Tag Archives: Tendring

Dogs, Lifers, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Clacton-on-Sea, Essex: Robert Manton and Natasha Butler

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CONVICTED (2024) | Robert Manton aka Rob Philpot, born 1986, and Natasha Butler, born November 1979, of Stonham Avenue, Clacton-on-Sea CO16 7EH – neglected and physically abused their two dogs.

RSPCA prosecution of Clacton-on-Sea couple Robert Manton and Natasha Butler for cruelty to two dogs.
Butler and Manton were banned from keeping animals for life after being captured on video abusing their two dogs.

The RSPCA investigated Manton and Butler after receiving video evidence of their cruelty towards a Staffy called Bruce and Jack Russell-type Snoop. This included footage showing Manton kicking and hitting both dogs.

On January 13, 2023 the charity attended the couple’s home in Clacton with police and removed the dogs.

RSPCA prosecution of Clacton-on-Sea couple Robert Manton and Natasha Butler for cruelty to two dogs.
Bruce (pictured) and Snoop thrived in the RSPCA’s care and have been rehomed

Further evidence was provided of the two dogs fighting outside and running loose in the street and one of the dogs attacking the other. There was no intervention by their owners, thereby facilitating the suffering of the animal being attacked The two dogs were kept together and there was no provision to keep Snoop safe.

RSPCA prosecution of Clacton-on-Sea couple Robert Manton and Natasha Butler for cruelty to two dogs.
Snoop

Both dogs had skin disease and were infested with fleas. They were also being kept in unsuitable conditions.

Manton, who is no stranger to Essex Police, was found guilty in his absence while Butler pleaded guilty to failing to meet the welfare needs of Snoop and Bruce by one or a combination of the following:

  • Failing to address the skin condition affecting one or both dogs
  • Failing to adequately control the dogs resulting in the dogs fighting each other
  • Keeping the dogs in an unsuitable environment containing hazardous items and which was contaminated by urine and faeces
  • Failing to protect the dogs from stress by punching or kicking them
  • Exercising the dogs on the highway without the dogs being kept on leads meaning that the dogs were not under control or safe
  • Failing to provide routine preventative health care such as vaccination and parasitic control.

In mitigation, the court was told Manton was suffering from mental health issues and he had lost a relative to cancer. The dogs were not his, but he was aware of their conditions. In mitigation Butler also said she had been suffering with mental health issues.

RSPCA prosecution of Clacton-on-Sea couple Robert Manton and Natasha Butler for cruelty to two dogs.

Speaking after the case RSPCA inspector Emma Beynon said: “Bruce and Snoop should have been protected and kept safe, but sadly this was not the case. The couple failed them in so many ways.

“Both dogs were taken into RSPCA care and both continued to thrive and they have now been rehomed.

“I would also like to thank the witnesses in this case – which was a difficult one for all involved.

Sentencing |
Manton: 17 week prison sentence for the animal welfare offence with one further week added for his failure to surrender. He also activated a previous suspended sentence – which resulted in a further 40 weeks’ imprisonment to run consecutively.

Butler: 12-week prison sentence with additional time added for failure to surrender; 30 days of rehabilitation activity; costs of £600 plus £154 victim surcharge.

Both were disqualified from keeping animals for life.

EssexLive

Animal Abandonment, Dogs, Lifers, Worst of the Worst

Clacton-on-Sea, Essex: Daryl Burgess

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CONVICTED (2024) | Daryl Burgess, born 6 April 1992, of Chantry Close, Clacton CO16 9QL – starved his dog to death.

Dog killer Daryl Burgess from Clacton on Sea, Essex. Image: Facebook

Burgess was prosecuted by the RSPCA after the skeletal remains of the young mastiff-type dog named Patch were found in his garden. The horrific discovery was made on 12 January 2023 by police officers pursuing a suspect.

The RSPCA was alerted and an investigation was started.

RSPCA inspector Emma Beynon said: “I was shocked and upset to see the condition he was in.

