CONVICTED (2023) | Kasandra Benton, born September 1986, of Talke Road, Walsall WS5 4PH – neglected her injured and ailing dogs’ needs.
Pet collector Benton left two of her dogs to suffer without seeking vet treatment. They were an Akita named Delta, who was found with injuries from fighting another dog, and a chihuahua called Eddie, who had a huge ulcerated mass on his groin and had to be put to sleep.
The dogs were rescued from Benton’s home after concerns for their welfare were raised with the RSPCA.
RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer, Graeme Brookes, described what he saw when he entered Benton’s home.
He said: “As I walked in, the smell was strong. I saw multiple fresh stains of faeces in the living room. There was lots of domestic rubbish on the floor.
“Eddie had a very large growth on the side of his body that due to his size impacted his walk, on top of the growth was a large open wound.
“I asked to see Delta, who was kept locked in the kitchen. There was a large amount of faeces and urine in the kitchen. I asked why Delta was in the kitchen, and was told she’d been kept in there since the fight.
“Delta was friendly, however, I could see she couldn’t place her paw on the floor, hobbling significantly also her hair was matted on the back. I then noticed puncture marks on both her legs and the one she couldn’t put down was significantly swollen.”
Both dogs were taken to a vet who examined them and concluded both were suffering.
In his report, he said: “The owner was aware that Eddie had a swelling on his side and that it ulcerated a couple of months earlier. This mass was painful due to the damage to the skin over the mass. The lack of treatment and the inaction that in my opinion has led to unnecessary suffering.
“With Delta, once this fight had occurred a reasonable owner would immediately seek veterinary care especially with the number of injuries she sustained.
“She may have been walking initially but as the inflammation and infection worsened the swelling would have become more obvious and she would have become more lame and more painful.
“Many of the puncture wounds are often like the tip of the iceberg for dog bite injuries as the grip of the dog is maintained and the tear and rip the muscle and tissues below.”
Eddie had to be put to sleep because of the severity of his condition. Delta was placed in RSPCA care and can now be rehomed after the court granted a deprivation order.
RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer, Graeme Brookes added: “Our plea to all animal owners is to make sure they always receive care and treatment when they need it.
“Pets are completely reliant on their owners to ensure their needs are met and they are kept safe and healthy. Ensuring appropriate veterinary care is a key part of the responsibility we have towards them.”
Sentencing | 26-week suspended prison sentence; 15 hours of “rehabilitation”; £600 in costs plus a £187 surcharge. 20-year ban on keeping dogs.
CONVICTED (2024) | Mitchell Stuart Wright, born September 1990, of 20 Cartwright Road, Sutton Coldfield B75 5LF – kept birds of prey in appalling conditions.
Wright had 23 protected species of birds inside aviaries in Whitehill Road, Ellistown, Coalville, when officers arrived in September 2023.
Police said he was keeping the birds in poor conditions and did not have the right paperwork.
Leicestershire Police said Wright failed to hold the correct paperwork for the birds with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.
He pleaded guilty to three offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, of failing to prevent the causing of unnecessary suffering of an animal, failing to ensure animal welfare and possessing unregistered birds.
Leicestershire and Rutland Rural Policing Team said: “We are really pleased with this result at court and are grateful to all those who helped us with caring for the birds, advising us and giving their expert opinions and statements. We couldn’t have done it without you.”
His birds are now being cared for by local falconers.
Sentencing | 12-month community order, which includes 15 days of rehabilitation requirement and 200 hours of unpaid work; fined £85 towards Crown Prosecution costs and a £114 victim surcharge. Banned from keeping any animals for five years (expires April 2029).
CONVICTED (2024) | Richard Robin Orton, born 27 September 1985, of Westland Road, Compton, Wolverhampton WV3 9NY – trapped wild birds and kept them in squalid conditions in his garden.
Prolific wildlife persecutor Orton used Larsen traps in his back garden to ‘trap and kill magpies’.
