Tag Archives: Tameside

Animal Sanctuaries from Hell, Equine Abuse, Hoarders, horses and ponies, Lifers, Multiple Species, Worst of the Worst

Hyde, Greater Manchester: Lynn and Charlotte Haydon-Williams

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CONVICTED (2024) | Lynn Haydon-Williams, born 6 April 1960, of Redgate, Hyde SK14 5DE, and Charlotte Haydon-Williams, born 17 November 1988, of Cheetham Fold Road, Hyde SK14 5DF – for the neglect of multiple animals in the care of their sanctuary.

RSPCA prosecution of Lynn Haydon-Williams and daughter Charlotte Haydon-Williams from Hyde, Greater Manchester in relation to Haywill Animal Rescue.

Mother and daughter Lynn and Charlotte Haydon-Williams were found guilty of a number of offences following a trial on Thursday, March 28, 2024.

RSPCA prosecution of Lynn Haydon-Williams and daughter Charlotte Haydon-Williams from Hyde, Greater Manchester in relation to Haywill Animal Rescue.

The court heard how neglected horses, including one suffering with multiple tumours, lame goats, pigs with hoof problems and an arthritic coatimundi were found at the Haywill Animal Centre by the RSPCA.

During 2020 and 2021, the RSPCA identified animal welfare concerns at sites in Glossop, Derbyshire and Broadbottom in Manchester.

The RSPCA had visited the rescue on previous occasions during which they had offered support and advice to the founder/owner Lynn Haydon-Williams.

RSPCA prosecution of Lynn Haydon-Williams and daughter Charlotte Haydon-Williams from Hyde, Greater Manchester in relation to Haywill Animal Rescue.

In a statement read to the court RSPCA inspector Jessica Araujo said she recalled attending the centre on May 11, 2021, when she saw “goats with overgrown feet that were struggling to walk normally, grossly obese pigs, a coati that appeared to have small masses on its underside and a horse with overgrown feet”.

Inspector Araujo continued: “I saw a number of large goats with overgrown hooves that appeared to have difficulty walking normally or walking at all. There was also a black pygmy goat who looked quite thin and you could feel his spine and hips when you put your hands on him.”

RSPCA prosecution of Lynn Haydon-Williams and daughter Charlotte Haydon-Williams from Hyde, Greater Manchester in relation to Haywill Animal Rescue.

Among the animals taken into the care of the RSPCA was Gemma, a grey bay mare, who was covered in skin tumours. A vet later decided that the kindest course of action was to put her to sleep to end her suffering.

Another horse, called Casper, who was suffering from laminitis was also, sadly, put to sleep, as was a pot-bellied pig, who was suffering from overgrown feet.

An emaciated pygmy goat and the coatimundi, who was in poor health, passed away later.

RSPCA prosecution of Lynn Haydon-Williams and daughter Charlotte Haydon-Williams from Hyde, Greater Manchester in relation to Haywill Animal Rescue.

Several of the horses required treatment for foot and hoof ailments.

In mitigation for Lynn Haydon-Williams, the court was told she previously did “a lot of good work for many people for a long time”. It was said that Covid impacted the rescue’s finances and lessened her ability to look after the animals. It was said that she had not deliberately mistreated the animals.

The court heard that Charlotte Haydon-Williams suffered from health problems which affected her care of the horse. The court accepted she was not responsible for the care of the other animals.

Lynn Haydon-Williams initially pleaded not guilty to 15 charges, but she was convicted of 13 offences after a trial.

Charlotte Haydon-Williams pleaded not guilty to the same 15 charges and was convicted of three offences relating to the care of a horse. It was ruled she had no case to answer on the remaining 12 charges.

The surviving animals – a horse and 10 goats – will be rehomed by the RSPCA.

Speaking after the sentencing, Inspector Araujo said: “This owner was given ample time and opportunity to get the help she needed to give these animals the veterinary care and treatment they needed. Sadly, she did not take action and the animals suffered for longer than they had to.”

