Tag Archives: Warwickshire

Cats, Hoarders, Worst of the Worst

Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham: Marissa Faultless

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CONVICTED (2024) | pet hoarder Marissa Faultless, born c. 1957, of Tower Road, Sutton Coldfield B75 5EA – kept dozens of poorly cats in disgusting conditions.

RSPCA prosecution of cat hoarder Marissa Faultless from Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham
The court heard that pet hoarder Marissa Faultless was not ‘deliberately cruel’ and her behaviour was due to a mental health disorder

Nearly 100 cats had to be removed from Marissa Faultless’s chaotic home, which was described in court as smelling like death. One kitten was found dead while others had to be euthanised. Some had to have eyes removed due to cat flu.

On three occasions RSPCA inspectors were forced to raid the property where every area of the garden contained piles of fence-high rubbish while inside reeked of urine and faces.

RSPCA prosecution of cat hoarder Marissa Faultless from Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham

Faultless refused to accept anything was wrong with the cats and denied they needed veterinary treatment.

Ultimately she admitted six animal welfare offences, albeit she made a last-ditch, thankfully unsuccessful, bid to reverse the pleas in a ploy to keep her cats.

RSPCA prosecutor Sara Pratt told the court there had been a ‘long history’ to the case. She said that police and Birmingham City Council had tried to work with Faultless following initial complaints and in April 2021 she was provided with copies of the Animal Welfare Act as well as a code of practice for looking after cats.

RSPCA prosecution of cat hoarder Marissa Faultless from Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham

But Ms Pratt added that ‘nothing changed’ and a warrant had to be executed on September 2, 2021, which resulted in the removal of 34 cats and kittens. A further 24 were spotted outside but officers could not catch them and did not have the legal power to seize them.

Ms Pratt said: “Outside of the house there was piled high rubbish in the garden as high as the fence. Inside the property there were a large number of cats and kittens. There was an overpowering smell of urine and a build-up of faeces in the living room. There were no suitable litter trays. The house was in a cluttered state.”

A lot of the cats were suffering from cat flu as well as fleas.

RSPCA prosecution of cat hoarder Marissa Faultless from Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham

Faultless refused to formally sign any of them over to the RSPCA. She was interviewed and accepted ownership of them but denied there were signs of flu or ringworm.

She also blamed Covid for failing to seek flea treatment but insisted the cats did not need to see a vet. She claimed she had not noticed the smell but admitted she struggled with how many pets she had, said Ms Pratt.

There were further visits to her home in June and July 2022 following more complaints which culminated in a second warrant executed in August.

Ms Pratt said: “The conditions at the property had deteriorated. There was an overwhelming smell of urine, faeces and what was described by others as ‘death’.”

A dead kitten was found at the home while 26 cats had to be removed. One four-week-old kiten was particularly emaciated and had to be euthanised.

A third raid took place in April 2023 when another 34 cats had to be taken away.

RSPCA prosecution of cat hoarder Marissa Faultless from Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham

The court was told a small number of cats had to have eyes removed due to severe flu. At that point Faultless cried ‘no, no, no that’s not true’ as she broke down in tears in the dock. One cat died after being operated on by the vet.

Ms Pratt said: “Clearly all of the cats had suffered pain and distress. A reasonably competent and humane person would have sought veterinary attention.”

She told the court a number of cats died but the vast majority had been rehomed while some remained in boarding establishments awaiting to be adopted.

Queenie Djan, defending, said: “This is Ms Faultless’s first time offending. It is not the case she was deliberately cruel. It is directly linked to a mental disorder she is suffering from. There is a history of her owning cats before her offending with no issues. She is receiving support from other organisations.”

Sentencing | 12-month community order with 15 days of rehabilitation activity and 12 sessions of psychological intervention. Banned from keeping cats for ten years.

