CONVICTED (2024) | Stephen Buxton of the Breach Cottage, Breach Lane, Sudbury, Ashbourne DE6 5HH, Susan Heath of 61 Foss Road, Hilton, Derby DE65 5BJ, and Oliver Lucas of Sudbury Park, Sudbury, Ashbourne DE6 5HU – ran an unlicensed puppy farm on which 28 dogs and puppies were kept in filthy and unsanitary conditions.
Susan Heath and Stephen BuxtonOliver Lucas
In 2020 officers from South Derbyshire District Council were notified that dogs were being bred at the family home of Stephen Buxton without the necessary breeding licence. When council officers contacted Buxton, he denied this but was reminded of the legal obligations.
In 2021 council officers received intelligence that dogs were being sold on social media by owners using different names, but all based at Buxton’s address. A court warrant was obtained by the council and officers visited the premises on June 7, 2022.
A total of 28 adult dogs and pups were found in agricultural buildings at the site.
Conditions were found to be cluttered and dirty, with extensive faecal and urine contamination. The premises was infested with flies and a dead rat was sighted .
The odour in the building was described as overpowering.
All of the dogs at the site were observed to be anxious, wary and in some cases afraid of contact with humans.
Using powers granted under animal welfare legislation, council officers seized the dogs and transported them to a local kennels. Veterinary examination determined that they had all been neglected for a lengthy period
Three weeks after the warrant, all of the dogs were signed over to the legal control of the local authority.
All of the animals were returned to full health and were found permanent homes.
Following the council’s investigation, three people were charged with offences relating to unauthorised breeding of dogs and animal welfare offences. All three pleaded guilty to these offences.
Stephen Buxton admitted one offence of causing unnecessary suffering, nine offences of failing to ensure welfare and two offences of breeding without a licence. He was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 190 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £114 victim surcharge and £5,000 contribution towards the prosecution costs.
Oliver Lucas admitted two offences of causing unnecessary suffering, three offences of failing to ensure welfare and one offence of breeding without a licence. He was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 100 hours unpaid work, ordered to pay a £114 victim surcharge and £2,000 contribution to the prosecution costs.
Susan Heath pleaded guilty to breeding without a licence and was fined £180. She was also ordered to pay a £72 victim surcharge and £400 towards the prosecution costs.
District Judge Flint remarked that they had prioritised money over animal welfare and should be ashamed of the conditions in which they kept the dogs. . He held Buxton as most responsible and the chief protagonist, as it was his property and he clearly knew that he should have been licensed. The judge commented that if he had been found guilty after trial, he would have looked at sending him to prison.
CONVICTED (2023) | Jack Woods aka Jax Woods, born 5 July 2001, of 10 Cosens Way, Felpham, Bognor Regis PO22 8FG but with links to Boston, Lincolnshire – physically abused three horses and psychologically abused another in brutal attacks.
Shocking footage showed Woods whipping, and slapping different horses. He is also shown threatening a horse with a whip on several occasions. The incidents took place at Mabrook Equestrian Centre in Boston, Lincolnshire, which Woods ran with girlfriend Charlotte Martin.
Speaking about the case, an expert vet said: “The horses in these clips are no less than absolutely terrified.
“The horses desperately try to escape from him and display severe fear, escapism and avoidance behaviours – equines are flight or fight animals as they are prey species these horses in these videos are displaying complete flight behaviour.
“Unreasonable force and his actions are nothing short of barbaric and cruel and are used due to the lack of his own ability to both handle and ride horses.”
“He causes them intense fear and distress by both his actions and his body language.
“He is observed on the video to repeatedly beat the different horses around the head and neck predominantly but also the body.
“There is very little in the way of soft tissue covering on the head as such the blows were almost directly to the bone which is painful.”
Woods pleaded guilty to attacking the horses in Boston, Lincolnshire, admitting counts of causing unnecessary suffering to the three horses and inflicting psychological abuse on the fourth horse.
He also admitted failing to avoid the use of inappropriately harsh, potentially painful and frightening training, handling, control or disciplinary measure of all four horses.
RSPCA lead investigator Andy Bostock said: “These videos are disturbing and heart breaking to watch and you can see that the horses are in fear.
“The defendant’s behaviour is unacceptable, extremely aggressive, extremely unnecessary and has led to the horses within the video being caused fear, distress and pain and suffering.”
