Tag Archives: unremorseful

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

Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire: Dianne Pearson

May 2, 2024 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2024) | Dianne Pearson, born c. 1953, from Sowerby Bridge – for cruelty offences to 10 horses, many of whom were put to sleep.

RSPCA prosecution of Dianne Pearson from Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire, for cruelty to 10 horses in her care.

Concerns about Pearson’s horses were raised with the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare in April 2023, and officers went to the scene in the village of Norland, Sowerby Bridge. There they discovered 10 horses and ponies kept in cramped, dirty stables and building. Faeces and soiled bedding had built up to the extent that the horses were struggling to stand.

Some of the horses had difficulty walking due to lameness while many were suffering from dental issues and other health problems. One horse was so thirsty he drank readily from a bucket of water when offered to him.

In her witness statement, RSPCA inspector Demi Hodby said all the horses were being kept in unsuitable conditions.

“There was no ventilation and very limited lighting inside,” she said. “All the stables were piled high with bedding and faeces and it was clear they had not been mucked out in some time. The bedding inside all the stables was piled so high that most of the horses’ heads were touching the roof. There was no water inside any of the stables.”

She added: “During our visit, Pearson admitted that Bud had not been out of his stable for two years and it took her over 10 minutes to dig the muck from behind Ellie’s stable door before she could open it and get her out. It also took her some time to dig out another horse called Rio.”

Rescuers had to dig their way into some of their stables owing to the build-up of soiled bedding and faeces.

Four horses were removed that day and six the next; all were examined by an equine vet, whose witness statement said: “In my opinion the environmental conditions these horses were found in were completely and wholly unsuitable.

“Many of the stables were in complete or mostly in darkness and most had little ventilation.This meant that when some of the horses reached the boarding establishment, they found normal visual things extremely stressful, and one horse had to be medicated for this. This shows the psychological suffering caused to these horses.

“The owner failed to take steps to meet the needs of these animals, and this has caused suffering in all of the horses due to the poor and unsuitable environments, and five out of 10 of these horses due to ailments observed.”

Pearson signed six horses over to the care of the RSPCA. After the case a deprivation order was secured so the remaining four came into the charity’s care.

After the case, Ms Hodby said: “I am so pleased to see Fern, Cody, Inca and JJ are thriving with our team at RSPCA Felledge, and delighted to hear that Tilly and Finn have already found their forever homes.

“This was a really sad case to work on and to see ponies kept in such awful conditions was heartbreaking. I’d like to say thank you to our colleagues at World Horse Welfare for their assistance in the rescue and investigating. Working together with other agencies allows us to reach more horses and ponies that need our help and make a big difference to animal welfare.”

Vets made the decision to put Bling, Bud, Ellie and Rio down for health reasons.

World Horse Welfare field officer Gilly Howard said: “Having been shut in those small and dirty stables for so long, Tilly was a very nervous pony and especially difficult to catch. But our amazing team at Penny Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Lancashire are working with her to gain her trust and the conclusion of this case means that she can be assessed with a view to finding her a forever home.”

Pearson’s age and her early guilty pleas were considered in mitigation, and it was agreed that although she “feels no particular remorse for the suffering occasioned to her horses”, she “does feel a sense of sadness and believes she always tried her best”.

“The defendant has come to accept that she doesn’t want any of the horses returned to her. She has no desire to keep horses in the future.”

Sentencing | 20-week suspended prison sentence for each of the four offences, to run concurrently, suspended for 12 months; 20 days of rehabilitation activity; £7,000 costs. Disqualified from owning horses, ponies, mules, donkeys and their hybrids indefinitely, with no right of appeal for 15 years.

Horse & Hound

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

Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset: Lucas Slim-Fitzpatrick

December 23, 2023 misanthropic 2 Comments

CONVICTED (2023) | Lucas Slim-Fitzpatrick born 6 November 1996, most recently of Regent Street, Weston-super-Mare but with links to Plymouth, Saltash, Taunton and Wolverhampton – subjected an bull-breed puppy to a catalogue of violence.

Serial sadistic dog abuser Lucas Slim-Fitzpatrick most recently of Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, UK

Slim-Fitzpatrick, who promotes himself on TikTok as a mental health expert and also likes to showcase his ‘kindness’ to homeless people, was prosecuted by the RSPCA for assaulting and neglecting the 10-month-old bull-breed called Luna in Plymouth between June 1 and December 1, 2022,

He pleaded guilty to three offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on December 7, 2023.