“Every single bone could be seen in his body, he looked like a skeleton. Patch would not have even been two years old.”

A vet who examined Patch gave him a body condition score of zero out of nine and said the owner “should have .. sought medical advice and treatment”.

They continued: “By not seeking veterinary advice they would have been failing to meet the animal’s needs, causing the suffering of the animal.

“It would have taken days to weeks to reach a body condition score this low.”

In court, Burgess pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a dog by failing to adequately explore and address the dog’s weight loss.

In mitigation sick Burgess, who represented himself, described Patch’s wilful killing as “an unfortunate event”.

Speaking after the conviction, inspector Beynon described the case as “truly heart-breaking”.

She added: “This was a deliberate disregard for Patch which resulted in his sad death.

“Pets are completely reliant on their owners to ensure their needs are met and they are kept safe and healthy.

“Owning an animal is a privilege – and ensuring appropriate care is a key part of the responsibility we have towards our pets.

“It’s so sad that, in this instance, that responsibility was not met and Patch was left to suffer.”

Sentencing | 23 weeks in prison; £300 costs and £154 victim surcharge. Disqualified from keeping all animals for life.

Echo
EssexLive

Dogs, Worst of the Worst

Clacton-on-Sea, Essex: Ronnie Calver

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CONVICTED (2023) | Ronnie Calver, born c. 1988, of Berkeley Road, Clacton-on-Sea CO15 – failed to address his dog’s serious health issues.

Dog abuser Ronnie Calver from Clacton-on-Sea, Essex

Calver was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a cross-dog breed called Marley, by failing to investigate and address the cause of her lameness and the hard mass affecting her pelvic area.

He was found not guilty of failing to provide adequate nutrition for the animal’s needs.

The court heard that Marley was taken to a vet by the RSPCA in June 2021, after she had been removed from Calver’s home by another person.

Animal Rescue Officer Rebecca Yarrow said: “She was lying down outside, not willing to stand. Her face appeared to be sunken with no muscle tone. She also had a large, hard mass on the left side of her pelvis and looked to be very underweight.”

Marley was taken to a vet and given pain relief, where she was made comfortable. A further examination found that the large mass was a bone tumour, which had been eating into Marley’s lower pelvis and spine.

It was decided that her pain was too much, with a vet noting that under the circumstances, the kindest thing to do was to put her to sleep.

A vet who examined Marley said: “I believe without doubt that this dog was suffering due to the degree of pain she was in.

“This suffering could have been reduced by pain relief medication in the weeks preceding her being presented to us.

“I believe this dog would likely have been suffering for a period of at least four to six weeks due to the size of the mass and the amount of destruction of the bone seen on the radiograph.

“The needs of this animal were clearly not being met as it would have been very clear even to a novice owner that this dog was in pain and was unable to walk as a normal dog should be able to.”

Sentencing | 18-month community order, with 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement, 150 hours unpaid work; £1,000 in costs. Banned from keeping dogs for five years (expires April 2028).

Clacton Gazette

Animal Torture, Dogs, Domestic Violence - Animals Targeted, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

St Osyth, Essex: Henry Dearsley

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CONVICTED (2023) | Henry Lee Dearsley, born June 1986, of Old School Close, Spring Road, St Osyth, Clacton-on-Sea CO16 8QW – launched a vicious attack on his girlfriend’s chihuahua in an act of jealousy.

Pathetic thug Henry Dearsley beat the dog, called Boris, after becoming jealous of the attention his girlfriend gave the chihuahua. The brutal attack on Boris, which continued even after the dog fell unconscious, left him with missing teeth and irreversible brain damage. At one point Dearsley even forced a twig down the terrified dog’s throat.

Tragically the dog’s injuries were so severe he had to be put to sleep.

Lauren Bond, prosecuting, said Dearsley’s partner woke up on the morning of April 3, 2022, and found her dog “floppy but alive”.

“She picked it up and its eyes were bulging, it had loose teeth and there was blood coming through the mouth,” said Ms Bond.

