Tag Archives: Sunderland

Animal Abandonment, Cats, Lifers, Worst of the Worst

Hendon, City of Sunderland: Jan Langridge

August 30, 2023 misanthropic 3 Comments

CONVICTED (2023) | Jan Marie Langridge, born 30 March 1987, of Noble Street, Hendon, Sunderland SR2 8LU – for causing “unimaginable” suffering to three kittens found starved to death in a shoe box.

Jan Langridge from Sunderland starved cats to death

Langridge took on a mother cat and seven kittens in April 2022 but became “overwhelmed” by the responsibility of looking after them.

Newcastle Crown Court heard when RSPCA inspectors went to Langridge’s home in September 2022 they found an “extremely smelly” attic room that was so acrid and pungent with the aroma of ammonia that the officers were “struggling to breathe”.

Inside the room they found overflowing litter boxes, surrounded by mouldy faeces, a bowl containing rusty water and empty feeding trays.

The court heard two cat in poor condition were rescued from the room before the officers searched outside.

Prosecutor Alex Bousefield told the court: “A shoe box was found which contained three deceased cats. They were all effectively rolled up into one shoe box, one on top of the other.”

Mr Bousefield said the animals’ bodies were infested with fleas and maggots and there were signs one of them had resorted to cannibalism due to desperate hunger.

The court heard the mother cat and one kitten had also died and been buried and there was no evidence about their cause of death or condition they had been in and Langridge faced no charges in relation to them.

Another kitten is believed to now be living elsewhere.

Langridge admitted causing unnecessary suffering and failing to provide for the welfare of five cats.

Shada Mellor, defending, said Langridge had a troubled childhood has undergone a psychological assessment during the court process which has identified learning difficulties.

Miss Mellor told the court: “She is a well meaning person who doesn’t recognise all of her limitations. She struggles to care for herself.

“Taking on this many cats, which she effectively did in good faith, was too overwhelming for her.”

Miss Mellor said Langridge should have sought help from the authorities but “buried her head in the sand” and added: “She is upset about what happened and very remorseful.”

Recorder Shufqat Khan told Langridge: “I struggle to imagine a more serious case in terms of harm and the suffering these five cats suffered.

“Three of them ended up dying and another two managed to be rescued.

“The suffering those cats and kittens must have endured can be described as almost unimaginable. Three starved to death.”

The recorder said the case was “gross neglect” rather than deliberate actions intended to cause suffering and that Langridge’s criminal culpability was reduced because of intellectual impairment.

Sentencing | six-month custodial, suspended for two years; rehabilitation requirements. Lifelong ban on keeping cats.

Sunderland Echo

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Redhill, City of Sunderland: Brendan Dorothy

August 21, 2023 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2023) | Brendan Dorothy, born c. 1994, of Bradshaw Street, Redhill, Sunderland SR5 4HR – kicked a dog in the face, injuring her jaw.

Convicted dog abuser Brendan Dorothy from the City of Sunderland, England. Picture: Facebook

Dorothy was locked up by the courts after being deemed by a judge to be ‘incapable of rehabilitation’.

He was sentenced to immediate imprisonment when he appeared before South Shields Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, August 15.

Sarah Malkinson, prosecuting for the CPS, told the court how the defendant was to be sentenced on a charge of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

He also faced charges of assault by beating and threatening behaviour – all committed on August 26 last year.

Dorothy admitted that he kicked a dog in face, specifically to her jaw, and bit a security officer, as well as used threatening, abusive or disorderly behaviour likely to caused alarm or distress.

District judge Zoe Passfield accepted the defendant’s guilty pleas but concluded that the offences were so serious that only a custodial sentence could be justified.

This was due to the nature of the offences, as well as him using abusive language, his lack of true remorse and a determination that he has ‘no real prospect of rehabilitation’.

The condition of the dog was not reported/

Sentencing | 10 weeks in prison; compensation of £100 and costs of £300. No ban.