Sentencing |
Lynn Haydon-Williams: six-month custodial suspended for 18 months; 240 hours of unpaid work; £240 costs and £156 victim surcharge. She was given a lifetime disqualification from keeping animals except for dogs and cats.

Charlotte Haydon-Williams: 12-month community order; fined £1,500 and ordered to pay £1,000 costs and £114 victim surcharge. Banned from keeping horses for three years (expires March 2027).

DerbyshireLive
Manchester Evening News
Quest Media Network

Animal Abandonment, rabbits, Small Furries, Worst of the Worst

Hyde, Greater Manchester: Sara Holland

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CONVICTED (2024) | Sara Holland, 27 (born 29 August 1996), of 33 Garden Street, Hyde, Tameside, Greater Manchester SK14 4AU – left a rabbit to starve to death in a filthy hutch.

RSPCA prosecution of Sara Holland from Hyde, Tameside, Greater Manchester. Image: RSPCA.

In February 2022 the RSPCA were called to Sara Holland’s home in Garden Street, Hyde, due to concerns over the welfare of a pet rabbit. There they found the young female Lionhead rabbit called Bing dead in her hutch.

The ‘filthy’ hutch had no food or water in it.

A post-mortem found the animal had died of ‘prolonged malnutrition.’

In a written statement RSPCA Inspector Beth Fazackerley said she visited the property on February 22, 2022, and was shown into the back garden by Holland.

“Against the rear wall of the property within the garden stood a large, pale blue two-storey hutch. The hutch was approximately a metre from the rear door into the kitchen” Ms Fazackerley said.

“The top floor of the hutch was bare except for some faeces and an overturned log tunnel/bridge-type structure. Attached to the mesh door pointing into the hutch was a roller-ball water bottle. It was completely empty.

“On the bottom floor of the hutch was an empty and dry green bowl, an empty and dry human food tray, multiple faecal droppings – collectively covering around a third of the bare wooden floor – and a rabbit laying on its right side on top of some faeces on the right-hand side of the hutch.”

RSPCA prosecution of Sara Holland from Hyde, Tameside, Greater Manchester. Image: RSPCA.

Holland told Ms Fazackerley that she had ‘gone outside the previous evening and found Bing dead.

She said she assumed the rabbit had suffered a heart attack as she’d been scared by one of her dogs a few days previously.

She allowed the inspector to take Bing to a vet so she could be examined.

The vet gave the animal a body score condition of one out of five.

They said there were no obvious signs of bruising, swelling or abnormalities of the mouth which would explain any potential reason for the rabbit having difficulty in eating.

“Suffering has occurred as a result of the poor body condition, which will have caused debilitation, hunger and extreme weakness. I believe this suffering will have occurred over several days,” said the vet.

The post-mortem showed the rabbit had had ‘severe’ and ‘chronic’ muscle loss, soiling of the fur around her feet and thickening of the skin on the hocks, which both pointed to unhygienic living conditions.

No digestible material was found in her stomach and there were no pathological causes which could explain her weight loss, with ‘prolonged malnutrition’ the most likely cause of her death, said the report.

Holland was found guilty in her absence of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and failing to take steps to ensure the needs of an animal were met to the extent required by good practice.

The court was told she had mental health issues and had had relationship troubles in the past.

Sentencing | 12-month community order with 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days; fined £120. Disqualified from keeping any animal for a period of 10 years.

Manchester Evening News
ITV News

animal fighting / baiting, badger baiting, Dogs, foxes, hunting with dogs, Organised Animal Crime, Wildlife Crime / Bloodsports, Worst of the Worst

Hyde/Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester: Grant Leigh Senior, Grant Leigh Junior and Paris Carding

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CONVICTED (2022) | barbaric wildlife persecutors Grant Leigh Senior, born 4 February 1970, and son Grant Leigh Junior, born 24 March 1991, both of 38 Marler Road, Hyde SK14 4BD, and Paris Jade Carding, born 15 August 1993 of 12 Fawley Grove, Wythenshawe, Manchester M22 9WG – carried out multiple acts of animal cruelty.

