Tag Archives: Wigan

Animal Abandonment, Cats

Wigan, Greater Manchester: Steven Corbett

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CONVICTED (2023) | Steven Corbett, born 1997, of Meadow Street, Springfield, Wigan – left two cats unattended in an empty property for 12 days.

RSPCA officers came to the rescue of Wigan man Steven Corbett's abandoned pets
RSPCA officers came to the rescue of Wigan man Steven Corbett’s abandoned pets

Corbett, previously of Enid Place, Bamfurlong, Wigan, was prosecuted by the RSPCA after leaving his cats alone in his flat over Christmas.

RSPCA officers first attended on Christmas Day 2023 after receiving a report of concern that cats Snowy and Nestle had been abandoned.

Squalid conditions at the Wigan flat of animal abuser Steven Corbett
Corbett left the ravenous pets unattended in his filthy and messy flat for a prolonged period of time

The officer managed to phone the cats’ owner, Corbett, who confirmed he left on December 23 and would return that evening. But a follow-up visit on December 27 revealed that the owner had not returned as promised.

Squalid conditions at the Wigan flat of animal abuser Steven Corbett
The skinny cats were found abandoned in a scene of chaos and squalor

RSPCA Inspector Rachel Whalley, who investigated for the charity, fed the cats through the letterbox and noted that they frantically pawed at the food. She then contacted a vet and police for assistance in rescuing the cats.

She said: “As soon as I squeezed the food out the cats were ravenous and trying to paw the sachets out of my hands.

“After seeing their behaviour I was extremely concerned for their welfare, especially as I knew they would not have been fed, given water or checked on in days.

“When I got inside, both cats weren’t microchipped and both were underweight.

“The flat had a lot of clutter and hazards on the floor which would not be safe for cats to be around.

“There were lots of scattered empty packets of food on the floor near the kitchen, and two empty food bowls.

“I had a look around the flat to ensure that there were only the two cats. I saw two litter trays in the bedroom which were empty and had black plastic bags covering them.

“These contained cigarette butts and there were also a lot of cigarette butts surrounding the trays. There were also piles of cat faeces in the bathroom.”

Wigan man Steven Corbett's abandoned cat
Snowy

The RSPCA transported Snowy and Nestle to their Greater Manchester Animal Hospital where they received care and treatment..

The court heard how the vet report stated that Snowy weighed just 1.1kg and was covered in flea dirt, whilst Nestle weighed just 1.5kg. The average normal weight for a cat is 3.6-4.5kgs.

Wigan man Steven Corbett's abandoned cat
Nestle

The vet report concluded: “By failing to provide these needs the owner of Snowy and Nestle has allowed them to suffer. Regardless of who cares for them, provisions should be made for alternative carers if their owner was unable to attend the property for a period of time.”

The two cats have since been rehomed by the RSPCA.

Animal abuser Steven Corbett from Wigan, Greater Manchester. Photo: Facebook

Insp Whalley added: “The suffering inflicted on these skinny and terribly hungry cats was completely unnecessary and could have been easily avoided had the owner provided care for them over the festive period. The conditions they were kept in were also totally unacceptable.

“I’m glad that we were able to rescue Snowy and Nestle and they have now found loving forever homes.”

Sentencing | 12-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work; £400 in costs, £425 legal fees and a £114 victim surcharge to be deducted from benefits. Indefinite ban on keeping all animals with no right of appeal for five years.

Wigan Today

Animal Abandonment, Dogs, Worst of the Worst

Ince-in-Makerfield, Wigan: David Farrimond

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CONVICTED (2023) | David Farrimond, born 27 May 1977, of 4 Chatsworth Avenue, Ince, Wigan WN3 4PJ – failed to address his dog’s multiple health issues and left her to suffer alone in an empty house.

Wigan man David Farrimond failed to seek veterinary treatment to address his springer spaniel’s extreme weight loss, eye infection and mammary tumour.
Farrimond failed to seek veterinary treatment to address his loyal pet’s extreme weight loss, eye infection and mammary tumour.

Farrimond received a paltry five-year ban on owning animals despite the appalling suffering he inflicted on his pet dog – a springer spaniel named Bella.