BirminghamLive
Daily Mail

Dogs, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Bedworth, Warwickshire: Jonny Sharples

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CONVICTED (2023) | backyard breeder Jonathan Sharples, born 27 November 1996, of Mavor Drive, Bedworth CV12 0HD – caught on camera beating one of his dogs with a baseball bat.

Backyard breeder and violent dog abuser Jonathan 'Jonny' Sharples from Bedworth, Warwickshire.
Backyard breeder and violent dog abuser Jonathan ‘Jonny’ Sharples from Bedworth, Warwickshire.

Sharples violently struck a Presa Canario called Pablo several times after separating him from another dog in kennels at his home in Mavor Drive, Bedworth.

A police investigation also uncovered how he had failed to seek treatment for a painful cruciate injury suffered by another dog, bull breed Santorini, that caused lameness in her right hind leg.

In the video a large brindle-patterned dog can be seen latched onto another dog through the bars of kennels.

Two women are heard shouting and calling out in distress before they are joined by two men, including Sharples, who separate the dogs using a plank of wood and a baseball bat.

The video then shows Sharples repeatedly hitting Pablo long after he had moved away from the other dog.

The footage was sent to the local authority’s animal warden licensing inspector who then contacted the RSPCA.

A copy of the video was also shared with the police dog legislation officer who organised a warrant and seized the dogs in Sharples’ care.

In court, Sharples admitted to charges of animal cruelty and neglect.

RSPCA Inspector Herchy Boal said: “Sharples inflicted unnecessary suffering by repeatedly and violently hitting his dog with the baseball bat long after the two dogs had been separated. There is never an excuse for treating an animal in this way.

“I’m grateful to the police dog legislation officer Craig Leach and local authority animal warden licensing inspector Louisa Cullen for all their support during this investigation. It helped secure the safety of Sharples’ dogs.

“A dog called Santorini was found at the property with an untreated cruciate injury which is very painful and required surgery. She’s also now fully recovered.

“It’s essential animal owners make sure they always receive care and treatment from veterinary experts when they need it. They are completely reliant on their owners to ensure their needs are met and that they are kept safe and healthy.”

Sentencing | two-year community order with 200 hours of unpaid work and 30 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days; victim surcharge. Banned from keeping dogs for four years (expires November 2027).

CoventryLive

Cats, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Leamington Spa, Warwickshire: Terry Bree

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CONVICTED (2023) | Terry Bree, born 1952, of Brunswick Street, Leamington Spa CV31 2EW – brutally kicked an elderly cat who died shortly afterwards.

Cruel Leamington pensioner Terry Bree was caught on camera kicking cat days before the animal died.
Cruel Leamington pensioner Terry Bree was caught on camera kicking cat days before the animal died.

In an unprovoked attack Terry Bree was caught on a video doorbell lashing out at Lenny, a 21-year-old cat who died three weeks later.

The father-of-five admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the animal.

Bree had taken his German Shepherd dog, Sasha, for an early morning walk on September 16, 2023, when the incident occurred shortly before 7am.

Cruel Leamington pensioner Terry Bree was caught on camera kicking cat days before the animal died.

He was seen putting his dog onto her lead in Hastang Fields before roughly shaking her by the neck and then, as he walks off, delivering a powerful kick to a nearby cat.

Leamington Magistrates were told by prosecutor Nabiha Ahmed that the elderly cat had become unwell after the attack – making messes in the home and appearing nervous to go outside. He passed away on October 9.

She said that Bree, who had been a dog owner for 35 years, had no dislike for cats but there had been problems with felines on the road.

She said that Bree’s dog Sasha had been scratched on the nose by Lenny in an earlier incident not caught on camera: ‘The frustrations got to him and he saw red.’

Defending, Jas Thiara said that her client ‘deeply regrets his actions’ and is ‘very conscious that this has caused a public outcry.’

She told the Court that Bree had reported himself to the RSPCA after the incident.

‘He took full responsibility and felt really bad at what had happened,’ she said.

But she pointed out that there was no way of confirming what level of injury would have been caused.

