Tag Archives: smallholding / allotment

Animal Abandonment, farms / smallholdings, Food Production

Bolton upon Dearne, South Yorkshire: Paul Desbro

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CONVICTED (2024) | Paul Desbro, born September 1965, of 58 Hall Broome Gardens, Bolton Upon Dearne, Rotherham S63 8AJ – for cruelty to several sheep found starved and horrifically neglected on his smallholding.

RSPCA prosecution of South Yorkshire smallholder Paul Desbro for cruelty to multiple sheep.

Desbro was prosecuted by the RSPCA following an investigation into the welfare of the livestock in his care. Inspectors visited his smallholding in Mexborough Road in May 2023 following reports of a collapsed sheep.

RSPCA prosecution of South Yorkshire smallholder Paul Desbro for cruelty to multiple sheep.

Animal rescue officer Liz Braidley said that, when she arrived at the paddock, she found two sheep looking skinny and underweight and a third ewe collapsed against the fence.

RSPCA prosecution of South Yorkshire smallholder Paul Desbro for cruelty to multiple sheep.

The ewe was emaciated, with her bones clearly visible. Large sections of her fleece were missing and the skin underneath was red and sore and covered in scabs.

Her wounds were also swarmed with flies, fly eggs and maggots.

“She was trying to turn her head to groom herself and was clearly irritated by the flies around her which were relentlessly landing on her,” Ms Braidley said.

“At this point, I knew I needed further assistance so I contacted my colleagues, the police and a vet.”

RSPCA prosecution of South Yorkshire smallholder Paul Desbro for cruelty to multiple sheep.

Ms Braidley said she was then approached by a man claiming to be the friend of the sheep’s owner and explained that they were aware of her flystrike and had clipped some of her fleece.

However, Ms Braidley said: “…when I asked if they had contacted a vet, the man said no and stated: ‘We will have to call the knacker man tomorrow’.”

The RSPCA found the owner and the police seized three sheep. Sadly, the ewe was put to sleep by a vet to end her suffering.

RSPCA inspector, Jennie Ronksley, said: “This was a sad case involving the neglect of multiple sheep including an emaciated ewe who was so severely burdened with flystrike that her skin was absolutely crawling with maggots and clearly needed veterinary attention.”

Sentencing remarks referred to this as a “deeply concerning case” and called the photographs and video footage “disturbing”.

RSPCA prosecution of South Yorkshire smallholder Paul Desbro for cruelty to multiple sheep.

In mitigation, the court heard that Desbro entered an early guilty plea, that he shared the responsibility of the livestock kept on the smallholding with two other friends and was not experienced in keeping sheep so was ignorant of their welfare needs rather than malicious.

He was described as giving “well-meaning but incompetent care”. He had no previous convictions.

Sentencing | 12-month community order with 250 hours of unpaid work; £114 victim surcharge and £2,000 in costs. He was disqualified from keeping livestock for ten years and cannot appeal this for a minimum of five years. A deprivation order was also made for the two living sheep and their lambs.

Agriland
The Star

Equine Abuse, farms / smallholdings, Food Production, horses and ponies, Multiple Species

Peasedown St John, Somerset: Katrianna Rich

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CONVICTED (2023) | smallholder Katrianna Jade Rich, born 4 May 1994, of 4 Lower Peasedown, Peasedown St John, Bath BA2 8AH – starved a horse over a prolonged period and left him to suffer.

Animal abuser Katrianna Jade Rich from Peasedown St John, Bath, Somerset

Rich pleaded guilty to animal welfare offences following an investigation by the RSPCA

The court heard how Rich, who ran a smallholding with a number of horses, sheep and goats, was visited by RSPCA Inspector Daniel Hatfield and a field officer from World Horse Welfare on February 9, 2023 after welfare concerns were raised.

Horse starved and neglected by Katrianna Jade Rich from Peasedown St John, Bath, Somerset

While there, they discovered a horse named Murphy, who despite being covered with three rugs, was in visibly poor condition.

Inspector Hatfield said: “I could still easily see his hip bones sticking through the rugs, appearing in really poor body condition and once the rugs were removed you could see just how poor bodily condition he was in.

“You could see his ribs, hips and spine easily and he stood there with his head stooped down looking extremely depressed and you could see the dips in the side of his head.”

