CONVICTED (2023) | wildlife persecutor Brandon Lawlor, born 29 December 1999, of Lowerhouse Lane, Rose Grove, Burnley BB12 6HZ – goaded two dogs into fighting with a badger.
Irish traveller Lawlor, a former jockey and employee of Sue Smith Racing, was prosecuted alongside accomplice Carl Harwood (sentenced in February 2021) after footage on his mobile phone showed him illegally fighting two dogs with a badger in Lancashire.
One of the dogs had 22 individual scarred puncture wounds on the side of his head from the incident.
Toby suffered a litany of injuries consistent with badger baiting
The “absolutely horrific” film, which was recorded in Burnley in June 2021, was described by an RSPCA inspector as “very difficult to watch and to listen to”.
Lawlor pleaded guilty to one offence contrary to the Protection of Badgers Act 1991 when he appeared at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court on September 21, 2023, in a prosecution brought by the RSPCA.
There had been a warrant out for his arrest.
Magistrates were told police found the disturbing footage on his mobile phone on August 13, 2021, after he was being investigated for non-related offences.
Two dogs, including a 14-month-old bull lurcher called Toby, were seen attacking the badger on the head, throat and back, with a male voice encouraging them on.
RSPCA inspector Lyndsey Taylor, along with the charity’s Special Operations Unit (SOU) and Lancashire Police’s Ribble Valley rural task force, visited the defendant’s house on October 19, 2021.
The court heard how they went into the living room and saw Toby being held on a lead.
The dog, who was wearing the same type of collar as that seen in the mobile phone footage, had a significant scar which ran lengthwise along almost the entire length of the top of his head.
On the left-hand side of the lower jaw and surrounding area there were 22 individual scarred puncture wounds, and on the right-hand side there were nine.
Harwood was convicted in relation to the same incident and sentenced in February 2023
More recent scarring and scabbing was seen underneath the dog’s left hind paw and lower leg.
Carl Harwood, who was at the property with Lawlor, told the officers the injuries had been sustained while out lamping and ratting.
Inspector Taylor was concerned about Toby’s welfare and he was seized by police and taken by the RSPCA to be seen by a vet.
In her evidence to the court, inspector Taylor described the mobile phone footage.
She said: “It was filmed in the dark but two dogs can be seen attacking a badger as initially, when the recording begins, a bright light can be seen being shone on the animals.
“The footage is very difficult to watch and to listen to, it is absolutely horrific.
“All the way through the footage the badger can be heard screaming in pain and it is extremely distressed, with the dogs heard panting also.
“At around eight seconds, when Toby has lost interest and has left the badger, a male voice can be heard to say something like ‘here Toby, Toby get it, get it.’
“The dog can then be seen joining the first dog in attacking the badger again.
“The men heard to be present during the recording made no attempt or effort to get the dogs under control and prevent them from fighting and attacking the badger.”
Her colleague, inspector Chris Haywood from the RSPCA’s special operations unit, which investigates wildlife crime, also gave evidence.
He said: “In my opinion, and based on previous experience, these wounds were caused by close combative contact with a badger.
“In 34 years of dealing with dogs I have never seen these types of injuries on any other breeds other than lurchers, bull lurchers and terriers, and known them to be caused by any other means than by a badger.”
In his evidence, the vet who examined Toby said the scars on his head, muzzle, throat and chest, represented skin injuries that had healed and had therefore occurred at least four weeks prior to his examination.
“In my opinion, Toby would have been caused to suffer in the absence of timely and appropriate veterinary care at the time of skin injury,” he said.
“With regards to the video footage, the person present at the time the two dogs were attacking the badger failed to take reasonable steps to intervene and bring the dog under close control in order to prevent him from continuing to fight with the badger, thereby failing to protect these animals from injury, pain and suffering.”
In mitigation, the court heard Lawlor had been a jockey who had come over from Ireland after his career had ended because of injury.
He said he accepted badger baiting was abhorrent and apologised for his actions.
Toby was cared for by the RSPCA. The whereabouts and owner of the other dog seen in the video are unknown.
Speaking after sentencing, inspector Taylor said: “This case has taken a long time to conclude but I’m pleased that both men who were involved in this case have been held to account for their actions.
“Illegal badger baiting causes significant pain, suffering, huge distress and even death to the animals involved, all for the enjoyment of people who take part in it and shockingly, find pleasure in such activities.
“We would urge anyone with information about incidents like this to report them to the RSPCA or their local rural crime team.”
Co-defendant Carl Harwood, of 16 Cobden Street, Padiham, Burnley BB12 8DS, was given a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and disqualified from keeping animals for five years in February 2023.
CONVICTED (2022) | former Quorn huntsman John Oliver Finnegan known as Ollie Finnegan, born 13 August 1985, previously of the Quorn Hunt Kennels, Gaddesby Lane, Melton Mowbray LE14 2TQ but more recently of Kennel Lane, Northwich – for illegal hunting with dogs.
Ollie Finnegan was convicted of breaching the Hunting Act after dozens of incriminatory WhatsApp messages were found on his phone
Finnegan, who is now huntsman of the Cheshire Hunt based in Sandiway, Northwich, was seen fox hunting on 7 January 2022. He was caught during a joint meet near Hartpury between Leicestershire’s Quorn Hunt and the Ledbury Hunt, which is based in Gloucestershire.
The meet came less than a fortnight after Ledbury joint hunt master David Redvers said his hunt was committed to trail hunting, which is legal.
Finnegan is now a huntsman with the Cheshire Hunt.
