CONVICTED (2024) | Matthew Murray, born 6 March 1999, of Bentinck Place, Birkenhead CH41 4DR – caught on CCTV kicking and screaming at a small dog as she yelps in pain.
The footage shows Murray running towards a fence and kicking out at bulldog Bella with his left leg, before kicking her again with his other leg, causing her to yelp out in pain. He is then heard aggressively shouting, “get back in,” before forcefully kicking and swearing at her again.
Bella is seen running back towards the house away from Murray, before yelping out again once she’s inside.
The incident took place at Ashfield Crescent, Bromborough, on Boxing Day 2023 and the RSPCA was alerted.
In a written statement to the court Inspector Anthony Joynes said: “I attended the location and made enquiries with residents which resulted in me seeing some CCTV footage where a young male with long dark hair, wearing a black jacket, blue jeans and black trainers can be heard initially arguing angrily with another person before screaming and shouting angrily that a dog had escaped from the property.
“The dog appears scared and is seen running away from the male along a fence line. The man chases after the dog and then proceeds to violently kick the dog forcefully on at least two occasions. The dog can be heard yelping in response and further yelps can be heard shortly after the man re-enters the address after the dog.”
2018 Merseyside Police mugshot of Matty Murray, who has links to Tranmere, Prenton, Wallasey and Woodchurch.
Following veterinary examination Bella was given pain relief for ongoing hip and spinal conditions which were found on the radiographs. She was then taken to a private boarding establishment to be cared for on behalf of the RSPCA while the investigation was carried out.
Murray, who is no stranger to Merseyside Police, pleaded guilty to animal cruelty, and said he had attacked Bella because he was “feeling stressed”.
Speaking after the conclusion of the case Inspector Joynes said: “Bella had run out of the house and into the street, which of course can be stressful and frustrating. But the violence, aggression and intimidating behaviour that followed was unacceptable, and this can be seen by Bella’s fearful response and her cries of pain.
“She is doing great in our care and will be looking for her new home very soon.”
Sentencing | 18-month community order with 240 hours of unpaid work and 30 days of “rehabilitation”; victim surcharge. Ten-year ban, but may appeal after five years.
CONVICTED (2024) | Peter Shelley, born c. 1977, of Warbreck Avenue, Walton, Liverpool L9 8DJ – failed to treat a pocket bully puppy with a skin condition, bilateral ear infection and vaginal prolapse.
Shelley, previously of Shrewsbury Road, Prenton, the Wirral, had denied causing unnecessary suffering and failing to meet the dog’s needs, but was found guilty at a trial.
The dog, a young pocket bully called Peggy who was only a puppy at the time, had multiple health conditions when she was found at the Prenton flat on April 23 2023.
The court heard how police officers had gone to the flat to carry out a welfare check on Peggy after Shelley was taken into custody.
Officers alerted the RSPCA with concerns about the dog’s condition after noticing bloodied bedding in her crate.
In his evidence to the court, RSPCA Inspector Anthony Joynes, who responded to the incident, said: “The dog had been seized by officers and I advised that she should be taken urgently to a vet for assessment.
“I attended the flat at Shrewsbury Road. There was no response and no access through the side gate so I left a calling card requesting that the owner/person responsible for the dog respond.
“I made arrangements for a colleague to collect the dog the following day and transport her to the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital for further assessment and treatment.”
The first vet who examined Peggy on April 23 said she had a low body condition score, inflamed, crusting dermatitis affecting her ears, chin, eyelids and chest, a bilateral infection of both ear canals and a vaginal prolapse.
In written evidence to the court, she said: “In my professional opinion I believe that the conditions had been present for a duration of longer than three weeks.
“I do not believe any treatment was being administered to this patient and no professional help had been sought for the vaginal prolapse.”
A second vet who examined Peggy at the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Animal Hospital on 24 April diagnosed an ulcerated vaginal prolapse, a bilateral ear infection and a skin allergy which had caused severe itching and alopecia.
She said: “Given the severity of Peggy’s condition on presentation, in my opinion she will have suffered for two weeks, as a minimum, likely longer”.
During the course of the RSPCA’s investigation a local charity confirmed that Peggy had been in their care on April 10, 2023, after she was found straying.
Shelley reclaimed her three days later but ignored the advice of kennel stuff to get her urgent veterinary treatment.