RSPCA inspectors visited Orton’s home after being contacted by members of the public with concerns about the welfare of birds kept in traps in his garden and found two magpies in shocking conditions.
One was housed within a wire cage with access to only half of the cage. There was only a small amount of ‘very dirty water’ present and no food the bird could access.
There was a ‘significant amount of faeces’ within the cage and it was ‘extremely foul smelling’.
In the section of the cage the bird could not access, there was what looked like a piece of rabbit skin present. The bird was in ‘poor physical condition with the breast bone prominent and muscle loss’.
The second magpie, which a vet concluded was ‘even thinner than the first’ with no fat covering and a loss of muscle, was housed within a wood and chicken wire cage with access to only half of the cage.
There was some dirty water present, which was green in colour, and there was no food present in the area of the cage the bird could access. Again, there was a ‘significant amount of faeces within the cage and it was extremely foul smelling’.
A vet’s report said: “Both birds would have suffered unnecessarily for a minimum of two weeks but in reality likely longer. They did not have their welfare needs met due to the failure to provide an appropriate environment.
“From the amount of faeces observed within the traps, it is my opinion that no cleaning or removal of droppings had occurred within the previous four weeks, but likely a considerably longer period of time. It must be stressful and distressing to-be-living-in-the-same area as you pass faeces with no-way to remove yourself from these conditions.”
RSPCA Inspector Ben Jones, who investigated Romany gypsy Orton, said: “Every year the RSPCA receives many calls from the public concerned about the use of Larsen traps to capture wild birds.
“Larsen traps can be made of wood or metal and contain two or three compartments to allow the use of a live decoy bird, like a magpie, to attract other magpies in defence of their territory.
“Although such traps are legal, strict controls relate to their use. If these are breached – and it is easy to do so – the trap setter loses the legal protection of a general licence for trapping and killing magpies and could face being prosecuted.”
He continued: “People who trap magpies could leave themselves open to prosecution should they infringe any one of a number of strict conditions relating to the use of Larsen traps. Trap setters have to provide the decoy bird with food, water, shelter and a perch and inspect the trap every 24 hours.
“Sadly there is great potential for suffering of wild birds in being contained in cramped, unsuitable spaces, as we’ve seen here with the two birds found in Orton’s possession.”
Following his conviction under the Animal Welfare Act, Orton, who is originally from Tipton and has links to Rowley Regis, can no longer use Natural England’s general licences.
The magpies were both released back into the wild.
Sentencing | ordered to pay £312. Banned from keeping birds and ferrets for five years (expires April 2029).
CONVICTED (2024) | pet hoarder Marissa Faultless, born c. 1957, of Tower Road, Sutton Coldfield B75 5EA – kept dozens of poorly cats in disgusting conditions.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
CONVICTED (2024) | Lauren Hatch, born c. 1977, of Ridgewood, Shard End, Birmingham B34 6TD – kicked a police dog in the neck because he was biting her crime-prone son’s leg.
Lauren Hatch
The court heard that Hatch ‘reacted like any other mother’ after being woken up by a commotion at her home.
She also kicked out at a police officer after being placed in handcuffs for lashing out at PD Jack, who was thankfully not injured.
PD Jack was uninjured due to the protective clothing he was wearing
Prosecutor Jonathan Purser stated police were called to an incident on March 6, 2024, where someone was lying injured in the road. He said: “The defendant was present and her son tried to make off on foot. As part of him being detained a police dog was used.
“The defendant was said to have kicked the dog to the side of the head which resulted in her being arrested and she was also said to have delivered a kick to the officer who detained her, resulting in temporary pain only.”
Hatch admitted assault by beating an emergency worker and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
Hatch with son Jordan (surname tbc)
Mitigating, Shabana Sharif, defending, said her client “behaved as a result of hearing her son screaming and being bitten” adding that she had “reacted like any other mother.”
Sharif explained that Hatch had “mental health issues” and was engaging with support services.