Key evidence was found on Finnegan’s phone after it was seized by officers from Leicestershire Police.
WhatsApp messages on the day show communication about illegal fox-hunting with an unnamed huntsman.
He asked Finnegan: “How’d you get on at Ledbury today?”
Finnegan replies “Only found a brace [of foxes]. First one went to ground, The second went 5 fields to a real thick cover which we weren’t aloud in and had to stop [the hounds].”
The huntsman replies: “used to be full of them round there! Had my best days around there.”
On another occasion the Master says “How did this evening go?” to which Finnegan replied “Found 2 brace [foxes] seen another 2 brace, very busy all night. Hounds hunted well considering the heat.”
Dozens of messages and videos were found on Finnegan’s phone, but only a tiny minority were shared with the court.
Following the conviction, a spokesperson for the British Hound Sports Association (BHSA) said: “We can confirm that a current member of the BHSA has today pleaded guilty to illegal hunting on 7th January 2022, near Hartbury, Glos.
“This organisation does not condone illegal activity and the matter has been referred to the Hound Sports Regulatory Authority (HSRA) which is the regulatory body responsible for disciplinary matters.”
Finnegan with wife Rachel Finnegan, who hunts in her own right, and their two boys
Speaking about the case, Lynn Sawyer of Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs, said : “Three counties sabs are pleased that the Hunting Act has been enforced in this case.
“Along with Herefordshire hunt sabs we attended the joint Quorn/Ledbury meet to protect foxes and we will continue to sab fox hunts until they stop harming wildlife.”
The allegations related to an incident in Breedon on the Hill, North West Leicestershire, on February 4, 2020.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty and faced trial in August 2021.
Matcham and Finnegan pictured during their court appearance in August 2021
Shockingly they were found not guilty after the Crown Prosecution Service accepted the case had no reasonable prospect of conviction.
The Crown had claimed footage filmed by the League Against Cruel Sports showed ‘a proper fox hunt going back to the olden days’.
But the first witness in the case, the League’s staff member Roger Swaine, told the court on Tuesday that he could not see where Matcham was looking when a fox was seen to emerge from a covert.
Defence lawyer Stephen Welford then asked Mr Swaine: “It’s perfectly reasonable to suggest that hounds were in that bit of covert, they had found an artificial trail…and a fox popped out. That is one possibility, is it not?”
Mr Swaine answered: “Yes.”
Explaining the Crown’s decision to drop the case, before Finnegan and Matcham had given evidence, prosecutor Mark Fielding said: “The Crown Prosecution Service have a duty to review the prospects of success of a matter at all times, up to and including the end of the case.
“Suffice to say, having listened to Mr Swaine giving clearly honest and truthful evidence in cross-examination, for which he is to be commended, my impression, which I communicated to the reviewing lawyer, was that this case no longer had a reasonable prospect of success.”
Immediately after Mr Fielding’s comments, the chair of the three-strong magistrates’ bench entered not guilty verdicts on both defendants.
Martin Sims, director of investigations at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “We’re understandably disappointed with this result but we stand by the evidence we presented, which clearly shows hounds hunting a fox.
“While there are questions that need to be answered about the prosecution’s approach, it’s yet further confirmation that the Hunting Act needs to be strengthened so that it does what it’s supposed to – preventing foxes being chased by hounds.”
He and co-accused Matthew Ramsden, 35, pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutor Natalie Cheeseman alleged the defendants allowed a pack of hounds to chase a fox in Brokenborough, Malmesbury, at about 8.30am on 13 September 2021.
She said the prime evidence, in the form of video footage, was provided by a member of Cirencester Illegal Hunt Watch.
Ms Cheeseman alleged that Matcham and Ramsden were “knowingly engaged in hunting a fox” and did nothing to stop the hounds from pursuing the fox.
She added: “No one appears to do anything to stop the hounds chasing fox”.
Daniel Gill, defending, said his clients both deny hunting whilst legally following a trail and that they “did everything they could” to stop the hounds from pursuing the fox.
The trial will be heard at Swindon Magistrates’ Court later in 2022, but legal advisor Juen Batchelor said a date cannot be fixed until expert witnesses have confirmed their availability.
Matcham, of Kennel Drive, Badminton, and Ramsden, of High Street, Badminton, were remanded on unconditional bail.
Update | August 2023
Finnegan, most recently employed by the Cheshire Hunt, was found guilty of two counts of illegal hunting. He was convicted in his absence after he failed to attend court for a third time.
Finnegan was fined the maximum amount – £1000 – for each of the two offenses and must pay court costs. He was also given a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order including one sanction stating that he cannot hunt with more than 10 hounds.
The Hunt Saboteurs report that Finnegan has now moved to Ireland where foxhunting is legal.
CONVICTED (2022) | Adrian Joseph David Williams, born July 1989, of 122a Parsons Hill, Kings Norton, Birmingham B30 3QP – inflicted blunt force trauma on his cat before throwing him out of a first-floor window.
Williams said he had lost his temper and tossed the cat out of the window. A witness said the cat tried to cling on to a shop roof like a scene out of the Lion King before he hit the ground and started writhing in agony.
When police arrived they found Williams, who was smoking cannabis, had dumped the unnamed male cat in his shower and left him to die.
Williams, a company director* and musician performing under the name Big Que or Q-Madness and co-owner of record label Madness Records, denied two animal welfare offences but was found guilty in his absence at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on February 7, 2022. He had been prosecuted by the RSPCA.
District Judge John Bristow concluded Williams had inflicted blunt force trauma to the cat’s head, rendering him unconscious, BEFORE he hurled him outside.
