CONVICTED (2022) | puppy farmers Eamon Bohan, born c. 1970, and son Eamon James Bohan, born 10 August 2001, of Allendale Close, Gloucester GL2 0AF – sold two poorly dogs, one of whom sadly died.
Money grubbing puppy farmer Eamon-James Bohan and his equally vile namesake father sold poorly puppies online.
The Bohans, who are travellers, were prosecuted by Tewkesbury Borough Council for offences relating to the Animal Welfare Act 2006, Animal Licensing and Fraud Act offences.
The pair bred and sold dogs from their home address. The dogs were advertised on various selling sites during 2019 and 2020.
Two witnesses described buying dogs from the pair in 2021. Very sadly, one of the dogs died from leptospirosis shortly after purchase, and another dog was suffering from Giardia – both illnesses are linked to contaminated drinking water or a poor environment.
Court records show that the charges against Bohan senior were of failing to take steps to ensure that the needs of the puppies were met and breeding dogs without a licence. He was also charged with making a false representation to Mr Anderson that the puppy was not underweight snd did not have worms.
Bohan junior admitted aiding and abetting the puppy breeding and animal welfare charges.
Both travellers pleaded guilty to all offences.
Sentencing | the travellers were each given an 18-week custodial sentence suspended for one year. Bohan Snr also received 25 rehabilitation days and Bohan Jnr received 120 hours of unpaid work. Full prosecution costs were awarded to the council and a compensation order was awarded to the two victims.
CONVICTED (2017) | horse thief Joanne Yvonne Donnelly, aka Joanne Beckett, born May 1980, previously of Beckford Road, Alderton, Tewkesbury and more recently (August 2020) Redwing Close, Walton Cardiff, Tewkesbury GL20 7SJ
Mother-of-six Donnelly, who is married to Anthony Donnelly (he faced no charges but there are allegations that he was involved), distressed several horse owners when she sold their animals without permission.
She admitted five offences of fraud and two of theft and was given a three-month suspended jail term.
Donnelly’s victims included Denise Scarrot who asked her to find a new home for her horse Shadow who was suffering an ulcer and needed veterinary treatment.
“Ms Scarrot was adamant Shadow was not to be sold but given a retirement home,” said prosecutor Mary Cowe. “But she later learned from others that the defendant had sold Shadow at auction.
“Ms Scarrot said it was very upsetting to discover this. Shadow was a horse she had bred and hand reared and he was of great sentimental value to her. The fact he had been sold at auction caused her much personal pain.”
Horse thief Joanne Donnelly with husband Anthony Donnelly
Donnelly then told her thieves had taken Shadow and was demanding money for his return.
It later transpired he had been sold at Beeston Auction in Wales. When Ms Scarrot was finally reunited with Shadow two years later his condition was much worse.
Facebook post alleging horse theft on the part of both Joanne and Anthony Donnelly
The prosecutor had told the court that another woman Donnelly knew asked her to look after her 17-year-old mare, Roxy.
“It was made clear Roxy was not to be ridden and was a ‘companion horse.’ The defendant agreed to take Roxy on. But less than a week later she sold the horse to a lady called Jane Dexter who runs a riding school. Donnelly told her she had ridden the horse herself and so had her daughter,” said Ms Cowe
“Ms Dexter paid £2,000 for three horses including Roxy, who she thought was worth about £500.
Further allegations against the pair
The prosecutor said another woman, Janice Cornbloom, agreed to let Donnelly rehome her horse Oasis in Oct 2015.
“The defendant told her she rescued horses and gave them a ‘forever home.’
“But in March 2016 Ms Cornbloom discovered Oasis had been sold to a dealer. She says she was struggling to cope with that.”
The prosecutor also outlined how Donnelly had bought a horse for £350 but did not pay – leaving the seller ‘cheated and out of pocket.’
She also bounced three cheques she gave to suppliers of goods including hay bales and horse rugs.
Defence barrister Robert Morgan-Jones said the probation service recommendation was a suspended sentence.
Judge Jamie Tabor QC told Donnelly: “These were silly, nasty, little offences. You must not offend again in this way or you will find yourself in very serious trouble.”
The judge added: “If you commit another criminal offence such as stealing someone’s hay or selling someone’s horse when you shouldn’t you will go to prison irrespective of how many children you have to look after.”
Sentencing: suspended prison sentence; costs of £150. She was ordered not to ‘purchase, acquire, take or look after any horses that are not presently already in her possession’ for three years (expired June 2020). Donnelly was also banned from acquiring or looking after any horses except those she already has in her care on her land.