Horses starved and neglected by Katrianna Jade Rich from Peasedown St John, Bath, Somerset

A vet was called to examine Murphy, who was found to be emaciated with a body condition score of just 0.5 out of 5. He also had poor feet with overgrown hooves which were impacted with debris, including embedded stones, and poor dental health, including a fractured tooth.

He was certified as suffering by the vet and was taken into possession by police and passed into the care of the RSPCA.

Further tests found he had a high worm burden but showed nothing abnormal to account for the poor body condition, aside from prolonged starvation.

Murphy gained weight once in the care of the RSPCA by simply being given a normal diet.

Sentencing | nine week curfew; £400 costs. Banned from keeping horses for 10 years.

Midsomer Norton, Radstock & District Journal
BBC News
ITV News

Additional Information

Katrianna Rich was only prosecuted in relation to Murphy, but there is evidence shared on social media that he was not the only horse neglected by her.

Horse starved and neglected by Katrianna Jade Rich from Peasedown St John, Bath, Somerset
Horse starved and neglected by Katrianna Jade Rich from Peasedown St John, Bath, Somerset
Conditions in which starved and neglected horses were kept by Katrianna Jade Rich from Peasedown St John, Bath, Somerset
Horse starved and neglected by Katrianna Jade Rich from Peasedown St John, Bath, Somerset
Horse starved and neglected by Katrianna Jade Rich from Peasedown St John, Bath, Somerset
Horses before and after they were taken into Katrianna Rich’s care

Katrianna Rich is a self-employed beautician and manicurist who has traded under the names Rich’s Beauty Den and Katrianna Pinup Parlour.

She also provides pet services under the name The Smallholder Fairy Pet Services & Groomer and Canis Canine.

farms / smallholdings, Food Production

Brent Knoll, Somerset: Sally Jones

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CONVICTED (2023) | Sally Victoria Jones, born September 1959, of Meadow Vale, Brent Knoll, Highbridge TA9 4BE – for cruelty offences to cattle on her smallholding.

Jones kept animals in poor and unsafe conditions with a rusty gate and barbed wire. Inspectors also found a collapsed calf in an emaciated condition, which had to be put to sleep

Jones pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the calf and three other charges for failing to ensure that animals had access to a dry lying area, failure to remove or repair sharp edges or protrusions which posed a hazard to livestock, and failure to dispose of animal-by products without ‘ undue delay’.

In addition she admitted breaching biosecurity measures put in place to reduce the risk of spread of Avian Flu.

The case against Jones was brought by Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service following concerns by members of the public.

Sentencing | £307 fine for unnecessary suffering, £184 fine for the lack of dry lying area for her cattle, £184 for the animal-by product offences, £184 fine for the sharp objects in which her cattle and sheep had access and £184 fine for breaching bio security measures in place to reduce the risk of spread of avian influenza. She was also ordered to pay £3,495 in legal costs and a £104 victim surcharge. Lifetime ban on keeping cattle.

SomersetLive

farms / smallholdings, Food Production

Seend, Wiltshire: Nick and Diane Shearmon

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CONVICTED (2022) | smallholders Nicholas Shearmon, born 21 July 1966,, and Diane Shearmon, born 19 July 1981, of Spiders Paddock, Rusty Lane, Seend, Melksham SN12 6NS for a string of animal cruelty charges in relation to cattle.

On November 19, 2019, officers from Wiltshire Council’s animal health team and vets from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) visited the couple’s smallholding.

They discovered three of their 12 cows had died. Many of the remaining cows were weak and in poor condition. One weakened cow became stuck in a muddy pool and had to be freed by Shearmon.

The court heard that on another visit on November 27, 2019, an animal health officer instructed the Shearmons to call a vet within 48 hours to a cow which appeared to have laboured breathing. A vet was not called and an officer from the animal health team subsequently attended the holding.

The cow was found in a collapsed state and required urgent veterinary attention. This animal was eventually euthanised by the couple’s private vet.

The offenders pleaded guilty to the following charges in court:

  • Causing unnecessary suffering to three cows, which at post-mortem were found to be chronically malnourished and having a lungworm infection
  • Causing unnecessary suffering by failing to seek veterinary attention for a cow which was anaemic, dehydrated and extremely thin
  • Failing to isolate ill or injured animals in appropriate accommodation
  • Failing to care appropriately for a cow which appeared ill or injured by failing to seek veterinary advice
  • Failing to protect nine cows from risks to their health by preventing access to a muddy bog/pond containing debris
  • Failing to report the movement of four cattle
  • Failing to hold three carcases in such a manner that no animal or bird had access to them

Sentencing | 100 hours of unpaid community work; ordered to pay £8,000 costs plus victim surcharge of £190. Banned from keeping, owning, dealing in or transporting cattle for 10 years.