Police were called to the scene, outside Price Cutter, at around 1.30pm on June 30, 2020.
Pc Gemma Wilkinson told the court she could smell cannabis as soon as she entered Williams’ flat. She said the defendant admitting throwing the cat out of the window and then saw the animal lying motionless in the shower cubicle.
Her body-worn camera captured Williams say: “Well basically the cat today has been going everywhere, p***ing everywhere and I lost my temper with him. I have gone to put him out the window and I threw him out the window.”
Witness Dayle Synott had just arrived at the shops with his young son when the incident took place.
He said: “I came around the corner and heard like a thud. I looked up and saw the cat tumble. There’s a flat roof six foot in length above. The cat tumbled on it and gripped on to the ledge trying to stay on the roof.
“There was too much force which took it straight over the ledge. It hit the ground and started fitting. At this point I picked up my son to shield him from it.”
Mr Synott said everything happened in a matter of seconds adding: “It fell on the ledge and started really squealing. For lack of a better term it looked like the scene in the Lion King, it was clinging on for dear life.”
Williams during a court appearance.
Describing what happened next, he said: “The man came out. He had no remorse on his face at all. Not a lick of emotion. I was shouting whoever lives up there come outside and get this cat now.
“I was sick to my stomach. I couldn’t believe it. My son should never have had to see that.”
Cat killer Adrian Williams aka Big Que
CCTV fitted above the shop captured the cat falling to the ground and writhing on the pavement. A number of members of the public could be seen approaching the animal before Williams appeared and scooped him up.
Dr Sean Taylor, an expert veterinary witness, said the cat had an injury to the left side of his face caused by blunt force trauma which was inconsistent with a fall.
He concluded he must have been unconscious when he was tossed out of the window because he did not right itself in the air. Dr Taylor said: “It’s a reflex response that’s triggered by sight and balance. If it is off-balance it will try to right itself.
“Cats are the only animals in the world that sense motion that’s abnormal and right themselves very quickly, which is why a cat never falls without landing on its feet.”
He said the cat appearing to grip itself on the shop roof was likely circumstantial.
Williams gave a ‘no comment’ interview after being arrested.
Judge Bristow said: “Based on the evidence I have heard I am sure Adrian Williams is guilty of both offences.”
At the start of the hearing the court was told Williams had instructed his solicitors he would not be able to attend the trial due to a physical disability. But Judge Bristow ruled it was in the ‘interest of justice’ to proceed in his absence in light of the fact he had not provided any medical evidence of his condition.
The court also heard Williams had mental health issues but no further detail was provided. He was not legally represented during the trial.
Williams was due to be sentenced at a later date, but no details are available.
CONVICTED (2021) | Margaret Cawley, husband John Cawley, Joseph Cawley Senior, Joseph Cawley Junior, Michael Cawley, Annalise Cawley, John O’Brien and wife Mary O’Brien, Daniel and James Yeboah, Mary Ward, Austin Paice and Rebecca Hall – imported and sold sick puppies across Buckinghamshire.
Members of an international puppy farming gang based in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, were jailed for a total of more than 18 years after masterminding a large operation to traffic sick puppies into the UK from southern Ireland to be sold on to the public.
Annalise Cawley with her father Joseph Cawley Senior
In total, thirteen people appeared at Aylesbury Crown Court for sentencing. These included several members of Irish traveller family the Cawleys, who originate from Mullacreevie Park, County Armagh.
Joseph John Cawley a/a Joseph Cawley Junior
Ten of the defendants pleaded guilty to fraud and nine of those also admitted animal welfare offences, and a further three pleading guilty to animal welfare offences.
John Christopher Cawley with Kathleen Cawley (the latter wasn’t prosecuted).
Seven were handed immediate jail terms totalling more than 18 years; the longest combined prison sentences an RSPCA investigation has ever seen.
Lead RSPCA investigator Michelle Hare said the prosecution followed “a large multi-agency investigation into a sophisticated and complex puppy farming ring in the Milton Keynes area”.
She added: “This operation was led by the Cawley family who were illegally breeding and importing puppies to supply to third parties – or frontmen – to be sold to unsuspecting members of the public on their behalf.
“Dogs were kept in poor conditions in lorry containers and the backs of vans and were often riddled with health problems but were sold to innocent families who were hoping to add a dog to their homes but were, instead, left with staggering vet bills, dogs with complicated needs and, for some, the heartache of losing their puppy.”
Between June and November 2019, the RSPCA and Trading Standards received a large number of complaints about the sale of puppies from different addresses in the Milton Keynes area.
The gang would smuggle several dogs into the UK from southern Ireland a day and then kept them in atrocious conditions.
Some of them had become sick and others had undisclosed health issues.
Three of the puppies died and many had been sold with fraudulent vaccination cards.
Initially these cases were investigated in isolation but, as statements were gathered, it became apparent that the addresses were linked and the RSPCA joined up with Milton Keynes Council’s Trading Standards department to investigate.
Brother and sister Joseph Cawley Junior and Annalise Cawley
In March 2020, RSPCA officers joined Thames Valley Police as they executed warrants at six addresses, one storage unit and a number of unregistered vehicles at the Willen Road travellers’ site in Newport Pagnell and Avon House in Bletchley, Milton Keynes.
Police seized 54 dogs including cocker spaniels, schnauzers, chihuahuas, springer spaniels, Labradors, beagles and poodles.
In her witness statement, Inspector Hare said:
“As I made my way onto the site it was clear that there were a very large number of dogs and puppies present. Other than a couple of dogs running loose on site, the rest were all being housed in lorry bodies and storage containers situated on the site.