Sentencing | 26-week suspended prison sentence; rehabilitation activities; 200 hours of unpaid work; £2,100 in costs. Disqualified from owning horses for 18 months (expires early 2025).
CONVICTED (2023) | Terrence Anthony Tovey, born 21 December 1956, of 56 Penyfan Road, Llanelli SA15 1JP – caught on CCTV subjecting a German Shepherd to a prolonged vicious assault.
A German Shepherd endured a horrific ordeal at the hands of this man, Terrence Tovey from Llanelli, Wales
On 29 August 2022 at around 11pm Terrence Tovey was filmed kicking his pet dog, named Dylan, repeatedly on his head and body. Tovey then drags the petrified German Shepherd along by his lead and proceeds to suspend him from a fence.
Horrifyingly, Dylan is seen to struggle to keep all four paws on the ground before he is subjected to even more violence
The dog is only saved from further brutality when members of the public run forward to confront Tovey. A discussion follows and Tovey then walks off with the dog down a footpath.
The footage was passed to RSPCA Cymru, who issued a media appeal for information in December 2022. This soon led to Tovey being identified and apprehended.
Dylan was immediately taken into the RSPCA’s care and underwent veterinary examination. Although underweight and clearly traumatised from his ordeal, he appears to have suffered no long-term physical damage.
The court heard from two witnesses – an elderly couple who are believed to be the ones shown on the video intervening. They said they were alerted by the sound of a dog “screaming” and went to investigate. They described how they saw Tovey stamping on Dylan’s head and thought he was being killed.
Tovey pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Thursday 11 May 2023.
He was given a 12-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months and ordered to pay £400 costs and £154 victim surcharge. He is disqualified from keeping domestic animals for 10 years (expires May 2033).
Happily Dylan was soon rehomed with a family. His doting new owners describe him as a little anxious especially around men but is otherwise “a sweet-natured and loving little soul, who loves to play and is extremely affectionate”.
CONVICTED (2023) | Jamey-Leigh McCusker, born c. 1999, of 79 Hebden Avenue, Longhill, Hull HU8 9LU – filmed herself verbally and physically abusing her dog
Jamey-Leigh McCusker subjected her terrified pet dog to repeated physical and psychological abuse.
McCusker admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a female chocclate brown bull-breed dog named Storm, after twice filming herself interacting with the dog in a very aggressive manner.
On the first clip she is seen shouting at Storm, who was backed up against a wall and cowering. McCusker then throws a wooden kitchen implement at the dog, striking her on her side.
McCusker’s lawyer told the court his client’s actions were “a cry for help” and that she “had reached the end of her tether”. Image credit: HullLive
The second clip showed an even more agitated McCusker kicking and stamping on the dog.
The footage was shown to a vet who said the dog’s body language was consistent with being fearful and in distress. The vet concluded that the defendant’s actions would have caused Storm pain.
Humberside Police assessed Storm and while she wasn’t inherently dangerous or aggressive, she was put down because she was a banned breed.
Mitigating, Richard Drew said McCusker had made multiple efforts to find the “big and powerful” dog a new home but she’d reached the end of her tether.
Image source: HullLive
The videos were “a cry for help”. She’d bought the dog from a friend and wasn’t aware of her true breed.
Chairman of the bench Lynda Carmichael said McCusker’s actions were “cruel, unnecessary and unprovoked”.
Sentencing | eight week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months; costs of £528. Banned from owning any animal for 10 years, but may apply for the order to be revoked after five years (expires April 2033).
CONVICTED (2023) | George Jiri Boura, born 24 July 1978, of St Johnstouns Buildings, Charles Street, Perth PH2 9LB – punched his neighbour’s dog twice in the face during a row about late night noise.
Czech national Boura, who has a history of anger-fuelled violence, lashed out at the Staffie-collie cross, named Summer, after being woken by people outside his block of flats at 2am.
Police charged Boura with causing the animal unnecessary suffering following the incident on May 8, 2022.
Boura, who was also charged with a public disorder offence, denied hitting the dog and claimed to police he had instead “pushed its head away gently”.
Boura pictured outside court. Image source: The Courier
Boura, who builds tee-pees for weddings, was found guilty following a one-day trial at Perth Sheriff Court, after three witnesses insisted they saw him punch the dog in the face.
Summer’s owner Mark Donnachie told the court he was outside the block of flats with her just after 2am when he met two friends with their dog. He said that the dogs were playing but weren’t barking.