The RSPCA brought the case after Farrimond left the stricken dog alone in a hazardous unoccupied property. Her untreated ailments included a mammary tumour and eye infection. She was also in an emaciated condition due to malnourishment.

Wigan man David Farrimond failed to seek veterinary treatment to address his springer spaniel’s extreme weight loss, eye infection and mammary tumour.

In February 2023, the RSPCA visited an address in Wigan to carry out an animal welfare check, after receiving a report of concern about a dog in poor condition. The RSPCA inspector found Bella inside the unoccupied house.

Wigan man David Farrimond failed to seek veterinary treatment to address his springer spaniel’s extreme weight loss, eye infection and mammary tumour.

RSPCA inspector Rachel Whalley said: “When I visited the Wigan property, it was clearly unoccupied but looking through a gap in the curtains, I could just make out a white and brown dog that was lying down. I was very concerned for her welfare – she did not move, even when I shouted and hammered loudly on the window.

“I managed to squeeze some dog food through the letterbox, which made Bella get up and come to the front door. I could hear her but couldn’t see her, so I put my phone through the letterbox so I could assess her condition. The photos and videos I took showed Bella eating the food ravenously. She looked underweight, her ribs were showing and she was shaking.

“After she had something to eat, she appeared more alert and jumped up onto the window sill of the front room. I could then see the full extent of Bella’s condition. She looked extremely underweight. There was green discharge coming from both her eyes, and her nails were also very overgrown.

“I was very concerned that she was in a very poor condition and there appeared to be nobody attending to this dog.”

Following liaison with the police and local authorities, inspector Whalley was able to gain entry to the property. The house smelt strongly of ammonia, there was fresh and mouldy faeces everywhere and the floor was cluttered with hazards including a razor blade.

While the inspector was recording a video, Bella got her leg stuck on a metal oven grill on the floor. The property was not a safe living environment for an animal and inspector Whalley took her away to be examined by a vet at the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital.

Wigan man David Farrimond failed to seek veterinary treatment to address his springer spaniel’s extreme weight loss, eye infection and mammary tumour.

RSPCA vet Izabela Gibka examined Bella, and reported that she “was severely underweight and emaciated”. She found that Bella’s ribs, spine and pelvic bones were prominent. The dog was also struggling from muscle loss especially on her back limbs which can be a sign of insufficient nutrition for a long period of time.

Dr Gibka reported that Bella’s coat was dirty and smelly, her eyelids were severely swollen and covered in yellow crusty discharge and her nervousness during the eye examination suggested there was pain and irritation in this area. Tests showed this was untreated bacterial conjunctivitis.

Wigan man David Farrimond failed to seek veterinary treatment to address his springer spaniel’s extreme weight loss, eye infection and mammary tumour.

In addition, the vet found a 5cm (2in) long pendulous tumour on her abdomen, which was most likely associated with her mammary gland. The mass showed some ulceration was present; the skin on the mass was tense and had started breaking down. This happens commonly with untreated mammary masses and can cause severe pain and infection.

She believed Bella would have been suffering from malnutrition for at least two months, but likely longer.

She was also suffering from the untreated mammary tumour while she felt a reasonable owner would have sought veterinary advice for once they noticed the growth on the dog’s abdomen.

Farrimond had also failed to provide appropriate coat hygiene for a dog of Bella’s type and her nails were left untrimmed.

In court Farrimond pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act.

Sentencing | 12 month community order, with 80 hours of unpaid work; costs of £1,015.96 and £114 victim surcharge,. Five-year ban on owning all animals (expires October 2028).

Wigan Today

Animal Abandonment, Cats, Worst of the Worst

Wigan, Greater Manchester: Donna Laithwaite

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CONVICTED (2023) | Donna M Laithwaite, born c. 1975, of Derby Street, Ince, Wigan WN3 4TH – starved two cats to death after locking them in a bedroom.

Cat killer Donna Laithwaite from Ince, Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK. Picture: Facebook
Donna Laithwaite starved two cats to death and severely neglected a third

Laithwaite pleaded guilty to three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to her cats following an RSPCA prosecution.

The charity say inspectors were called to Laithwaite’s rented home on October 11, 2022, after the landlord notified them there was a dead cat in the house.