“Some of the dogs had untreated health problems and conditions including fur loss, ear infections and dental disease, and they were all being kept in wholly inappropriate environments.
Annalise Cawley with husband Patrick Cawley. The latter was not prosecuted.
“The trailers had been split into pens and all of the dogs were being kept in poor conditions. The kennels were dirty and smelt strongly of ammonia, while one of the pens was full of hazards including nails sticking out, sharp metal mesh and wires hanging down. There were holes in the walls and floor that appeared to have been caused by the dogs trying to chew out of the space.
“We removed four pregnant bitches and a poodle cross who had recently given birth, along with five poodle cross puppies who were just 48-hours-old. Police seized a total of 51 dogs and a further four litters of puppies were born in our care.”
Officers found empty vaccination vials and needles, alongside flea and worming products, a stack of blank vaccination sheets which matched those the victims had been given when they purchased puppies from the associated addresses.
Interviews were conducted with members of the Cawley family – who admitted ownership of some dogs but claimed they didn’t know who owned others – and with the ‘frontmen’: Yeboah, John and Mary O’Brien, Hall and Paice.
Annalise Cawley with husband Patrick Cawley
A separate investigation had been carried out following the sale of puppies from another second property in Milton Keynes. But it was soon linked with this investigation – named Operation Sandpiper – when CCTV footage was obtained showing a man, identified as John Christopher Cawley from Willen Road, delivering puppies.
A second vehicle – a red van recorded as travelling on a ferry from Belfast to Liverpool on 29 October 2019 with passengers listed under the Cawley name – was also seen delivering puppies to this property and later returned from Holyhead to Dublin on 13 November. The contact number provided by the passengers matched the number used to advertise three litters of puppies online.
A witness went to view a Dalmatian puppy at the address after an online advert was posted; it explained the puppy was being rehomed as it was being bullied by their other dog, a pug. The same seller had also advertised a Labrador puppy, photos of which appear to have been taken in the wash house.
Another witness attended Whaddon Way, Milton Keynes, in October 2019, responding to an advert for cocker spaniel puppies. She didn’t buy the puppy from the seller – believed to be Daniel Yeboah – as it looked unwell.
She went back onto Pets 4 Homes and found another advert with the same photos but a different listed seller.
When she contacted the seller she claimed that she was having to rehome the puppy as it was being bullied by her pug.
Austin Paice
The RSPCA gathered further intelligence in October 2020 that puppies were being imported from Ireland, housed on a travellers’ site and sold online, and the adverts were linked to Michael Cawley.
On 4 November 2020, Thames Valley Police contacted the charity after an officer attended Willen Road and found puppies there. Inspector Hare attended to meet police at the scene and found a collie bitch, a cocker spaniel bitch, a 12-week-old cocker spaniel puppy, and three six-week-old spaniel cross pups on site.
Inspector Hare said: “The three youngest pups were in a dark, cold pen and they couldn’t see anything but four solid walls. The water was dirty and the bedding smelled strongly of urine. The environment was totally unsuitable.”
“Joseph Cawley Snr, who was on scene, said his cousin owned the puppies. I told him I’d be removing them and asked for the owner’s details but he refused to give them to me. Police seized the puppies. They had brown discharge in their ears, nasty infections and bloated abdomens.”
Details of convictions/sentencing:
• Annalise Cawley, born 23/03/1999, of Willen Road travellers site, Newport Pagnell MK16 0QE pleaded guilty to fraud and animal welfare act offences and received a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years and a 10-year disqualification order on all animals;
• John Christopher Cawley, born 18/08/1996, of Willen Road travellers site, Newport Pagnell MK16 0QE pleaded guilty to fraud and animal welfare act offences and received three -and-a-half years in prison and a 10-year disqualification order on all animals;
• Joseph Cawley Senior, born 10/02/1977, of Willen Road travellers site, Newport Pagnell MK16 0QE pleaded guilty to fraud and animal welfare act offences and received three years and nine months in prison and a 10-year disqualification order on all animals;
• Joseph John Cawley, born 04/12/2002, of Willen Road travellers site, Newport Pagnell MK16 0QE pleaded guilty to animal welfare act offences and received a 24-month community order with 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days, 150 hours of unpaid work and a 10 -year disqualification order on all animals;
• Margaret Cawley, born 01/11/1974, of Willen Road travellers site, Newport Pagnell MK16 0QE pleaded guilty to fraud and animal welfare act offences and received three years and nine months in prison and a 10-year disqualification order on all animals;
• Michael Cawley, born 17/07/1980, of 20 Reeves Croft, Hodge Lea, Milton Keynes MK12 6DA pleaded guilty to fraud and animal welfare act offences and received two years and three months in prison and a 10-year disqualification order on all animals;
• Rebecca Elizabeth Lorraine Hall, born 13/12/1990, of 8 Shepherds, Fullers Slade, Milton Keynes MK11 2BH pleaded guilty to fraud and animal welfare act offences and received four months suspended for two years, £750 compensation and a 10-year disqualification order on dogs;
• John Paul O’Brien, born 29/09/1971, of 11 Grangers Croft, Hodge Lea, Milton Keynes MK12 6D pleaded guilty to fraud and animal welfare act offences and received 13 months in prison and a 10-year disqualification order on dogs;
• Wendy Jane Ann O’Brien, born 04/04/1989, of 11 Grangers Croft, Hodge Lea, Milton Keynes MK12 6DA pleaded guilty to animal welfare act offences and received three months suspended for two years, three-month curfew order, £1,000 compensation and a 10-year disqualification order on dogs;
• Austin Charles Paice, born 12/12/1986, of 126 Whaddon Way, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK3 7DQ (has an alternative address at 25 Orchard House, Green Lane, Wolverton, Milton Keynes MK12 5EZ pleaded guilty to fraud and received a 13-month prison sentence. Animal welfare offences have been remitted back to the magistrates’ court;
• Mary Ward aka Mary Ward-Jackson or Mary Johnston , born 25/10/1989, of 20 Reeves Croft, Hodge Lea, Milton Keynes MK12 6DB pleaded guilty to animal welfare act offences and received three months suspended for two years, 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and a 10-year disqualification order on all animals;
• James Yeboah , born 27/08/1977, of 98 Avon House, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK3 7BS pleaded guilty to fraud and animal welfare act offences and received nine months suspended for two years, 150 hours of unpaid work, £1,000 costs and compensation, and a 10 year disqualification order;
• Daniel Yeboah, born 13/06/1976, also of 98 Avon House, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK3 7BS pleaded guilty to fraud and animal welfare offences and received three and a half years in prison and a 10-year disqualification order on all animals.
