CONVICTED (2024) | backyard breeder and wildlife persecutor Gregory Peter Cashmore, born 19 May 1985, of Churchill Road, Cheadle, but with strong family links to Longton Road, Knenhall, Stone, Staffordshire ST15 8TW and the Meir area of Stoke on Trent – allowed dogs to fight and left one so badly injured she had to have a leg amputated above the shoulder; failed to treat dogs injured during organised fights with wild animals.
Cashmore, a violent career criminal whose previous convictions include serious domestic violence and firearm possession, failed to take several injured dogs to vets for treatment. He was prosecuted by the RSPCA following an investigation.
One of the offences related to Star, a blue and fawn female French bulldog, who had been badly hurt while fighting with another dog.
Although Star received initial emergency treatment from a vet she was discharged with her owners failing to follow advice to follow up with further care. As a result, Star lost a leg above the shoulder.
Cashmore, ,whose father Darren Cashmore is a convicted badger baiter, also failed to meet the needs of a dark brindle bull lurcher known as Django and also failed to failed to arrange veterinary examination and treatment for a tan and white bull lurcher known as Thor, both of whom had injuries consistent with wild animal fighting.
In a statement provided to the court, RSPCA officer Jason Bowles, who led the charity’s investigation, said he entered the back garden in March 2022 after securing a police warrant via a side gate and saw a number of well-built kennels in good condition containing dogs.
One kennel held Thor, who had scarring to his muzzle and a swollen, inflamed joint to the right front paw.
Another kennel housed Django. He had scarring to his nose and muzzle and a healed lower jaw injury to the left side of his mouth.
Both Thor and Django were seized by police.
The court heard that inspector Bowles was then made aware of an incident on June 17, 2022 involving a French bulldog called Star – who he said he later recognised from being at the property on the day of the warrant. It was confirmed that Star sustained injuries after fighting with another dog.
In a written statement, attending officer Rachel Leafe said she met a woman who showed her Star. She said the dog looked ‘extremely lame on her left foreleg and was hardly weight bearing on it at all’.
She continued: “There was a discoloured fluid around the top of the left foreleg which was running down the leg and chest. The fluid looked very unpleasant. My first thoughts were that the injury looked infected.”
She asked the woman if Star had received veterinary treatment for the injuries and she showed her an email from a pet insurer authorising a claim which was dated June 15. 2022 and an email from a vet who saw and treated Star on June 5. 2022.
Inspector Leafe phoned the vets who confirmed Star was seen and treated – and they gave her initial emergency treatment and recommended that she was admitted for further treatment. However, this advice was not followed. Although it was said that Star went to another vet at a home address – no evidence of this was given.
It was agreed for Star to be taken for a veterinary examination by the RSPCA. After a full vet assessment it was found that she was suffering and was subsequently seized by police and placed into the care of the RSPCA.
In a written statement provided to the court, the vet who examined Star said: “In my experience the combination of staples and stitching present seems unlikely from a qualified experienced vet. The stitches removed of a thick black material, possibly cotton thread rather than recognised modern veterinary suture.
“Although some veterinary medicines (injectable antibiotics) and equipment (stapler) were at the premises it is my understanding that there were no oral medicines in appropriately labelled packaging or proof of veterinary care such as invoices presented to the inspector.
“In view of this, my findings and subsequent developments with the wound it is my professional opinion that this dog has been caused unnecessarily suffering from the June 7, 2022 onwards.
“The failure to seek professional ongoing prompt veterinary care (after the first initial treatment) with ongoing monitoring has resulted in a deep seated infection and bone pathology, directly leading to bone fracture and the necessity for urgent radical surgery.”
The court heard Star remained in intensive care from June 17 to July 4 while staff treated her for multiple infections. Sadly vets could not save her left foreleg which had to be amputated along with her shoulder blade in order for her to be saved. Star has since made a good recovery.
Cashmore pleaded guilty to three offences under the Animal Welfare Act. In mitigation it was heard that Cashmore has “struggled with his mental health”.
Before being sentenced, Cashmore signed over all three dogs into the RSPCA’s care. Star, Django and Thor, who has been in kennels, can all now be rehomed.
Following the hearing, RSPCA officer Bowles, said: “Star and Django have been in RSPCA foster care and both have been doing really well; Star has adjusted well to life with three legs.
“Despite going through a lot she is such a lovely dog and has really settled in with her foster carers; I’m so pleased she can now start her new life. When you have a pet you are responsible for ensuring they get the correct veterinary attention should they injure themselves or become sick. There’s no excuse for leaving an animal in such pain.”
Sentencing | 22-week custodial term, suspended for 12 months; 20 days of rehabilitation activity; 150 hours of unpaid work; £600 in costs and a £128 victim surcharge. He was banned from keeping all animals for just five years (expires February 2029).
A second person, believed to be Cashmore’s now former partner Millie Moult, was sentenced in August 2023 after pleading guilty to one offence of causing unnecessary suffering by failing to follow veterinary recommendation to seek further professional veterinary treatment for the injuries Star had sustained.
She said she did not own Star or the dogs that caused her injuries and claimed she was told that others would be taking responsibility for Star. She was handed a 12-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work and 10 RAR days and was ordered to pay £300 and a £95 victim surcharge.
In March 2023 Cashmore announced on Facebook that he was now in a relationship with a woman called Lea M Webb. Webb, who appears to be from Sale, Trafford, Greater Manchester. A photo of the happy couple suggested that the pair had at least one thing in common: a love for persecuting wildlife with dogs. Webb’s dog evidently bears scarring to his face, legs and body – all of which are injuries consistent with animal fighting most likely foxes and/or badgers.
Since Cashmore’s current relationship status on Facebook is ‘single’ these two may have gone their separate ways.
Additional Information
Following his animal cruelty conviction, a former neighbour of Greg Cashmore contacted us and alleged the following:
“A couple of years ago Cashmore and his then partner Millie Moult beat a puppy to death with a shovel. A neighbour came outside after hearing a dog screaming and saw them do it. The puppy was only about four weeks old. It looked like they were doing it for fun.
“The neighbour reported what she had seen to police but officers came out a week later, by which time there was no evidence that it had ever happened.
“No other witnesses came forward because everyone’s so scared of him.
“The neighbour was brave to ring police because that Greg is a full-on psychopath. He’s got a gun and tried shooting someone before.
“He is the type to set fire to his house with his own kids inside just to make a point.
“He pushed his ex, who he has two children with, down stairs while she had a new-born baby in her arms.
“He always gets off lightly because he makes a deal with the prosecution and grasses up drug dealers.”
