CONVICTED (2024)| Keane Pyzer, born 25 March 2006, of Amberley Close, Bransholme, Hull HU7 – attacked a police dog and his handler with a shovel.
Pyzer pleaded guilty to a string of offences including threatening a person with an offensive weapon in a public place, and actual bodily harm.
Pyzer had refused to pay for his taxi after being dropped off at an address in Bransholme.
John Bottomley, prosecuting, told the court that Pyzer came out of the house and attacked the cab with a shovel.
Armed police were called to the address and forced their way into the house.
A dog handler with his dog saw Pyzer at the top of the stairs, shouting and being abusive and still armed with the shovel.
“He threatened to kill the police dog, having seen it,” said Mr Bottomley.
Pyzer, still at the top of the stairs, was asked to be compliant and he was warned about what would happen if he was not. The police dog was sent up the stairs.
He then hit the police dog with the shovel.
The police officer tried to detain Pyzer but the teenager raised the shovel above his head and tried to swing it towards the policeman’s head.
The officer put his hands up but he suffered an cut on his arm and passed out because of the loss of blood.
Pyzer was eventually arrested.
The officer later said that the police dog was his “best mate” and that the dog could have been killed or seriously injured.
The dog suffered a bruise to his abdomen and had to be taken to a vets.
Pyzer had convictions for 14 previous offences, including two of assaulting an emergency worker and others of possessing an offensive weapon, affray and threatening behaviour, all from last year.
He also pleaded guilty to the use of threatening behaviour to cause distress, making off without making payment, and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
Sentencing | two years and 11 months in a young offenders’ institution.
CONVICTED (2024) | Phillip Boyer, born 4 December 2004, of Waterdale Crescent, St Helens WA9 3PD – left an XL Bully to die in a rubbish and faeces-strewn flat.
A 2019 image of alcoholic junkie Phil Boyer, who turned a blind eye to his dog’s suffering and left her to die in pain
Police found the female tan and white XL bully, named Cali, lying dead in the filthy living room of Boyer’s flat in Waterdale Crescent, St Helens, on June 15, 2023. She was very thin and suffering from canine parvovirus which had not been treated.
An RSPCA inspector attending the scene described being met with a pungent overpowering smell of urine, faeces and decomposition, and saw no sign of food or water for the dog.
Boyer, who admitted being reliant on alcohol and drugs, pleaded guilty to three offences contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
He said in an interview that he hadn’t noticed Cali’s weight loss.
The court heard that RSPCA Inspector Leanne Cooper had gone to the property following the police’s request.
In written evidence she said: “Each room I looked in was filthy and littered with rubbish. In the lounge there was a really pungent overpowering smell of urine, faeces and decomposition. I could see what appeared to be smears of faeces all over the floor and up the walls.
“Over towards the television stand in the corner of the room I could see a dead white bull breed dog that looked to be in very thin bodily condition, with her ribs, hips and backbone prominent.
“Cali’s fur looked to be stained brown on her legs and back end. There was also what looked like a brown dried patch of diarrhoea on the floor underneath her rear end. There was a mop bucket nearby that looked thick, brown and dirty with faeces. The floor was littered with rubbish and hazards such as broken glass. I didn’t see any sign of food or water provided for Cali.”
The inspector also took photographs of a shed in the communal garden where Cali was said to have been kept, sometimes for hours at a time. The wooden door and frame appeared to have been chewed and there were splinters all over the floor.
A vet from the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital examined the dog later the same day. She gave Cali a body condition score of two out of nine and said her ribs, lumbar vertebrae and pelvic bones were easily visible and she had no palpable fat.
The result of a faecal sample showed Cali had canine parvovirus, a highly contagious virus that can be fatal to dogs, with puppies and unvaccinated dogs most at risk.
In her evidence to the court, the vet said: “Parvovirus can cause rapid deterioration and suffering if no veterinary intervention is provided. The duration of these failings will be a minimum of several days, the duration of the environmental failings is likely to be for a period of weeks looking at the evidence presented. Regardless of the cause of poor body condition and diarrhoea, the owner should have sought veterinary advice to relieve her suffering.
“Cali will have undoubtedly felt weakness and debilitation having a severe lack of energy, worsened by the haemorrhagic diarrhoea. This will have been uncomfortable and severely impacted her everyday life, ability to move, to obtain food or water and even to play.
“I would expect a responsible owner to seek veterinary attention should their pet become underweight, to a point that they were below point 4 out of 9 on the body condition score, moreover, if their animal became weak or lethargic.”
The court was told that in the weeks that followed Inspector Cooper made repeated attempts to speak to Boyer about potential animal welfare offences, but most of the calls went straight to voicemail or the line would go dead when she said who she was.
With the assistance of police, he was located and finally interviewed in November about what had happened to Cali.