The court also issued destruction orders for 10 seized mobile phones and forfeited £16,000 of seized cash which will be distributed to the victims.
Costs of £100,357.63 were awarded to the RSPCA.
All of the dogs were cared for by the RSPCA and in foster homes and can now all be rehomed.
Joseph Cawley Jr and Sr
After the two-day sentencing hearing, Judge Francis Sheridan said: ‘Not one of the defendants in this case should ever be given a licence to breed animals.
‘The effects referred to in this case cannot be regarded by the public as anything other than utterly abhorrent.
‘This is a trade in cruelty and misery for the animals and the human beings who sought to buy them. The protection of the public must be foremost in my mind.
‘This is a massive industry and that is all it is, an industry of misery.’
The judge also warned consumers to take care when they bought dogs from the website Pets4Homes, which had been used to facilitate the sale of many of the scammers’ puppies.
CONVICTED (2019) | Kimberleigh Joanne Steele (aka Kim Donaghy), born 24 February 1989, currently of Castleland, Tulsk, County Roscommon, Ireland, and previously of Polyanthus Drive, Sleaford NG34 7HS and with links to Plymouth in Devon – bred dogs for fighting.
Kimberleigh Steele, now based in County Roscommon in Ireland, is a key member of a dog-fighting ring led by partner John Knibbs
Steele was part of a dog fighting ring which was headed up by her partner, John Herbert Knibbs.
Knibbs has failed to attend numerous hearings and a warrant is out for his arrest after he was convicted of dog fighting, ear cropping and causing unnecessary suffering.
Steele travelled from Ireland for a trial at Lincoln Magistrates Court on Monday, 8 April 2019.
Steele’s partner in life and in animal crime John Knibbs remains at large
Before moving to Ireland Steele lived in Sleaford with Knibbs and has also stayed at two different addresses in Plymouth: Downfield Walk PL7 2DT and Durban Road PL3
In court she was sentenced for aiding and abetting Knibbs as well as possession of a banned pit bull terrier. The court also heard how she had ten animals in total, which were all used in a dog fighting ring. One has since died.
RSPCA prosecutor Hazel Stevens told the court: “At the time of the raid Steele claimed to own all of the dogs.
“We are looking after the dogs in kennels for £15,700 a year. Some are so dangerous they need to be darted before the staff can go inside.”
Sentencing Steele, the judge told her: “Your partner Knibbs has not attended court and is not that big of a man without his dogs.
“The custody threshold has passed but I am going to suspend it because you have young children.”
Speaking after Steele’s sentencing RSPCA Inspector Kirsty Withnall said: “It is a shame that Knibbs wasn’t here today.
“We are pleased with the district judge’s comments and the sentence he’s handed down. Knibbs isn’t bold enough to be here, we hope he will be sentenced soon.”
Sentencing: suspended custodial sentence of 16 weeks; £615 in fines. Banned from keeping animals for a paltry five years (expires April 2024).
CONVICTED (2018) | Declan Hogan, born 26/08/1980, of 22 Powers Court, Mallow, Co Cork, Ireland – kept two dogs in deplorable conditions at his home.
Declan Hogan pleaded guilty to two counts of animal cruelty at Mallow District Court.
Animal welfare inspector Lisa O’Donovan said she found a two-year-old Labrador-type dog and a one-year-old terrier in “a critical condition” in February 2018.
Ms O’Donovan took the dogs to a local vet who said that they “endured unnecessary suffering and that without immediate intervention, it would not have been a good outcome for these dogs, and one would most definitely have died.”
Ms O’Donovan said: “I was shocked to discover a Labrador type cross dog huddled inside a shed, he was very nervous and would not move,” she said.
“Upon closer inspection, I noticed multiple open infected sores behind his ear, left shoulder, on his head and eye. Weeping wounds were visible on his legs and his paws were also swollen and badly inflamed.
“A strong pungent odour was coming from his coat later confirmed to be a mix of ectoparasites and severe bacterial and yeast infection all over the dog’s body. He was anaemic and a mild heart murmur was also present.”
She said the young terrier was also underweight adding that his “coat was greasy to the touch and was suffering from a skin infection.”
Both dogs have since made full recoveries and have been responsibly rehomed by the ISPCA.
Sentencing: Fined €800 and given a two year ban from owning an animal (expired 2020).