He inflicted “blunt force trauma, physical violence and multiple injuries of a non-accidental nature”.

Luna was repeatedly beaten and suffered multiple fractures during her time with sadistic Lucas Slim-Fitpatrick

He also failed to take steps to ensure the needs of Luna were met by not protecting her from “pain, suffering and injury and disease” and failed to provide “proper and necessary veterinary care and attention” for her injuries.

A vet who examined Luna said the dog had suffered blunt force trauma injuries in at least three separate incidents.

The RSPCA was shown doorbell footage from November 30, 2022 which showed Slim-Fitzpatrick riding his electric scooter in Mutley. while holding onto the lead of the dog, who was trying to follow behind.

A witness who contacted the police said he heard an animal in distress at the back of Slim-Fitzpatrick’s former address in Greenbank Road in Plymouth minutes later, the RSPCA said.

The court was told the witness saw Slim-Fitzpatrick “staggering around” on the scooter while talking aggressively to the dog before picking her up with both hands and throwing her six feet in the direction of a wall. He was later arrested.

When he was interviewed by police in December 2022, the defendant claimed Luna’s injuries – a broken left hip and pelvis, fractured jaw, cheekbone and wrists, three broken ribs, three broken teeth and a bloodshot eye – were caused by Luna being hit by a car and kicked by a horse.

He said her bloodshot eye was the result of her being attacked by a Jack Russell dog.

But RSPCA prosecutor Gregory Gordon told the court: “Expert veterinary evidence disproved the defendant’s various claims of accidental injury to Luna. For example, if she had been struck by a vehicle, there would have been evidence of skin abrasions or lacerations, and grit or oil in her hair.

“Radiographs indicated Luna’s different fractures were at different stages of healing, meaning that the injuries occurred on different dates. It has not been possible to identify the number of separate incidents from the injuries alone, but records indicate that injuries were sustained by Luna on at least three separate occasions, including June 29 and August 2 last year.”

On both of these dates, the defendant had been in contact with vets. However, in June 2022 he declined the vet’s recommendation that Luna undergo surgery for wrist fractures, citing the cost. He then failed to attend appointments to rebandage her wounds, instead using a pencil and sock as a homemade splint.

In August he phoned the vet to report Luna was eating painfully, but then failed to keep an appointment.

When RSPCA Inspector Miranda Albison attempted to make contact with the defendant in March and July this year to interview him about the allegations, he claimed he did not have a fixed address, but that he was staying with a friend in Birmingham.

In a statement read to the court, the inspector said: “The defendant said he was aware the RSPCA had been visiting his address, but that he was not prepared to be interviewed.

“I told him Luna was still in our care as he had not responded to my request to confirm we could rehome her. He became angry and said he thought he had already given permission and the dog was no longer anything to do with him.”

In mitigation, the court was told Slim-Fitzpatrick had experienced a troubled background and had spent time in the care system.

A judge said he had shown little remorse for his actions and told him: “This was prolonged, lengthy violence towards an animal in your care who should have been protected by you rather than becoming your punchbag.”

Luna was signed into the care of the RSPCA on July 5, 2023. The charity said she had recovered from her ‘horrific’ ordeal in their care. She was rehomed after undergoing surgery and extensive rehabilitation work to regain the use of her back leg.

Speaking after the sentencing, inspector Albison said: “The assaults carried out by this defendant on this poor dog started when she was a 10-week old puppy and continued until she was 10 months old. It was absolutely horrific as she was repeatedly beaten and suffered many fractures.

“Luna had surgery on her femoral head and that saved her back leg as the other option was amputation. Happily she is now doing very well and we have been able to rehome her.

“Without being provided with the Ring Doorbell footage by a member of the public we wouldn’t have been able to prosecute the defendant as he denied being in that area of Plymouth at the time of the assault allegation.”

Sentencing | 14-month custodial sentences to run concurrently on each of the three animal welfare offences and a further five-month prison sentence, to be served consecutively, for his breach of a suspended sentence imposed for an unrelated matter. Banned from owning animals for 20 years.

Plymouth Herald

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

High Littleton, Somerset: Kim Rendall

December 12, 2023 misanthropic 32 Comments

CONVICTED (2023) | farmer Kim Norman Rendall, born c. 1958, of 23 Southover Road, High Littleton, Bristol BS39 6HR – dragged a dog behind a car and failed to seek treatment for the animal’s horrific injuries.