Cats left to starve to death by Donna Laithwaite from Ince, Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK. Picture: RSPCA
Two of Laithwaite’s cats were found starved to death

Animal rescue officer Alison Wilford said: “I went into the property with the landlord and found a slim tabby and white cat. The lounge was cluttered, with empty food bowls on the floor.

Grim conditions in which cats belonging to Wigan woman Donna Laithwaite were found starved to death. Picture: RSPCA
The cats were living in squalor having been abandoned by their cruel owner

“I went upstairs to the bedroom where the landlord had advised the dead cat was; the smell in the room was foul. There were faeces all over the bed and in the corner of the room, with lots of empty cat food boxes scattered around.

“Under the bed was another mattress with a dead cat lying on top of it. Upon leaving the property I realised I was absolutely covered in fleas from the inside.”

Ms Wilford returned to the house later that day accompanied by the police, to remove the dead cat and to take two other surviving cats into care. She then discovered a second dead cat in the property.

Cats left to starve to death by Donna Laithwaite from Ince, Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK. Picture: RSPCA
Surviving cat Bobby

After making a number of attempts to contact Laithwaite, Ms Wilford eventually spoke to her on December 7. She admitted owning the cats and said she had locked them in the bedroom to stop them fighting with another cat in the house.

Cat killer Donna Laithwaite from Ince, Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK. Picture: Facebook

In his witness statement, veterinary surgeon Sean Taylor, found that both of the deceased cats were emaciated due to a lack of food and all three cats had been living in an environment containing a lot of faeces and urine. The cats were also suffering due a severe flea infestation.

Cats left to starve to death by Donna Laithwaite from Ince, Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK. Picture: RSPCA
Laithwaite’s cats before she callously abandoned them to die

Speaking after the hearing RSPCA inspector Deborah Beats said: “The death of both of these cats was entirely unnecessary and they must have suffered horribly.

“Not only would they have been in pain from flea and ear mite infestations but they were forced to live in appalling, squalid conditions. Both cats would have died a slow and entirely preventable death from starvation.

“Bobby, the surviving cat was similarly emaciated and ill cared for, I hope once he finishes his veterinary treatment with the RSPCA he will find a new home with a loving family.

“I sincerely hope Laithwaite learns from this prosecution and never mistreats an animal again.”

Sentencing | 20-week custodial suspended; fined £750 and ordered to pay £128 costs. Five-year ban on keeping animals (expires August 2028).

Manchester Evening News
Bolton News

Animal Abandonment, Dogs, Multiple Species, rabbits, Small Furries

Wigan, Greater Manchester: Sarah Murgatroyd

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CONVICTED (2023) | Sarah Murgatroyd, born 21 January 1978, of Broom Road, Worsley Hall, Wigan WN5 9QH – left a rabbit to suffer for weeks with a brain infection and neglected her dog.

Murgatroyd pleaded guilty to two counts of animal cruelty in relation to a Netherland dwarf rabbit called Noah and and a shar pei cross dog known as Teddy.

The court was told that Murgatroyd had failed to realise how ill the rabbit was until a neighbour pointed it out to her.

By the time Murgatroyd handed Noah over to RSPCA inspector Deborah Beats on April 27, 2022, the pet had collapsed and was gravely ill with a brain infection.

Netherland dwarf rabbit Noah was euthanised for humane reasons after Sarah Murgatroyd left him to suffer for weeks
Netherland dwarf rabbit Noah was euthanised for humane reasons after Sarah Murgatroyd left him to suffer for weeks

A vet who examined Noah said he was underweight, with a body condition score of one out of five. He was so cold that his body temperature couldn’t be measured with a thermometer. He was so unwell that a vet decided the kindest thing to do was to put him to sleep.

A post-mortem showed evidence of encephalitozoon cuniculi infection, a common parasite affecting the kidneys and brains of rabbits.

The vet said: “Noah was suffering for a period of at least two weeks, but more likely longer. He had a significant amount of weight loss and was visibly underweight. He had a disease that is common in rabbits that was left untreated. A responsible owner would have sought veterinary care when first noticing the clinical signs.”