District Judge Michelle Smith said she was “satisfied this was an isolated incident” and imposed a community order.
Sentencing | 12-month community order with 20 rehabilitation days; £40 fine and £50 compensation to the officer.
CONVICTED (2024) | Steven A Jaye, born c. 1989, Gravelly Hill, Birmingham B23 but originally from Dudley – caught kicking and dragging his dog, before picking her up and dropping her on the ground.
Jaye was challenged by members of the public after mistreating the collie-type dog, known as Lelo, in a public place.
He was reported to the police and prosecuted by the RSPCA.
CCTV was obtained which showed him being cruel to the dog.
Victim Lelo is in a loving new home
Jaye admitted an animal welfare offence at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on February 28, 2024.
The court heard he felt ‘very sorry and ashamed’ of his actions.
RSPCA inspector Vicky Taylor, who investigated for the charity, said: “This was an unprovoked attack on a defenceless dog. It is completely unacceptable to treat any animal in this way and we will always look into reports of animal cruelty and, where necessary, seek justice for that animal.”
Lelo was signed over into the care of the RSPCA and has since been rehomed.
Sentencing | 100 hours of unpaid work, ten days of rehabilitation activity; £350 in costs and £114 victim surcharge. Disqualified from keeping animals for five years, but may appeal after three years (expires February 2029).
CONVICTED (2024) | Richard Loveridge, born 2 December 2004, of Stonebow Road, Drakes Broughton, Pershore WR10 2AP – for kicking a cat.
Richard Loveridge
Loveridge, a traveller, admitted animal cruelty in relation to a cat named Fefe. The cat’s condition was not reported. The incident took place in Kidderminster on June 28, 2023.
The charge he admitted reads: “Cause unnecessary suffering to a protected animal – namely the cat, by an act, namely kicking, and you knew or ought reasonably to have known that the act would have that effect or be likely to do so.”
Sentencing | one-year community order with 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days; fined £40 and ordered to pay £50 in compensation and £114 victim surcharge.
CONVICTED (2024) | backyard breeder and wildlife persecutor Gregory Peter Cashmore, born 19 May 1985, of Churchill Road, Cheadle, but with strong family links to Longton Road, Knenhall, Stone, Staffordshire ST15 8TW and the Meir area of Stoke on Trent – allowed dogs to fight and left one so badly injured she had to have a leg amputated above the shoulder; failed to treat dogs injured during organised fights with wild animals.
Cashmore, a violent career criminal whose previous convictions include serious domestic violence and firearm possession, failed to take several injured dogs to vets for treatment. He was prosecuted by the RSPCA following an investigation.
One of the offences related to Star, a blue and fawn female French bulldog, who had been badly hurt while fighting with another dog.
Although Star received initial emergency treatment from a vet she was discharged with her owners failing to follow advice to follow up with further care. As a result, Star lost a leg above the shoulder.
Cashmore, ,whose father Darren Cashmore is a convicted badger baiter, also failed to meet the needs of a dark brindle bull lurcher known as Django and also failed to failed to arrange veterinary examination and treatment for a tan and white bull lurcher known as Thor, both of whom had injuries consistent with wild animal fighting.
In a statement provided to the court, RSPCA officer Jason Bowles, who led the charity’s investigation, said he entered the back garden in March 2022 after securing a police warrant via a side gate and saw a number of well-built kennels in good condition containing dogs.
Cashmore with notorious Stoke breeder and a convicted animal abuser in his own right, Alex Johnson who already has two separate entries on our database here and here. Johnson has rumoured links to dog-fighting rings.
One kennel held Thor, who had scarring to his muzzle and a swollen, inflamed joint to the right front paw.
Another kennel housed Django. He had scarring to his nose and muzzle and a healed lower jaw injury to the left side of his mouth.
Both Thor and Django were seized by police.
Cashmore with former partner Millie Moult. She was also prosecuted in relation to Star and sentenced in August 2023.