Bristol farmer Kim Rendall refused to tell police officers where he'd put the critically injured family pet — “Sadistic” farmer Kim Rendall dragged a husky behind his car for over 300 metres and then went for a haircut. The dog’s injuries were so severe, she was put to sleep days later.

Rendall admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the dog – a nine-year-old white husky named Daisy – after she was dragged along a road by a rope attached to his car.

Dashcam footage showed the dog in a state of “complete distress” as she was dragged “bouncing” along the road while “scrabbling to try and stay up”

Dashcam footage showed the terrified and distressed dog being dragged along the road — Dashcam footage showed the terrified dog being dragged along the road, with Kim Rendall apparently oblivious to her howls of distress

The court heard how drivers pressed their horns and flashed their lights as they watched Daisy dragged down the road while tied with rope to the rear of a red Nissan Micra.

On hearing one of the motorists shouting ‘dog, dog’ out of a window, a woman – who was with her own dogs – flagged the car down.

At that point, Rendall stopped and was swiftly confronted by distressed locals as Daisy haemorrhaged blood onto the road and attempted to stand up.

One woman said she’d take Daisy to the vet for urgent care if Rendall was not going to. He smirked and laughed, saying: ‘I’ll do what I want, it’s my dog.’

Daisy was left bleeding heavily with skin ripped from her paws and hind legs

When police went to check on the dog’s welfare, they found Rendall having a cup of tea and getting his hair cut by his sister. He refused to tell officers where the dog was.

Video shows Rendall being arrested while enjoying a cup of tea and a hair cut as his dog bled to death. Source: Daily Mail

One officer was heard on bodycam asking him “where is that dog?” numerous times but Rendall did not answer directly, saying “I don’t like this at all. I don’t like this at f**king all”.

In custody, it was noted that his trainers were soaked in blood. He was described as rude and aggressive towards officers when they booked him in.

The court was told he continued to refuse to tell officers where Daisy was when being questioned at the police station.

In the meantime, 18 police officers and a drone unit were deployed in a bid to locate Daisy and get her the life-saving treatment they believed she needed.

Following a two and a half hour hunt in the Somerset countryside, she was located in a cow barn in Gossard Lane, High Littleton.

She was rushed to Rosemary Lodge Veterinary Hospital in Bath in a police vehicle travelling on blue lights and sirens.

Vets said she sustained complicated and traumatic injuries – including both hind legs suffering full-thickness skin loss and an open fracture of a foot.

Despite the best efforts of vets to treat Daisy, her pain could not be controlled and she was put to sleep nine days later.

Rendall admitted failing to protect the dog from pain, injury and suffering and failing to arrange urgently-required veterinary attention.

The prosecution was brought by the RSPCA.

The court was told that Daisy had belonged to Rendall’s son.

The court was shown videos of the incident and photographs of Daisy’s injuries.

Some in the court, including witnesses from the day, could not watch the screens when these were shown because they were so graphic.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, one witness said she had “never seen an animal with such serious injuries” and had suffered from nightmares since.

Another said they had been signed off work to help them sleep and still were “getting flashbacks to that day months later”.

PC Natalie Cosgrove, then animal welfare officer for Avon and Somerset Police, was at the vets when Daisy was brought in and interviewed Rendall the following day.

Officer Cosgrove read her own statement in court, where she said in 15 years of policing it was “the worst thing I have ever seen” and it will haunt her forever.

She said: “I was shocked at what I saw. I was horrified and physically sick that a nine-year-old dog was subjected to this cruelty.”

She said: “When I first saw the injuries I welled up in tears.

‘I felt shocked, I couldn’t sleep and I cried… I hugged my own dog crying in sympathy for Daisy’, she told the court in a victim person statement.

“Rendall showed no remorse for his actions.

“He was almost smirking in interview.”

She said: ‘I just felt incredibly sorry for her, that a human let her down so badly. This is one of those jobs that will haunt me forever.’

In tears, RSPCA Inspector Kim Walters comforted visibly upset PC Cosgrove in the public gallery as the case continued.

Prosecutor Lundi Meyer told the magistrates that Rendall’s refusal to provide Daisy’s whereabouts was ‘sadistic’ and only prolonged her suffering.

Rendall claimed the dog was tied up in the boot of the car but must have jumped or fallen out and he did not see or hear the car behind flashing and beeping at him to stop.