In interview, Boyer said he was reliant on alcohol and drugs and struggled to buy food for himself and Cali. He said he didn’t notice her weight loss, suggesting that she had always been a lean dog, and he hadn’t taken her to the vet as had no money to do so and didn’t have a phone to call the RSPCA for help.
Speaking after the case Inspector Cooper said: “Going into the property and finding Cali’s body, lying all alone surrounded by piles of rubbish, was an extremely sad and upsetting sight. She was badly let down by the person who should have been caring for her and suffered over a prolonged period because no veterinary assistance or any other sort of help had been sought.”
Sentencing | 17-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months; 20 days of rehabilitation; 160 hours of unpaid work; victim surcharge of £154. Five-year ban on keeping all animals (expires April 2029).
CONVICTED (2024) | John Paul McDonagh (born 01/10/1990) and his wife Mary Louise McDonagh (27/05/1992); Francie Gabriel McDonagh (18/01/1989) and his wife Angela Christina McDonagh (13/10/1989); Patrick Christopher McDonagh Snr (02/02/1977) and his wife Mary Christina McDonagh Snr (13/04/1980); Edward ‘Eddie’ McDonagh (01/11/1995) and his wife Mary Christina McDonagh Jnr (08/11/1998); husband and wife Martin Joseph McDonagh (23/03/1981) and Rosaleen Marie McDonagh (21/08/1981) and their son Patrick Christopher McDonagh Jnr (06/12/2001).
These men and their wives were prosecuted following an RSPCA investigation into the illegal puppy trade2016 image of Francie McDonagh. Source: Bucks Free Press
Eleven members of the extended notorious McDonagh clan – all Irish travellers – have been convicted of animal cruelty offences and fraud after trading puppies illegally from the council-funded Ellen Ridge travellers site in Hartridge Farm Road, Newport NP18 2NH.
The six men pleaded guilty to fraud and all 11 admitted an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
The case against the vile criminal family involved hundreds of puppies sold to the public under false pretences
The unscrupulous and greedy family made hundreds of thousands of pounds by conning members of the public into believing the puppies they were buying were much-loved pets when in reality they were being bred and traded like “commodities”
They falsely advertised the pups on popular Facebook pages and used dozens of fake emails, addresses, names, and staged photos showing the pups “at home” to hoodwink prospective purchasers.
The RSPCA-led operation found that most of the dogs and puppies, many of whom had health issues, had been imported from Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Ireland, while some had been bred in Wales. Others had been stolen
They had advertised and sold at least 40 different breeds of dogs, including Cavalier King Charles spaniels, pugs, beagles, miniature dachshunds, American pocket bully, shihpoos, French bulldogs, cavapoos, chihuahuas, labradors, rottweilers, German shepherds and whippets.
The callous and morally bankrupt family also dealt in stolen animals.
The offences were committed between January 1, 2020, and March 31,2021.
Many of the pups had been imported from countries which included Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.
The scam was uncovered thanks to a vigilant vet who reported his concerns to the RSPCA. Police had also been called to the Ellen Ridge travellers site following a violent disturbance and undertook a search of the premises.
The total value of the illegal puppy operation is estimated to have netted more than £500,000 with the McDonaghs pocketing around £300,000 in undeclared income.
A judge at Swansea Crown Court said the fraud had been sophisticated and carefully planned. It involved the transportation of animals likely bred in East European puppy farms into the UK. Some puppies had been bred in Wales and kept in dirty and unsanitary conditions.
The judge told the defendants their motivation had been financial and little regard had been paid to the welfare of the animals involved.
RSPCA prosecutor Hazel Stephens told the court the investigation started after a vet became suspicious that a man had taken three litters of puppies into the surgery using the same phone number but calling himself by different names.
The vet contacted the RSPCA, who launched an investigation called Operation Earth. This involved analysis of Facebook adverts and messages, phone records, financial transactions, and details of dogs’ microchips and vets records.
The investigation led to the Newport-based McDonagh family being identified as being behind an operation involving cross-border transportation, breeding, and the sale of puppies and dogs on a large scale.
The investigation revolved around the activities of five couples:
John Paul McDonagh and Mary Louise McDonagh of Laburnum Drive Newport NP19 9AL
Francie Gabriel McDonagh and Angela Christina McDonagh of George Lansbury Drive, Newport NP19 9DS
Patrick Christopher McDonagh Snr and Mary Christina McDonagh Snr of Moorland Park, Newport NP19 4NB
Edward McDonagh and Mary Christina McDonagh Snr of Maesglas Street, Newport NP20 3BU
Martin Joseph McDonagh and Rosaleen Marie McDonagh and their son Patrick Christopher McDonagh Jnr all of 114 Maesglas Crescent, Newport NP20 3BY.
The court heard that the RSPCA applied for search warrants for a number of addresses in Newport but before they could be executed “there was an intervening event”.