Paris Carding, Grant Leigh Jr and Grant Leigh Sr were all convicted of animal cruelty offences
Paris Carding, Grant Leigh Jr and Grant Leigh Sr were all convicted of animal cruelty offences.

The trio were arrested after a police rural crime officer was contacted anonymously, in October 2020, about posts and photos that had been posted in a private Facebook group, run by Grant Leigh Senior.

The RSPCA along with Cheshire Police, launched an investigation and secured warrants for two addresses in Greater Manchester.

Dogs rescued from Grant Leigh Sr
Dogs rescued from Grant Leigh Sr

As a result six dogs were removed and taken into RSPCA care and a number of mobile phones were also seized and forensically examined. These revealed numerous videos and photos of dogs engaged in hunting and fighting with wild animals such as badgers and foxes. Very young children featured in much of the footage.

Still from video clip showing fox being mauled by dogs.
Still from video clip showing fox being mauled by dogs.

Carding appeared in 32 separate video clips, all of which showed her “vicious and nasty” treatment of animals

In one video, Carding is heard saying: ”There it is, it’s a pig [badger] isn’t it? Bash, bash it, ooh, it’s biting’.”

Still from video clip showing badger being mauled by dogs.

In another clip, Carding encouraged a toddler to get a lurcher dog to attack a badger sett saying: ”Her face is going to be smashed. Good boy, get him out. Look at them fighting.”

She further baited three dogs into ”pulling a fox to pieces.”

Inquiries revealed she had been joined on the barbaric family expedition by her boyfriend, Grant Leigh Junior, and his ex-huntsman father, Grant Leigh Snr.

In one clip, Leigh Jnr is seen showing the toddler how to hit a badger with a spade.

One picture showed Grant Jr holding a dead fox with a child accompanied by the caption: ”Family day out, learn these kids young. Hunting mad!”

Grant Leigh Senior was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a terrier, alongside failing to properly look after six other dogs.

Grant Leigh Junior, a violent career criminal currently serving a three-year prison sentence for burglary, admitted seven wildlife offences, hunting with dogs and keeping dogs in poor conditions.

Carding, who worked at a primary school in Manchester for six years until 2021, was found guilty of five cruelty charges under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992.

Carding and Leigh Sr are pictured outside court.
Carding and Leigh Sr are pictured outside court.

RSPCA Inspector Kirsty Withnall, a case officer for the charity’s Special Operation Unit, told the court: “Upon interrogating the phones, it was discovered that recordings had been made of extensive and graphic badger and fox persecution.

“It also became apparent that Leigh Jnr’s partner, Paris Carding, was present during these recordings. She was responsible for taking the footage, was heard encouraging both Leigh Jnr and the dogs during the attacks and was completely complicit.”

At one property, Leigh Snr was arrested by police and officers found a kennel block in the back garden containing six dogs, three of which were recognisable from the videos.

Two black Patterdale terriers had scarring on their faces and one was underweight; three bull lurcher types – one called Mission – also had facial injuries; and a white and black terrier – called Clover – had fresh wounds and a swollen face and muzzle.

Clover and Mission could be seen on the videos from the phones being used to hunt and fight wildlife just two days before they were seized.

An independent vet who attended the scene said in his report that the kennels were ‘unhygienic’ and described many of the dogs as having ‘mature scars’.

Two of the dogs – Buster and Shay – were rehomed. Clover and Mission were said to belong to Leigh Jnr while the other two dogs – Rocky and Bronco – had been brought from the internet.

A third warrant was executed on December 23, 2020, at Carding’s address and a terrier, called Foxy, who had been seen in videos on the mobile phones, was seized and taken into RSPCA care. Carding said Foxy did not belong to her so he was rehomed.

The vet report added: “All seven dogs had evidence of skin scarring and with the exception of one all dogs had injuries to, or had missing teeth.

“These findings are commonly encountered when a dog has been fighting with another animal of similar size and stature.”