His representative in court described the incident as “poor judgement on that day” and said “he has learning difficulties and hearing problems”.

They said the incident had “devastated” Rendall’s family.

Magistrates said Rendall had shown a “deliberate disregard for the welfare of Daisy” and that “a haircut and a cup of tea were a higher priority” for him.

Sentencing | 8-month suspended prison sentence; 300 hours of unpaid work; £5000 costs and a 20-year ban on keeping animals, apart from cattle and koi fish.

ITV News
Mirror

Additional Information

Rendall is understood to be employed by Frome Livestock Auctioneers.

Animal Abandonment, Dogs, Worst of the Worst

Downpatrick, County Down: Jackie Ann Forbes and Kial Leng

October 25, 2023 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2023) | Jacqueline Forbes and Kial Leng, aka Kial Love, of 16 Struell Avenue Downpatrick BT30 6GP – for the callous mistreatment of a severely underweight Akita who had to be put to sleep

Animal abusers Kial Leng and Jackie Ann Forbes from Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland — Kial Leng aka Kial Love, who is originally from Kingston upon Hull, and partner Jackie Ann Forbes subjected a dog they’d owned since he was a puppy to a miserable existence starved of food and affection

Forbes and Leng, who have four children, were convicted of failing to look after the unnamed male dog, who was said to be “living a miserable, pitiful existence” on a short chain in a faeces-riddled yard.

The pair were prosecuted under Section 4 & 9 of the Welfare of Animals Act (NI) 2011 for causing unnecessary suffering to a dog in their care.

It also included for failing to take reasonable steps to ensure the welfare needs of the animal was being met.

The unnamed Akita-type dog owned by Jackie Ann Forbes and Kial Leng suffered appalling neglect in his short life — The unnamed Akita-type dog suffered appalling neglect in his short life

Forbes was also convicted of failing to comply with an improvement notice under Section 10 of the ‘Act’ by failing to seek veterinary advice and treatment for a dog in her care.

The pair had pleaded not guilty to the charges, but Judge Amanda Brady said she had no hesitation in convicting them.

The charges were brought by Newry Mourne and Down District Council under the provisions of the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011.

The couple were investigated after the local authority received a report of concern for the welfare of a dog on 24 January 2020.

A council Animal Welfare Officer visited four days later and found the dog chained at the front of the property.

The area was mucky and faeces were visible around the kennel.

The dog had a dull and dirty coat and was in poor body condition with his ribs, hip and spine visible.

Animal abuser Jackie Ann Forbes from Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland

Forbes was issued with an Improvement Notice in respect of the dog specifying that veterinary treatment should be sought.

The Council conducted a follow up visit on the 12 February 2020.

The Animal Welfare Officer obtained a search warrant and revisited the property accompanied by a veterinary surgeon.

Following assessment, the vet certified that the dog was to be removed from the property after his body condition was given a rating of just one out of five.

He was subsequently put to sleep after his condition failed to improve.

Addressing self-employed Leng during an earlier hearing Judge Brady told him: “This dog suffered and it is sad and abysmal and you don’t seem to think you have done anything wrong which concerns me greatly.”

Animal abuser Kial Leng from Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland

Leng told the court that his partner and four young children were undergoing “serious trauma” when the dog became ill, stating the house they were renting had been flooded.

He said the dog had “fallen ill” but claimed he was eating and drinking, but failing to put on weight.

When cross-examined, Leng laughed at the description of the conditions as “horrific”.

He also denied the dog was kept tied up on a short lead, insisting it had become twisted.

Leng further disputed the prosecution assertion that a photograph showed the dog in dirty, wet conditions and with “a lot of dog faeces”.

Leng said he took the dog to a vet who was unable to determine what was causing the crossbreed animal to lose weight so rapidly.

He also told the court he was unable to return with a stool sample on February 6 as required in order to determine if the dog had an infectious disease.

The prosecution said the dog weighed 20kg compared to a normal weight of between 30kg and 50kgs, with Leng claiming the animal was a pup and that the higher weight was for a fully grown dog.

The lawyer said the the dog was in a very very poor state and had been kept in an unsuitable environment.

Sentencing |
Forbes: £150 for each of the three charges and ordered to pay half of the council’s vet bill of £540, in addition to £150 legal costs.
Leng: three months in custody, suspended for two years for each charge under Section 4 & 9 of the Welfare of Animals Act (NI) 2011, to run concurrently. Ordered to pay the council’s costs of £540 and £150 legal costs.
No mention of a ban.