CONVICTED (2018) | Amy Lee, School Street Flats, Dublin 8 – kept a starved husky in her abandoned flat
Amy Lee was prosecuted for cruelty towards her pet husky named Sky, whom she had left behind in her flat when she left to move in with her mother.
DSPCA inspector Liam Kinsella told the court he went to Lee’s address after receiving a report from gardai [Irish police] and discovered Sky on the balcony.
The accused was co-operative and agreed to surrender Sky to the DSPCA, the court heard.
The husky was seen by a vet who provided a medical report for the court hearing. The report stated the husky weighed 11.6kg at the time she was handed over to the DSPCA.
There was no evidence of illness which could provide a clinical explanation for the weight loss.
The conditions that Sky was living in
Since being rescued Sky was found to have a “ravenous appetite” and has gained 7.2kg, bringing her weight up to 18.8kg. She was soon rehomed with a family and has flourished.
Defence counsel Ann Sheridan told the court her client bought Sky for her family. However, she had suffered health problems and moved back in with her mother but “left the dog behind and was there on and off”.
Pleading for leniency she asked the court to note her client was a single mother on social welfare, had no prior criminal convictions and was very apologetic.
Sky in her new home
Judge Anthony Halpin said it was a disgraceful case and he described how the photos he had been given showed a beautiful dog who had been “totally emaciated”.
He said Lee had no problem in taking care of her own health but had failed to take her dog to a vet.
The husky was “starved and uncared for and left in a state of suffering,” he said, adding, “how a person can do that to an innocent animal is beyond me.”
“Looking at the photos here would bring any animal lover to tears, it really is disgraceful, shame on you,” he told the accused.
He said, “What this animal was subjected to is inexcusable” and, he added, he had no way of knowing how long the husky was in that condition.
“But for the personal circumstances, of the defendant I would be considering a custodial sentence,” he said.
Sentencing: Total fines and costs of €200. Lifetime ban on owning any animal.
CONVICTED (2018) | Thomas Cross, 13 Grove Heights, Robertstown, County Kildare – allowed his two boxer dogs to become so emaciated they were close to death.
Thomas Cross from Robertstown, Co Kildare, was convicted of animal cruelty offences to two boxer dogs.
Cross pleaded guilty in Naas District Court on Monday 5 November 2018 to two counts of animal cruelty relating to the dogs.
The case originated after an ISPCA Inspector visiting the Co. Kildare property in January 2017 discovered the two boxer dogs in an extremely poor physical state and living in deplorable conditions.
The dogs were extremely emaciated and upon examination a vet confirmed that they were suffering from severe malnutrition with their ribs and vertebrae visibly protruding.
One dog had lesions along his back and hind legs, severely overgrown nails, and the tip of his tail had been damaged and was bleeding intermittently.
The other dog had dark discharge and scabs on his ears, his teeth were worn down and there was also evidence of chronic gingivitis.
Veterinary Surgeon Ann Neville outlined the condition of the dogs to the court, describing the animals as “near death”. Photographs taken at the time were handed into the court for consideration by the Judge.
ISPCA Chief Inspector Conor Dowling said: “The conditions these dogs were kept in is simply shocking. There is no excuse and failure to provide the basic level of care for these dogs was just not acceptable and will not be tolerated.
“The ISPCA will do all that we can to improve the welfare for all animals in Ireland and members of the public should continue to report animal welfare concerns to the ISPCA by contacting the National Animal Cruelty Helpline on 1890 515 515 or report cruelty online in confidence”
The dogs, later named Ace and Artie, made a full recovery and were also rehomed together where they are enjoying life in a fabulous new home in Dundrum, Co. Dublin.
Sentencing: two consecutive four-month terms of imprisonment (eight months in total); fined €5,000 with twelve months to pay and total costs of €2,400
CONVICTED (2018) | Irish travellers Simon O’Donnell, Margaret McDonagh, Edward Stokes, Thomas Stokes, Thomas O’Donnell and Mary McDonagh – all of Hayes, and Daniel Doherty, a practising vet from Iver Heath, Bucks – made millions of pounds from selling sick and dying puppies.
Crooked vet Daniel Doherty pocketed at least £75,000 after providing a puppy farm conspiracy gang with vaccination and health cards
Six members of an Irish traveller puppy farming gang were convicted of fraud and animal welfare offences following a three-year RSPCA investigation into puppy dealing in London and Berkshire. A vet who conspired with the gang by providing certificates which suggested the puppies were healthy and bred locally, was found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to commit fraud.
Nearly 5,000 puppies were either imported from a dealer in Ireland or bred in disgusting conditions
The RSPCA launched ‘Operation Adder’ after receiving a multitude of complaints from members of the public who had bought puppies which had fallen ill and in some cases tragically died.
RSPCA officers estimated the network of dealers were selling puppies for an average of £500 each – making at least £2,548,500 by selling 5,097 puppies during a five-year period – although investigators suspect there were many more.
The gang were most active between 2014 and 2016, before being raided by police and RSPCA investigators. Forensic examinations of mobile phones used to sell the puppies show they were making around £800,000 a year during this period.
On 27 May 2016 RSPCA officers joined Metropolitan Police officers as they executed warrants at four addresses in Hayes: Bedwell Gardens, Bradenham Road, Coldharbour Lane, and Rosedale Avenue.
A further warrant was executed by Thames Valley Police at a property in Tenaplas Drive, Upper Basildon, on 1 February 2017.
During the first warrants, a total of 46 dogs and puppies were found being kept in plastic sheds, outbuildings and garages, or running loose in gardens and yards at the four Hayes addresses. All of these were seized and placed into RSPCA care.