The prosecutor said blood was found on the carpet, on the sofa, on wet wipes in the bin and on Dearsley’s clothes.

She continued: “Mr Dearsley would get jealous of the dog if [his girlfriend] paid it attention and he would throw it off the sofa.”

The court heard the dog was taken to the vets and euthanised due to the brain and head injuries he had suffered.

A post mortem examination showed evidence of Boris struggling in a fight and suffering a torn liver, with at least five incidents of sustained blunt force trauma.

A report read to the court said the dog would have been in “fear, distress and pain for several minutes, possibly longer,” as the attack was carried out.

Dearsley admitted causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and failing to protect its welfare.

Selena Dines, mitigating, said Dearsley was struggling with his mental health at the time and had not realised the impact self-medicating with cannabis was having on him.

But Judge Christopher Williams said he felt the defendant must serve time behind bars.

He said: “You did cause completely unnecessary suffering. You acted out of jealousy towards the dog.

“It was particularly nasty and evil what you did.

“Boris suffered sustained and relentless violence.”

Sentencing | Jailed for one year. Banned from owning any animal for ten years.

Daily Gazette

Dogs, ear cropping and tail docking, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders

Clacton-on-Sea, Essex: Rory Canny and Sophie Snell

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CONVICTED (2022) | backyard breeders Rory Canny, born May 1992, and Sophie Louise Snell, born 27 November 1991, both of St Osyth Road East, Little Clacton, Clacton-on-Sea CO16 9NZ – illegally cropped dogs’ ears.

Canny and Snell, who trade under the name Bully Lair UK, were convicted of one offence each under the Animal Welfare Act relating to the cropping.

Logo for the pair’s dodgy breeding business.

RSPCA officers started an investigation after reports of dogs having cropped ears.

A warrant was executed at a property in Clacton where several dogs were found, including a number that had been cropped.

The vile pair lied that this dog, known as Bjorn, had been imported from Bulgaria, when they had bred him themselves.
The pair denied all knowledge of ownership in relation to Nylah.

Officers also carried out online research into Bullylair UK kennels and found a number of images on social media showing puppies who were being bred and having their ears cropped.

In her witness statement, RSPCA inspector Caroline Richardson – who compiled a research report based on the kennel’s Instagram images – said: “An image posted on May 9, 2020 on the BullylairUK Instagram page shows an entire litter of puppies with whole ears, stating they are four weeks old.

“Bjorn (pictured above) is then posted in December 2020 with cropped ears. Canny and Snell… both confirmed in interview this is the same dog and that they bred the dog.”

The couple claimed they adopted Bjorn when he was four months old, only to change their story and admit to breeding him, but saying they sold him to a friend overseas and he only returned when the ‘friend’ arranged the cropping.

However, online evidence – including photos posted online during the time period he was allegedly overseas – suggests the dog was with them, and there are no travel documents to support their claims.

A second dog, Tiger Lily, is pictured on the same Instagram account with whole ears. She has similar markings to a dog seen on the day of the visit (WR/6) – a “distinctive fork shape” white chest marking – with cropped ears.

When interviewed, the pair denied breeding her – saying she came from another kennels.

A third dog, Nylah, is seen pictured in May 2020 as a four-week puppy with whole ears. Another photo in March 2021 showed her with cropped ears and it was claimed she was co-owned with another kennels. In interview, Snell said she didn’t know who owned Nylah and Canny denied being her co-owner.

A fourth dog – Saber Tooth – is seen in an image posted on Instagram on 1 January 2021 with uncropped ears. In March 2021, a video is posted showing Canny holding a puppy with very similar markings with his ears now cropped.

Canny said, in interview, that the puppy with cropped ears was a different dog and is from another kennels. He said that Saber Tooth was from Bulgaria.

inspector Richardson said: “Ear cropping is an horrific practice which has absolutely no benefits for the dogs and can cause them lifelong health, behavioural and social problems.

“This is done purely for cosmetic purposes and sadly can lead to puppies being sold for much more money – but we’d urge the public and anyone looking to buy a puppy to remember that this is an illegal procedure which has hugely negative impacts for the dogs themselves.”