Cruel Leamington pensioner Terry Bree was caught on camera kicking Lenny the cat days before the animal died.
Lenny’s owner had said that following the attack her cat “went downhill” and died

In her ruling, the Chair of the Bench Janis Cauthery, rejected the Crown’s call for Bree to be banned from keeping all animals.

She said: ‘We have considered this carefully and seen no evidence of cruelty towards your dog so our disqualification order will prevent you from owning or keeping cats for five years.’

The court heard that Bree and his partner had owned Sasha for two years after getting her from the Dog’s Trust charity.

She had previously been kept in a crate for a year.

He said his method of shaking her by the collar was how he got her to pay attention.

Sentencing |  12-month community order with 300 hours of unpaid work. Ordered to pay £200 in compensation to Lenny’s owners, £185 in court costs and a £114 victim surcharge. Banned from owning or keeping a cat for five years (expires November 2028).

BBC News
Daily Mail

Animal Abandonment, Cats, Dogs, Multiple Species, Worst of the Worst

Wyken, Coventry: Laura Tate

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CONVICTED (2023) | Laura Tate, born 2 February 1989, previously of Union Street, Liverpool L3 but now of 38 MacDonald Road, Wyken, Coventry CV2 5FF – left a dog and cat to starve to death in squalor.

Laura Tate's pets were found dead after being abandoned in a squalid Liverpool flat without food or water.
Laura Tate’s pets were found dead after being abandoned in a squalid Liverpool flat without food or water.

The deceased animals were found by the property’s landlord on April 14, 2022, after Tate had moved out and left them behind.

Genghis, a black and white bull breed dog was found dead in the hallway after being shut in the lounge with no food or water. He had escaped from the lounge through a hole in the door.

Tiggy, a long-haired ginger cat, was found deceased amongst rubbish in one of the bedrooms.

Laura Tate's pets were found dead after being abandoned in a squalid Liverpool flat without food or water.

Both of the animals were decomposing and had most likely been dead for several days at the flat on Union Street, Liverpool city centre..

Photos show the flat covered in waste with litter and empty bags of pet food strewn on the floor. Another picture shows the hole Genghis made to get out of the filthy living room.

RSPCA Inspector, Leanne Cooper, attended the property, she said: “On approach to the door of the flat I could smell a strong, foul smell which smelt like rotting flesh.

“This smell increased when the door was opened and when I went inside it was overpowering.

“I could immediately see a dead dog laying in the hallway.”

Laura Tate's pets were found dead after being abandoned in a squalid Liverpool flat without food or water.

She added: “The dog was a black bull breed type and looked to be very underweight with ribs, spine and hips prominent.

“I realised I couldn’t see the dog’s eyes and so it appeared to me that he had been dead for some time and was in the stages of decomposition.

“The whole floor of the lounge area was covered in dried faeces – some of which were mouldy – with no clean area to stand in.

“I couldn’t see any evidence of food or water provided.”

The vet who examined the animals concluded they died of dehydration, telling the court: “From the information provided it is not possible to conclude accurately how long they had been deceased when discovered on April 14 (2022), although the absence of eyes suggests they had been dead for at least several days.”

“However, it is reasonable to conclude they died while housed within the flat and at that time they did not have access to drinking water and the environment was unsuitable by virtue of numerous faeces deposits and physical injury hazards such as sharp edged tin cans and shards of glass.

“In the absence of water, both likely died of dehydration.

“Dehydration causes suffering via mechanisms of pain, disorientation, weakness, eventual collapse, organ failure and death.”

Tate pleaded guilty to two offences following a prosecution by the RSPCA.

The court heard in mitigation that she had moved out to live with a friend but planned on getting her own place and retrieving her pets.

She said their deaths had “broken her heart”.

Sentencing | 20-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. 20 days of rehabilitation activity; 100 hours of unpaid work. Disqualified from keeping any animals for ten years (expires October 2033).