Wigan woman Sarah Murgatroyd's dog was infested with fleas and had alopecia
Teddy was infested with fleas and had alopecia

Murgatroyd also presented Teddy to the inspector and said she wasn’t able to look after him. He had a moderate flea infestation and alopecia, which he was treated for after he was signed over into the care of the RSPCA.

Sentencing | 12-month community order with 15 rehabilitation activity days and 80 hours of unpaid work; £300 court costs and victim surcharge of £114. Five-year ban applicable to all animals (expires July 2028).

Manchester Evening News

Cats

Wigan, Greater Manchester: June Thistleton

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CONVICTED (2023) | June Thistleton, born 16 March 1959, of Trent Road, Norley, Wigan WN5 9LY -failed to seek vet treatment for her cat’s nose tumour.

Animal abuser June Thistleton from Wigan, Greater Manchester - left her cat to suffer in agony with a cancerous tumour

Thistleton’s cat Oscar had such a severely ulcerated nasal lesion that sadly he had to be put to sleep.

A post-mortem examination of the ulcer was taken and it was later found to be a malignant tumour.

Thistleton had pleaded guilty to causing the animal suffering by denying him treatment.

Oscar was left in agony with an untreated tumour by his owner June Thistleton from Wigan
Oscar was put to sleep after being left to suffer with a chronic ulcerated growth on his nose and upper lip.

RSPCA inspector Rachel Whalley said: “When Thistleton called our Wigan branch clinic in late January ‘23 to make an appointment for Oscar, she told staff over the phone that ‘part of the cat’s nose has fallen’ off.

“She then cancelled a series of appointments, and the cat was finally brought into the vet clinic by another person three days later.

“When the vet examined Oscar, she found he was suffering from a large ulcerative lesion on his upper lip which extended to his nose which she suspected could be a cancerous tumour.

“Given the severity of the lesion, the severe and chronic pain this would have been causing the cat and the impossibility of being able to attempt treatment of the lesion without prolonging suffering, the vet decided that immediate euthanasia was in Oscar’s best interests.”

Oscar was left in agony with an untreated tumour by his owner June Thistleton from Wigan

Insp Whalley added: “During my discussion with the defendant at her home, Thistleton claimed that she had not noticed Oscar’s lesion until very recently. However, this contradicted what a social worker told me.

“She had visited the house back in December and had noticed Oscar’s lesion at that time – more than a month before Oscar was eventually taken to the vet. She alleges that Thistleton told her she was going to take Oscar to the vet then said she couldn’t afford it.”

The vet who had examined Oscar reported that in her opinion, he had suffered chronic pain due to an untreated tumour on the nose and upper lip and his suffering would have been ongoing for many weeks.

She said: “I would expect a reasonable, and responsible pet owner to recognise a nasal defect such as this as being a potential cause of pain and would expect a pet owner to seek veterinary attention at a much earlier stage, when the lesion would have been much smaller.

“In addition, I would expect a pet owner to identify the other clinical signs Oscar was likely to have been exhibiting at home, such as sneezing, and reluctance to groom, or difficulty eating, and these issues should have also prompted the owner to seek veterinary attention. In failing to do so, Oscar’s owner has caused prolonged and severe suffering to him.”

Animal abuser June Thistleton from Wigan, Greater Manchester - left her cat to suffer in agony with a cancerous tumour

Insp Whalley said: “It was Thistleton’s legal responsibility to care for her cat and she failed to do this. There was no excuse for failing to seek veterinary care for poor Oscar when it was abundantly clear that he so desperately needed it.

“This was a tragic case and simply shouldn’t have happened.

“The RSPCA urges anyone struggling to take care of their pet to ask for help, rather than neglecting them and leaving them to suffer.”

Sentencing | 12-month community order with 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 60 hours of unpaid work; £200 costs. No mention of a ban.

Wigan Today

Dogs, Violent and Sadistic Pet Abusers

Leigh, Greater Manchester: Michael Hilton

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CONVICTED (2023) | Michael Hilton, born 14 February 1962, of 1 Sanderson’s Croft, Leigh, Wigan WN7 2BA – captured on a Ring doorbell kicking, punching and stamping on his pet lurcher.