Warrington Guardian

Bestiality / Zoophilia, Birds

Roker, Sunderland: David Lee

June 22, 2023 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2023) | David Lee, born c. 1983, of Roker Avenue, Roker, Sunderland SR6 0HP – carried out a bizarre sexual act on a baby herring gull.

Sunderland pervert David Lee, who carried out a bizarre sex act on a baby herring gull — David Lee carried out a bizarre sex act on a baby herring gull. It’s known if the bird survived

Sexual deviant David Lee was seen near Gladstone Street, Sunderland, at around 1am on August 18 2022, chasing a gull down the road, with a second piece of footage showing him chasing the same bird down the road again.

Finally, in a third piece of footage, Lee emerges holding a smaller bird.

He could then be seen putting the bird between his legs, before masturbating while watching pornography on his phone.

When he had finished, Lee put the gull down, kicked it away and walked off in the opposite direction.

Lee was arrested at a nearby takeaway and told police he picked up the gull because he thought it was hurt and was looking on his phone to find out what he should do. But instead of searching for a vet’s phone number, as he claimed to have done, police checks revealed Lee had actually been looking at animal porn, the court was told.

Lee, who is originally from Washington, Tyne and Wear, but lives in the city, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the bird.

Annalisa Moscardini, mitigating, said Lee was a heavy drinker who experienced blackouts.

“He accepts he must have done this act but he didn’t have a good recollection of it,” she said in explanation of his initial denials.

“To some extent he cannot explain what happened.”

A psychiatric report found he suffered from an unstable personality disorder and was detached from reality. He was also a pathological liar whose lies served no purpose.

Lee, who is on benefits, has a criminal record and was given a prison sentence in 2020 for possession of a blade.

Sentencing Lee, Chair of the Bench Angela Thompson said suffering was caused to the young bird and that Lee had consumed alcohol and accessed porn involving animals at the time of the offence – which were aggravating features.

Sentencing | jailed for 24 weeks; £300 costs and £150 surcharge. Banned from keeping animals for 10 years.

Chronicle Live
Express
ITV News

Animal Abandonment, Reptiles / Exotics, Worst of the Worst

Pennywell, Sunderland: Racheal Gudge

May 31, 2023 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2023) | Racheal Gudge, born c. 1982, of Pennycross Road, Pennywell, Sunderland SR4 – abandoned two bearded dragons for six weeks.

Callous Sunderland woman Racheal Gudge left the unnamed bearded dragons to die in an empty home — Callous Racheal Gudge left the unnamed bearded dragons to die in an empty home

Mother-of-four Gudge pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to her two pet bearded dragons.

The court heard how a concerned member of the public called the RSPCA to alert them to the fact the animals had been potentially abandoned in a property for at least six weeks.

After attempting to contact the missing tenant, an RSPCA inspector was let into the empty property on Petersham Road, Pennywell, Sunderland, by the landlord’s agent.

The dragons were found in very ill health before being taken to a vet.

Sunderland woman Racheal Gudge's pet bearded dragons had been suffering for at least six weeks and didn't survive — The unnamed reptiles had been suffering for at least six weeks. Sadly they were too unwell to be saved

A vet said both pets were very cold and had empty stomachs. The female dragon died overnight and the male deteriorated to such an extent he had to be put to sleep.

In his witness statement, the vet said: “Reptiles are reliant on their environments for adequate health and welfare, and thus not providing these results in suffering.

“Reptiles can survive long periods of starvation with minimal effects, however due to their quick deterioration it is clear that their needs have not been met, and thus they have been suffering, for some time – at least the six weeks reported, if not much longer.”

RSPCA inspector Suzanne Edgar said: “This was a very distressing incident which caused prolonged suffering – leading to the death of these two little pet bearded dragons.

“Abandoning an animal is never acceptable and should never be an option. We do understand that people’s circumstances may change, but if anyone is struggling to cope with their pet, we would urge them to reach out for help from experts, friends or family, or charities like ourselves.

“Exotic pets often end up in our care after people realise they’re not easy to care for, or once the novelty wears off.