On April 12, 2021, police officers responded to an emergency call at a property in Caerau Road, Newport, about “five Irish men” trying to kick their way into a property and asking for “the dogs”.
The men dispersed before officers arrived but a review of CCTV footage showed the group had been using two vehicles – a white Ford Transit van and blue Ford Focus car – and the vehicles were soon picked up by a police helicopter.
As a result of that information police officers went to the Ellen Ridge travellers’ site in Newport and two suspects who were identified from the CCTV footage were arrested.
The court heard that in the minutes between the men arriving at the site and police turning up at the gate the two males had swapped clothes and had started to shave their heads “presumably with the intention of evading detection” – those men were Eddie McDonagh and Patrick Christopher McDonagh.
Entrance to the Ellen Ridge travellers site in Newport
While at the site police saw a number of dogs and puppies that were kept in poor conditions and who did not appear in the best of health.
Some 21 dogs and puppies were removed from the premises and four of those were found to have been stolen.
The barrister said all the evidence gathered as part of Operation Earth showed the McDonaghs were advertising pups for sale on four of the main puppy selling sites – FreeAds, Pets4Homes, Preloved, and Gumtree – and the adverts were worded to make it appear that the dogs were from home-bred litters and were socialised and healthy puppies when in reality the defendants were trading puppies and dogs “like commodities with no care for their health or welfare”.
She said veterinary records acquired by the RSPCA “demonstrates the ill-health and frequent breeding of a number of dogs”.
Some of the puppies sold by the McDonaghs were found to have microchips from Poland, Hungary, Belgium, the Czech Republic, and Ireland. In some cases they had been taken to vets in the UK to make them look like dogs from Britain before then being mixed with other puppies from different origins – thereby further increasing the risks to their welfare.
On one occasion two of the McDonagh couples – Martin Joseph and Rosaleen Marie along with Eddie and Mary Christina – were stopped by officers from the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs at the Port of Dover with Dachshunds from the Czech Republic and Hungary in crates in their vehicles.
Martin McDonagh told an animal welfare officer that he and his wife had seen the pups while travelling on the Continent “on business”.
The passports for the puppies were in the names of Anthony Francis McDonagh and John Paul McDonagh. The prosecutor said five of the imported dogs were subsequently abandoned when it transpired they needed veterinary attention.
The court heard that as part of the investigation the RSPCA collected details of all the microchips implanted in the puppies and dogs in the case, traced the date the chips were implanted and to whom they were registered, and the details of who subsequently then sold the animals.
The results of this analysis showed the links between the movements of the puppies between the various members of the McDonagh family.
The investigation also showed that as well as many puppies having been imported some were being bred on the travellers’ site and other dogs were stolen.
The McDonaghs’ Facebook adverts were designed to dupe people into believing the puppies they sold had been bred in a loving home environment.
One read:
“This stunning little tri-coloured cavalier king Charles spaniel pup is now ready to leave for his new homes. We have one boy available he is very loving affectionate pup that likes to play and have cuddles. He has been raised in our family home with our kids and he is well socialised. Mum is our family pet and can be seen with pup”
while another was worded:
“I’ve come to the very sad sale of my beautiful beagle. He is four months old I have had him since he was eight weeks but I hate to say this but my circumstances have changed and I sadly cannot have him no more I am so upset about this as I really do love him but I can no longer give him the time that he deserves and has forced me into putting him up for sale”
The prosecutor said analysis of Facebook adverts and messages and of phone records showed the defendants had used 41 different residential addresses, 47 mobile phone numbers, and 39 email addresses during the puppy-selling scam.
It is estimated that between January 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021, a total of £532,300 worth of dogs were advertised for sale online and the prosecutor said for the purposes of the case the value of the fraud was put at £300,000.
The court heard 20 victims of the scam had given statements to the RSPCA and between them they had paid the McDonaghs more than £30,000 for what they believed were socialised and healthy pups from a family home.
A number of those puppies subsequently required vet treatment with some being diagnosed with pneumonia, some with campylobacter, giardia; two puppies were diagnosed with parvovirus.
The prosecutor said many of the purchasers had been left with large vets bills.
Judge Geraint Walters said there was “carefully coordinated action” where the use of multiple properties, different vehicles and different vet practices had been used, along with false adverts, false documentation and various mobile numbers.
Ms Stephens said there were two sets of victims in the case: the puppies themselves and also the purchasers who suffered “considerable expense and considerable emotional upset through the illness and in some cases death of the puppy”.
She said the defendants “exploited the emotional vulnerability of potential purchasers, some of whom had small children excited about their new member of their family”.
The court heard that as part of the investigation an analysis was carried out into some of the bank accounts belonging to the defendants and “multiple deposits of large quantities of cash” were identified as well as multiple income transactions from “third parties”.
The court heard Patrick McDonagh Snr had 10 bank accounts and saw payments into his accounts totalling more than £120,000 a year while receiving a legitimate income from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and child tax credits accounts of approximately £16,500 per annum.