Sentencing |
Canny: 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.
Snell: six-month curfew.
£600 each in legal costs.
Five-year ban on keeping dogs (expires November 2027).

Essex Live

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Harwich, Essex: Benjamin Beverley

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CONVICTED (2021) | Benjamin Beverley, born 10 May 1968, of 10 Hordle Place, Harwich CO12 3PY – subjected his pet dog to a brutal public beating.

Beverley admitted four counts of causing intentional fear or provocation of violence, one count of causing harassment, alarm or distress and two counts of animal cruelty.

On February 16, 2021, police were called to Lower Marine Parade in Harwich after concerned members of the public reported they had seen a man abusing a dog on the beach.

Further reports said that the man had also become aggressive towards people when they tried to intervene and help the animal.

A witness of the event which occurred at about 8.45am took to Facebook to report what happened.

She said: “It was very upsetting, he let the dog off the lead and it ran on the beach and attacked a little Springer Spaniel several times.

“His dog wouldn’t return to him and eventually when he got it he really beat it, holding it up and punching it.

“He carried it back to the promenade hanging from its collar.”

Another witness added: “It was the most awful thing I’ve seen, that poor dog’s little body.

“I was so upset with anger, I tried to buy the dog from him.

“Anyone who confronted him got a mouthful.

“I dread to think what he does to that poor dog behind closed doors.”

Following an investigation, Harwich Community Policing Team and the RSPCA visited a local address, where they found a further two dogs, which had injuries and their needs were not being met by the owner.

The three pooches were taken away and handed to the RSPCA, which led the investigation.

Sentencing: 15-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months; total of £813 in costs and charges; 20-day activity programme with the probation service. Five-year ban on keeping any animal (expires November 2026).

Harwich and Manningtree Standard

Cats, Lifers, Worst of the Worst

Clacton-on-Sea, Essex: Catherine Young

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CONVICTED (2021) | Catherine Young, born 26 November 1966, of 2 Maldon Way, Clacton-on-Sea CO16 7PA – killed a ‘naughty’ kitten by putting her in a washing machine as a punishment.

Young admitted two animal welfare offences following a prosecution by the RSPCA.

The court heard how 12-week-old black and white kitten Morritz died after being put on a full cycle as a punishment for going to the toilet in the house.

The RSPCA was contacted after Young rang a veterinary practice on June 15, 2021, to say one of her kittens had died at home.

When she eventually arrived at the practice later that evening, she had with her one live male kitten called Bobbitz, and a dead female kitten called Morritz, who was cold and stiff with wet fur.

The court heard that when questioned about what had happened by a veterinary surgeon at the practice, Young admitted she had put Morritz in the washing machine because she had been “naughty” and defecated in the house.

She said she had rubbed the kitten’s face in the faeces to tell her off before putting her in the washing machine on a short cycle to clean her fur.

She said she had done this before and Morritz had been “fine.”

Young also admitted to the vet that she had withheld food and water from both kittens in the past for at least 24 hours because they had been naughty.

Bobbitz, a semi long haired black and white kitten, was examined and found to be clinically well.

Young was told that he would stay at the practice to be looked after and she would be unable to have him back.

RSPCA inspector Jessica Dayes, who investigated the case, interviewed Young on June 17.

“No other animals were seen at the address, however empty litter trays, cat litter, a broken cat carrier and a bag of cat food were still in the kitchen,” she said.

In his witness statement to the court, the vet said: “It is my opinion that the deceased kitten had undergone significant unnecessary suffering by being deliberately placed in a washing machine and then this being placed on a wash cycle.

“The spinning of the machine and the water would have caused significant pain, injury and huge amounts of stress.”

Young, who represented herself, said she had a personality disorder and mental health issues.

Bobbitz has been renamed Gulliver and is doing well in a new home.

Sentencing: ordered to pay a total of £379. Disqualified indefinitely from keeping all animals.