Down News
Down Recorder

Animal Abandonment, Dogs, Worst of the Worst

Brading, Isle of Wight: Stuart Squibb

September 24, 2023 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2023) | Stuart Squibb, born 22 August 1996, of Lower Furlongs, Brading, Sandown PO36 0EA – allowed an elderly dog to become badly emaciated and lame, leading to him being put down.

Convicted animal abuser Stuart Squibb from Brading, Isle of Wight — Stuart Squibb, a father of two, showed no remorse for his despicable mistreatment of his late mother’s elderly pet dog

Squibb had denied ill-treatment of the 11-year-old whippet, Weasel, up until the day before he was due to stand trial.

Ultimately he admitted two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal between November 14, 2022, and January 14 2023.

On New Year’s Day, a dog walker was so shocked by Weasel’s poor condition, video was taken and shared with the RSPCA.

The RSPCA launched an investigation, with Squibb ignoring their phone calls and officer visits.

Weasel

Eventually, an investigator was let in and found Weasel in poor health and in an emaciated condition, with untreated osteoarthritis. He also had a deformed lower limb, which had left him unable to walk properly for six to eight months.

Weasel had not received vital veterinary care for 18 months and was half the weight he should have been, said Sarah Wheadon, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, at the Isle of Wight Magistrates’ Court.

Weasel had an extremely poor quality of life, and was put down, said Mrs Wheadon.

Squibb, who failed to attend an RSPCA interview, went on to deny ill treatment charges on May 16, 2023, and a trial was set for August 16.

But he reappeared the day before trial, doing a U-turn on his pleas.

Mrs Wheadon said Squibb deliberately disregarded Weasel’s welfare, failed to co-operate with investigators and showed no remorse.

For father-of-two Squibb, Jim Osborne said his client inherited Weasel from his late mother.

Squibb claimed he took Weasel to a vet after being concerned about the dog’s mobility and appetite, but said the vet told him nothing was wrong; the RSPCA argued this was untrue.

Mr Osborne said Squibb then lost his job and suffered financial hardship, but claimed he always ensured Weasel was fed.

“He is deeply remorseful and understands what he did was wrong.”

Presiding magistrate David King said: “This is a terrible story of a dog suffering prolonged neglect.”

Sentencing | one year’s probation with 15 rehabilitation sessions and 80 hours of unpaid work; £140 surcharge. He was disqualified from having anything to do with animals for five years (expires September 2028). The RSPCA’s costs are to be paid from the public purse.

Isle of Wight County Press

Additional Information

According to a source, Squibb was in the habit of leaving Weasel alone and unattended in the garden for several days at a time while he went away.

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Redhill, City of Sunderland: Brendan Dorothy

August 21, 2023 misanthropic Leave a comment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The condition of the dog was not reported/

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

Warrington Guardian

Dogs, Domestic Violence - Animals Targeted, Multiple Species, Paedophiles / Sex Offenders, Reptiles / Exotics, Serial Animal Abusers, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers, Worst of the Worst

Stromness, Orkney Islands: Malcolm Leask

May 28, 2023 misanthropic 5 Comments

CONVICTED (2023) | Malcolm J Leask, born 17 September 1987, from Stromness, Orkney Islands – committed a decade-long campaign of violence and cruelty towards animals, women and children.

Former butcher Malcolm 'Beefy' Leask perpetrated a catalogue of violence and abuse of animals, women and children over 11 years. — Rapist, woman beater and child abuser Leask also caused suffering to animals by kicking, punching and choking two pet dogs and a puppy

Malcolm Leask, originally from Orkney but with links to Alva in Clackmannanshire, Stirling and Hartlepool, was convicted of three offences of animal cruelty alongside six assault offences, six of rape, one of attempted murder, two of threatening or abusive behaviour and one breach of the peace.

The crimes were committed at addresses in Orkney and Clackmannanshire between 2008 and 2019.

Rapist and child abuser Malcolm Leask also caused suffering to animals by kicking, punching and choking two pet dogs and a puppy.

The former butcher and amateur musician subjected a family Labrador to repeated brutality, punching and kicking the animal on her head and body, kneeling on her stomach, deliberately blowing smoke in her face, putting his hands round her throat and choking her.

