CONVICTED (2017) | Brittany Sandra Louise McCallum, born 16 June 1997, of Ann Street, Burnbank, Hamilton ML3 0NE – starved her pet dog to skin and bone.
Single mother McCallum, originally from East Kilbride and with links to Newmains and also Watford, failed to provide the necessary care for Buster and was charged with animal cruelty following a Scottish SPCA investigation.
Buster was skeletal after being subjected to a prolonged period of starvation by single mother Brittany McCallum
Commenting on the investigation and court case, Inspector Heather Lawson said: “It was instantly clear to me that the dog was being neglected.
“His ribs, spine and pelvic bones were prominent and there was no food or water available for the dog.
“I took the dog straight to the vet where I was informed that he had no fat deposits anywhere suggesting an extended period of inadequate nutrition and weighed only 15.3kgs.
“We welcome the fact that McCallum has been dealt with by the court and the sentence handed down.
“We hope she will give serious consideration about her suitability to care for other animals in the future”.
Buster recovered from his ordeal and made available for rehoming.
Sentence: 60 hours of community work; banned from keeping animals for just three years (expired January 2020).
CONVICTED (2016) | puppy farmer Morag Jackson, born c. 1962, of Mid Lanrigg, Stonehouse, Larkhall ML9 3PD – kept dozens of terrier dogs in cramped pens and failed to properly feed or clean them
Morag Jackson was banned from keeping dogs for 15 years after the ‘gross’ neglect of those on her puppy farm
Jackson, who is originally from Turriff, Aberdeenshire and has a past conviction for running an ILLEGAL dog breeding operation, was found guilty of four offences under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 between July and September 2015.
Jackson failed to provide the necessary veterinary treatment or adequate nutrition for the 36 breeding dogs and puppies in her care
Following a call from a concerned member of the public about the conditions of the puppies being kept at Jackson’s premises at West Town Farm, Stonehouse, inspectors from the Scottish SPCA attended and found a number of dogs housed in pens between two wooden sheds and a garage. The conditions were cramped, dirty and unhygienic. There was little bedding and a a lack of food and water. Water that was present appeared discoloured and littered with debris.
The only food which the Scottish SPCA saw during their search was a mouldy tub of food teeming with maggots which had been left out for a Yorkshire Terrier and her newborn pups.
During a search of the garage area, a West Highland Terrier type bitch named Abbey was found in a small pink carrier on a shelf.
The carrier was covered with cloth, the carrier had no bedding, food or water and was too small for the dog to even turn around. There was very little light entering the box due to the cloth and rubbish surrounding it. Abbey was underweight with a severe skin disease and almost total hair loss.
A total of 36 dogs were removed from the premises and taken into the care of Scottish SPCA centres across the country.
Most made a full recovery but some required ongoing treatment.
Gary Aitken, Procurator Fiscal, Wildlife and Environment described the case as “one of the worst cases of gross, widespread and indiscriminate neglect which the Crown has dealt with in recent times”.
Mr Aitken added: “These dogs were caused terrible and unnecessary suffering and Jackson failed to provide them with a suitable environment.
“We expect the highest standards of commercial dog breeders and are committed to working with the Scottish SPCA and the police to ensure that those who do not meet these standards are held to account.”
Sentencing: 200 hours of unpaid work, banned from keeping dogs for 15 years; forfeiture of the dogs in her care (ban expires 2031).
In January 2017 police and Scottish SPCA went to Jackson’s home to investigate reports that she was breaching her ban on keeping animals. Although Jackson attempted to obstruct their search and even kicked a police officer in the chest, four dogs were recovered and taken into the care of the SSPCA.
For this latest offence she was sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid work.
CONVICTED (2015) | Anthony Peter Allan, born 08/03/1993, originally from Paisley, most recently of Kelvin Gardens, Hamilton ML3 9NR but as of February 2020 in prison for murder – punched and kicked a puppy on multiple occasions.