Francie McDonagh had a turnover in his bank account of £96,800 between December 12, 2019, and August 12, 2021, with cash deposits of in excess of £8,600 and third-party transfers of more than £76,000.
John Paul McDonagh had income from the DWP accounting for £18,310 of a total turnover of £63,122 with more than £14,000 directly referenced to “dogs”.
Martin McDonagh’s Halifax account saw cash deposits of almost £56,000 and only £64,000 of a turnover of £167,331 could be accounted for by DWP transactions.
Martin McDonagh, Francie McDonagh, Patrick McDonagh Jnr, John Paul McDonagh, Patrick McDonagh Snr, and Eddie McDonagh all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and to failing to meet the needs of puppies in the their care under Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Rosaleen McDonagh, Angela McDonagh, Mary Louise McDonagh, Mary Christina McDonagh Snr and Mary Christina McDonagh Jnr all admitted failing to meet the needs of puppies in their care under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Heath Edwards, for Martin McDonagh, said the operation had been “unsophisticated” and said only a “fraction” of the dogs sold had been unwell. He said the criminality lay in misrepresenting the animals as home-bred and purchasers got “the same pet just not exactly the one they thought they were buying”. He said his client was a hardworking father-of-six and a good neighbour and he said they were his instructions that the defendant “has no available funds”.
Clare Wilks, for Patrick McDonagh Snr, said the father-of-six had been alcohol-dependent for more than 20 years and battles with his addiction on a daily basis. She said the defendant had been a scrap car dealer and said while the prosecution put the figure of the fraud at £300,000 that cash had been shared between members of the “family network”. The barrister said the defendant “led a rather solitary lifestyle” with his family, had depression and anxiety, and was “something of a closed book” in regard to opening up about the difficulties in his life.
Clare Wilks, for Eddie McDonagh, said the defendant had joined the conspiracy when it was already in existence and said his role had been limited to transporting puppies between locations including importing five puppies from the continent. She said the defendant was on medication for depression.
Andrew Taylor, for Francie McDonagh, said his client had been a roofer but when his work dried up due to Covid he became involved in the puppy conspiracy. He said the defendant was expecting his fifth child in June and was “extremely fearful” of the outcome of the case. The barrister added that “if chivalry exists it exists in his family” with the males taking responsibility and pleading to conspiracy while not guilty pleas on behalf of the females had been accepted by the prosecution.
Steve Burnell, for John Paul McDonagh, said the defendant had been involved in the buying ang selling of vehicles prior to the Covid pandemic and regrets getting involved in the puppy operation. He said the father-of-two was on anti-anxiety medication and was not currently in work.
James McKenna, for Patrick Christopher McDonagh Jnr, said his client had been aged 18 at the time of the offending and had been involved in the sale of some of the dogs. He said the client was married and had a one-year-old daughter and was keen to improve his literacy skills.
Andrew Kendall, for Mary Christine McDonagh Snr, said the defendant had no previous convictions and was the sole carer for her children.
The barrister also represented Mary McDonagh Jnr and said on her behalf she been present at Dover with her husband Eddie when dogs had been imported into the UK.
Stephen Donoghue, for Rosaleen McDonagh, said a report before the court concluded the mother-of-four presented a low risk of reoffending and it had not identified any rehabilitation needs on her part.
Rhodri Chudleigh, for Mary Louise McDonagh, said the mother-of-two was suffering with depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Timothy Evans for Angela McDonagh, said the defendant was heavily pregnant with her fifth child and had dedicated her life to raising her family. He said his client had spent the last three years “agonising” over what would happen to her and her husband and said it was fair to say that she approaches the next year or so with “terror”.
Judge Geraint Walters said the background to the case was the dog population of some nine million animals in the UK and the buying and selling of around 800,000 puppies every year.
He said the McDonagh family fraud had been a sophisticated and carefully planned operation involving the transportation of animals likely bred in East European puppy farms into the UK as well as the breeding of pups in Wales, the keeping of animals in dirty and unsanitary conditions, a range of documentation, and the use of multiple emails, names, and addresses.
He told the defendants their motivation had been financial and they had paid little regard to the welfare of the animals involved. He said the puppy breeding selling had caused “unspeakable distress” to its victims.
The judge noted that in the cases of the female defendants the maximum sentence available at the time of the offending was one of six months in prison for a summary-only offence though that maximum had subsequently been increased to five years. However he said he was bound to pass sentence having regard to the law as it applied at the time and would effectively sit as a district judge to exercise the power to sentence a summary-only matter.
Following the sentencing RSPCA Inspector Kirsty Withnall, said: “We’d very much like to thank all those who helped us bring this case to court, from Gwent Police, veterinary practices, witnesses, Newport Council trading standards and The Animal and Plant Health Agency. The heart-breaking reality of puppy farming is that the welfare of the puppies comes second to making money.