He kicked a border collie in the head and side, breaking one of his ribs. He also put a black bin bag over the dog’s head and tried to suffocate him.

Another time he picked the “scared and yelping” collie up by his armpits and threw him onto the floor, leaving him with permanent damage to his back legs.

He also attacked an eight-month-old German Shepherd puppy, punching him on the head and ribs and “stamping” on his head.

The dog’s owner said she once came in to find Leask “strangling” him.

Leask told her the pup “had been bad and needed to be punished”.

An allegation that he had battered two terrapins to death with a hammer was withdrawn by the prosecution.

Leask, nicknamed Beefy, because he previously weighed 31 stone, raped two women and tried to murder one of the victims by holding her head under water. He used his enormous weight to pin down one of his rape victims.

One woman told the court that she was repeatedly raped by Leask and subjected to physical violence when he punched, kneed and choked her.

He also lifted her toddler daughter and threw her on to a chair.

A second woman said she was subjected to “pure nastiness” by Leask.

He had shouted and swore at her young daughter and chased and grabbed her son.

Leask, now married, denied 19 charges but was convicted following a trial.

Defence counsel Gordon Jackson KC said Leask had no previous convictions and suffered traumatic experiences earlier in his life.

Sentencing Leask, Judge Lord Scott told him that his offences show “a serious, violent and abusive course of conduct.” The judge also remarked that he was “unrepentant” and lacking in insight into the considerable damage he caused.

Sentencing | 12 years’ imprisonment with eight years of supervision following his release. Placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Alloa Advertiser
BBC News
Daily Record

Dogs, Worst of the Worst

Cullingworth, West Yorkshire: Rebecca Dowbenko

May 10, 2023 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2023) | Rebecca Dowbenko aka Beki Sanderson, born c. 1970, of Fairfax Road, Cullingworth, Bradford BD13 4JQ – showed no remorse after leaving her dog with rotting skin.

Dog killer Rebecca Dowbenko from Cullingworth, City of Bradford. Image: Facebook — Rebecca Dowbenko didn’t believe in taking medication for her own health issues and “extended this feeling” to her pets

Dowbenko admitted failing to get much-needed veterinary treatment for one of her dogs, Lily. The nine-year-old Newfoundland was suffering from serious facial and rib injuries as well as other health issues.

Lily had to be put to sleep after enduring a long period of mistreatment and neglect by her owner Rebecca Dowbenko

The dog’s face was swollen and septic with infected sores and pus as a result of either suffering blunt force trauma to the head or the growth of a tumour. The canine’s skin tissue was rotting away, which left a “horrific” smell, RSPCA inspector Demi Hodby said.

Lily was also suffering from severe skin disease, rib swelling and lung injury, chronic arthritis and spondylosis – none of which had been effectively treated by Dowbenko.

She was also found covered in paint, which Dowbenko said had rubbed off from a wet wall.

Some of Lily’s injuries were consistent with blunt force trauma, suggesting they had been inflicted deliberately.

The court was told that Lily was first presented to the PDSA with a skin disease, described as “dreadful” in 2017.

Staff told Dowbenko Lily would need to be seen again in follow-up appointments, but she was not taken back to the vets for these visits.

The dog was taken to the PDSA on further occasions, including in late 2021, but Dowbenko never followed up on suggestions from the vets at the charity.

The court heard that when the RSPCA visited Dowbenko’s home in Fairfax Road on January 4, 2022, Lily was in a very poor state of health and it appeared she had been deteriorating for several months.

The dog was in terrible pain and she was taken to the RSPCA Greater Manchester Animal Hospital for treatment, but the prognosis for her was so poor she had to be put to sleep.

In a statement to the court inspector Demi Hodby said: “Lily had a very large, swollen face and mouth. Her face was oozing with pus and infection. She was lethargic and when she walked it appeared like she was having to think and calculate in her head each of her steps.

“She was in poor body condition and due to the infection Lily smelt horrifically. She spent most of her time during the visit lying on the floor subdued and lethargic. I asked [Dowbenko] if the dog was under veterinary treatment and she said she had not been to the vets but was going to call them that day.”

A vet concluded there was a “significant probability” that Lily’s injuries were not accidental, although the facial damage may also have been caused by a cancerous tumour.

A post-mortem showed she was suffering from osteomyelitis, with evidence of dead bone on the left side of the face, as well as chest trauma. She was also suffering from a rare form of dermatitis.