Allan carried out the attacks on the Staffordshire bull terrier pup when he was sharing a flat in Mossvale, Paisley with partner Lauren McMaster.
Depute fiscal Lauren McGonigal told the court: “The dog belonged to Lauren McMaster. It was a young pup.
“Miss McMaster described that, as the arguments between her and the accused worsened, he was taking his anger out on the dog.
“He would repeatedly kick and punch the dog.
“A neighbour who lived through the wall would hear the accused shouting at the dog, and hear sounds of the dog being chased around the property.
“Between January and the end of April she could hear the dog being hit and the dog yelping in pain.”
The depute fiscal added the attacks usually lasted for 15 minutes and happened when Allan’s partner left the flat.
The court heard how he was arrested after the police were called on April 27, 2014, when he behaved in a threatening and abusive way towards McMaster by shouting and swearing at her and threatening to kill himself.
When interviewed by cops he admitted he had been hitting the dog.
Allan pleaded guilty to repeatedly punching and kicking the dog and causing it unnecessary suffering and undue distress.
He also admitted a second charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause fear and alarm by shouting, swearing and uttering threats.
When he returned to court to learn his fate, solicitor advocate Chris McKenna said that he had come from a troubled background in which his parents had failed to accept that their son had mental health problems.
As a result, his client described that time as being “a life of torture.”
Sentencing him, Sheriff Colin Pettigrew told Allan: “This utterly defenceless dog was the butt of your anger and suffered misery over a three-month period.”
Sheriff Pettigrew said that due to the serious nature of the offence, he could easily have jailed Allan, but had decided against that and gave him a community sentence instead.
He said: “You accept you repeatedly punched and kicked the dog causing it undue distress.
“Repeatedly – over a period of three months – undoubtedly the dog’s life was a misery.
“It was the butt of your anger, your temper, and was utterly defenceless in terms of your repeated assaults on it.
“I have no doubt that you should be disqualified from keeping or owning a dog indefinitely.”
Allan agreed to accept drug counselling after it was revealed he had a problem with cannabis.
Sentence: two-year community payback order with 270 hours of unpaid work in a 12-month period. Banned from owning or keeping a dog for life.
CONVICTED (2014) | badger baiters John Frame Murray, born 09/11/1956, of 119 Avon Road, Larkhall ML9 1RA and his son, also named John Murray, born 06/01/1980, of 18 Earn Gardens, Larkhall ML9 1QG
Badger baiters John Frame Murray and son John Murray were given 10-year dog ban, which they breached within three years of conviction.
Father and son John “Mint” Murray and John Murray junior were found guilty of digging into and damaging a badger sett with the intention of using dogs to take or kill badgers following a trial in March 2014.
Dogs seized from the Murrays had severe injuries to their lower jaws, including torn lips and missing teeth.
Investigators recovered two Patterdale terriers and a blue brindle Staffordshire bull terrier from the pair’s homes. All three dogs had suffered severe damage to their lower jaws, including tearing to the lips, nose and missing teeth. These injuries were consistent with having been used repeatedly in face-to-face confrontation with badgers.
John Frame Murray and his son John Murray digging at a badger sett with others unknown
The Murrays were caught after witnesses saw and photographed them digging into what was suspected to be a badger sett at Drummond Hill near Sandilands, Lanark on February 2, 2012.
The Scottish SPCA visited the site and discovered an active badger sett which had been recently dug.
The court heard the pair also liked to trap cats and foxes in a wheelie bin, which they then set their dogs on.
Sara Shaw, wildlife and environment procurator fiscal, said: “The intentions of these men were cruel, unkind and wholly illegal.
“The law protects badgers from harm as well as dogs from being used for fighting.
“The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service will continue to work to ensure anyone who breaks the law is brought to justice.”
The pair were found guilty of three charges contrary to the Protection of Badgers Act 1992.
They were convicted of attempting to kill, injure or take a badger and of damaging the badger sett, in particular digging into its tunnel.
The men also interfered with the sett by causing a dog to enter it.