Wiltshire Live

farms / smallholdings, Food Production

East Retford, Nottinghamshire: Gemma Slinger

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CONVICTED (2022) | Gemma Ruth Slinger, born December 1973, of 3 Westside Cottages, North Road, Torworth, Retford DN22 8NT – neglected pigs on her smallholding.

Gemma Slinger left pigs on her land to starve.

Slinger, who is a company director and owner of the Cuckoo Café in East Retford, pleaded guilty to a number of welfare and animal by-product offences.

Officers from the county council’s trading standards division found goat and pig carcasses on her land that had rotted and decomposed to the bone, while malnourished pigs rooted around for food.

There was no feed nor water available for the animals and officers also found chickens roaming the grounds freely, exposed to the risk of catching bird flu, despite national measures requiring poultry to be housed.

Sentencing | fined £350. Banned from owning farmed livestock for 10 years.

Lincolnshire Live
West Bridgford Wire

farms / smallholdings, Food Production, Multiple Species, Serial Animal Abusers

Liskeard, Cornwall: Kevin Henwood

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CONVICTED (2022) | Kevin Anthony Henwood, born c. 1966, of 3 Melbourne Bungalows, Liskeard PL14 4JB – disqualified from keeping cattle, pigs and sheep after admitting a number of animal welfare offences.

Part-time farmer Kevin Henwood pleaded guilty to allowing sheep to have access to concrete, plastic, shingles, slates, insulation, gypsum boards, wood, electrical wires, hollow silicone tubes and many sharp objects such as a hacksaw, a screwdriver and a fork and a pile of wood with nails. before April 22, 2021.

He also pleaded guilty to failing to give sheep a quick effective treatment for lameness on or before June 28, 2021.

Henwood also admitted charges relating to the improper disposal of sheep and lamb carcasses and failure to produce drug and mortality records. He also failed to keep records of sheep movement.

Serial animal abuser Henwood was previously prosecuted for cruelty offences in 2005 and banned for two years for cruelty offences in 2008.

Sentencing: 200 hours of unpaid work; total of £2,095 in costs and charges. Disqualified from raising cattle, pigs and sheep for a period of ten years. Order suspended for 28 days.

South West Farmer
Falmouth Packet

Equine Abuse, farms / smallholdings, Food Production, horses and ponies

Poole, Dorset: Dave and Sue Boxall

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CONVICTED (2021) | David Charles Boxall, born 7 May 1960, and wife Susan M Boxall, born 28 January 1955, of 2 Turbary Close, Parkstone, Poole BH12 4HD – for neglect and starvation of two alpacas and a horse

Dave Boxall (pictured) and wife Sue neglected animals on their Dorset smallholding, including alpaca Leo, whose emaciated remains were discovered by the RSPCA.
Dave Boxall (pictured) and wife Sue neglected animals on their Dorset smallholding, including alpaca Leo, whose emaciated remains were discovered by the RSPCA.


The Boxalls refused to call in a vet after their alpacas – named Leo (pictured) and Reggie – fell into poor health due to the couple’s “prolonged neglect”.

When an RSPCA inspector carried out visits to their smallholding in Lytchett Matravers, Dorset, earlier in 2021 they found the alpacas severely underweight with overgrown nails and fleeces.

Leo had already died while Reggie had to be put down later.

A court heard the mammals died from either septicaemia or pneumonia which would have been preventable had the Boxalls sought help for them.

The RSPCA inspector also found a horse called Eddie in a poor state of health due to neglect.

Matthew Knight, prosecuting for the RSPCA, told the court: “The horse was severely underweight, had poor teeth and trouble eating.

“Mr Boxall told inspectors nothing was wrong, he was just old and had lost some muscle due to lack of exercise.

“A reasonable owner would always seek vet advice for that amount of weight loss. That degree of loss would have taken a considerable time to happen, at least a month, and could have been avoided with proper nourishment and suitable worming.

“Leo was very underweight and the coat was long, thick and matted, the nails were overgrown and twisted. The cause of death was either septicaemia or pneumonia and could have been entirely preventable if a suitable worming treatment had been put in place.