Mr Donnachie said that Boura came out of his house and “started shouting and swearing at us.”
He added that Boura seemed to be “wanting a fight” and may have been drinking.
Mr Donnachie conceded that Summer – who knew Boura – had jumped up at him but “wasn’t being aggressive”.
He told the court: “George just turned round and punched her full on the head. She got scared and ran away. I put her back inside the house.”
Mr Donnachie told the court that Summer “isn’t the same dog” following the attack. He said “If someone goes to touch her now, she just starts shaking. She has stickers on her, letting people know she needs space.”
Mr Donnachie said Boura struck his dog once but other witnesses agreed he hit the animal twice.
Boura told his trial he had made several complaints to Perth and Kinross Council about noise such as “dogs barking, fighting over squeezy balls” and believed there was a conspiracy against him.
Describing the incident he said: “I was asleep in bed when I heard howling from the dog. It lasted about 20 minutes. I just went out and I was swearing at them.”
Boura said: “The dog jumped at me.
“Because I was angry, I pushed her away with an open hand.”
Sheriff Gillian Wade found Boura guilty of threatening or abusive behaviour, likely to cause fear or alarm, and causing the dog unnecessary suffering by repeatedly punching it and told him: “I note you have a previous conviction for serious violent offending, so you are clearly a person who is of a violent disposition.”
CONVICTED (2023) | Izzac Ashley Campbell, aka Izzac Weeks, born 30 August 1993, of 8 Highfields, Codnor, Ripley DE5 9SB – for systematic cruelty to two puppies found with stab wounds, cigarette burns and scalding injuries.
Izzac Campbell subjected his two dogs to a campaign of sadistic cruelty
Career crook Izzac Campbell, who as of August 2018 had racked up 33 convictions for 73 offences and has possible links to organised crime, was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to six-month-old bull terriers Sian and Frankie.
Campbell stabbed the puppies, scalded them with hot liquid and stubbed cigarettes out on them
The court heard how the RSPCA were called to Campbell’s family home in the village of Codnor to investigate a report of concern for the welfare of the two dogs, but the pets were not at the address.
The dogs were then traced to a property in Woodstock Avenue, Bobbers Mill, Nottingham NG7 5QP and taken into the RSPCA’s care. Both had suffered a catalogue of horrific injuries.
Veterinary examination found that Sian had extensive burns down her side and a large wound down the back of her skull and neck. .
A vet who examined the dogs said: ‘On Frankie I found on the wrist a circular skin lesion next to a small healed skin lesion.
‘On the right toe was also an healed lesion of similar appearance, as these had healed with unhaired scar tissue they were older healed wounds of unknown cause but had the appearance of puncture wound or cigarette burn.
‘On the right side of face was a fresh circular wound close to the eye which was about 10 mms in diameter and was about 3-7 days old.
‘The wound on the face was deeper and more extensive such as a puncture wound by a sharp object.
‘The young female walking with a stiff, unsteady and laboured gait on her hindlegs. She was struggling to weight-bear.
‘There were skin scabs over her nose and throat, fresh flat skin lesions over her ribs and involving the armpit with painful crusts and reddened and ulcerated lesions in a distinctive ‘dribble’ pattern.’
Sian also had a limp hind leg and was not able to sit still.
The vet added: ‘The pattern and flat appearance of the skin lesions is consistent with liquid burns caused by hot liquid poured over her back from a height.
‘She exhibited pain reaction and skin hypersensitivity over her entire torso.’
Frankie had suffered a puncture wound to his face, which was consistent with being stabbed.
RSPCA inspector Helen Mead, who interviewed Campbell, said in her witness statement: “I had very little in the way of explanation from Campbell about the dogs and what happened to Sian’s leg.
“He claimed her leg was getting better so it was not a problem. He also said that Sian had knocked a pan of boiling water over herself and that was why she had those wounds.
“Throughout the interview, Campbell refused to look at me, or even in my direction, choosing to sit with his grey/silver coat hood up and his side to me throughout.”
District Judge Johnathan Taff condemned Campbell’s actions as “sustained and systemic cruelty”.
He added: “The defendant caused unnecessary suffering – quite deliberately and then it was unforgivable not to seek immediate veterinary treatment for the injuries he caused.”