They said: “It is my opinion that Lily was allowed to suffer due to her owner failing to present her for timely veterinary assessment and treatment of multiple, serious health conditions despite acknowledging the dog was in pain for prolonged periods.”

The vet noted that the defendant failed to follow up a call to a PDSA clinic highlighting a burst abscess on the side of the dog’s face in November 2021.

RSPCA prosecutor Mr Brown told the court: “The dog was clearly suffering and was in obvious pain, suspected to be caused by blunt trauma.

“The animal became blind as the facial swelling grew.

“It was not clear when the injuries had been occasioned – there were signs of blunt force trauma within a minimum of six weeks, but could have developed over a number of months.”

Philip Cockroft, defending Dowbenko, said: “The is a lady 53 years of age who has no previous convictions to her name.

“The allegation is that this lady failed to obtain the necessary veterinary care for an animal she accepts she was responsible for.

“She finds it very hard to accept this, she would say she is a very caring person, and the animal that had to be destroyed is one she had from a puppy until the age of nine.

“Human beings benefit from the NHS, but for someone on benefits a single visit to the vets eats up a huge amount of benefits.

“She herself suffers from arthritis and severe anxiety. She doesn’t believe in taking medicine to help her, and it would seem to some extent that she extends her feelings in this respect to animals in her care – not because she doesn’t love these animals, but because she does things in her own way.”

Having considered all of the evidence including probation reports, Chair of the bench Vicky Reynolds noted that Dowbenko continued to deny causing any suffering to Lily and hadn’t shown any remorse.

Ms Reynolds told her: “Lily was left in pain and suffering for a long period of time. There was totally negligent treatment at an early stage.”

Sentencing | 12 weeks in custody with half to be served on licence. Disqualified from owning any animal for 10 years with a deprivation order on her other pets (ban expires May 2033).

Telegraph & Argus
ExaminerLive

Dogs, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders

Sudbury, Suffolk: Justin Dyer

November 8, 2022 misanthropic 1 Comment

CONVICTED (2022) | backyard breeder Justin Alexander Dyer, born 20 June 1979, of 26 Talbot Road, Sudbury CO10 1WE – for the neglect of several dogs kept in squalor at his filthy home.

Dyer, who traded under the name Boss Pups UK, was convicted of seven animal welfare act offences relating to neglect and cruelty and one offence of breeding and selling dogs without a licence.

A raid on Dyer’s home in February 2022 was led by Sgt Brian Calver from Suffolk Police’s Rural and Wildlife team and aided by vets, the RSPCA, and an environmental health officer from Babergh District Council.

The team discovered dogs being kept in abject squalor. Eight dogs were seized, including two puppies – the breeds of dogs were American bulldog crossbreeds and Shar Pei.

Dyer was arrested the same day on February 10 and later charged with the offences.

Sgt Calver said: ”This was a particularly unpleasant case, where a number of dogs were kept in the most appalling conditions, purely for selfish financial gain, with no consideration for their welfare. Dyer has shown no remorse and I hope he reflects upon the harm he’s caused whilst he serves his term of imprisonment.

“I sincerely hope this sends a strong message to others that think it’s acceptable to profit from dogs with no consideration for their welfare, or those that fail to look after their pets properly.”

Sentencing | 26 weeks in jail; ordered to pay around £6,200 in costs and compensation. 15-year ban on owning, keeping, or having anything to do with looking after animals. He was given an additional six-month jail sentence after breaching a suspended sentence for possession of a machete following an offence in 2021. This will run consecutively to the 26-week sentence and it equates to a year in custody.

Suffolk Police
East Anglian Daily Times

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

Barnstaple, North Devon: Ben Neill and Leah Brown

May 4, 2022 misanthropic Leave a comment

CONVICTED (2022) | Benjamin Neill, born 13 October 1984, of no fixed abode, and partner Leah Marie Brown (info tbc) – left horses and ponies for dead in a muddy field.

RSPCA Inspector Claire Ryder launched an investigation after the charity received a call to its national call centre in March 2021 from a member of the public who had seen a horse collapsed in a muddy field in Landkey near Barnstaple.

A vet who attended described how she found the horse, a chestnut gelding called Eddy, in a ‘terrible state’, unable to lift his head from the mud he was lying in, let alone stand.