“The sums of money involved are just eye-watering; and it’s another reminder of how unscrupulous this trade can be; and how dangerous poor breeding and trading practices are for dogs, pups and unsuspecting consumers. For anyone looking to buy a puppy, rather than adopt – we urge them to do their research, know the signs of an unscrupulous breeder and use tools such as the Puppy Contract to avoid becoming another victim of the puppy trade.”
Gwent Police constable Bianca Robson-Mallet, who was the officer in charge of the warrant, said the force works closely with the RSPCA in animal cruelty cases and said colleagues had been receiving “intel” for a few months prior to the warrant.
PC Robson-Mallet later rehomed one of the dogs seized during the operation.
Sentencing |
Martin Joseph McDonagh: three and a half years in prison Patrick Christopher McDonagh Snr: three and a half years in prison Francie Gabriel McDonagh: three years and two months in prison John Paul McDonagh: three years in prison Eddie McDonagh: 20 months in prison Patrick Christopher McDonagh Jnr: 18 months in prison.
They will each serve up to half those sentences in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.
Rosaleen Marie McDonagh, Angela Christina McDonagh, Mary Louise McDonagh, Mary Christina McDonagh Snr, and Mary Christina McDonagh Jnr were each made the subject of a 12-month community order and were ordered to complete rehabilitation courses.
Mary Christina McDonagh Jnr was also ordered to do 180 hours of unpaid work, Mary Louise McDonagh was ordered to do 160 hours of unpaid work,
Rosaleen Marie McDonagh was fined £200, Angela Christina McDonagh was fined £200, and Mary Christina McDonagh Snr was fined £500.
The male defendants were banned from keeping dogs for 15 years while the female defendants only received a 10-year ban on keeping dogs.
CONVICTED (2023) | Patrick-Michael McCluskey, born 1 June 2004, of 9 Selkirk Way, Coatbridge ML5 4TN – kept dogs and cats in a home full of household waste, clutter and animal faeces.
Teenage animal abuser Patrick-Michael McCluskey who goes by the name PM McCluskey ignored repeated warnings from the Scottish SPCA over the atrocious conditions in which he kept dogs and cats. Despite living at the same address, Sylvia McCluskey, aka Sylvia McNicoll had her not guilty plea accepted by the court.
McCluskey pleaded guilty to failing to provide a clean and safe environment for two dogs in his care, but walked free from court with an admonishment. He wasn’t even banned from owning animals.
A not guilty plea was accepted for the teenager’s mother, Sylvia Claire McCluskey, born 25 November 1963, and of the same address..
Scottish SPCA inspector, Jack Marshall, said, “We had attended the address on Selkirk Way on several occasions between October 2017 and May 2022.
“We provided Patrick-Michael McCluskey with advice and support on how to care for his animals but unfortunately the conditions at the property continued to deteriorate. We removed several dogs and cats from his care during this period.
“A previous report to the fiscal in May 2021 resulted in a fiscal’s warning being issued about the conditions animals were being kept in on the premises.
“In September 2022 we received a call from Police Scotland who had attended Selkirk Way on an unrelated matter and become extremely concerned due to conditions at the property.
“We gained a warrant to enter the address and this was conducted on 14 September 2022.
“On entering the property we found it was full of household waste, clutter and animal faeces.
“There were two one-year-old dogs at the property, a poodle-type dog named Lady and a husky named Lola.
“Due to concerns for their welfare they were immediately removed from the address and taken for veterinary examination.
“It’s disappointing that this case has only resulted in an admonishment as any responsible owner would have been able to see that the conditions within the property were far from suitable for any person, let alone an animal, to have to endure.”
*An admonition is where an accused person found guilty of a crime is warned not to offend again. It is recorded as a conviction and appears on their criminal record. No other penalty is given.
CONVICTED (2023) | Edward Ade, born 25 June 2004, of 178 Gershwin Road, Basingstoke RG22 4HL – filmed himself attacking a bleeding dog as she cowered away from him
Edward Ade’s dog Fendi had a broken spine and jaw and injuries inflicted using sharp objects
Ade pleaded guilty to an animal cruelty offence, following an investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA.
RSPCA inspector Josephine Story, who investigated for the animal welfare charity, was on duty on February 17, 2023, when she received a call that highlighted a video relating to the abuse of a black and tan Doberman named Fendi.
Inspector Story said: “I was horrified by the look of terror on the dog’s face and by its behaviour indicating extreme stress. Having been verbally abused she was then hit at the end of the video.”
The short clip shows the terrified dog standing in a small space surrounded by three walls with blood on the wall behind her. She is pressed against the wall with her head down and doesn’t move during the recording.
The footage then zooms in on her head and back. Open wounds can be seen on both which are wet with blood.