“Others are rescued after they have been abandoned, escaped or been released on purpose, which then could be an invasive alien species risk to our native wildlife. Some species can be difficult for us to rehome, due to lack of suitable homes or interest.”

Sentencing | fined £120, ordered to pay a £48 victim surcharge and £200 in costs. Banned from keeping reptiles for five years.

ITV News
ChronicleLive

Animal Abandonment, Dogs, Worst of the Worst

Hetton-le-Hole, Tyne and Wear: Rachel Burke

December 1, 2022 misanthropic 2 Comments

CONVICTED (2022) | Rachel Louise Burke, born 16 December 1982, of Dene Street, Hetton-le-Hole, Houghton Le Spring, City of Sunderland DH5 9AX – subjected a dog found dead in a wheelie bin to “months of suffering”.

The “devastatingly thin” body of the six-year-old lurcher, known as Blue, was discovered wrapped up in a bin bag in a wheelie bin.

RSPCA inspectors also found a starving Labrador without food and water at the filthy property , which was strewn in faeces.

Burke was convicted of two animal cruelty sentences in her absence after she was a no-show in court. She was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to Blue by not addressing his weight loss and failing to provide a suitable environment for either dog.

The court heard how RSPCA inspectors were shown an image by a resident showing a dead dog laying next to a pink water container in the yard.

Inspector John Lawson told the court: “We checked the wheelie bin in the rear garden and at the top of the bin was a black bin bag with a small hole in it. To the touch and through this hole it was clear the bag contained a deceased dog and his colour was the same as the dog in the photograph.”

A post-mortem later revealed that Blue died from a gastrointestinal disease. The vet’s report concluded he would have been suffering for months through malnutrition

Inspector Lawson added: “It was devastating to see how thin he was. His ribs, spine and hips were clearly visible, there was no muscle mass and his eyes were sunken in.

“Blue’s abdomen had sunk to a level I had never seen before.”

Police gained access to the property and found the floor upstairs littered with dog faeces and the bathroom toilet full of human excrement.

An outside dog pen is also said to have been in a filthy condition.

As the inspectors were about to leave the property Burke appeared with a man, who said they had just returned from London.

In mitigation the court was told that Burke was previously of good character and had seen mental health issues worsen after a break-up.

She could not recollect putting Blue’s body in the bin but said she had placed him in a bin bag so her children could not see.

The Labrador, Floyd, is due to be rehomed by the RSPCA.

Sentencing | two-year community sentence with 220 hours of unpaid work. Banned from keeping animals for 10 years.

Northern Echo

Birds, Wildlife Crime / Bloodsports, Worst of the Worst

Sunderland, Tyne and Wear: Terrence Johnston

October 10, 2022 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2022) | Terrence Johnston, born c. 1981, of Lewis Crescent, Hendon, Sunderland SR2 8NQ – brutally killed two baby gulls before spiking one on a fence.

Sick Johnston climbed a fence to reach the fledglings. He killed one before impaling its body on railings. He then grabbed another bird, slamming it into a solid surface and throwing it over the fence. Neither survived.

Johnston admitted the gruesome attacks after he was arrested and was jailed for 16 weeks.

PC Peter Baker, rural engagement and wildlife enforcement officer at Northumbria Police, said: “This is an appalling case and I am pleased Johnston’s actions have led to a jail term.

“Both gulls were juveniles and had only recently fledged their nests. It is possible they were not yet able to fully fly – so were defenceless. I sincerely hope this case sends out a strong message to everyone.

“Wildlife crime is something we take seriously and we are committed to taking swift and robust action against anyone who hurts or abuses animals.”

Sentencing | 16 weeks in prison.

Planet Radio
Chronicle Live

animal fighting / baiting, deer, Food Production, Illegal fishing, Organised Animal Crime, poaching, Wildlife Crime / Bloodsports

Sunderland, Tyne and Wear: Connor Bell and Michael Hutchinson

August 20, 2022 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2022) | Connor Bell, born c. 1992, of Bexhill Road Sunderland SR5 4QH and Michael John Hutchinson, born c. 1983, of 20 Cranberry Road, Sunderland SR5 3PF – caught fishing illegally.