The court heard that inspector Bowles was then made aware of an incident on June 17, 2022 involving a French bulldog called Star – who he said he later recognised from being at the property on the day of the warrant. It was confirmed that Star sustained injuries after fighting with another dog.
In a written statement, attending officer Rachel Leafe said she met a woman who showed her Star. She said the dog looked ‘extremely lame on her left foreleg and was hardly weight bearing on it at all’.
She continued: “There was a discoloured fluid around the top of the left foreleg which was running down the leg and chest. The fluid looked very unpleasant. My first thoughts were that the injury looked infected.”
She asked the woman if Star had received veterinary treatment for the injuries and she showed her an email from a pet insurer authorising a claim which was dated June 15. 2022 and an email from a vet who saw and treated Star on June 5. 2022.
Inspector Leafe phoned the vets who confirmed Star was seen and treated – and they gave her initial emergency treatment and recommended that she was admitted for further treatment. However, this advice was not followed. Although it was said that Star went to another vet at a home address – no evidence of this was given.
It was agreed for Star to be taken for a veterinary examination by the RSPCA. After a full vet assessment it was found that she was suffering and was subsequently seized by police and placed into the care of the RSPCA.
In a written statement provided to the court, the vet who examined Star said: “In my experience the combination of staples and stitching present seems unlikely from a qualified experienced vet. The stitches removed of a thick black material, possibly cotton thread rather than recognised modern veterinary suture.
“Although some veterinary medicines (injectable antibiotics) and equipment (stapler) were at the premises it is my understanding that there were no oral medicines in appropriately labelled packaging or proof of veterinary care such as invoices presented to the inspector.
“In view of this, my findings and subsequent developments with the wound it is my professional opinion that this dog has been caused unnecessarily suffering from the June 7, 2022 onwards.
“The failure to seek professional ongoing prompt veterinary care (after the first initial treatment) with ongoing monitoring has resulted in a deep seated infection and bone pathology, directly leading to bone fracture and the necessity for urgent radical surgery.”
Cashmore is a prolific backyard breeder trading under the name Cash Bullyz
The court heard Star remained in intensive care from June 17 to July 4 while staff treated her for multiple infections. Sadly vets could not save her left foreleg which had to be amputated along with her shoulder blade in order for her to be saved. Star has since made a good recovery.
Cashmore flogs an item of equipment commonly used by dog fighters
Cashmore pleaded guilty to three offences under the Animal Welfare Act. In mitigation it was heard that Cashmore has “struggled with his mental health”.
Before being sentenced, Cashmore signed over all three dogs into the RSPCA’s care. Star, Django and Thor, who has been in kennels, can all now be rehomed.
Following the hearing, RSPCA officer Bowles, said: “Star and Django have been in RSPCA foster care and both have been doing really well; Star has adjusted well to life with three legs.
“Despite going through a lot she is such a lovely dog and has really settled in with her foster carers; I’m so pleased she can now start her new life. When you have a pet you are responsible for ensuring they get the correct veterinary attention should they injure themselves or become sick. There’s no excuse for leaving an animal in such pain.”
Sentencing | 22-week custodial term, suspended for 12 months; 20 days of rehabilitation activity; 150 hours of unpaid work; £600 in costs and a £128 victim surcharge. He was banned from keeping all animals for just five years (expires February 2029).
A second person, believed to be Cashmore’s now former partner Millie Moult, was sentenced in August 2023 after pleading guilty to one offence of causing unnecessary suffering by failing to follow veterinary recommendation to seek further professional veterinary treatment for the injuries Star had sustained.
She said she did not own Star or the dogs that caused her injuries and claimed she was told that others would be taking responsibility for Star. She was handed a 12-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work and 10 RAR days and was ordered to pay £300 and a £95 victim surcharge.