Speaking about the case, Scottish SPCA Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn said: “This was a very complex and challenging investigation requiring technical forensic work and a great deal of time and specialist resources.”
He added: “During the course of our investigation we found and seized three dogs, two Patterdale terriers and one Staffordshire bull terrier.
“Both Patterdales were found to have severe injuries to their lower jaws, including tearing to the lips and missing teeth. The Staffordshire bull terrier had injuries to its upper and lower lips and nose and missing teeth.
“Following the outcome of this case we are very pleased we can now find these three dogs the loving new homes they deserve.
“This case serves as a warning that we will do all we can to identify and detect persons involved in this barbaric activity, which causes severe suffering, mutilation and death to both badgers and dogs. This includes working with other agencies throughout England and Northern Ireland.”
John Murray junior
Animal protection charity OneKind also said it was pleased with the sentence.
Its spokeswoman Louise Robertson said: “Badger baiting is such a cruel and violent form of animal abuse that it is natural to expect a custodial sentence in these circumstances.
“While a jail term would have sent a clear message that pitting animals against each other to fight in such a primitive and barbaric way is totally unacceptable, 250 hours of community service does indicate the court has taken the matter seriously.
“We are pleased both men have been banned from keeping dogs for 10 years.”
Sentencing: ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work each. Banned from keeping dogs for 10 years (expires April 2024).
It was reported that the Scottish SPCA had seized five lurcher-type dogs from the Murrays following a tip-off.
A source told the Sunday Post “It’s clear the Murrays won’t stop keeping dogs despite what the court has told them.
“The conviction was only three years ago and there are fears they are back to their old ways.”
The dogs, which were seized on August 10, 2017, were rehomed by the Scottish SPCA.
Police Scotland confirmed the Murrays were the subject of a report to the procurator fiscal over “alleged offences under the Protection of Badgers Act and a disqualification order”.
A source at the Crown Office said it was understood a report on the pair was being sent to them for consideration.
An undercover inspector from the Scottish SPCA Special Investigations Unit said: “We were called to an address in Larkhall to assist Police Scotland in regards to males who previously received a ban at Hamilton Sheriff Court to prevent them keeping dogs due to their involvement in badger baiting.
CONVICTED (2014) | Matthew James Fleming, born 22/11/1990, formerly of Stonehouse, South Lanarkshire and more recently (2019) of Cypress Lane, Hamilton ML3 8SR – kept an elderly greyhound named Edge in a cupboard and starved him
Evil Matthew Fleming locked an elderly dog in a cupboard and left him there to starve.
Fleming failed to provide adequate nutrition and necessary veterinary attention for 13-year-old Edge. Sadly the dog was so poorly he had to be put to sleep to end his suffering.
Commenting on the investigation and court case, Inspector Gillian Dick said, “When I arrived at Fleming’s property, Edge was lying in a cupboard in his own excrement.
“He was unable to stand and was so weak he was struggling to lift his head.
“Edge was severely emaciated and all his bones were visible and protruding through his skin. There was no fat or muscle tone on his body whatsoever and he had faeces in his teeth.
“He also had pressure sores as a result of having no body fat and being unable to move for long periods of time.
“I immediately took Edge to a vet where he was assessed as weighing 14.8kgs, when a dog of his breed and size should have weighed 30kgs.
“Sadly, the vet decided that his condition was so severe there was no choice but to put him to sleep to end his suffering.
“During questioning, Fleming admitted being aware that Edge had been in very poor health for a month and in a collapsed state five days prior to our visit.
Matthew James Fleming is now a father of two
“Fleming failed to provide even the most basic level of needs for Edge, to the extent he resorted to eating his own faeces in a pitiful attempt to gain some form of sustenance.
“I hope Fleming will now be able to reflect on this case and the consequences of his failure to provide Edge with nutrition and veterinary attention.
“We also hope he will give serious consideration over his ability to care for any other animal once his eight year ban is over.”