Despite extensive rehabilitation the traumatised dogs remained aggressive and unsuitable for rehoming. Tragically they were both put sleep for safety reasons
While in RSPCA care, both dogs sadly showed aggressive tendencies and attacked people involved in their treatment. After 18 months of unsuccessful behaviour therapy, with their aggression still evident and rehoming not an option, the decision was made to put them both to sleep for safety reasons.
RSPCA Inspector Rachel Leafe said: “Both Frankie and Sian had some awful untreated physical injuries which it appears to have affected them in their nature towards people.
“We worked really hard to try to rehabilitate these dogs but there was nothing else we could do – the whole thing has been a very sad and upsetting incident for all involved.”
Sentencing | Jailed for 16 weeks. £200 costs plus £122 victim surcharge. Indefinite ban on owning animals.
In August 2016 Campbell, then of Howick Drive, Bulwell, Nottingham appeared in court to face domestic violence charges in relation to a former partner. It was alleged that he hit the woman on the head with the flat side of a machete. He then allegedly forced his way into the woman’s house and ordered a man inside to strip and run down the street naked. He is then said to have smashed up the woman’s house. Campbell entered not guilty pleas to assault, occasioning actual bodily harm, causing £1,300 of damage to a TV, possession of a bladed article and witness intimidation. The case was sent to be heard at Nottingham Crown Court. Unfortunately the outcome was not reported online.
Source: Nottingham Post (retrieved from archive)
In August 2018 Campbell, aged 24 and now of Gilbert Avenue, St Ann’s, Nottingham, was jailed for nine months after being caught ransacking a convenience store he and accomplice Daniel Isaacs had burgled.
Police arrived on the scene to find the pair filling a large-style builder’s sack with cigarettes.
In court Campbell cited drug debts as the motivation for committing the burglary.
By this stage Campbell, who was described as a part-time mechanic, had 33 convictions for 73 offences on his record, ranging from house burglary to handling stolen goods.
In July 2021 Campbell appeared in court again charged with possession of a firearm. The charge followed the discovery of a makeshift gun factory in Marples Avenue, Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire.
CONVICTED (2023) | Brad Green, born 19 November 1998, of 33 Salterns Estate, Fareham PO16 0SE and Nathan Daniels, born January 2001, of 27 Alexander Grove, Fareham PO16 0TU – broke into a zoo, threw a bottle at a giraffe’s head and vandalised enclosures.
Bradley Green (left) and Nathan Williams broke into a popular zoo, persecuted the animals and vandalised the enclosures
Nathan Daniels, who recently founded a company named Ripplesweets Ltd, cut the barbed wire fence at Marwell Zoo in Colden Common near Winchester. He and accomplice Brad Green then carried out the attack, leaving animals, including the giraffes, cheetahs and tigers “very distressed”.
Daniels pleaded guilty to damaging the penguins’ enclosure and a fence surrounding the zoo, while Green admitted damaging an enclosure containing the giraffes. Green also admitted an animal cruelty charge in relation to the giraffe, named Ursula. In her distress she had knocked herself against the door, sustaining two long gashes on her leg.
Charges against the pair’s friends Jason Huggitt, born c. 1998, and Coral Lock, born c. 1999, who were both present during the incident, were dropped. Huggitt had been charged with burglary with intent to commit criminal damage and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal. Lock had been charged with assisting an offender, as she drove the other three thugs away from the scene.
Jason Huggitt and Coral Lock were present during the break-in, with the former initially charged with animal cruelty and burglary, but all charges against them were dropped
Video footage posted to Snapchat at the time of the break-in on February 15, 2021, showed a bottle being thrown at the head of a giraffe.
A tiger was also filmed apparently being encouraged to approach a fence before being kicking out at and scared away.
Multiple police units, including armed response officers with night vision goggles, a dog unit and a helicopter were dispatched to catch the intruders following the incident, amid fears endangered animals were at risk.
The heard the yobs had cut through a ‘double chain link fence’ before entering the premises.
Nathan Williams pictured during a court appearance. Image credit: Hampshire and IoW News.
Ellie Fargin, prosecuting, told the court the zoo’s exterior fence was cut so the pair could get into the grounds, while the doors of the giraffe and penguin enclosures were damaged.
Ms Fargin said the Snapchat video also showed the tiger in its enclosure.
The next morning, a plastic disinfectant bottle, sticks and stones were found in the tiger enclosure, while a bucket and another bottle of disinfectant were found in the giraffe enclosure, she said.