“Mr Boxall said he had kept horses for 50 years and alpacas for seven years. He disagreed with officers that the horse needed treatment and said ‘it wasn’t that bad’ and it was ‘old age’.

“These animals were patently in need of care and assistance but these defendants who think they know better resisted advice and that has led to the suffering of these animals.

The Boxalls denied any wrongdoing but were found guilty of eight offences each relating to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and duty of care for the animals.

Magistrates agreed the case passed the custody threshold, but decided to suspend the prison after hearing the couple were carers for their disabled son.

Sentencing: 18 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months. Ordered to pay £1,406 costs between them. Disqualified from owning horses and alpacas for five years (expires December 2026).

Dorset Echo

Birds, farms / smallholdings, Food Production, Multiple Species, Serial Animal Abusers

Praze an Beeble, Cornwall: John and Sam Read

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CONVICTED (2021) | farmers John Christopher Read, born December 1949, and Sam Read, born 1985, of Prospect Farm, Higher Trethannas, Praze, Camborne TR14 9PQ – committed a string of animal welfare offences.

Sam Read and his equally cruel and incompetent father John Read were given an immediate prison sentence and a 10-year ban.
Repeat offender Sam Read and his equally cruel and incompetent father John Read were given an immediate prison sentence and a 10-year ban on keeping farm animals.

The Reads had moved from London to Cornwall to set up a smallholding 20 years earlier. But when Cornwall Council’s Animal Health Team visited the farm in December 2020, they found animals kept in unacceptable conditions.

Several of the animals were emaciated and one lamb could hardly walk.

At a follow-up visit the following month, inspectors found cattle with no food or bedding. Cows kept inside were caked in dung and sheep were covered in mud and shivering from the cold.

When a complaint was received in May 2021, inspectors found goats had overgrown hooves and access to dirty water and cattle were being fed poor-quality hay.

At a hearing on August 4, 2021, the Reads pleaded guilty to the following charges:

  • Failing to provide cattle with a clean well-drained lying area
  • Failing to protect cattle from dangerous objects
  • Failing to provide geese and ducks with clean litter and adequate light and ventilation
  • Failing to provide a lame lamb with prompt effective treatment
  • Failing to provide six yearling bullocks and heifers with clean well-drained lying areas

They received a 19-week custodial sentence and were disqualified from keeping farm animals for 10 years.

Both defendants appealed to Truro Crown Court and during mitigation, the court was told that considerable improvements have now been made to the farm and no animals had been treated deliberately cruelly.

Kevin Hill, prosecuting for the council, told the court many of the sheep were emaciated and had no quality supplementary feed.

The cattle were in poor body condition, kept on high ground and moorland, and had no shelter and no quality hay to eat. The cattle also had access to scrap and collapsed fencing.

The poultry were shut in a shed with no ventilation.

The court also heard the defendants had been sentenced for similar offences in 2019 and 2020 and so were in contravention of a suspended sentence.

Judge Simon Carr said the cruelty had been deliberate and in a commercial context and as such the 19-week custody sentence was appropriate and not appealable.

The court also imposed a disqualification order in respect of farmed animals for a period of 10 years. The order was suspended for a period of 28 days to allow the farmed animals to be disposed of.

Falmouth Packet
ITV News

Birds, cockfighting, farms / smallholdings, Food Production, Organised Animal Crime, Traveller Animal Crimes

Low Harker, Carlisle: Robert Morrison

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CONVICTED (2021) | Robert Marshall Morrison, born 20 August 1982, of 5 Atchin Tan, Low Harker, Carlisle CA6 4DD – kept 69 chickens and cockerels in poor living conditions

Gypsy Robert Morrison kept dozens of chickens in small ‘filthy’ runs and cast dead ones aside 'like rubbish'
Gypsy Robert Morrison kept dozens of chickens in small ‘filthy’ runs and cast dead ones aside ‘like rubbish’

Scottish gypsy Morrison, who has links to Castle Douglas in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, originally faced accusations that he was breeding and keeping cockerels for the purpose of animal fights. He was also accused of having cock-fight equipment – including ‘wound powder’, muscle ointments, suturing needles and syringes, and vitamin supplements. Ultimately though he was only convicted of neglect, following a three-day trial.

The RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit (SOU) launched an investigation into Morrison in 2019 and found he was visiting an allotment in Glasson, Lancashire, to tend to a number of cockerels being kept there.

In October 2019, the charity worked with Cumbria Police to execute three warrants at Morrison’s home, his vehicle and the allotment where he kept the birds, around a 40-minute drive from his address. He was arrested after officers found 69 birds – some emaciated and all being kept in filthy conditions – at the allotment site.

RSPCA SOU officer Kirsty Withnall, who investigated, said: “Many of the birds had inadequate access to food and water, and were being kept in completely unsuitable conditions; in wet, muddy, dirty runs and pens.

Some of the birds were being kept in small, cramped spaces with no enrichment; they were pacing up and down and circling due to boredom.

“We found the dead bodies of birds hidden inside a blue bin while other remains were decomposing on a nearby rubbish tip. They’d been cast aside like rubbish.”

Morrison admitted ownership and responsibility for the birds.

All of the birds were examined by a vet, seized by police either because they were suffering or their needs were not being met, and taken into the RSPCA’s care. One cockerel was taken to a local vet but, sadly, later died.

The others – 17 hens and the remaining all cockerels – were taken into private boarding where they have remained while the investigation progressed.

A Cumbria Police spokesperson said: “We welcome the outcome of this investigation. This behaviour is unacceptable and we will continue to work in partnership with the RSPCA and other agencies to stop this type of unnecessary suffering.”

Sentencing: 15-month community order, 200 hours of unpaid work and a 15-day rehabilitation order; £1,500 costs and victim surcharge of £90. He was legally deprived of all of his birds, meaning they can now be rehomed by the RSPCA. Disqualified from keeping birds for seven years.

LancsLive
News and Star

Birds, farms / smallholdings, Food Production, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire: Peter McCauley

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CONVICTED (2021) |  Peter Stuart McCauley, born c. 1992, of 23 Rhyddings Street, Oswaldtwistle, Accrington BB5 3ER – tied a chicken to a tree and then instructed his eight-year-old son how to shoot it with a crossbow.

Pete McCauley, career criminal and animal abuser
Persistent criminal Pete McCauley can now add animal cruelty to his list of convictions.

Career criminal McCauley whose previous convictions include burglary and dangerous driving instructed his son to fire two bolts at the terrified animal. When they bounced off McCauley moved the child closer.

The third bolt went through the chicken’s neck before McCauley stepped forward and fired a bolt which also went through its neck.

The court was told McCauley then pulled out both bolts while the chicken was still alive.

McCauley recorded the whole horrific incident and then posted it on social media.

Window fitter McCauley pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

Deputy District Judge Roger Lowe described it as a “terrible” offence.

“It was aggravated by the fact you had your eight-year-old son with you and encouraged him to shoot the crossbow at this poor animal,” said Deputy District Judge Lowe. “You added insult to injury by posting this on social media.”

Paul Ridehalgh, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said they received a complaint from a member of the public who had seen a number of videos showing McCauley and his son firing crossbow bolts at a domestic hen.

Mr Ridehalgh said the footage showed the hen tethered to a tree by its leg. McCauley and his son were both holding crossbows.

“The defendant could be heard instructing the boy what to do,” said Mr Ridehalgh. “He fired two bolts which hit chicken but bounced off. The boy moved closer, and still under instruction from his dad, fired again. This time the bolt penetrated the hen’s neck.”

Mr Ridehalgh said McCauley fired a bolt at the bird which also penetrated its neck. “The bird was still alive when the defendant pulled the bolts out,” said Mr Ridehalgh.

McCauley then showed the boy how to pluck the chicken.

A vet who viewed the videos said the bird was conscious when it was shot at and reacted by vocalising and trying to escape.

“He said it was clear the bird had suffered and displayed fear and distress,” said Mr Ridehalgh.

He said it had been deliberate abuse and the bird died after suffering a high degree of pain.

“There was limited co-operation with the investigating officer and it is clear he doesn’t think he has done anything wrong,” said Mr Ridehalgh.

Gareth Price of Forbe Solicitors, defending, said his client had mental health issues and had taken an allotment and started keeping animals and growing vegetables as a therapy.

“He knows he should not have done it and should not have involved his son,” said Price.

Sentencing: 12 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months; 200 hours of unpaid work; total of £528 costs and charges. Banned from keeping animals for five years (expires January 2026).

Lancashire Telegraph