Bell and Hutchinson, who are known wildlife persecutors, were prosecuted after photographs and videos found both on a mobile and posted to a social media account highlighted illegal fishing activity.

Bell pleaded guilty to using unlicensed gill nets to catch salmon and sea trout on the River Wear, including at a location near Fatfield, Tyne and Wear. He was sentenced to five months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work.

In addition, he was ordered to pay £1,000 costs and a victim surcharge of £128.

Hutchinson was convicted of similar offences and one other offence of handling the illegally caught fish. He was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to undertake 200 hours of unpaid work. Hutchinson was also ordered to pay £1,000 costs and a victim surcharge of £128.

Representing the Environment Agency, lawyer Matthew Treece told the court that files on Bell’s mobile phone and Hutchinson’s social media pages had highlighted multiple weekends of illegal netting during the summers of 2020 and 2021, along with photographs of both men posing with catches of up to 14 fish at a time.

Images from Hutchinson’s Facebook profile also showed a relative, with the captured fish, along with comments from Hutchinson encouraging them to become a “fine young poacher.”

On sentencing, District Judge Garland told the defendants: “You don’t know how lucky you are to avoid going on a trip to Durham this morning. I view and the law views the things you were up to as extremely serious. These weren’t boyish pranks. You were out there putting a large net across a confined space of river where it was highly likely you were going to catch fish of one sort or another. And you did. If you hadn’t gone around bragging on Facebook about what fish you were catching, you wouldn’t have been in as much trouble as you are.”

Following the case David Shears, Senior Fisheries Enforcement Officer for the Environment Agency in the North East, said:

“With salmon stocks reaching crisis in many of England’s rivers, this level of illegal activity could have a serious impact on the sustainability of future stocks in the River Wear. That’s why we take reports of suspected poaching seriously and work closely with the police to take action where appropriate.

“We’re committed to tackling illegal fishing of all kinds whether online or off and as this case clearly demonstrates, we will take action, especially where potentially damaging methods are used.”

PC Peter Baker, Wildlife Officer at Northumbria Police, said:
“We are really pleased to have been able to deliver effective justice and show the impact of illegal fishing and poaching. We are privileged to see a varied amount of marine wildlife around our area, and we should all play a part in protecting and supporting the environment. As a Force, we take all reports of this nature seriously and are committed to taking appropriate and robust action against the minority found to have been involved in such offences in the region’s waterways.”

Sunderland Echo
BBC News

Additional Information

When not illegally fishing, Connor Bell uses dogs to persecute wildlife with photos uploaded to his Facebook profile showing dogs bearing facial injuries consistent with being forced to fight foxes and/or badgers.

Bell is an associate of notorious psycho poacher Dewi Price.

Hutchinson is also a bloodsports enthusiast.

He runs a canine security business named N.E.F. Working Canines.

He has uploaded videos to YouTube showing a dog being trained to attack a human and even uses a young child, presumably his son, to demonstrate how vicious his dogs are.

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Hartlepool, County Durham: Luke Proffitt

May 31, 2022 misanthropic Leave a comment

#MostEvil | Luke Proffitt, born c. 2000, of no fixed abode – stabbed his pet German shepherd 12 times during a “mental health crisis”, causing fatal injuries.

Career criminal Luke Proffitt stabbed GSD Bella (pictured) multiple times and left her to die on the beach.

Proffitt caused a number of wounds to the dog, named Bella, who was found injured and bleeding by a member of the public on Hendon Beach in Sunderland.

The court heard that despite by vets to save the dog, she later passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw said that a worker from the Happier Days For Strays charity received a call notifying them the dog was on Hendon Beach on December 16, 2021.

He told the court that the dog was found to be a healthy weight but had blood coming from her body.

Vets operated in a desperate attempt to save Bella’s life but she died under anaesthetic.

Mr Wardlaw said: “She attended and saw a female dog covered in blood and unable to walk due to the injuries sustained.