Ms Fargin said: “There is concern they had been thrown into the enclosure to cause distress as the tiger was behaving in a manner consistent with distress.
“Also, items were found in the cheetah enclosure.”
The injured giraffe was called Ursula, she said, while a door was found damaged with giraffe hair on it.
“The damage must have been caused by the giraffe or giraffes hitting it with force and that would have been done if they were in distress,” she said.
Ms Fargin said a life ring was found in the pool in the penguin enclosure and added: “The penguins displayed behaviour consistent with anxiety and distress from being disturbed.”
Daniel Reilly, defending Green, said to have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, said his client has “deep regret and remorse” for his actions and threw the bottle at the giraffe “to get its attention”.
Brad Green (right) pictured with Jason Huggitt outside court. Image credit: Hampshire and IoW News.
He said Green faced a “social media backlash” following the incident and got death threats.
Mr Reilly said: “He knows that what he did is something that is significantly serious and something he is shamed by, particularly because he is, at his very core, an animal lover.”
Graham Gilbert, defending Daniels, said: “The behaviour showed a marked lack of maturity on his behalf.”
He said his client has lost his job working for a contractor for Marwell Zoo.
Three of those involved in the break-in at Marwell Zoo were swiftly outed on social media
Sentencing the pair the judge told them: “Almost two years ago, you two together had the idiotic idea of driving to Marwell Zoo during lockdown, when Marwell Zoo was closed to the public due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“You, Green, broke a door at the rear of the giraffe house. You threw the bucket and bottle of disinfectant into the enclosure and you threw something at the giraffe which we see from the video that you took.
“It struck the giraffe on the neck. One of the giraffes had an injury to its leg, with two long gashes, which was discovered the next morning.
“It happened from the giraffe being distressed, knocking itself against the door.”
He added: “It caused a great deal of public outrage at your behaviour because people are rightly sensitive at behaviour causing damage to a zoo and to animals.
“You acted in a deplorable fashion for which you must be punished. Public outrage would be such that many members of the public would like to see you in prison for this behaviour.”
Sentencing | 12-month community order with 120 hours of unpaid work; £750 compensation each to the zoo.
In early 2019 Brad Green admitted dumping the badly mutilated body of a goat in a supermarket carpark but claimed the animal was already dead when he found it.
The discovery of the animal’s brutalised remains followed a series of similar incidents in which at least five dead goats were dumped in towns and villages across Hampshire.
CONVICTED (2022) | Michal Kulesza, born 14 October 1976, previously of Bristol but now living in Aviemore – punched and kicked two small dogs over a two-day period of sustained abuse.
The RSPCA was handed 25 video clips during which Kulesza caused Jack Russells Sonia and Rocky to yelp and scream in pain. The dogs belonged to Kulesza’s landlord, who was initially unaware of the abuse.
Prosecuting for the RSPCA solicitor Lindi Meyer said: “Kulesza was not known to his landlord before this time.
“However soon after he moved in it was noticed that the dogs had started to behave differently and appeared nervous around the defendant. As a result of this, the landlord installed CCTV in the kitchen and the living room and informed the defendant that he was doing so.
“On March 29, he was able to download and view footage which showed Kulesza violently abusing his little dogs on a number of occasions – particularly singling out Rocky for the abuse.”
The landlord contacted the RSPCA and immediately told Kulesza to pack his bags and leave. RSPCA Inspector Dan Hatfield was shown two sections of CCTV footage which “showed Kulesza repeatedly punching Rocky resulting in him yelping and screaming”.
One of the clips shows the dogs in their bed in a corner, next to a fridge. Kulesza is heard raising his voice when Rocky enters and gets onto his bed.
Kulesza follows, kneels in front of the dog on the bed and raises his arm with a clenched fist. Police say he then “brings it down on Rocky with considerable force four times, before changing his swing and punching the dog a further seven times while Rocky yelps with each blow he receives”.
In another clip, he is filmed kicking Rocky, and in a different one again, Kulesza is seen aggressively pulling the dogs’ bed from under them. Further clips capture the dogs yelping, screaming, and being repeatedly struck by Kulesza.
There is no misbehaviour on the part of the dogs shown by CCTV footage, with the violence appearing to be unprovoked.
During interview, Kulesza, who pleaded guilty to two animal welfare offences in court, said he was unable to explain or justify his actions, describing himself as being in a rage and state of heightened anxiety and that the dogs had done nothing to him.