The dead bodies of four Yorkshire terrier puppies were found wrapped in black bin bags scattered around the garden at the property in Coldharbour Lane – thought to be from the same litter. Despite veterinary treatment, four puppies later died from parvovirus.
Three of the bitches, who were pregnant when they were seized, went on to have a total of 16 puppies, although one was still-born.
Nine dogs were later seized from the Berkshire address and taken into RSPCA care.
RSPCA inspector Kirsty Withnall, who uncovered the gang with help from the Metropolitan Police, said: “Four of the gang members are siblings and, together with their partners, launched this network of puppy sellers and dealers in west London, with Edward and Mary Teresa Stokes later continuing to sell dogs from their new address in Reading, Berkshire, while Thomas Stokes went on to sell again from another property in Feltham.
“This was an complex and sophisticated network of organised fraud and cruelty to dogs. This was a complicated and multi-faceted, high volume conspiracy whereby the gang has misrepresented commercial, puppy-farmed dogs imported from abroad as family-bred pets to con members of the public out of money.
“Puppies were illegally imported from southern Ireland before being transported to the defendants’ homes where they were kept in plastic sheds, outbuildings and garages. They were advertised online and sold for between £350 and £650 each.
“The gang were generally dealing with fashionable breeds and designer crossbreeds such as Yorkies, cavapoos and Labradoodles.”
Officers took statements from 83 victims in total, all of whom had bought puppies from the gang at different addresses, having responded to adverts posted online. Twenty-five puppies sadly died or had to be put to sleep due to severe health problems.
“Buyers have had to cover expensive veterinary bills or, tragically, lost their pet as a result of poor breeding, inappropriate transport and inadequate care,” inspector Withnall added.
“We also discovered that the sellers were using lots of different names and aliases as well as changing phone numbers.
“Prospective buyers were led to believe that the puppy they wished to purchase had been born and raised in a loving family home, the mother dog being a family pet. They were provided with paperwork relating to pedigree parentage, health documentation and vaccination certificates, much of which was falsified and did not or could not be shown to relate to the puppy in question.
“When visiting, buyers were usually met by a man, often there were children and a woman present, giving the impression of the ‘family home’ that the puppies were claimed to have been part of. They were also shown bitches claimed to be the mothers but we now know these were stooge dogs bought in to lull buyers into a false sense of security.”
Daniel Doherty, who operates two My Vets surgeries in Uxbridge, west London, conspired with the gang to commit fraud. Evidence showed that 4,689 puppies were taken to MyVet 24/7 by the gang between 23 March 2011 and 10 May 2017 for their first vaccinations, with the vet pocketing at least £75,000.
Convictions/Sentencing
Daniel Doherty, born 28 July 1968, of Wood Lane, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit fraud, was given a 12-month suspended sentence. Following a review of the case by the Court of Appeal on 19 July 2018 under the Unduly Lenient Sentencing scheme Doherty was sent to prison for three years and six months.
Following a retrial which concluded in January 2020, Doherty was sentenced to two years in jail suspended for 18 months. Doherty was released from prison after serving just eight months. He immediately returned to work as a veterinary surgeon at his practice. Simon O’Donnell, born 23 August 1987, previously of Bradenham Road, Hayes, was convicted of conspiracy to commit fraud, running a pet shop without a licence, and three animal welfare offences. He was sentenced to three years in prison (later increased to four years by the Court of Appeal). He was disqualified from keeping dogs for life. He was also ordered to pay a £170 victim surcharge. Thomas Stokes, born 16 May 1992, previously of Coldharbour Lane, Hayes, was convicted of conspiracy to commit fraud offence and one animal welfare offence. He was jailed for three years (increased to four years and eight months by the Court of Appeal). Disqualified from keeping dogs for life. He was ordered to pay a £170 victim surcharge. Thomas O’Donnell, born 27 January 1989, previously of Bedwell Gardens, Hayes, was convicted of four fraud offences and three animal welfare offences. He was handed a two-year jail term suspended for two years. He was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity. He was also disqualified from keeping dogs for life and ordered to pay £115 victim surcharge. Margaret McDonagh, born 25 September 1990, previously of Bradenham Road, Hayes was convicted of fraud and given an 18-month community order and rehabilitation activity. She was also ordered to pay £85 victim surcharge and given an order which prohibits her from keeping dogs until an application to the court to lift it. Mary McDonagh, born 15 September 1989, previously of Bradenham Road, Hayes, was convicted of fraud. She was given a 12-month community order. She was also ordered to pay £85 victim surcharge and given an order which prohibits her from keeping dogs until an application to the court to lift it. Edward Stokes, born 10 December 1982, previously of Rosedale Avenue, Hayes, and later of Tenaplas Drive, Upper Basildon in Berkshire, was convicted of fraud and animal welfare offences. He was given a two-year prison sentence suspended for two years (increased to four years and eight months in prison by the Court of Appeal). He received a lifetime ban on keeping dogs which cannot be appealed for 10 years.
In August 2018 Thomas Stokes had his prison term extended again after he continued to sell unwell dogs while being investigated.
Stokes had moved to Hughenden Road in High Wycombe while under investigation.
Police stopped Thomas Stokes’s car in High Wycombe and found three cockapoos in the boot
His ruse was uncovered when police stopped him in High Wycombe while he was in his car – as part of a separate inquiry – and they found three dogs were found in the boot of his car.
Stokes admitted a further count of fraud by false representation and two animal welfare offences.
His sentence was extended by 27 months, taking his total sentence to six years and 11 months.