He said two of the dogs had evidence of de-gloving injuries to the chin/jaw, concluding: “In my experience a de-gloving injury of the chin is commonly encountered when a dog fights with a badger.”

PC Jim Clark from Cheshire Constabulary’s Rural Crime Team said: “This investigation uncovered a horrific catalogue of abuses and neglect of animals and cruelty to wildlife.

“This result reinforces our determination to work with our colleagues at the RSPCA to deter this type of behaviour as part of our commitment to protecting our rural communities.”

Manchester Evening News
ITV News
Daily Mail
Cheshire Live

Sentencing (9 March 2022):

Grant Leigh Junior was sentenced to the maximum he could impose of a total of 26 weeks in prison, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £128 and was disqualified from keeping all animals for life (he can’t make any application to remove this for 25 years). Grant Leigh junior is already in prison for another matter and this sentence will be on top of that and will be consecutive.

Paris Carding was sentenced to a total of 22 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months. She was given a curfew for 16 weeks, ordered to pay costs of £1,000, a victim surcharge of £128, and disqualified from keeping all animals for 25 years (she can’t make any application to remove this for 15 years). The judge said how a mother of young child has been present at this ‘horror show is beggars belief’. The long term impact on the children is immeasurable. He said she was the one person who could have asserted some influence and prevented children from seeing what happened and said to her ‘shame on you’. He said the extent of your culpability was obvious and to video what happened was a trophy perverse in the extreme.

Grant Leigh Senior was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to complete a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement, ordered to pay costs of £1,000,a victim surcharge of £128 and disqualified from keeping all animals for life (he can’t make any application to remove this for 25 years).

They were all deprived of their dogs.

Source: North West Hunt Saboteurs

Dogs

Stalybridge, Greater Manchester: John Baimbridge

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CONVICTED (2020) | John David Baimbridge, born 1 June 1989, of Grey Street, Stalybridge SK15 2NP – for the neglect of two dogs found underweight and infested with fleas at his family home

John Baimbridge from Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, was banned from keeping animals for five years after his pet dogs were left with severe flea infestations and other symptoms of neglect
John Baimbridge was banned from keeping animals for five years after his pet dogs were left with severe flea infestations and other symptoms of neglect

RSPCA inspector Lorna Campbell visited the property John Baimbridge shares with parents Judy and Dave Baimbridge and his brother James Baimbridge and discovered the dogs in poor condition. Both dogs – a red cocker spaniel named Ollie and a German shepherd called Pippa – were scratching furiously due to a severe flea infestation. They were also severely underweight and had suffered extensive fur loss.

Fleas could be seen in neglected spaniel Ollie's fur
Fleas could be seen crawling in spaniel Ollie’s fur

Pippa was in so much pain she was crying, yet Baimbridge had not taken her or Ollie to the vets in four months.

Baimbridge agreed to sign the dogs over to the RSPCA and they were taken to Greater Manchester Animal Hospital for emergency treatment.

Pippa weighed just 21.5kg, when an average weight should have been 32kg, and her body condition score was one out of nine, with one being the lowest possible score. Her ribs, spine and hip bones were clearly visible.

German Shepherd Pippa was neglected by her owner John Baimbridge from Stalybridge
German shepherd Pippa was emaciated with numerous bald patches on her body

She also had widespread hair loss across her body due to a chronic skin condition, believed to have been caused by an untreated flea infestation

Vets found Ollie’s foot had grown around towards the paw pad due to the matted fur. The matts had to be shaved off and his claws were cut.

Following on from the treatment both dogs made a full recovery and have been re-homed.

Dog abuser John David Baimbridge from Stalybridge, Greater Manchester

Baimbridge admitted two animal welfare charges at Tameside Magistrates’ Court on January 7, 2020. No charges were brought against any of the other members of the household in which the dogs lived.

Sentencing: 12-month community order including 100 hours of unpaid work. Ordered to pay a total of £415. He was banned from keeping animals for five years (expires January 2025).