In her witness statement, Inspector Ryder said: “His hip bones were protruding and you could clearly see his spine and ribs. The horse was lying in deep wet mud. You could clearly see where he was trying to get up as there was a build-up of wet mud around the horse’s head, neck and back.”

In her report to court, the vet said she thought Eddy had been down for some time as she was unable to get him up on his feet. Sadly, there was no alternative but to put him to sleep on welfare grounds to end his suffering.

A further three ponies – a bay gelding called Tye, a mare called Darcy and another bay gelding called Dorcas – were in a field next to Eddy that was very muddy with limited grazing. They had no accessible shelter and the only water source was a stream running along the bottom of a steep bank in the corner of their field.

Tye was in poor body condition, he had severely overgrown hooves and was lame in his front feet. He had difficulty walking, with a rocking motion as his hooves met the ground. The vet concluded Tye was suffering and Darcy and Dorcus were likely to suffer.

They were signed over to the RSPCA and transported to a suitable location for a thorough veterinary assessment.

All three ponies were found to have lice in their coats, parasites and their teeth were in need of attention due to sharp enamel points. They all required sedation before their hooves could be trimmed.

The veterinary evidence heard in court concluded: “Regardless of cause, veterinary intervention should have been sought for Eddy when faced with such extensive weight loss. Suffering unquestionably could have been prevented had they sought advice sooner. I have no doubt that Eddy and Tye were suffering unreasonably and unnecessarily and that this suffering had been present for at least a month. Suffering unquestionably could have been prevented had they sought advice sooner”.

Owner Ben Neill told magistrates that Eddy had been: “Jumping and bouncing around that morning.”

Sentencing Neill, magistrates told him he had shown little remorse. They said: “We have listened to the case from the RSPCA and seen photos of the horse and ponies – Eddy had a ruptured eyeball, was hypothermic in a collapsed state, emaciated and unable to access food and water”.

They highlighted his lack of appreciation to the animals’ suffering, that he failed to adhere to previous warnings and advice given to him by the RSPCA, that he knew help was available but failed to seek it. He saw the horses every day and must have known the poor condition they were in, in particular Eddy.

Sadly, Dorcus was later put to sleep due to the discovery of untreatable tumours.

Tye and Darcy were both rehomed and have settled into their new lives with the Hugs Foundation – an equine rescue charity in Bodmin, Cornwall, who offer therapeutic interventions to children, young people, the elderly, military personnel and veterans to increase health and well-being.

Darcy enjoys being brushed and led by children who visit the charity and Tye is currently on loan as part of their foster scheme and is loving life being spoiled with love and care.

The magistrates thanked the RSPCA for their work in bringing this case to their attention and commented it was ‘the most harrowing they have had to deal with in this court’.

Sentencing | 24 weeks’ immediate custody. Lifetime disqualification from keeping equines which he can appeal after 10 years.

Neill’s partner Leah Marie Brown was sentenced in November 2021 for causing unnecessary suffering to Tye and for failing to meet the needs of Tye, Darcy and Dorcus. She was disqualified from keeping equines for 10 years which she cannot apply for to be lifted for five years. She was also sentenced to a six-month curfew and ordered to pay £400 costs.

Everything Horse
DevonLive

UK Animal Cruelty Files

Tag Archives: unremorseful

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Additional Information

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Additional Information

Redhill, City of Sunderland: Brendan Dorothy

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Stromness, Orkney Islands: Malcolm Leask

CONVICTED (2023) | Malcolm J Leask, born 17 September 1987, from Stromness, Orkney Islands – committed a decade-long campaign of violence and cruelty towards animals, women and children.

Cullingworth, West Yorkshire: Rebecca Dowbenko

CONVICTED (2023) | Rebecca Dowbenko aka Beki Sanderson, born c. 1970, of Fairfax Road, Cullingworth, Bradford BD13 4JQ – showed no remorse after leaving her dog with rotting skin.

Sudbury, Suffolk: Justin Dyer

CONVICTED (2022) | backyard breeder Justin Alexander Dyer, born 20 June 1979, of 26 Talbot Road, Sudbury CO10 1WE – for the neglect of several dogs kept in squalor at his filthy home.

Barnstaple, North Devon: Ben Neill and Leah Brown

CONVICTED (2022) | Benjamin Neill, born 13 October 1984, of no fixed abode, and partner Leah Marie Brown (info tbc) – left horses and ponies for dead in a muddy field.

We collate data on animal cruelty convictions in the UK