Liverpool Echo
ITV News

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

Stoke, Coventry: Gurminder Singh Heer

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CONVICTED (2023) | backyard breeder Gurminder Singh Heer, born c. 17 December 1980, of 207A Swan Lane, Stoke, Coventry CV2 4GE – kept a starving dog and her seven young puppies in deplorable conditions.

Coventry man Gurminder Singh Heer chained a starving dog that had given birth to puppies to a fridge
Sasha was starved and chained to a fridge after giving birth to seven pups

When RSPCA inspector Ben Jones attended the home of Gurminder Singh aka Gurminder Singh Heer on October 12, 2022, he found Presa Canario Sasha tethered to a fridge freezer by a metal chain. She was extremely underweight with her spine, ribs and pelvic bones visible. Opposite her were seven young puppies, around three weeks old, in a rusty metal box.

Coventry man Gurminder Singh Heer chained a starving dog that had given birth to puppies to a fridge

With Heer’s permission, the RSPCA inspector took Sasha and her puppies to the charity’s Birmingham Animal Hospital. Due to their poor condition, all eight dogs were admitted for treatment.

The vet who examined Sasha found her to weigh 25.7kg (56.7lb) – nearly half the 40kg (88lb) healthy average for her breed.

As she was too weak to feed her puppies, they were weaned early.

In a statement to the court, the vet said: “Although some loss in body weight is expected during lactation, it is imperative that an owner feeds the dog appropriately to ensure this is minimised.

“Due to the extent of her poor body condition and the lack of other pre-existing conditions detected on blood work, which may have exacerbated this lack of body condition – it can be confirmed that this dog had been suffering through a process of a lack of appropriate nutrition. The duration of this is approximately three weeks, though likely longer.”

Fed a proper diet Sasha returned to healthy weight for her breed
Fed a proper diet Sasha returned to healthy weight for her breed

The court heard that within a month of being in the RSPCA’s care, Sasha gained 6kg in weight.

Asked by a magistrate if he had booked a vet appointment for Sasha, Heer said he had booked one for two weeks after she had given birth.
When asked why he didn’t take her sooner, he told the court: “I didn’t want her to be kept away from the pups. Why I pleaded guilty is because ‘yes I should have fed her more food’.”

In mitigation, Heer told the court he was not a bad dog owner and that he had £222 worth of dog food in his fridge which he had been feeding Sasha.

Magistrates noted Heer’s refusal to accept responsibility for his actions and his complete lack of remorse, but decided not to impose an immediate custodial sentence.

Fed a proper diet Sasha returned to healthy weight for her breed

The seven puppies have all since been rehomed by the RSPCA. Sasha has now been renamed Flora and is up for adoption at the charity’s Bryn-y-Maen Animal Centre in Colwyn Bay, Wales.

Sentencing | eight-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months; 80 hours of unpaid work; £400 costs and a £128 victim surcharge. Banned from keeping dogs for just two years (expires July 2025)

CoventryLive

farms / smallholdings, Food Production, Lifers, Serial Animal Abusers

Leamington Spa, Warwickshire: Ewan Wells

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CONVICTED (2023) | serial offender Ewan David Wells, born c. 1959, of Bridge Farm, Hunningham, Leamington Spa CV33 9EB – for cruelty to sheep and cattle on his farm.

Wells, who was convicted of similar offences in 2011 and 2020, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a sheep, failing to clean out the areas where his animals were housed and failing to protect his animals from pain, suffering, injury, and disease.

The prosecution was brought by Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards.

The offences, which spanned a period between 1st March 2019 and 1st March 2022, were discovered following visits to the farm by Trading Standards Animal Health Officers and APHA Veterinary Inspectors.

One offence related to causing unnecessary suffering to a ewe and the other two to failing to take such steps as were reasonable in all the circumstances to ensure that the needs of animals for which he was responsible were met to the extent required by good practice.

The court heard that there was a heavy accumulation of muck on the farm, three feet deep in some areas, which would make it difficult for animals, including young calves to walk. In some places muck had reached the same height of the rims of water troughs leading to constant contamination of the water within.