Chelmsford Weekly

Cats, Dogs, Hoarders, Multiple Species

Jaywick, Essex: Alan and Sue Turner

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CONVICTED (2021) | hoarders Alan Robert Turner, born c. 1964, and Sue Elizabeth Turner, born 23 March 1961, both of Brooklands Gardens, Jaywick, Clacton-on-Sea CO15 – kept nine cats in cramped and dirty cages in a room in their house and also failed to care for a dog properly

Alan Turner was banned from keeping animals alongside wife Sue after the pair failed to look after 14 animals in their care
Alan Turner was banned from keeping animals alongside wife Sue after the pair failed to look after 14 animals in their care

Alan and Sue Turner were banned from keeping animals for 15 years after nine cats were found living in cramped and dirty cages in a locked room in their house.

The pair also failed to look after their dog properly. He had an untreated eye and skin infection.

One of the couple's dogs was suffering from a number of untreated ailments
Dudley was suffering from a number of untreated ailments

The couple pleaded guilty at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court to a number of animal welfare offences.

The court heard that the couple were keeping nine cats in small cages, covered in faeces and with little, or no food or water.

Nine cats were locked in cramped and filthy cages within one room of the property
Nine cats were locked in cramped and filthy cages within one room of the property

They also had a number of dogs including terrier called Dudley who was suffering from dental issues, skin disease and dry eye, and two more dogs Spangle and Amber who were not being kept in a suitable environment.

When RSPCA Inspector Adam Jones arrived at the property on 17 January 2020, he immediately noticed the small grey and white terrier type dog Dudley.

He said: “The first thing I noticed was the fur loss to a considerable area of his back end. His skin is best described as resembling an elephant. It was grey, thick, wrinkly and tough. I did not get to examine Dudley well as he hid under the sofa, however the skin was clearly an issue that had been ongoing for some time.”

Dudley was treated by a vet, who said the dog was underweight, suffering from halitosis, severe gingivitis, overgrown claws, hyper-keratinised skin, he also had yellow discharge from his eyes, a poor coat quality and alopecia on his legs and dorsum, as well as fleas. The vet report added that his dental disease would have been causing him pain as well as chronic skin disease and an eye infection.

The court heard that the vet report continued: “I believe this dog to have been suffering and I believe his suffering had been ongoing for a period of weeks to months.”

One of the couple's dogs had a number of untreated ailments

Sue Turner told inspectors that she only had two cats but several were found in the property.

In his statement, Inspector Jones said: “I was shocked to see cats piled high in the room. I entered the room and the smell was overwhelming and I struggled to breathe. There were seven cages approximately 3ft x 2ft containing nine cats. The litter trays were overflowing.

“There were 14 animals living in the property in total.”

In mitigation, the couple said they had difficult personal circumstances including disabilities and financial hardship.

Sentencing:
Alan Turner – 12-month community order with 25 days of rehabilitation activity; £1,095 in costs and charges.
Sue Turner – 12-month community order with a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement; £1,095 in costs and charges.
Both were banned from keeping all animals for 15 years and cannot appeal for at least five years.

ITV News

Animal Abandonment, Birds, Cats, Multiple Species

Jaywick, Essex: Monshur Alom

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CONVICTED (2019) | company director Monshur Alom, born 28 November 1981, of Golf Green Road, Jaywick, Clacton-on-Sea CO15 2RL – exposed his Bengal cats to 31 degree heat and left ducks outside without fresh food or water for over a week

Convicted animal abuser Monshur Alom of Stepney, London, and with links to Jaywick, Essex

Chelmsford magistrates were shown graphic images of the animals’ living conditions during an eight-day period in June 2018, before RSPCA inspectors were able to contact owner Monshur Alom.

Alom, a furniture dealer trading as Royal London Antiques and director of a company named Cheque Bid Ltd, admitted to three breaches of the Animal Welfare Act.

The animals were being kept at the address in Golf Green Road, Jaywick, so the new dad could renovate his other home in Sidney Street, Stepney, London to accommodate the animals and his growing family.