He later said in court he was grieving his girlfriend who had died in a car accident five years ago in his homeland.
Solicitor Lindi Meyer added: “This was a particularly nasty case in which two helpless dogs were needlessly physically and mentally abused.
“The physical and mental suffering the dogs were subjected was blatantly unnecessary and avoidable.
“Rocky was subjected to and suffered repeatedly from acute pain and some of this would become more chronic – and the tail pull injury would have been particularly painful.
“He suffered from persistent high levels of stress and anxiety due to the physical as well as the violent verbal abuse directed at him.”
Sentencing | 42 weeks in jail, suspended for two years. 250 hours of unpaid work. 30 days of rehabilitation activity. £328 in costs and charges. Banned from keeping animals for 10 years.
CONVICTED (2022) | Cindy Hancock, born 28 January 1986, of St Georges House, Charlotte Despard Avenue, Battersea, London SW11 5NH – left her poorly dog trapped in a shaft for three days before calling for help.
Hancock was jailed after being found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to her dogs, Maya and Oscar.
In December 2021 the London Fire Brigade and RSPCA officers rescued Maya, a black spaniel, from a deep riser cupboard where she had been trapped.
Animal Rescue Officer (ARO) Mat Hawkins said: “Cindy Hancock showed me the hole where Maya was stuck down and confirmed that the dog had been there for three days before she called fire and rescue. The hole was so deep I didn’t manage to see the bottom of the area.”
In a witness statement read in court, a vet said: “It is deeply concerning that the dog was left in a service shaft for that period of time, during which her needs were not met and she would have suffered both physically and psychologically.”
While at Hancock’s house, the RSPCA examined Maya as well as her other dog, Oscar. Concerned about their welfare, he took the dogs to a vet who found that both were underweight and suffering from eye infections.
A vet told the court that Oscar was clearly underweight on presentation and his blood profile fitted with a diagnosis of malnutrition. Oscar’s eye infection was also causing pain and had been left untreated by Hancock.
“It is extremely clear in this case that through ignoring the eye injury, failing to provide adequate nutrition and failing to rescue the dog from the service shaft as quickly as possible, the owner’s actions have resulted in significant and unnecessary suffering,” the vet said.
Maya and Oscar have recovered in the care of the RSPCA and Oscar has since gained a substantial amount of weight. They are now looking for loving new homes.
Sentencing | 26 weeks’ imprisonment. Banned from owning any animals for 10 years.
CONVICTED (2022) | Callum Ruane, born 8 June 2001, of 10 Bewsey Road, Bewsey, Warrington WA2 7LW – blamed steroid addiction for his systematic abuse of a puppy.
Ruane was seen on multiple occasions punching, kicking and throwing the four-month-old American Bully dog, called Dice, at his then home in Savannah Place, Great Sankey, Warrington. Disturbing and upsetting mobile phone footage was captured by horrified neighbour Susie Perry who passed it on to the RSPCA.
Victim Dice – notice the cropped ears.
Liverpool Crown Court heard when inspectors interviewed Ruane at his mum’s home, he became tearful and told them he attacked Dice because he had “just completed a cycle of steroids and his head was fucked”.
Ruane admitted a charge of cruelty to a protected animal but initially claimed he had only abused Dice on one occasion. The RSPCA rejected his basis of plea and he later admitted the full facts of the prosecution case.
He was also charged with cruelty to another dog, Kilo, which he denied, but the prosecution allowed that charge to lie on the file in light of his guilty pleas.
Carmel Wilde, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, told the court Ms Perry and another neighbour, Kerry Liggett, first became concerned on September 25, 2021, when they heard the sounds of a dog “screaming”. Ms Perry ran to look out of an upstairs window which overlooked the patio door of the defendant’s property, offering a view into the kitchen area.
Ms Wilde said: “She could see Dice in his crate and the defendant was punching Dice to the head. Kerry Liggett, the same day, heard a horrible yelping sound lasting 10 seconds at least, and thought it was odd.
“Her neighbour called round 10 minutes later saying the defendant had strangled the dog by putting it in a headlock and punched it. They reported matters to the RSPCA and were advised by the control room to try and obtain videos of the abuse.”
On October 3, Ms Perry noticed that Dice had got out of his crate and had chewed a bag, some money and a pair of sunglasses in Ruane’s kitchen. Fearing his reaction, Ms Perry began filming on her mobile phone.