“The dog was given pain relief. The intention being the dog would be anaesthetised the following morning and treated.

“There were two 2cm wounds to the left chest resulting in penetrative chest injury.”

The court heard that Bella also suffered multiple wounds to her neck and a further two puncture wounds to her body.

However, despite CPR being administrated, she passed away after going into heart failure whilst under the anaesthetic.

Mr Wardlaw added: “It’s clear that due to the extent of her injuries it was a sustained and prolonged assault and caused suffering which ultimately led to her death.

“At the time it was not known who the dog belonged to. On the 16th of December the defendant had contacted his mental health worker stating he had stabbed his dog.”

After he was arrested by police, Proffit provided no comment in interview but did tell officers “It’s not illegal to kill your dog.”

Proffitt later admitted causing unnecessary suffering to animal. He has 25 previous convictions.

He also committed the offence whilst under the supervision of an unrelated suspended prison sentence.

Judge Edward Bindloss sentenced Proffitt to 18 months behind bars.

The judge said: “She was an adult female three to six years. Up until the day of you injured her she was in good condition.

“You were somebody who had been suffering from emotional and unstable personality disorder and that was exasperated by substance abuse.

“You took Bella outside with a knife and you stabbed her 12 times in a prolonged and sustained attack and went back to your flat.

“I have taken the view it would not be appropriate to suspend the sentence.”

Dog killer Luke Proffit. Picture: Facebook. — Luke Proffitt. Picture: Facebook.

Wildlife Enforcement Officer PC Peter Baker, of Northumbria Police, said: “This is an absolutely horrendous case and I welcome the custodial sentence handed down to Proffit.

“It is without question that the dog was subjected to sustained violence and she was found by members of the public with appalling injuries to her body and neck on Hendon beach.

“Proffitt is one of the first offenders in our Force to be jailed since tougher sentencing guidelines were introduced in courts across the UK last summer for the most heinous animal cruelty crimes.

“We are a nation of animal lovers, and it is always disappointing and upsetting when crimes like this happen. I hope this case sends out a strong message – anyone who hurts or abuses animals will be brought to justice.

“We will continue to work with our fantastic colleagues and partners, including the RSPCA, to educate everyone – including young people in schools across the North East – of the importance of looking after animals.”

Sentencing | jailed for 18 months and banned from owning animals for 18 years.

Chronicle Live

Dogs, Lifers, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Sunderland, Tyne and Wear: Daniel Gair

October 14, 2021 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2021) | Daniel Calvin Gair, born 2 September 1997, of 177 Hastings Street, Sunderland SR2 8SJ – beat a Yorkshire terrier to death.

Following a prosecution brought by the RSPCA, Dan Gair was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to the dog.

The court heard how a Yorkshire Terrier called Billy was found dead by Gair’s then partner at the side of her bed when she woke up in October, 2019.

She wrapped him in a blanket, placed him in a box and took him to nearby vets who were suspicious of the nature of the injuries they found on his body and reported the matter to the RSPCA.

Gair denied having harmed Billy, claiming he had found him with diarrhoea on some of his fur so had washed him in the shower earlier that morning and dried him with a towel before returning him to the bedroom before he left for work.

However, when his partner woke and found Billy a couple of hours later, his coat was dry and not wet or even damp as might have been expected.

A post-mortem report revealed Billy had suffered collapsed lungs, damage to his heart, six fractured ribs, a protruding left eye and bruises on the underside of his neck, chest and head.

An expert veterinary witness with experience in non-accidental injuries concluded all of Billy’s injuries were acute and consistent with blunt force trauma and occurred shortly before he died.

The vet stated: “The injuries sustained were very severe including six fractured ribs and a number of areas of bruising. All these injuries are consistent with blunt force trauma.

“Rib fractures are a common abuse finding in animal abuse cases. Rib fractures may occur due to the focal application of force, which includes the animal being struck, kicked, stomped or thrown against a blunt object.