Ade can be heard talking throughout, saying: “Had to pat on this b*tch, bust her head, bust her back. Yeah have you got anything else to say, you want to try and bite me still? Go on bite me, you b*tch, you b*tch.”
Inspector Story was joined by police when she visited Ade’s home to take the dog into immediate possession.
Vet Dr David Martin described how there must have been at least two severe beatings to her head, back, jaw and skin for between three and 14 days before Fendi was seized.
He said some injuries had been inflicted using sharp objects.
He said the dog would have experienced extreme pain and distress trying to eat with a broken jaw or walk with a broken spine.
Dr Martin said the fractures would have been immediately apparent to Ade when they occurred as they would have caused severe distress to Fendi and required substantial force to cause.
The report added that these are the sort of injuries normally seen in dogs that have been run over by a car.
Fendi, who has since been renamed, has now recovered and found a happy new home.
Sentencing | jailed for 26 weeks; £200 costs. Banned from keeping animals for life.
CONVICTED (2023) | Nicholas Kengere, born c. 2004, of Capstone Road, Bromley – left his dog tied up without food for over a week.
Kengere left his black Labrador crossbreed named Blade tethered to a coat hook in his hallway while he was in hospital.
Neighbours on Capstone Road reported that the dog had been abandoned prompting RSPCA officers to attend the property on January 24, 2023.
One of Kengere’s friends let the officers inside where they found a dog that was very thin, with bones visible, standing in his own faeces.
“The dog had been kept tethered in the stairwell with no bedding, no clean resting area and no access to toileting facilities,” prosecutor Andrew Wiles said.
A vet who assessed Blade rated his body condition as two on a scale of one to nine. They said the dog was 50 per cent underweight and had no palpable body fat.
The vet’s opinion was that Blade had likely been undernourished for two to three weeks or longer, Mr Wiles said.
Blade also had red lumps in his eyes, known as cherry eye, which required surgical intervention.
RSPCA officers placed seals on Kengere’s door to see when he returned home but these were unbroke on January 26.
Officers made contact with Kengere on February 8 and he was interviewed.
“He said he had been in hospital for a week before the RSPCA attended and that he tethered the dog to stop it from going into the bins in the kitchen. He admitted the dog was probably suffering and that it was his fault,” Mr Wiles said.
Kengere had been an unplanned stay in hospital as he was suffering with a chronic B12 deficiency but acknowledged he should have done more for the dog.
Sentencing | 12-week prison sentence suspended for a year and a half. Banned from keeping pets for a decade but can appeal from 2030 (expires August 2033).
CONVICTED (2023) | Owen Rippon, born c. 2004, of Woodville Road, Sherwood, Nottingham NG5 2JS – subjected a dog to a frenzied beating and tried to poison her with chocolate – all for social media likes.
Rippon uploaded two videos depicting horrifying animal abuse to the social media platform TikTok. The dog involved in both videos was a nine-year-old Staffy cross named Sasha.
Rippon punched the elderly dog repeatedly after announcing that she gets the same treatment every day
In the first video Rippon announces to his social media followers that “she gets this every day” before he punches the petrified dog at least 35 times as she cowers on the sofa.
A second video shows him feeding Sasha highly toxic chocolate cake, while gloating about the fact that he no longer wants her. The as yet unidentified accomplice filming the abuse is unconcerned at the horrors he is witnessing and does nothing to intervene.
Both acts took place in Nottingham at some point between 20 March and 4 April, 2023 – when a video of the incident was reported to Nottinghamshire Police.
Owen Rippon pictured with Sasha
The two videos were widely shared across all social media platforms in early April 2023, sparking a public outcry.
Rippon initially went into hiding for his own safety, but was soon arrested and charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Tuesday 18 April 2023.
Various news outlets reported that Sasha, who belongs to a family in the Radford area of Nottingham, had been checked over by a vet and was assessed as “fit and well”.
Inspector Sharon Powar, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This video was particularly distressing, as it depicted a deliberate assault on a defenceless dog.
“Thankfully, Rippon’s actions didn’t cause severe lasting damage and the animal is now safe and well.
“We are pleased to see that measures have now been taken that will prevent him from ever owning or keeping an animal in the future.
Sasha
“Nottinghamshire Police will not tolerate acts of animal cruelty and will always look to put anyone involved in this behaviour before the courts.
“Likewise, any acts of violence or threatening behaviour will never be tolerated in our communities and will also lead to anyone who acts in this manner getting themselves into trouble too.”
Sentencing | 26-week custodial suspended for two years; 31-day accredited programme, 10 rehabilitation activity days; £85 in costs and victim surcharge. Lifetime ban on owning animals.
CONVICTED (2023) | backyard breeder Kyle Stephen Moore, born c. 2003, of Oldfield Road, Ellesmere Port CH65 8DE – left a French bulldog puppy to starve to death in a filthy flat strewn with rubbish.