Old, rotten hay and silage had been left at the bottom of a feed ring from which animals were seen eating and in some areas silage and fodder beets were fed from the floor where they were contaminated with faeces.

A shed containing around 200 ewes and some new born lambs had insufficient numbers of water buckets or other water provisions.

Cattle buildings were in poor repair and cattle had access to areas of the farm that had barbed wire on the floor and piles of scrap metal.

Wells’ farm was inspected after he had been prosecuted in 2020 for causing unnecessary suffering to a cow. When problems were found, the tenant farmer was given an opportunity to put things right but failed to do so.

Sentencing | 16 week custodial sentence suspended for 12 months; 15-day rehabilitation requirement; contribution of £6000 towards prosecution costs and £122 victim surcharge. Disqualified indefinitely from owning, keeping or participating in the care of any animals except domestic dogs and cats (can appeal after 28 June 2028).

Warwickshire County Council

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

Oxhill, Warwickshire: Luke Rix

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CONVICTED (2022) | Luke Rix, born October 1990, of Gilks Lane, Oxhill Warwick CV35 0QE – filmed himself hunting wildlife with dogs.

Rix admitted three offences following an investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA.

The animal welfare charity was contacted after videos and images were discovered on an iPad belonging to Rix by his former partner. They showed hunting and persecution of wild mammals using two dogs who were left injured as a result.

Inspectors from the RSPCA joined the officers from Gloucestershire Police when they carried out a warrant at an address in Broadwell Hill, Broadwell, Cheltenham GL56 0UE, where Rix’s phone was seized and his dogs examined by a vet.

A number of videos and photographs were found. One clip contained disturbing footage of Rix filming while two dogs – one being his dog Gunner – attacked a wild boar.

Rix can be heard to be encouraging the dogs saying “look at that boys – big pig – go on boys” and the dogs can be seen latched onto the neck area of the boar as it screams in pain and distress. The boar was already bleeding from a wound caused by Rix stabbing it.

Wildlife killer Rix also failed to care for his dog Gunner.

The vet who examined Gunner found he had a fracture of the upper right canine, missing upper incisors and had lower worn lower incisors and marked dental disease that was so severe the vet felt this would have caused pain for at least three years

Records showed he had not seen a vet since 2019, at which time Rix had been advised that the fractured tooth needed removing due to associated infection and dental disease was pointed out.

Following his rescue, Gunner had to have more than 20 teeth removed.
In an interview, Rix said he had always hunted and had previously been a gamekeeper.

RSPCA solicitor Lindi Meyer, who represented the charity in court, said: “Other seized videos and photos showed dogs ripping apart a fox, dogs with injuries, terriers tormenting a caged rat, and discussions of boar, badger and fox hunting, and conversations with people on social media regarding his hunting exploits.

“Whilst not the subject of criminal charges, all this relevant background information found on his devices shows that the incident with the boar was not an isolated incident and shows he has used his dogs in other situations to set upon a wild animal and that this is a game to him which he will glorify by filming and bragging by distributing it. It also shows that he is prepared to put his dogs at risk.”

In mitigation, it was said Rix was going through a difficult time in his life because of the breakdown of a relationship and issues with his business.

Sentencing | Jailed for 18 weeks; £628 in costs and charges. Disqualified from keeping dogs for 10 years.

ITV News
BBC News
Warwickshire World

Additional Information

Rix, a former gamekeeper and with links to several fox hunts, is now a tree surgeon by trade.

His company is named Simia Forestry Ltd. Facebook page here, Instagram here.

Dogs, Pet Profiteering, puppy farmers / traffickers, kennels, backyard breeders, Worst of the Worst

Salford, Greater Manchester: Emmanuel Paul

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CONVICTED (2022) | backyard breeder Emmanuel Paul, born 28 December 1984, of 89 Hacking Street, Salford M7 4ZD – starved and neglected five adult dogs and 17 puppies.