Manchester Evening News

Animal Abandonment, Dogs, Lifers, Serial Animal Abusers

Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester: Ian Czajkowskyj

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CONVICTED (2017) | Ian Czajkowskyj (since deceased), born c. 1960, of Elgin Street, Ashton-under-Lyne OL7 – left his dog to die an agonising death in a boiling hot car while he drank in the pub

Dog killer Ian Czajkowskyj from Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester, UK
Ian Czajkowskyj claimed in court that he suffers from memory loss

Ian Czajkowskyj admitted causing unnecessary suffering after locking his dog inside his vehicle in 35.2C heat while he drank in a nearby pub.

He had already been warned twice by the RSPCA.

But on June 19, 2017, police discovered seven-year-old Staffy Carlo dead in the back of Czajkowskyj’s white Fiat 500.

Staffy Carlo died an agonising death after being left in a hot vehicle by his owner Ian Czajkowskyj from Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester, UK
Carlo may have been left in a roasting vehicle for as long as nine hours

He had died of a massive blood clot brought on by severe heatstroke.

Mark Harper, prosecuting, said: “It is likely that Carlo was subjected to monumental suffering for a minimum of one hour but for a maximum period of nine hours.

“This was a clear case of the owner placing his own needs before those of the animal, especially because he had been warned before.”

On April 4, 2017, an RSPCA inspector found Carlo locked in Czajkowskyj’s car and left an animal welfare warning notice on his windscreen, although the vehicle was in the shade and the dog was asleep.

Then on May 26 police were called about a dog in the same car at Ashton Leisure Centre car park.

Members of the public had managed to open the door and release Carlo, who they said appeared “hot and bothered”.

Czajkowskyj had been drinking in a nearby pub and on his return was warned by police.

But around 10pm on June 19 Carlo was found dead in the car in Ashton.

Mr Harper said: “Temperatures that day were very high, up to 35.2C and with an average of 28C.

“There was a two to three-inch gap in the window.

“The dog was slumped in the back seat and there was a lot of blood.

“It appeared the dog had been dead for some time because rigor mortis had set in and there was a strong smell. Both the animal and the car were warm.

“Officers said there was saliva on the window.”

Shortly Czajkowskyj returned to the scene and stated he had been in the pub “at least a few hours”.

He later said he had parked the car around 4.30pm and gone shopping, then gone for a drink.

He believed he had left the dog in the car for only up to one-and-a-quarter hours.

In an interview with police he said he suffered from memory loss due to a heart condition and the medication he took for that condition and depression.

A vet who examined the body concluded Carlo had died of disseminated intravascular coagulation, the widespread formation of blood clots, caused by severe heatstroke.

The dog suffered breathing difficulties, suffocation and respiratory failure.

Chairman of the bench Fiona Maynard told Czajkowskyj: “You deliberately left this animal to suffer despite previous warnings. You left a dog in a vehicle in severe heat which resulted in its death.”

After the hearing, RSPCA inspector Nicola Waterworth said: “It is horrible to think what Carlo would have gone through and it is sad to think that we are still having cases where animals are being left in hot cars.

“People have got to realise that even on a sunny yet cloudy day the inside of a car can still become the temperature of an oven.

“If they are in any doubt they should keep the animal out.”

Sentencing: 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. Ordered to pay a total of £415. Banned from keeping animals for life.

Manchester Evening News
Mirror

dog fighting, Dogs, Hoarders, Lifers, Organised Animal Crime, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders, Worst of the Worst

Ashton-Under-Lyne, Greater Manchester: Alexander Walker

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CONVICTED (2014) \ Alexander Walker, born 14/05/1977, of Cote Royd, Caroline Street, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 6NT but with links to Prestwich and Bury –  kept six fighting dogs in squalid mess next to bloodied corpse of another dog

Animal abuser: Alexander Walker of Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester

As the newspapers failed to follow-up in this case, we contacted Manchester & Salford Magistrates Court who kindly provided details of Walker’s sentence.

Walker kept six bulldogs which were regularly involved in fights between themselves in appalling conditions alongside a bloody corpse of another pet for two days.