“The injuries detailed within the post mortem report cannot be explained by the dog having injured himself while in the home environment and are consistent with at least four applications of blunt force. These were found on the left side of the chest, right side of the chest, right side of the head and pelvis area.”

The findings showed Gair’s account was inconsistent with the veterinary evidence. The court stated they could not find any mitigation and they considered the offending so serious that it crossed the custody threshold.

Speaking about the case, investigating RSPCA Inspector Cathy Maddison said: “The injuries inflicted on such a small dog are awful and inexcusable. It was a very distressing case to investigate”.

Sentencing: 18 weeks in jail; £650 costs. Lifetime ban on owning animals but can appeal after 10 years.

Sunderland Echo
Chronicle Live

Animal Abandonment, Equine Abuse, horses and ponies, Lifers, Worst of the Worst

Hetton-le-Hole, City of Sunderland: Gordon Metcalfe and Denise Clark

October 11, 2021 misanthropic 2 Comments

CONVICTED (2021) | Gordon Hamilton Metcalfe and Denise Ann Clark, both of 3 Rutland Street, Hetton-le-Hole, Houghton Le Spring DH5 9LH – for the extreme neglect of dozens of horses.

Metcalfe and Clark were convicted of five offences under the Animal Welfare Act, committed between 15 August and 15 October 2020.

RSPCA inspectors Terri-Ann Fannon and Gemma Lynch, and World Horse Welfare field officer Seema Ritson, discovered 40 neglected horses when they attended a property on Urwin Street, Hetton-le-Hole, Tyne and Wear, on 15 October 2020.

Some horses were found in a paddock with mud up to their knees, and there were foals who could “barely move” because of mud up to their chests.

An RSPCA spokesman said many of the horses were confined in areas “significantly contaminated” by faecal matter and they did not have water, hay or clean bedding.

“They did not have a hard standing area to be able to stand out of the mud and several were found with overgrown hooves due to lack of farrier treatment,” he said.

Ms Fannon found four Shetland ponies and two cob-type horses in the “worst conditions she had ever seen”.

“The horses stood on old hay, muck and faeces up to my shoulders, approximately four feet high. There was no access in or out of the stable,” she said.

“The cobs were unable to lift their heads up as the muck was so high, their heads were touching the roof of the stable. They had no food or water. Several of my colleagues spent several hours digging out the horses.

“A piebald mare had thick matted fur clumped around her hooves. She was of thin body condition and had severely overgrown hooves, which had curled and twisted.”

The RSPCA spokesman added that a piebald horse with severely overgrown hooves was found in a stable that had been nailed shut and had to be prised open with a crowbar.

Six Shetland ponies were found standing on two feet of muck and mud, two Shetlands with overgrown hooves were found in a plastic greenhouse that officers had to climb over rubble to reach, and another, who was in thin body condition, was found inside a horsebox in a “suffering state” owing to lameness, and arthritis in her shoulders.

“Despite advising the couple a year earlier that they could not keep horses at the site during winter due to the extreme muddy conditions, no improvements had been made since the previous year apart from a makeshift area of uneven cobble bricks that had been put down which the horses could not stand on,” he said.

The horses and ponies were examined by a vet before being taken into the RSPCA’s care. Of the 40, 12 were found to be suffering with overgrown hooves and 10 were suffering as a result of Metcalfe and Clark’s failing to provide adequate nutrition.

Ms Fannon said the case was the worst she had been involved with during her career with the RSPCA.

“I offered to help Mr Metcalfe on numerous occasions and none have been taken up,” she said.

“He knowingly kept horses hidden in these conditions for a long period of time. I am pleased we have since been able to find many of the horses new homes.”

In mitigation the court heard the horses had been “dumped” on the defendants and they claimed they had no responsibility during the dates of the offences.

Sentencing:
Metcalfe – 18 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, £750 costs. Lifetime disqualification from keeping all animals, which he can contest after 10 years.
Clark – fined £180 and ordered to pay £750 costs. Banned from keeping all animals for 10 years.

Horse and Hound

UK Animal Cruelty Files