Callous breeder Emmanuel Paul left puppies starving, squealing and locked in cat carriers.
Callous breeder Emmanuel Paul left puppies starving, squealing and locked in cat carriers.

RSPCA officers rescued the dogs after receiving a tip-off with concerns for Paul’s five adult cane corsos, plus two litters of 17 puppies. The court was told the backyard breeder refused to provide the animals with the basic essentials of food, bedding or toys.

Paul, previously of Harvon Garth, Cambridge Street, Rugby, Warwickshire, pleaded guilty to three offences under the Animal Welfare Act on the first day of his trial.

An RSPCA officer visited Paul’s home and a second associated address multiple times in September and October 2020 following concerns for his five adult dogs and two litters of 17 puppies – all Cane Corsos.

He had concerns for one of the bitches, who was underweight and had ‘fresh and deep lacerations’, possibly from fighting with one of the other dogs, as well as one puppy which was ‘lethargic and listless’.

He told Paul they both needed to see a vet urgently and they attended a vet together.

Images from Paul's Facebook business page
Images from Paul’s Facebook business page. Many of the dogs he bred had cropped ears, which is illegal in the UK.

The officer issued improvement notices and offered advice to help the puppies, returning multiple times to check the advice was being followed, as well as offering to take in the dogs for rehoming if Paul was struggling to take care of them.

The five adult dogs were later taken in by the local housing association and boarded by Dogs Trust.

Three were signed over for rehoming and two remained in the charity’s care but can now be rehomed.

On November 4 2020, RSPCA Inspector Nichola Johnson attended Paul’s address to check on the puppies.

In her witness statement, submitted to court, she said: “As soon as I entered the flat I could hear what sounded like a large number of puppies barking and squealing from what is the living area.

“The smell of ammonia in the property was extremely strong.

“There was a lot of noise coming from the kitchen area and a space next to it. All I could see was some sheets covering up something.

“I began removing the sheets to find in total two black crates and five cat carriers, all containing puppies.

“None of the accommodation had water or bedding provided and were completely devoid of any toys or environmental enrichment.

“I could clearly see three puppies in one crate which were bright and alert and in reasonable bodily condition.

“I could also see clearly into the second crate which contained four puppies, which I would class as reasonable bodily condition.

““I also uncovered five cat carriers each containing a single puppy which I could not see clearly at this point.”

She was concerned about the puppies’ weight and could see no food in the flat.

Paul said he’d recently run out and hadn’t yet had a chance to go out and get more.

One of the poorly puppies rescued from vile greeder Paul
One of the poorly puppies rescued from vile greeder Paul

When the five younger puppies were let out of the carriers, Inspector Johnson said: “It was clear to see that they were all in very thin bodily condition. I could see the outline of their spines, ribs and hips as they moved around the flat.

“The puppies did appear bright and alert but seemed to be searching around for something.

“I asked Mr Paul to put down some water for them. As soon as the water was on the floor all the puppies began drinking and continued until it had all gone.”

Inspector Johnson took the five younger puppies for urgent vet checks and experts concluded that they had unnecessarily suffered.

They were seized by police and taken into RSPCA care.

Inspector Johnson made enquiries with the vet Paul had been using who told her he’d not brought the pups in for check-ups or dropped off faecal samples, as requested.

They told her he’d last been into the surgery three days earlier, on 1 November, with a puppy in ‘poor condition’ that was euthanised because Paul ‘could not afford the treatment’.

Following enquiries, Inspector Johnson said, in her statement: “It became apparent to me that Mr Paul had a history of presenting dogs and puppies to [vets] in varying degrees of veterinary need.

“Almost every time he took an animal for attention he was unable to afford the treatment or diagnostic procedures that the examining veterinary surgeon thought was necessary, which, to me, suggests a lack of, or unwillingness to spend, money on the animals in his care going back to March 2020.