Dog rescued from life of neglect with Alexander Walker of Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester

Walker’s animal abuse came to light after police caught him digging a grave for a dead dog in woods.

The bulldog called Major died after being savagely attacked in a park by another dog two days before the find

Walker kept three adult American Bulldogs and three puppies next to the wounded corpse at his home in Prestwich for two days.

Dog rescued from life of neglect with Alexander Walker of Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester

After following Walker to his flat an inspector found the floor was filled with rubbish and needles. All of the animals had severe wounds from regular fights and excrement was caked into their paws.

The remains of a cannabis factory were also found, and the only food in the flat was a piece of cake next to Major’s corpse.

All the animals had severe wounds from regular fights and excrement was caked into their paws.

Although there was no suggestion the animals had been involved in organised fights, the court heard they picked up numerous injuries having been allowed to fight each other in the cramped flat.

The foul conditions in which Alexander Walker kept seven American Bulldogs
The foul conditions in which Alexander Walker kept seven American Bulldogs

Paul McCormick, representing the RSPCA, said the stench could be picked up outside.

He said: “On reaching the flat the inspector realised the smell was emanating from his property, and saw a swarm of flies.

“He could see a large amount of of excrement, both old and new, all over the floor. There was so much it was impossible not to step in it.”

He said the remains of a cannabis factory was also found, and the only food in the flat was a piece of cake next to Major’s corpse.

Animal abuser: Alexander Walker of Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester

The three adult American bulldogs and three puppies had been kept alongside the bloodied body for two days, he said.

Alexander Walker kept dogs in hellhole flat

Walker, then of Windsor Crescent, Bowker Vale, Bury, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering and failing to care for his dogs.

The defendant, who is out of work and on benefits, said he had bought his first American bulldog after being stabbed in the chest with a screwdriver in 2011.

Zoe Earle, defending, said police did not track down his attempted murderer and Walker, who now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, had kept the animal for protection.

She said: “The problem came when it had a litter, and then they had another.

“Before he knew it, he had in his possession a vast amount of dogs and no hope of looking after them.”

Although Walker had been warned he could be imprisoned for up to a year and fined up to £20,000 for the neglect, he received just two months in jail.

Sentencing | two months’ imprisonment. Disqualified from keeping any animal for life

Manchester Evening News
The Mirror

Cats, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Mossley, Greater Manchester: Tony Delaney

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CONVICTED (2014) | Anthony Delaney, born c. 1983, of Waterton Lane, Mossley OL5 – savagely kicked a cat lying injured in the road.

Former soldier Delaney, who now describes himself as a boxing coach, had drunk at least 10 pints of lager when he and a gang of fellow revellers spotted a wounded cat on Queen’s Road, Ashton-under-Lyne.

The dad-of-two was caught on CCTV crossing himself as if taking a penalty kick before booting the defenceless animal through the air.

The swaggering thug then took a second swing, kicking her against a wall.

Delaney and his ‘intimidating’ pals also subjected two teenage girls who had stopped their car to help the animal to a torrent of abuse – forcing them to drive away before the RSPCA arrived.

The cat died just minutes after inspectors arrived at the scene at around 5am on Sunday, September 22, 2013.

Delaney was arrested hours later and told police he and friends wanted to put the cat ‘out of its misery’ and that he carried out the act as he had undergone survival training in the armed forces.

The lout, who pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary cruelty to an animal at an earlier hearing, visibly winced as CCTV footage was played to Tameside Magistrates’ Court.

Defending, Christopher Squibbs, said Delaney had intended to try and put the injured cat out of its misery.

He said: “It was a misguided attempt to try and deal with the situation when he was in a state of drink.

“He handled it appallingly badly.”

The court was told driver Charlotte Lewis-Dobson first spotted the injured animal and phoned the RSPCA before moving her car in front of the cat to prevent further injury.

She and passenger Nicole Calvert were later confronted by the gang, and told ‘you better drive away now’ after pleading with them to leave the animal alone.