Ben was repeatedly kicked and punched by Leigh man Michael Hilton
Ben was repeatedly kicked and punched by Leigh man Michael Hilton

Hilton was prosecuted by the RSPCA after the distressing film was passed on to them.

He carried out what the RSPCA called a ‘sustained physical attack’ on the lurcher, Ben, in Leigh, Wigan, on December 6 last year.

In the footage, he kicks the terrified dog 11 times, with nine of the blows of such force that Ben’s head and body jerked backwards from the impact, added the charity. Hilton also struck the lurcher in the region of his upper neck and shoulder.

A spokesman said: “The footage was passed to the RSPCA, which launched an investigation, and he was subsequently interviewed, pleading guilty to one offence contrary to the Animal Welfare Act at a hearing on April 13.”

The court heard how following the attack, Ben showed immediate signs of fear, dropping to the ground and attempting to pull away, but was unable to do so because he was being restrained on a lead by his owner.

RSPCA inspector Vicki Brooks, who led the investigation for the animal welfare charity, said: “I viewed the footage and saw a person enter the field of view from the left with a large light coloured dog that appeared to be on a lead held by that person and wearing a dark coloured muzzle.

“I saw the person forcefully kick, punch and stamp on the dog, striking the animal a total of 12 times with a foot and two times with a hand.

“The dog could be seen trying to back away from the person. It was clear that the feet and hands made significant contact with the dog. The name and address provided for the person seen assaulting the dog in the footage was Michael Hilton.”

Ben is now in the care of the RSPCA and will be rehomed.

Sentencing | 12-month community order with 150 hours of unpaid work; costs of £400. FIVE-year ban on keeping animals (expires July 2028).

Wigan Today
ITV News

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

Ince-in-Makerfield / Beech Hill, Wigan: Jamie Evans and Joshua Kwiatkowski

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CONVICTED (2023) | backyard breeders Jamie Evans, born 20 December 1992, previously of Keble Street, Ince, Wigan, but now no fixed abode, and Joshua Ryan Kwiatkowski, born c. 1999, of Rose Avenue, Beech Hill, Wigan WN6 8NE – arranged for their dogs to have their ears illegally cropped.

Wigan men Josh Kwiatkowski and Jamie Evans put their dogs through a painful ear-cropping procedure
Backyard breeders Josh Kwiatkowski (left) and Jamie Evans put their dogs through a painful ear-cropping procedure

Joshua Kwiatkowski, who traded under the name Finesse Bullies, and Jamie Evans pleaded guilty to allowing ear cropping to be carried out on their bull-type dogs, named Riga and Ace, and failing to seek veterinary care for their injuries.

Photos on the phones of Joshua Kwiatkowski and Jamie Evans showed puppies with full ears, as well as images of the dogs after having the procedure
Kwiatkowski’s dog Ace before his ears were mutilated
Photos on the phones of Joshua Kwiatkowski and Jamie Evans showed puppies with full ears, as well as images of the dogs after having the procedure
Ace pictured post-mutilation

Police seized Kwiatkowski’s phone on an unrelated offence and found photographs of Ace with cropped ears.

Two warrants were executed by the RSPCA and police, and a second phone was seized containing messages where the two men spoke about Ace and Riga having their ears cropped.

There were photographs of both dogs as puppies with full ears, as well as images after the procedure.

The court heard Kwiatkowski advised Evans to put talc on Riga’s ears, with one voice note saying: “Once you’ve took the scabs off and talced his ears he will look exactly like Ace does on that picture where his ears are dead white and they are up tall and you can hardly see any scabs. It just looks like loads of talc on the outsides of his ears. That’s what it will look like bro.”

Photos on the phones of Joshua Kwiatkowski and Jamie Evans showed puppies with full ears, as well as images of the dogs after having the procedure
Evans’ dog Riga
Photos on the phones of Joshua Kwiatkowski and Jamie Evans showed puppies with full ears, as well as images of the dogs after having the procedure
Photos on the phones of Joshua Kwiatkowski and Jamie Evans showed puppies with full ears, as well as images of the dogs after having the procedure

Evans replied: “Sure he’s took this crop too far back on him.”

In a conversation on WhatsApp, Evans asked when he could “post a pic” of Riga, to which Kwiatkowski replied: “Not for 4-6 weeks bro, no one in your gaff you don’t know.”