In March 2023 Cashmore announced on Facebook that he was now in a relationship with a woman called Lea M Webb. Webb, who appears to be from Sale, Trafford, Greater Manchester. A photo of the happy couple suggested that the pair had at least one thing in common: a love for persecuting wildlife with dogs. Webb’s dog evidently bears scarring to his face, legs and body – all of which are injuries consistent with animal fighting most likely foxes and/or badgers.
Since Cashmore’s current relationship status on Facebook is ‘single’ these two may have gone their separate ways.
Additional Information
Following his animal cruelty conviction, a former neighbour of Greg Cashmore contacted us and alleged the following:
“A couple of years ago Cashmore and his then partner Millie Moult beat a puppy to death with a shovel. A neighbour came outside after hearing a dog screaming and saw them do it. The puppy was only about four weeks old. It looked like they were doing it for fun.
“The neighbour reported what she had seen to police but officers came out a week later, by which time there was no evidence that it had ever happened.
“No other witnesses came forward because everyone’s so scared of him.
“The neighbour was brave to ring police because that Greg is a full-on psychopath. He’s got a gun and tried shooting someone before.
“He is the type to set fire to his house with his own kids inside just to make a point.
“He pushed his ex, who he has two children with, down stairs while she had a new-born baby in her arms.
“He always gets off lightly because he makes a deal with the prosecution and grasses up drug dealers.”
CONVICTED (2024) | Jessica Paige Pugh, born 8 December 2002, of Arlingham Place, Worcester WR5 2SZ, her mother Kerry Ruth Pugh, born 17 March 1980, of Brook Cottage, Bosbury , Ledbury HR8 1PX, and Oliver Daelan Fairy, born 31 December 2002, of Tanhouse Lane, Malvern WR14 – for the starvation and neglect of two horses with one having to be put down.
The case involved two equines – Autumn and Totti – who were found to be in an emaciated bodily condition likely due to high worm burdens and lack of a suitable diet.
Oliver Fairy pleaded guilty to one Animal Welfare Act offence which concerned a grey mare named Totti in that he failed to meet her needs. Kerry and Jess Pugh pleaded guilty to one offence relating to chestnut mare Autumn in that they failed to meet her needs.
RSPCA inspector Suzanne Smith attended a stables in Ledbury on March 22, 2023, after the charity received a call concerning underweight horses.
In a written statement provided to the court, Inspector Smith said that a horse called Autumn “was wearing a rug, but despite the rug I could see she was extremely angular with the rug hanging on her like she was a coat hanger
“There was no food or water in the stable, there was no bedding, there was some faeces.”
The owner of the stables named the owners as Jess Pugh and Oliver Fairy.
Fairy told inspector Smith that the horse was Jess Pugh’s horse and he had spoken to a vet the night before as the horse had had ‘choke’, but he didn’t know when the horse had seen a vet prior to that.
Inspector Smith continued: “I went into the stable and removed the rug. As I suspected, the horse was extremely underweight with all bones exposed, a clear thigh gap between her buttock cheeks, the rib cage was fully visible with a shelf along the top where it met with the spinal processors.
“Whilst waiting for the vet, as Autumn had no food or water I asked if some could be provided and a slice of hay in a small haynet was hung in the stable and the small empty bucket which was in the stable was filled.”
A vet attended and remarked that Autumn was the thinnest horse he had ever seen. In his statement, he said the mare’s body condition was 0.5 out of five and that there was strong evidence “to support parasitism for the poor body condition of the horse.”
The Pughs also attended the stables on March 22, and a transfer of ownership form for Autumn was signed by Kerry Pugh, who said she was the owner and the passport was in her name.
The court heard that inspector Smith was also able to locate the contact details with regards to Totti, who had been on loan to Fairy but removed by her owner on 17 March.
The owner was called and it was requested that a vet attend to assess Totti. It was confirmed that she had been suffering with the vent finding an “above normal faecal worm egg count”.
The vet added that blood and faecal test results were consistent with a “high intestinal parasite burden” which could contribute to weight loss. However, the test results could also be present with other diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease.
