 447 with the majority of the material extreme in its nature.
The animal cruelty footage showed wildlife being killed and dogs with extensive injuries from being used to hunt animals. The voice of Harrison was heard and there were videos and pictures showing Young.
The RSPCA special operations unit also were able to view footage obtained by the BBC.
One particular horrific incident involved a baby badger which had been skinned alive by dogs.
The badger’s skin was split down the middle and pulled back from the body.
Shortly after the baby badger is seen to be still alive and is killed by Young hitting it with a shovel.
District Judge Neil Thomas described the trio’s offences as “medieval barbarity”.
Ryan Harrison
Harrison and Young pleaded guilty to six joint offences in that they did wilfully kill, injure or take a badger on four different occasions.
They also admitted attempting to take or kill a deer in the Forest of Dean, and causing unnecessary suffering to a boar by letting it be attacked by dogs and by stabbing the animal with a knife.
Harrison also pleaded guilty to another nine offences.These were:
Attempting to take or kill a deer
Attempting to wilfully kill, injure or take a badger on two occasions
Causing unnecessary suffering to a terrier dog called Ted by failing to obtain professional veterinary care for injuries to the dog’s lip and chin
Causing unnecessary suffering to a terrier by failing to obtain professional veterinary care for injuries to the dog’s chin area
Causing unnecessary suffering to a boar by causing the said animal to be attacked by dogs and by stabbing the said animal with a knife
Causing unnecessary suffering to terrier called Brock by failing to obtain professional veterinary care for injuries to the dog’s neck area
Two other charges of causing unnecessary suffering to a boar, by causing the animal to be attacked by dogs
Cyle Jones
Jones admitted two charges of unnecessary cruelty to animals, relating to two dogs that were injured.
He was given a custodial sentence because he was not allowed to keep dogs, having been previously convicted of having a dog dangerously out of control.
Tomas Young
In their defence, the men said they had grown up with countryside pursuits.
There was no mitigation, said the judge, as far as he could see.
“The absence of remorse was obvious,” he said.
Chief inspector Ian Briggs, from the RSPCA’s special operations unit, said: “The RSPCA’s special operations unit has to investigate some truly gruesome acts on animals. But the prolific nature of these horrific crimes are some of the worst I – and my inspectors – have ever had the displeasure of witnessing.
“This barbaric, deliberate and calculated torture has caused wildlife and dogs to suffer immeasurably, solely for the sadistic pleasure of a handful of depraved individuals.
“BBC Wales’ initial work on this case was very important, and firmly in the public interest – paving the way for the RSPCA to undertake this investigation and bring these perpetrators to justice.
“Sadly, people who enjoy inflicting such pain and suffering on wildlife continue to offend in Wales. The RSPCA will not rest in bringing people like these to justice.
“As well as BBC Wales, we’d also like to thank the police forces who assisted us on this case – Gwent Police, South Wales Police, Dyfed Powys and Gloucestershire Police.”
Sentencing: Ryan Harrison was jailed for 22 weeks, Tomas Young got 20 weeks and Cyle Jones was given 18 weeks. All three defendants were banned from keeping dogs for life.
CONVICTED (2018) | Sarah-Rose Morris, born c. 1996, and her mother Debbie Smitherman, born 19 August 1964, both of Winllan Farm, Llansantffraid, Powys SY22 6TP – for the shocking neglect of a Welsh cross pony found emaciated, collapsed and shut in a horse trailer.
Morris and Smitherman both pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the pony called Holly.
Jo Barr, founder of not-for-profit equine rescue and rehoming centre Totem Horses, who were involved in Holly’s rescue, said: “Having previously worked for the RSPCA for 10 years I honestly thought I had seen everything. But when we went to collect Holly, I could not believe what I saw.
“They had shut her in the trailer three days before as she was cold, but the pony was lying in her own urine with no food or water. I was amazed she was still alive.
“All of her bones were visible and the skin on her withers and in other places had broken down. It beggars belief two so-called horse lovers could allow an animal to be in that state, shut in a trailer dying just feet away from the back door of their house.”
Holly was signed over to Totem, who sought immediate veterinary treatment for her and alerted the RSPCA. At this stage it was touch and go whether she would survive.
Jo said: “For the first three nights I slept in the barn with Holly as she had drips and other treatment,” she said. “I had to lift her head to give her water and feed from a scoop as she wasn’t even strong enough to lift it herself.”
“Lower House Equine Clinic were brilliant and made sure she had pain relief and fluids everything else she needed around the clock. I was determined that if we did lose her she would not die alone – so I stayed with her.
“Thankfully she didn’t, but it still it took a further two weeks before she was actually strong enough to stand up without some help.”
She added: “I am very grateful to RSPCA inspector Phil Lewis for everything he did as well and I could not have saved Holly without the support of our volunteers Lyddy, Kelly, Holly and Jiri, and also Helen and Adam who got involved later on and helped this young pony to regain her trust in people.
Holly at Totem Horses
“I am very pleased the court recognised the serious nature of the neglect and also the RSPCA exists to investigate and make sure the people responsible are held accountable for their actions.”
Totem Horses is now appealing for a home for Holly. The not-for-profit horses go out on a loan agreement and homes are subject to regular home visits.
Holly is still a young pony and it takes a while for her to trust new people so she needs an experienced home anywhere in England and Wales where she will get regular handling.
Sentencing: Morris and Smitherman were ordered to each pay a £300 fine, £250 legal costs to the RSPCA and a £30 victim surcharge. Both were banned from keeping horses or ponies for 10 years (expires November 2028).
CONVICTED (2018) | James ‘Jim’ Gray, born 04/06/1980, of Woodlands, Newbridge-on-Wye, Builth Wells, Powys LD2 3SB – starved terrier dog Storm to emaciation
Jim Gray
Stoner Gray, whose social media posts are filled with self-pity and despair about his self-inflicted shit life, was banned from keeping animals for five years after he starved four-year-old Storm to the point that “every vertebrae” could be felt under the animal’s shaggy coat.
When Storm was given a bowl of food after his rescue by the RSPCA, he was so hungry he ate it in eight seconds.
On Wednesday 18/07/2018, Gray was sentenced at Merthyr Tydfil magistrates court after pleading guilty to an offence of causing unnecessary suffering to Storm.
The court heard that on examination by a vet, Storm was found to be emaciated and is believed to have been suffering for at least two weeks.
RSPCA inspector Izzi Hignell rescued Storm from the rural location in December 2017 after the animal charity received a call about concerns for the dog’s welfare.
Inspector Hignell said: “Storm is a shaggy dog so it wasn’t immediately obvious that he was so skinny but as soon as I felt him I could feel every single vertebrae under his coat. He was a skeleton.”
Storm was taken to a vet to be examined and while there, he was given a bowl of food. He was so hungry that he ate it in eight seconds.
“Storm was failed in every way,” said Inspector Hignell. “He was left on his own for long periods of time and he was not given regular food. He had been completely neglected.”
Since being in the RSPCA’s care, Storm has put on weight and is now looking healthy.
“He is a lovely dog and he is doing amazing now,” added Inspector Hignell.
Sentence: 12-month community order; £300 costs. Five-year ban on keeping animals (expires July 2023).