Speaking after the latest sentencing, RSPCA inspector Kirsty Withnall said: “It goes to show how much money there is to be made in this trade that people will take the risk and continue selling, despite being investigated.
“Sadly though it’s the animals who pay the price when these dealers fail to put their health and welfare first.”
The RCVS Disciplinary Committee directed that Doherty be suspended from the register for just one month following his conviction for conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.
The RCVS committee said they had taken into account the circumstances of this case and, in particular, the view of the court that Doherty had been motivated solely by animal welfare concerns and not financial gain, and that it was this overriding concern that had allowed others to exploit his willingness to continue to vaccinate puppies despite their source.
CONVICTED (2017) | puppy trader Jaimie Rose Colquhoun, born 21/02/1991, of Roseberry Street, Dundee DD2 2NS – sold animals trafficked from illegal breeders in Ireland before selling them on Gumtree
Jaimie Colquhoun, who was dubbed Cruella de Vil by the media, was found guilty of selling imported farmed puppies in a Dundee supermarket car park and at Arbroath seafront
Jaimie Colquhoun was found guilty of importing dogs from puppy farms in Ireland and selling them online to unsuspecting animal lovers.
The mother-of-three was snared as part of a major multi-agency operation, known as Operation Delphin, which is aimed at combating puppy farming.
She was accused of repeatedly offering animals for sale through trading site Gumtree and meeting buyers in public car parks to carry out sales without a licence.
Colquhoun told investigators that a contact in Ireland she said she only knew as Thomas would text her once a month to tell her what breeds he had available and she would travel as a foot passenger by ferry to the Republic of Ireland to collect a litter.
She would then list them on Gumtree and carry out the transactions in car parks or at her Dundee home.
Breeds sold by Colquhoun included English Bulldogs, Morkies – a cross between a Yorkshire Terrier and a Maltese – and Pugs.
She said she did not have papers for any of the animals nor did she have them checked by vets prior to sale – aside from one which had an eye problem.
The court heard Colquhoun was first interviewed by the Scottish SPCA under caution in August 2015 and told she was suspected of a crime.
But the brazen trader went on to sell more dogs through Gumtree in October that year.
When confronted about that she whined: “I needed money for my rent.”
The trial was told that some of the animals had even been transported from Hungary via a middle man in Hertfordshire.
Colquhoun’s defence lawyer, Ian Houston of Bruce Short solicitors, claimed Scottish SPCA investigators told his client she would be branded “Cruella de Vil” and have dog excrement put through her door by animal lovers if she didn’t help their probe. This was emphatically denied by the animal charity.
Colquhoun pleaded not guilty to three charges on summary complaint of selling animals without a licence so to do.
But she was convicted of carrying on a business of selling animals at Pleasure Land in Arbroath and in the car park of Morrisons, Dundee, as well as “keeping a pet shop without a licence” at her home in Dundee between January 1 2014 and July 13 2015.
Sheriff Gregor Murray imposed a community payback order with 250 hours of unpaid work and said the maximum jail term he could impose — three months — would not be enough punishment.
But he could not impose an order banning her from keeping animals because legislation that would allow him to do so is not yet in force.
He said: “You became involved in selling dogs in an unregulated fashion purely to make money.
This forms part of a trade which, if not regulated, can cause cruelty to animals. Conduct such as yours encourages others to breed and supply such animals.”
A spokesman for the Scottish SPCA said: “Whilst we’re disappointed that she did not receive a ban we do welcome the fact that she has been dealt with by the court.
“We currently feel sentencing for animal abuse is very inconsistent in Scotland and we would like to see an increase in the maximum jail sentence which would provide the sheriff with a greater range of options.”
Sentencing: community payback order of 250 hours of unpaid work. No ban.
In May 2019 Colquhoun was convicted in the Welsh courts on four charges of contravening the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order.
In January 2017 Colquhoun was stopped by police at Holyhead Port after she came off a ferry from Ireland. She was found to have seven Pomeranian puppies in a large bag but when asked for the appropriate documents she told officials she didn’t have any.
She was found guilty after she failed to turn up at Caernarfon Magistrates Court for a video link hearing from Forfar Sheriff Court in Scotland.
Magistrates decided to proceed in her absence after being told it was the seventh time the matter had been listed and she had failed to turn up on previous occasions.
Julia Longworth, prosecuting on behalf of Anglesey Council, said Colquhoun was stopped after police saw her carrying a large bag which appeared to be moving.
“She was asked what was in the bag and she said it was her dog”.
Asked to show the dog she produced a dog carrier and a plastic bag. She then said there were four dogs but further examination found seven dogs in the two containers. There were four in the plastic bag and a further three in the dog carrier,” she said.
Ms Longworth said the Pomeranian puppies were in good condition but were “crammed in” and had no water.
“Asked for the dogs’ documentation she said “do they need any”,” she added.
Colquhoun told officers she had collected the animals from a man in County Meath for £1,500 and intended to give them to members of her family.
The pups were given water and Colquhoun was allowed to continue her journey.
Ms Longworth said anyone carrying more than five dogs needs to be authorised to do so under animal welfare regulations.
The court heard a week previously Colquhoun had been spoken to by officers at Holyhead port when she was found to be carrying four Pomeranian puppies from Ireland. Authorisation was not required on that occasion.
Finding her guilty of the charges the magistrate said: “Legislation is in place to protect animal welfare. The defendant breached the regulations knowingly and the penalty reflects that.”
Colquhoun was fined £1,000 on each charge and ordered to pay £889 in costs.