Kwiatkowski continued: “Don’t have anyone in your house or seeing the dog you don’t know, if they see fresh wounds they could report you.

“Only post on your private snapchat mate people who you trust and if anyone asks obvs the dogs imported.”

In a statement to the court, vet Dr Sean Taylor said: “In my opinion there is sufficient evidence … that Ace and Riga have both undergone ear cropping procedures.

“Mutilation of the ear pinna for reasons of cosmetic look is prohibited within the RCVS professional code of conduct and should not be carried out by veterinary surgeons within the UK.

“I have not been provided with any evidence to indicate that Ace and Riga had their ears cropped for reasons of medical necessity. In the absence of such evidence it is assumed that these dogs had their ears cropped for cosmetic reasons and in my opinion would have suffered via mechanisms of pain and ear irritation after the cropping procedure for a period of at least five days, possibly longer.”

After sentencing, RSPCA inspector Emma Dingley said: “Ear cropping is a horrific practice which has absolutely no benefits for the dogs and can cause them life-long health, behavioural and social problems.

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

The dogs are now in RSPCA care.

Sentencing | jailed for 23 weeks. Banned from keeping animals for 15 years.

Liverpool Echo
Manchester Evening News
Wigan Today

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

Ince, Wigan: Matthew Hurst

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CONVICTED (2022) | Matthew A Hurst, born 28 April 1999, of 34 Bryn Street, Ince, Wigan WN3 4RX – caught on camera stamping on his pet dog FIFTEEN times.

Violent dog abuser Matt Hurst is a mechanic in his family's tyre retail business, PM Tyres in Wigan.
Violent dog abuser Matt Hurst is a mechanic in his family’s tyre retail business, PM Tyres in Wigan.

The distressing clip shows psychotic thug Hurst kicking the helpless dog, known as Congo, repeatedly as he cowered on the ground.

Stills from video showing Hurst kicking and stamping on a dog.

The video of the horrendous incident was sent to the RSPCA from a member of the public. Hurst was then arrested.

Vets said Congo had received at least 21 blunt force blows to his abdomen, chest and head but miraculously suffered no lasting injuries.

RSPCA inspector Ryan King described the beating as ‘the worst’ he had seen.

He said: “The video showed a man sitting on a sofa, watching a black bull breed dog either urinating or defecating on the floor. The man then stands up and proceeds to stamp on the dog with his foot around fifteen times with great force, shouting ‘what are you doing’.

“He then reaches down to the dog, which is now lying on the floor, grabs it by the head and slams the dog onto the floor again with great force several times. This is the worst beating I have ever seen during my three years as a RSPCA inspector.”

Victim Congo

Congo was signed over to the RSPCA by Hurst. He will be rehomed in the future.

Sentencing | 16-week suspended jail term. 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days; 120 hours of unpaid work, £2,558 in court costs and £120 victim surcharge. Disqualified from keeping animals for ten years.

Liverpool Echo
ITV News

Additional Information

Matthew Hurst is a mechanic in his family’s car repair/tyre retail business PM Tyres, Railway Arches, Wigan WN3 4HX.

Dogs, Worst of the Worst

Pemberton, Greater Manchester: Clare Lockett

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CONVICTED (2022) | Clare Lockett, born c. 1969, of 19 Howard Street, Pemberton, Wigan WN5 8BH – failed to provide veterinary treatment for a dog with multiple wounds from a skin condition.

Clare Locket. Image: Facebook.
Clare Locket. Image: Facebook.

German shepherd Cara was found to be in a poor condition with wounds on all of her paws and legs when her owner, Clare Lockett, took her to a clinic at the RSPCA Wigan, Leigh and district branch on August 24, 2021.

Veterinary surgeon Darinka Toth told the court Cara had been suffering for at least two weeks with anal and skin furunculosis, an immune-mediated skin disease which most often occurs in German shepherds.

Cara had multiple wounds from a skin condition and was also very underweight.

Lockett told the vet she had noticed the skin issues “a few weeks previously”, was bathing the dog and had placed bandages on her legs.

Cara, who was in middle age, was “severely underweight” at 23.3kg with a body condition score of just one out of nine.