Dice’s owner Phoebe Jones allowed her pet to be abused by her steroid-addicted boyfriend
Initially Ruane’s then partner and the owner of Dice, Phoebe Jones, came into the room and began cleaning up the mess. The court heard Ms Perry thought Miss Jones “looked worried”.
A short time later Ms Perry heard Dice “screaming” so ran to the window again. Ms Wilde told the court: “She described the defendant beating the dog. She became petrified and shaky and could not understand why Miss Jones was not stopping it.”
Ms Perry heard the dog yelping and spotted Ruane holding Dice fully off the floor by his head and neck. The couple’s other dog, Kilo, was also present and was “spinning around agitated”.
Ms Wilde said: “The defendant could be seen throwing Dice into the crate. He then gets into the crate with the dog and can be seen hitting it. The dog can be heard yelping.”
Ruane left the dog in the crate, but not before aiming a kick at it as it cried.
Later that day Ms Perry captured another video showing Ruane using “random objects” to jab and poke Dice, although the crate was covered with a blanket which obscured the full extent of the abuse.
Perhaps most disturbingly, further footage captured by Ms Perry showed Ruane luring Dice out of his crate by pretending to offer him affection, only to punch him and throw him back into the crate by his throat.
Juice-head Ruane pictured outside court
RSPCA inspectors attended Ruane’s address and confronted him with the footage. He confirmed he was the man in the video and admitted his behaviour was unacceptable, blaming steroids for making his head “fucked”. The court heard he became tearful and said “if I could change it I would”.
Both Dice and Kilo were removed and Dice showed behavioural problems which experts said were linked to the abuse. Vets also noted he was slouching and struggled walking, leading to a diagnosis of hip dysplasia caused by an underlying genetic disorder.
Dice and Kilo
The court heard the RSPCA believed the long-lasting behavioural issues caused by the abuse were a danger in a dog capable of causing life-changing injuries to humans and other dogs, and combined with the suffering caused by his pre-existing conditions, a decision was made to put Dice to sleep. The court heard the abuse did not directly cause severe injuries leading to Dice’s death, however.
Peter Gilmore, defending, highlighted his client had no previous convictions for violence or animal cruelty and was a young man. He said: “This offending was out of character for him. It occurred at a time when he was abusing steroids; that’s not an excuse but it is an explanation as to why he was unable to control his anger at that time.
“His anger was unfairly and wrongly directed at the dog; that he regrets and is horrified by. He’s no longer using steroids and he realises now on reflection they changed him and his behaviour was worse when he took them.”
Mr Gilmore said “as hard as it is to believe” Ruane’s relationship with the dogs had “another side” and he “loved them”. He said his client had experienced an emotional toll over losing them because of his own behaviour.
The judge, Recorder Richard Leiper, QC, said: “It was harrowing to see Dice being lured out of his crate by you purporting to offer affection only to abuse him. It was a complete betrayal of a young puppy seeking comfort. I am told you were capable of being loving and caring towards the dogs, but that would make your conduct towards Dice all the more distressing towards the dog.”
However Judge Leiper said in an pre-sentence assessment by the Probation Service an officer had suggested there was a “realistic prospect of rehabilitation” and prison could store up more problems by exposing Ruane to “more sophisticated offenders”.
He said the defendant’s guilty plea, remorse and lack of previous convictions meant he could spare him immediate jail time.
Sentencing | 16-week prison term, suspended for 12 month; 150 hours of unpaid work; 20 Rehabilitation Activity days with the Probation Service; £1,800 in prosecution costs. Banned from owning or controlling any animal for five years unless a court lifted the disqualification order, which could not be for a minimum of two years.
Callum Ruane is the son of Paul Ruane, who in October 2019, was charged alongside others in relation to the import of class A and B drugs. He was said to be part of the UK’s biggest drugs and organised crime gang. The outcome of the case has not been reported and it may still be ongoing.
Phoebe Jones, who based on the evidence presented in court was complicit in her boyfriend’s routine dog abuse and was seen by a witness to do nothing to intervene, owns a beauty salon named Enhance by Phoebe Jones. The shop is located at 141 Bury New Rd, Whitefield, Manchester M45 6AA. She has over 21,000 followers on her (now private) Instagram account ‘Faces by Phe‘. Facebook business page (also currently deactivated) is here and her website is here.
We collate data on animal cruelty convictions in the UK