A statement from Ms Lewis-Dobson said: “I can’t believe somebody could do that particularly when the cat was injured and distressed.

“It was crying out and wanted to be left alone. Its last few minutes were full of fear and pain.”

Sentencing | 18-week jail term. Banned from keeping animals for five years (expired 2019).

Manchester Evening News

Cats, Dogs, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Audenshaw, Greater Manchester: Dollkeith Jarrett

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CONVICTED (2012) | Dollkeith Anthony Jarrett, born 25 September 1965, previously of Audenshaw, Manchester and as of October 2021 of Blandford Street, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 7HG – killed a kitten by throwing her from a balcony.

Kitten killer Dollkeith Jarrett from Audenshaw, Greater Manchester
Dollkeith Jarrett pictured outside court.

Jarrett threw the tiny pet 16ft from his balcony after she dirtied the sofa instead of using her litter tray.

The kitten, who he had bought just weeks earlier for his son’s birthday, was found dead by a neighbour on Rowcon Close, Audenshaw – hours after she had repeatedly heard Jarrett threatening to kill the animal.

Following an appeal for witnesses, more people came forward.

Mark Harper, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said: “The balcony floor was approximately 16.5ft high and the kitten’s body was found some 28ft out.

“The witness described it as tiny, no more than 10 or 11 weeks old.

“The vet’s evidence was the cause of death was blunt trauma consistent with falling from some height.”

Jarrett – who claimed to suffer from alcoholism – originally denied the charge but changed his plea halfway through the trial, admitting failing to protect the kitten from pain and suffering by his abuse which led to her death.

At a previous hearing the court was told he had thrown the kitten into the kitchen after seeing she had soiled the sofa. When he went back into the room he thought she was dead and then threw her off the balcony “hoping the foxes would take it”.

However, at sentencing Jarrett insisted that the kitten had ‘accidentally’ fallen after he had opened the door to let her out.

Defending, Karibo Lawson said: “Mr Jarrett has kept animals for years and he has not had any problems. This was an isolated incident.”

The court also heard how Jarrett had gone out the next day – on January 21, 2011 – and bought another kitten.

The judge told Jarrett: “This is a case where a young animal has been abused by yourself, perhaps while in drink, and has led to the death of that animal.

“You are not a fit and proper person to have ownership or control of any animal.”

Speaking afterwards, RSPCA inspector Vicki McDonald said: “I am very pleased with the outcome. It was a horrific and cruel assault on a defenceless kitten.

“I am extremely grateful to the witnesses who came forward as it must have been very difficult for them and to GMP for their assistance in these matters.”

Sentencing: 16 weeks in jail. Banned from keeping animals for 10 years (expired May 2022).

Manchester Evening News

Update November 2021

Jarrett was fined and given an additional 12-month ban after 15 dogs, including 12 tiny puppies, were found at his home.

The court heard how on February 1, 2021, the police contacted the RSPCA after officers went to Jarrett’s house at Blandford Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, and heard dogs barking in the property.

RSPCA inspector Ryan King went to the house later that evening and found 12 puppies living in a pen on the floor of the kitchen, along with a black female crossbreed dog with swollen teats.

Two adult bull breed type dogs were also discovered in the backyard.

Inspector King said: “The officers told me that Mr Jarrett had been alone in the house when they attended. They said he had told them that a friend owned the dogs and he hadn’t seen him in a while.”

All 15 animals were taken into RSPCA care, where two of the adult dogs were found to be microchipped. The phone number that was registered on one of the dog’s microchips subsequently turned out to be Jarrett’s.

Inspector King said: “In interview, I asked him why his phone number was on one of the dog’s microchips.

“He could not give me a straight answer and mentioned that he may have picked up the dog at some point and that is why it was in his name.”

All of the dogs were signed over into the care of the RSPCA and have since been rehomed. In addition to the 12-month disqualification order, Jarrett was also ordered to pay £400 in costs. Ban expired June 2023.

Manchester Evening News