Lockett claimed she had only noticed the weight loss in the week before taking the dog to the clinic.

In her report, the vet said Cara’s wounds smelled of infection and were painful on touch, while a larger wound under her tail left her unable to toilet without discomfort and pain.

The infection in her nail beds and wounds on her paws left her in pain on standing and walking.

The vet offered to put Cara to sleep to end her suffering, which her owner agreed to.

Ms Toth stated: “In my opinion Cara was suffering at least for a period of two weeks, but likely for considerably longer. A responsible owner would have sought veterinary care when first noticing the wounds and weight loss.”

Lockett pleaded guilty to two offences of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

In mitigation, the court heard she was affected by learning difficulties and suffered from anxiety and depression.

She had owned Cara for seven years without previous issues, but the court was told she accepted she should have gone to the vets sooner.

Anthony Wilcock, born c. 1978, of the same address, had been accused of the same offences in relation to Cara but the charges were withdrawn

Sentencing | ordered to pay a total of £734. Banned from owning dogs for 10 years.

Wigan Today

Dogs, hare coursing, hunting with dogs, Multiple Species, Organised Animal Crime, poaching, Serial Animal Abusers, Wildlife Crime / Bloodsports

Wigan, Greater Manchester: Daniel Ratchford

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CONVICTED (2021) | serial wildlife criminal Daniel Ratchford, born 9 December 1984, of 4 Stratford Street, Standish, Wigan WN6 7AH – caught hunting wild animals with dogs despite a lifetime ban imposed in 2014

Serial wildlife criminal Daniel Ratchford was found to be in breach of a lifetime ban on keeping dogs

Daniel Ratchford was made the subject of a five-year court order banning him from vast areas of Lancashire and Merseyside after being found guilty of four poaching offences; hunting wild animals with dogs; and five breaches of a Dog Disqualification Order.

Ratchford is now excluded from entering large parts of West Lancashire and Sefton districts. This includes all rural areas between Ormskirk and the Sefton coast, between Ormskirk and Crosby, Maghull, Kirkby and between Wigan and Lancashire around the Douglas Valley.

It also prevents Ratchford from being part of a group of two or more people who are in control of any dog anywhere in England and Wales.

He is banned from trespassing on any land and from acting in a manner that causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

In addition to the Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO), he was also handed a 32-week custodial sentence suspended for two years; a 16-week 7pm to 6am tagged curfew; 50-day Rehabilitation Order; and a lifetime prohibition from keeping dogs. All of his dogs were forfeited to police for rehoming.

Wildlife criminal Daniel Ratchford from Wigan

An investigation into Ratchford began after police received information that he was committing poaching offences on private farmland, allowing his lurcher-cross dogs to kill wild rabbits and hares.

As a result, Lancashire’s South Rural Task Force, along with Merseyside Police’s Wildlife Crime Unit and RSPCA Special Operations Unit, executed a warrant at Ratchford’s property in the early hours of the Thursday, March 11, 2021.

Five dogs were found inside, in breach of his lifetime disqualification which he was given in 2014, after being convicted alongside John Daly, Reece Welsh and Ryan Kennedy of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog. For this offence, he was sentenced to twelve weeks’ imprisonment.

Speaking after the sentencing, PC Paddy Stewart, Rural, Wildlife & Heritage Crime Officer in Lancashire’s South Rural Task Force said: “Ratchford has shown absolutely no regard for animals’ rights to live peacefully in the wild.

“Instead, he allowed his dogs to cruelly maim and kill rabbits and hares.

“The fact is that offenders like Ratchford know that animals like hares don’t die instantly after one bite from a dog, they are agile are often are unsuccessfully grabbed several times, causing graphic injuries and distress. And that’s if they survive; the vast majority die suffering and screaming in agonising pain.

“This is a serious criminal offence, with often misunderstood and far-reaching impacts on our rural communities and I hope that this result shows those who commit these types of offences, whether that be against wildlife or farming, we have a dedicated team of officers and we will find you.”

PC Stewart added: “We need the rural communities of West Lancashire and Merseyside to help us enforce Ratchford’s CBO and report if they see him committing any breaches of the order, to please call us on 101.”

Manchester Evening News