CONVICTED (2023) | backyard breeders Joshua Brown, born 2 August 1991, and Mary Lou Brown, née Mary Lou Wenman, born 15 December 1990, of Kew Garden, Antlands Lane, Shipley Bridge, Horley RH6 9TE – kept 20 malnourished dogs in filthy unsanitary kennels.
A Surrey court handed travellers Joshua and Mary Lou Brown a combined fine of £10,000 and suspended sentences after police officers seized 20 dogs from kennels they described as the “worst” they had ever seen.
One kennel was found with “layers of faeces”, while dogs are said to have survived only on bread and McDonald’s takeaways.
Police raided the address in Shipley Bridge back in April 2021 where they found 20 dogs, who were seized under the Animal Welfare Act.
Investigating officer PC Lee Newman claimed the state the animals were found in was the “worst” he had seen in his career.
The couple attempted to use the defence ‘we didn’t own them’ to justify the maltreatment of these animals, Surrey Police said.
Surrey Police confirmed that all 20 dogs have since been rehomed and are living a much happier life, but said that “a couple are still struggling” to understand there are kind people in the world, police added.
PC Newman said: “Over the course of my career, the state these animals were found in was the worst I’ve ever seen.
“The robust sentence imposed by the court goes to show that the police and criminal justice system will work together to ensure that offenders will not get off lightly.
“It’s satisfying to see that the courts will take a serious stance on cruelty towards animals and, while the victims of these crimes were not humans, they have been given the justice they deserve as much as anyone else.”
All kennels at the Shipley Bridge address were said to be in a “poor state”, but Wildlife and Rural Crime officer PC Laura Rowley described one as the worst she has smelt. This was said to have had a dirty floor with a damaged roof as well as layers of faeces.
Follow-up enquiries also established the dogs’ diets had widely consisted of bread and fast food.
Sentencing |
Joshua Brown: 20 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for 18 months and 200 hours of unpaid work.
Mary Lou Brown: 12 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for 18 months and 120 hours of unpaid work.
Both were ordered to pay £5,000 compensation – £10,000 total.
Both were disqualified from owning or controlling dogs or horses for 10 years.
SurreyLive
ITV News
Additional Information
Until August 2019, the Browns ran a used car company called Brown Auto Ltd.