“[this] in turn leads me to be concerned as to why the dogs were bred in the first place other than for monetary gain regardless of being able to provide the care and welfare standards animals are legally entitled to.

“On making further enquiries relating to the clinical records collectively… I was sent a copy of a photograph of a blue puppy (NJ/6) which I had not been aware of previously.

“The photograph was horrific and stopped me in my tracks. It showed the image of puppy and its condition when Mr Paul presented it to the veterinary practice on 01/11/2020.”

The puppy was put to sleep by vets. The image led Inspector Johnson to add the pictured puppy to the investigation, alongside the five seized pups.

On 10 November, Inspector Johnson returned to Paul’s flat to check on the older puppies who were in better condition and had been left in situ. She gave him further advice as to their welfare.

On 11 November she went to visit the younger puppies, in RSPCA care, and said they looked ‘remarkably better’ and ‘had all put on weight, were clean and much brighter’, just one week after being rescued.

Further enquiries established that Paul had been to vets to gain a ‘fit to fly’ certificate for two puppies he’d sold to a buyer in the USA and another RSPCA officer had reported concerns to the local authority that he was breeding without a licence.

The remaining dogs – two adults who had not been signed over – were confiscated and can now find new homes. The five puppies who were seized were all signed over and rehomed by the RSPCA.

Sentencing: 22 weeks in prison; £2,000 in costs. Disqualified from keeping animals for five years (expires February 2027).

Warwickshire World
The Sun
Manchester Evening News

Additional Information

Paul bred puppies under the names Ghost Empire Cane Corsos and Ghost Cane Corso.

Certificate of Kennel Name for Paul's breeding business 'Ghost'
Dogs, ear cropping and tail docking

Nuneaton, Warwickshire: Hope Starkey

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CONVICTED (2021) | Hope Starkey, born 3 January 1993, of Abbotsford Road, Nuneaton CV11 4RG – had her puppy’s ears cropped and failed to get her veterinary treatment when they became painfully infected.

Starkey admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a puppy known as Nylah by failing to address her pain and infection following an ear cropping procedure.

The court heard how investigating officers from Animal Protection Services visited Starkey on 5th July 2021 after a member of the public reported concerns about Nylah.

In interview, Starkey admitted that she had purchased Nylah in late May 2021. Starkey further admitted that she did not seek veterinary attention for Nylah or provide any pain killers, and she took full responsibility.

Jacob Lloyd, head of investigations at Animal Protection Services, said: “This is the one of the worst cases I have ever seen. A member of the public had contacted us in July and was worried about the welfare of Nylah, reporting that she had not had any pain relief since her ears were cropped in late May.

“Investigating officers from Animal Protection Services attended the address and found Nyla. The strong foul smell coming from her ears was unbearable. Both of her ears were infected. The ears were painful to touch.

“Ear cropping is a painful and unnecessary procedure that is carried out completely for cosmetic purposes. It has lifelong implications on the dog’s welfare and behaviour. In this case, Nylah was left to suffer with an infected wound, without any veterinary care.”

Nylah was taken into the care of Animal Protection Services. She will remain in the charity’s care until she is ready to be rehomed.

Sentencing | 12-month community order which included 180 hours of unpaid work; £1,000 towards prosecution costs. Disqualified from keeping all animals for 5 years (expires September 2026).

Coventry Live

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Leamington Spa, Warwickshire: Christopher White

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CONVICTED (2021) | Christopher Paul White, born 30 April 1975, of Fallow Hill, Leamington but with links to Rugby and Coventry – kicked and hit his pet dog

Career criminal Christopher White, who in February 2013 was given nine years in jail for dealing in class A drugs, was found guilty in his absence of causing unnecessary suffering to a Staffordshire bull terrier called Ozzy.

The attack happened in September 2020.

The dog’s condition is not known.

The source article doesn’t say whether he received a ban on keeping animals.

Sentencing: community order including 150 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity requirement; £100 court costs.

Coventry Telegraph