Ellesmere Port teenager Kyle Moore let a French bulldog starve to death after ‘forgetting’ to feed her
Eight-month-old French bulldog Coco slowly starved to death over three months after being abandoned by Kyle Moore. The callous teenager had been paid to look after the puppy by his sister, Leanne Griffiths, after she and boyfriend Jon Brookshaw, moved out to set up home elsewhere. . Backyard breeders Griffiths and Brookshaw were also prosecuted in relation to Coco’s death and sentenced in January 2023.
Heartbreaking photos show French bulldog puppy Coco lying dead in a filthy flat after she was starved to death by a family-run group of backyard breeders
Moore watched as she became thinner and thinner while ‘forgetting’ to feed, water and walk her until she eventually died alone and in pain.
Her skeletal remains were discovered alongside children’s toys and piles of rubbish by agents acting for the landlords of the flat in Birkenhead, Wirral, following complaints from neighbours about the smell.
Leanne Griffiths was later traced to her new home.
It emerged that she and Brookshaw had taken on Coco for breeding purposes, but when Griffiths moved out in March 2022 she refused to take the dog to their new home due to the puppy not being toilet trained.
The flat was described as being in a terrible state, with dog faeces on the floor and no sign of any food or water for the dog.
RSPCA prosecutor Peter Mitchell said that police were called to a flat on Dorset Gardens on Old Chester Road in Birkenhead on May 12, 2022, following a request by the landlord Magenta Housing.
‘They were due to carry out an eviction on this premises,’ Mr Mitchell said. ‘There was a strong smell and numerous flies coming from the flat.
‘They entered the property whose registered occupant was Leanne Griffiths, who is the defendant’s sister. There was no person present. However, it was discovered that there was a dog dead in the premises, a black and tan bulldog type dog.
‘The police officer stated that the flat was in a terrible state, with dog faeces on the floor and no sign of any food or water for the dog. The RSPCA was contacted and Inspector Anthony Joynes attended the same day.
‘He was overwhelmed by the smell of decomposition, faeces and urine. He saw the dead dog on the floor.
‘There was faeces over every floor of the flat. There were multiple piles of dried diarrhoea. There were food and water bowls on the kitchen floor, empty and dry.
‘There was no food found on the premises. He did discover post pertaining to Leanne Griffiths and Jonathan Brookshaw, her fiance. He made enquiries and discovered the dog’s name was Coco, originally owned by another person but ownership was transferred to Miss Griffiths.’
When questioned, Griffiths said: ‘We’ve been struggling yeah. I was there three or four days ago, she was skinny but she was alive. She couldn’t come with us because she was shitting and pissing everywhere.’
Griffiths said she had been given the dog on breeding terms months earlier but did not bring Coco to her new home as they claimed the puppy would be attacked by their other dog, Molly.
Dog killers and backyard breeders Jon Brookshaw and Leanne Griffiths from Birkenhead, Wirral, Merseyside. Pic Facebook
She admitted she had visited Dorset Gardens since moving, saw water and biscuits but agreed the ‘place was a shithole’. She said she had last seen the puppy alive about three to four days previously and that she was ‘skinny but alive’.
She added that she thought her brother was caring for Coco.
Moore said he was going about two times per week to feed Coco, believing that his sister was going as well. He admitted he forgot to feed Coco ‘quite often’.
Mr Mitchell added: ‘He accepted that there were days quite often missed when the dog was not seen at all. He recognised that the dog was getting thin and on one occasion was barely alive and needed feeding. He noted that Coco had been losing weight for about three months.’
A vet’s report said Coco, who weighed just 4.6kg, had been suffering from hunger and starvation for a period of several months prior to her death.
‘She will also have experienced periods of time where she had no access to water and will have suffered from dehydration,’ the report said.
‘The environment in which Coco was housed was totally inadequate for her as it was not clean and sanitary, nor did it provide her with a clean, dry, comfortable and safe place to rest.
‘Of more concern than the poor environment is the complete lack of socialisation and companionship provided to Coco who was spending up to a week at a time with no interaction or social activity at all.
‘It is my expert opinion that Coco was caused to suffer from hunger, weakness and lethargy over a prolonged period of time as a result of the intermittent starvation and dehydration that she was enduring from the failure to provide her with an adequate and sufficient diet on a daily basis.’
The court heard that Kyle Moore knew the animal was “barely alive” but believed it was not his responsibility
In mitigation for Moore, who lived with his mother, defence lawyer Laura Flynn said her client was on the autism spectrum, adding: ‘He is really sorry in his way that the dog died but that ability to demonstrate the appropriate remorse and demonstrate an appropriate sadness was completely lost on the probation services. It is not a criticism but it is because they do not know him.
‘Anyone who is a dog lover is going to be offended by these offences, it’s as simple as that. I did not want you to think that this is someone who was completely careless. It is not that. There are fundamental issues here.