The weight loss was described as “severe” and would have occurred over a long period of time. The current keeper was informed and treatment for parasites was recommended.
Totti was in good health and in excellent condition on arrival at the yard where Fairy kept her. Months later while in Fairy’s care her condition had deteriorated dramatically
Fairy accepted full responsibility for his failure to ensure Totti was provided with the correct vet assistance and nourishment.
He claimed his involvement with her was relatively limited, however. He said that another person was attending to the horses but accepted he had the overriding responsibility for her care.
In the RSPCA’s care Autumn received remedial farriery alongside a re-feeding programme. Although she regained weight her lameness problems didn’t resolve and the sad decision was made to put her to sleep.
Sentencing | Fairy was handed a £450 fine, victim surcharge of £180, and ordered to pay £200 costs. Kerry Pugh and Jessica Pugh were handed a £196 fine, a victim surcharge to pay of £78 and they were ordered to pay £200 costs. All three were disqualified from keeping equines for seven years (expires February 2031).
In October 2023 Kerry and Jess Pugh loaned out a cob called Lizzie.. On arrival at the loanee’s yard, she was described as being “overweight with a matted mane and tail”.
Lizzie was overweight and her mane and tail were severely matted when she first arrived at the loanee’s yard
The loanee continued: “I had to cut off her mane as it was too matted to brush out. I washed her as she was covered in scabs and dirt. She had to have six visits from a farrier before he was happy her feet were back to normal.
The loanee spent thousands of pounds in farrier and vet fees to restore
“The saddle they gave me was described by my saddle fitter as being only fit for the bin. It was causing Lizzie pain to be ridden in.
“She has now lost 150kg and is under supervision from me and my vet.
“As well as the usual costs of livery, hay, bedding, insurance, etc, I’ve had to pay for remedial farrier work, saddler appointments, dental treatment and vitamin balancers.
“This week alone I’ve had to spend £150 for the vet callout, microchip check and vaccinations
“I also had to buy new rugs (she came with two but both were broken) as well as new tack because neither her saddle nor bridle fit her”.
The Pughs apparently told the court that they had sold Lizzie in October 2023, when she remains on loan.
They have now asked the loanee to return her. The loanee has offered to buy her for £2,000 but the Pughs have demanded £5,000.
There are allegations that Kerry Pugh may transfer ownership of her horses to her boyfriend, Craig Cross. Cross is said to be terrified of horses so this would be an obvious and cynical attempt to skirt their court-ordered disqualification order.
The loanee is desperate to keep Lizzie who she describes as a “sweet horse who’s now been getting lots of love and care” and enjoying the companionship of two other horses.
CONVICTED (2024) | convicted child rapist Benjamin Thomas, born c. 1991, most recently of a holiday park in Looe, Cornwall, but originally from the West Midlands – went on the run and left his cats behind to starve.
In 2012 at Worcester Crown Court Thomas was jailed for five years and made subject to a sexual harm order after being convicted of child rape.
Following his release he has failed on numerous occasions to adhere to the terms of his sex offenders registration which oblige him to keep police informed of any change of address.
In June 2023 Thomas was living in a flat in Lancashire with his girlfriend but vacated the property after falling behind on rent, leaving two cats behind.
When contacted by the property manager, he explained there’d been a bereavement and claimed he had returned to feed the cats. However, when the property manager attended there was no sign anybody had returned and the cats were feeding off scraps. The pets were taken into RSPCA care.
Thomas had fled to Cornwall but was soon apprehended by police and charged with failure to comply with notification requirements as a sex offender between August and December 2023.
Representing Thomas, Barry Hilliard said his client “made an error of judgement”.
Sentencing Thomas, Recorder Richard Stead said Thomas has “numerous previous convictions for failing to comply”.
He added: “You seem to fail to understand the extreme seriousness of the first offence of rape and reasons you’re subject to the requirements of the sex offenders’ register. If you did you’d ensure you provided police with the new address when you moved.”