Sentence: £750 fine; banned from owning animals for eight years (expired January 2022).
CONVICTED (2013) | Robert Thompson, born 5 March 1991, of 17 Raploch Road, Larkhall ML9 1AN – broke a puppy’s leg by throwing her down stairs.
Robert Thompson admitted causing 18-week-old Staffy Cheeka unnecessary suffering.
Scottish SPCA Inspector Sam McDonald: said: “When questioned, Thompson said he lost his temper because he woke to find Cheeka had toileted inside her cage in the house.
“He told her to do the toilet outside and threw her towards the door, at which point she hit on the door frame and fell down the stairs, breaking one of her front legs.
“This was a shameful act of violence against a defenceless puppy. While we welcome the six year ban given to Thompson, in our opinion a life ban on keeping animals would have been an appropriate punishment as we believe he is completely unfit to provide animals with the care they deserve.
“We are pleased that as a result of our investigation Cheeka will not be returned to Thompson and we can now find her a loving new home where she can live happily for the rest of her life.”
Sentencing | 150-hours of unpaid work. Six-year ban (expired 2019)
CONVICTED (2012) | leader of a badger baiting ring Andrew Lennox Mullen, born 09/11/1974, formerly of Hickory Crescent, Uddingston, and more recently McCracken Drive, Uddingston G71 5ND
Andrew Mullen admitted keeping dogs for animal fighting and was banned from owning animals for life.
Mullen was found to have a haul of photographs showing images of dogs fighting badgers, foxes and deer when his home was raided by police and animal welfare officers following an undercover Scottish SPCA investigation.
The officers taking part in the raid also discovered five seriously injured dogs in the garden of his home in Uddingston in Lanarkshire.
Mullen, who pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges, was the first person in Scotland to be convicted of keeping dogs for baiting wild animals since the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 came into effect.
The court was told that Mullen, who is unemployed, had organised illegal dog fights against foxes, badgers and deer and kept five dogs for the purposes of animal fighting.
His home in Uddingston was raided in March 2010 and officers discovered a laptop with 340 photographs showing Mullen and his associates goading dogs into fighting and attacking other animals. Mullen was also pictured holding up dead foxes or laying them on the ground, apparently as trophies.
Five dogs, three lurchers, a brown terrier-type puppy and a terrier bitch were found with “terrible” injuries in kennels in Mullen’s back garden. A veterinary examination revealed that three of Mullen’s five dogs had injuries consistent with badger baiting.
Mullen had denied actively using his dogs to fight badgers, but accepted that he allowed others to use them and that he knew the dogs he kept were to be used on badgers.
He admitted breaching the 2006 Animal Health and Welfare Act by keeping five dogs for the purposes of animal fighting between 1 January 2009 and 31 March 2010.
Scottish SPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn welcomed the lifetime ban imposed by Sheriff Stewart.
“We are delighted that Andrew Mullen has been convicted of keeping dogs for the purpose of fighting following our investigation and that a life ban on keeping animals has been imposed,” he said.
“It is very encouraging to see that Scotland’s animal welfare legislation is being used successfully for the protection of both domestic and wild animals. This result sends out an important message that keeping dogs for the purposes of animal fighting is illegal and will not be tolerated.”
He added: “Badger baiting is a heinous crime against badgers. We will continue to actively target badger baiters and we urge anyone with information on those involved in this horrific blood sport to call us, even anonymously, to raise any concerns they might have.”
Sentencing: six-month curfew; 200 hours of community service. Banned from owning animals for life.
CONVICTED (2011) | dog-fighter Derek Clark, born 29/04/1980, most recent known address Woodside Cottage, Ashgill, Larkhall ML9 3BW – kept horribly maimed fighting dogs in secret kennels
Self-styled ‘hardman’ Derek Clark was exposed during a long-running Scottish SPCA probe into dog-fighting rings across Scotland. In August 2010 the charity discovered three badly injured pitbull terriers being kept in squalid conditions in secret kennels at Clark’s isolated cottage. A fourth one was seized in February 2011. One of the dogs had lost a leg.