Lauren Bond, prosecuting, called him “clearly unfit” to look after animals.

The ducks, and exotic cats, which he had no licence to keep, are now with the RSPCA.

Ms Bond said: “The inspector was overwhelmed by the heat in the conservatory and the ammonia smell burnt his nose.

“There was blood over the floor as though the cats had dragged raw meat but there was no sign of a carcass. There was a trough of water which was bright green, and large litter trays that appeared very full.

“Outside the ducks were confined to a one metre by three metre alleyway. There was liquid faeces on the floor and it smelt disgusting.”

It was his first time before the court in relation to animal welfare.

Mrs Scoot, mitigating, explained life had got on top of him and he had also been unwell.

Convicted animal abuser Monshur Alom of Stepney, London, and with links to Jaywick, Essex

However, he did accept his actions were a “form of neglect”.

She said: “He’s had the cats for two years and there’s never been any concern or need for the RSPCA to address him or the family.

“Unfortunately, the cats weren’t litter trained so he had them in the property for a short time and renovations were being made to their current property to give them appropriate living conditions.

“He’d had the ducks for significantly less time. A friend was going to kill them so he took the ducks and was going to find another home for them.

“He didn’t plan to keep them long term.”

Sentencing | 180 hours of unpaid work; £685 costs. Banned from keeping animals for ten years.

Southend Standard

Dogs, Lifers, Serial Animal Abusers

Clacton-on-Sea, Essex: Daniela Berndorfer

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CONVICTED (2018) | Daniela Berndorfer, born 1970, of Gainsford Gardens, Clacton-on-Sea – for the shocking neglect of two cocker spaniels

One of Daniela Berndorfer's two neglected dogs.

Berndorfer’s dogs, named Freckles and Amber, had to have teeth removed due to severe infection and were left with maggots in their matted hair.

When Berndorfer took the dogs to a grooming salon, the owner described their condition as the “worst she had seen in her 15 years of dog grooming”.

Stuart Cooper, prosecuting, said: “Freckles was described as dirty, matted and smelling of urine.

“One dog had really bad-smelling breath. She described the smell as intense and there was pus coming from one of the dog’s mouths.

“She also described a putrid urine smell.

“In relation to Amber, it had taken two hours to clip her.

“In her experience of dog grooming she said she hasn’t seen anything this bad and said they probably hadn’t been groomed in at least two years.”

The salon owner reported the case to the RSPCA and an inspector visited Berndorfer’s address.

Berndorfer owns the dogs jointly with her 77-year-old mother, Gillian.

The dogs were seized and given urgent veterinary care.

One of Daniela Berndorfer's neglected dogs

“Freckles had been recently groomed but the ears were still heavily matted and the inspector was unable to tell where the ears finished and the matt started,” said Mr Cooper.

“On examining Amber, the inspector noticed she had been recently groomed but her ears were also severely matted.

“The dog had a strong smell and discharge coming from the side of her mouth, she was essentially drooling over her front legs and chest.

”The dogs were taken to a vets in Colchester, where Freckles was described as suffering severe infection of the mouth.

“There were maggots in her hair and following treatment nine teeth had to be removed from her mouth.

“With Amber, there was so much discharge the inspector couldn’t see what was going on in her mouth. 19 teeth had to be removed.

“The vet concluded both dogs would have been in extreme pain.”

Due to Gillian’s age and severe health issues, she was given a caution and did not have to appear before magistrates.

Animal abuser: Daniela Berndorfer from Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. Pic: Facebook

Daniela Berndorfer, who previously lived in Kettering, admitted four counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

She was cautioned in 2014 in relation to the welfare of the two dogs.

The court was shown recent pictures of the two neglected pets, which showed the appalling state of their hair and infected mouths.

Describing one picture, Mr Cooper pointed out the discharge which could be seen underneath the matted hair when the matting was “cracked open.”

Sentencing:
12 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. Banned from owning or keeping any animal until further notice.

Daily Gazette