‘The fact that his sister has given the dog to someone who cannot organise himself, never mind anything else, was very remiss. Did he think there was something wrong with the dog? Yes.
‘But did he not think it was his place to do something about it. It did not occur to him that it was his responsibility. That does not make him less culpable, it just explains what was going on. It was not his dog and he did not live with it. He did for a short time but not for a long time before it died,’ she said.
After the case RSPCA Inspector Anthony Joynes said: It’s hard to prepare yourself to walk in and deal with an incident where a dog has been starved to death.
‘You know you can’t do anything to help at that stage, and all you can do is remain professional and investigate the case to ensure that the animal’s suffering does not go unanswered.
‘I noted that the dog was wearing a collar with a tag containing the name ‘Coco’ engraved onto one side but it was far too big, providing some indication of how big the dog may have been at some point before losing body condition, as people generally don’t put collars on their dogs that are far too big and can just slip off.’
‘It remains one of the saddest sights I’ve ever seen in 14 years, Coco just lying there dead, emaciated and alone surrounded by children’s toys and bits of rubbish, having been completely let down by the people she relied upon.’
Sentencing | 18 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months; 15 rehabilitation activity days; 50 hours of unpaid work; victim surcharge of £154. Disqualified from owning an animal for the next five years (expires March 2028).
CONVICTED (2023) | Louis Mason, born 27 May 2004, of 10 Coppice Wood Crescent, Yeadon, Leeds LS19 7LG – battered a guinea pig to death.
Mason admitted inflicting blunt force trauma on a white and tan guinea pig known as Bun Bun, causing the animal to suffer extensive fatal injuries.
The incident took place at Eliot Grove in Guiseley, Leeds, on March 17, 2022.
The prosecution was brought by the RSPCA.
Sentencing | 50 hours of unpaid work; 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days; supervision; £195 towards the RSPCA’s costs of £3,000 plus victim surcharge. Banned from owning any animal for life.
CONVICTED (2022) | serial animal abuser Thomas Tony Price, born 3 June 1964, and son Sam Nathan Price, born c. 2005 of Redway Road, Bonvilston, Cardiff CF5 – for the mistreatment of horses and dogs.
Notorious self-styled ‘Gypsy Horse King’ Tom Price, who traded under the name Glamorgan Horse Traders Ltd, was caught mistreating horses, dogs and birds, despite being banned for life from keeping animals.
In court Price admitted breaching his lifetime ban and a total of 26 welfare offences.
His teenage son avoided a prison sentence after pleading guilty to 25 offences against animals.
Swansea magistrates heard Tom Price had previously served six months in jail for cruelty involving sheep and horses in April 2021.
An investigation by Shared Regulatory Services (SRS) found sheep carcases along with animals suffering the effects of maggots and other wounds, while others’ fleeces had not been shorn. Under veterinary supervision the worst affected of the sheep had to be put down. Price was also found to be mistreating horses, which were forced to stand in deep mud with no water or forage.
They were kept in areas strewn with hazards, such as sharp metal and barbed wire, and in some cases in overcrowded filthy conditions with nowhere to lie down.
A number of horses were also significantly underweight and others had long-standing wounds caused by ill-fitting rugs.
Yet despite his previous conviction, Tom Price transferred the ownership of the horses and other animals to Sam Price, who was just 16 at the time.
The animals were being kept at a site in Bonvilston and another at Coity, Bridgend – and even though he was disqualified, Tom Price continued to be involved at both sites, which received numerous visits from SRS welfare officers.
They served a total of 71 improvement notices for animal health and welfare offences, relating to concerns around the suitability of the environment, overcrowding, restricting normal behaviours, failing to supply water and failing to supply food.
But the notices – relating to horses, dogs, and birds – were consistently ignored.
Tom Price was sentenced to another six months in prison, while Sam Price was given a five-year ban on keeping animals, apart from in very strict circumstances, for a period of five years.
Sam Price was given two weeks before his disqualification takes effect to make arrangements for the animals he is no longer allowed to keep.
He was also given a four-month Referral Order, meaning he must have regular contact with the youth offending service.
Sentencing the pair, the district judge accepted that Sam Price, now 17, was of clean character and that pressure had been put on him and he had been manipulated by his father.
Sam Price is pictured centre with brother Jason Price in foreground.
Following the case, Cllr Ruba Sivagnanam, cabinet member for regulatory services at Vale Council, said: ”Tom Price has a track record of mistreating animals and I hope this sentence sends out a message that such neglect and cruelty will not be tolerated.”
”The council will investigate such cases and if appropriate prosecute those responsible to the full extent of the law. The decision to hand down another prison sentence reflects the seriousness of these offences and the persistent disregard this individual has for the law.”
”Not only do Price’s practices harm animals, they also cause problems for the wider communities as animals were often allowed to stray or fly-graze on land that he did not own.”
”This conviction follows many months of careful work and I’d like to thank those involved for their efforts.”