Clark pleaded guilty to possessing three banned pitbulls and failing to provide sufficient care for his animals. His not guilty plea to the dog-fighting charge was accepted by the court after his lawyer, Diarmid Bruce, struck a deal.
Bruce told the court: “It is not accepted that he was involved in fighting dogs.
“There were a number of dogs examined and some were considered to be fine.
“He had them for seven years and they were his pets and guard dogs.”
The court fined Clark just £450 and failed to disqualify him from keeping animals.
Speaking after sentencing, Mike Flynn for the Scottish SPCA said: “We’re very disappointed that Clark has not been banned from keeping animals.
“It is not only illegal to keep pit bulls but also extremely irresponsible.”
Derek Clark was jailed for 15 years for the attempted murder of a 76-year-old grandmother, Mary Coulter.
Clark was armed with a large knife when he and two equally thuggish sidekicks banged on Mrs Coulter’s door looking for her son, Ronnie. The OAP left her bed and went downstairs, where she saw the trio looking into her house. Mrs Coulter pleaded that she was “just an old woman on her own”, but the men, who wore balaclavas, burst in.
The trio then went through the rooms looking for Ronnie Coulter. The pensioner was then subjected to a brutal assault during which she suffered two broken arms, a fractured skull and deep slash wounds. Clark and his accomplices left the OAP for dead but Mrs Coulter managed to call for help. Whilst Mrs Coulter recovered from her physical injuries, she was so traumatised by the attack that she had to give up her home to move in with her daughter.
One positive outcome is that this piece of human crap is now serving a long prison sentence and we can be certain his dog-fighting activities have been brought to an end for now.
CONVICTED (2011) | Ian Gordon Turner, born 17 June 1984, of Main Street, Carnwath ML11 – cut off a Rottweiler’s tail while high on drink and drugs by trapping it in a door
Drug and alcohol abuser Ian Gordon Turner added animal cruelty to his long list of criminal convictions.
Turner maimed the Rottweiler cross, Tyson, he had bought just three weeks earlier.
Unemployed Turner, who has tattoos on his face, has a string of previous convictions and was on probation when he attacked the dog in August 2010.
Tyson was left in great pain with an untreated open wound on his tail. He recovered and was rehomed.
Despite being left with an open wound Tyson received no veterinary treatment. A Scottish SPCA inspector said that the dog had suffered greatly in the months since the tail docking.
Turner avoided prison after Lanark Sheriff Court heard he has been attending drug rehabilitation and anger management courses.
Sentence: 180 hours of community service; 5-year ban on keeping animals (expired 2016).
CONVICTED (2011) | Lesleyann Ure, born c. 1985, of Neilsland Street, Fairhill, Hamilton ML3 8JN – failed to get treatment for her puppy’s severe skin condition, leaving him to suffer excruciating pain
Single mother Lesleyann Ure was banned for life from keeping animals over her “horrendous” treatment of her pet dog, a Staffordshire bull terrier named Billy.
Ure didn’t bother to take the nine-month-old dog to the vet when he began to suffer from a severe skin condition.
Neglected puppy Billy was put to sleep on humane grounds after his cruel owner failed to look after him
By the time Billy received veterinary attention, his health had deteriorated so badly that he was put down to avoid any further suffering.
Ure admitted failing to get the necessary treatment for her dog and was given a community order and a lifetime ban.
Speaking about the case, Scottish SPCA Insp Gillian Dick said: “Billy was in a horrendous condition as he had a severe skin complaint which caused him a great deal of pain and suffering,” she said.
“Sadly, despite receiving treatment for the condition, Billy’s health did not improve and he had to be put to sleep to end his suffering.
“If veterinary treatment had been sought when Billy’s skin condition had appeared, the pain and discomfort he suffered could have been avoided.”
Sentencing: 100 hours community service. Lifetime ban on keeping animals.