Shelley was interviewed and said Peggy was being well looked after. He said he didn’t think her ears were that bad, and although he could see the prolapse she seemed okay.
Peggy was initially looked after at a private boarding establishment on behalf of the RSPCA before being transferred to the charity’s Macclesfield, SE Cheshire and Buxton Branch, where she went into foster care.
She made a good recovery and in early March 2024 was adopted. She has settled well into her new home.
Speaking after the trial, Inspector Joynes said: “Peggy is such a sweet little dog and has been a favourite with all the people who have assisted in her rescue, treatment and rehoming.
“She was let down severely by her owner who should have sought veterinary care much sooner for a number of issues.
“I’d like to thank the police officers who seized Peggy on the day for going above and beyond to make sure she was safe.
“Here’s hoping she now can have a long happy life with her new family.”
Sentencing | ten-week custodial, suspended for 12 months, with a further eight weeks suspended for non-related matters. Disqualified from keeping animals for just 18 months (expires September 2025).
CONVICTED (2024) | Michelle Joplin aka Michelle Hines, born 1 August 1972, previously of Ganneys Meadow Road, Birkenhead, Wirral, Merseyside, and now of Marine Road West, Morecambe LA3 1BU – neglected her dog so badly she collapsed and had to be put to sleep.
Joplin caused unnecessary suffering to her three-year-old bully type dog, Daisy between May 24 and June 16, 2023.
Victim Daisy was put to sleep after being found collapsed and in immense pain
A vet found the animal in a state of collapse, with her right side “sodden with urine, and skin inflamed and sore”.
Her nails were overgrown, she was suffering with hair loss.
Attempts to move her resulted in aggression, which the vet said was a sign of pain.
Joplin left the dog to suffer in foul conditions
Joplin admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal by failing to address signs of ill health.
Joplin told the court she had been “in a really bad place”.
Peter Mitchell, representing the RSPCA, said it was clear Daisy had been collapsed “for an extended period” when she was finally seen by a vet. Two other dogs in Joplin’s care – Marge and Skye – were rehomed.
Sentencing | 18-month community order with 150 hours of unpaid work, alcohol treatment requirement and rehabilitation. FIVE-year ban on keeping dogs (expires January 2029).
CONVICTED (2023) | Tobias Rae aka Amira-Sage Rae or Nadine Pownall, born 29 December 2000, of 25B Littledale Road, Wallasey CH44 8EE – starved a young Cane Corso until she became skin and bone.
Rae, who is a biological female, was prosecuted in relation to two-year old Cane Corso Dottie, who was found in an emaciated condition at her home. She also owned a German shepherd-type dog and a ferret.
RSPCA inspector Anthony Joynes visited Rae’s flat on January 26, 2023, following concerns from members of the public about the welfare of animals at the address. There was a particular concern about a large dog called Dottie that had recently escaped and was said to be extremely underweight.
Dottie was in a skeletal condition when rescued by the RSPCA
In his evidence, Inspector Joynes said: “I could immediately smell a strong odour of urine and faeces coming from the address.
“A young female, dark brindle Cane Corso type dog that I would describe as being emaciated was brought into the communal hallway.
“I could see all of the bones of her spine, ribs and pelvic bones.
“I could also see boney processes of her skull where muscle had atrophied, which is only usually seen in extreme cases often involving seriously unwell or starving dogs.
“She wandered over with her head held low and with a lethargic and clumsy gait.”
Rae told Inspector Joynes that Dottie, whom she had owned for 18 months, had “always been an ill dog” and was “scared and kept weeing”. She had reportedly been healthier after giving birth to a litter but had soon returned to “skin and bone”.
She said she had a PDSA appointment the following day but could not show any evidence of this and enquiries with the charity showed this not to be true.
Dottie was seized by a police officer who had accompanied Inspector Joynes.
Rae agreed to sign over a ferret but refused to relinquish another dog at the property, an older Shepherd type called Diesel whose condition was not as bad.
Rae’s other dog Diesel, who was also underweight, is now said to be living with his grandfather
An improvement notice was served and a wet and dry food parcel was provided to ensure there was sufficient food in the short term for him.
Magistrates heard how Dottie was immediately taken to a vet to be examined. Her claws were caked in faeces and she had dirty ear canals.
There were also a large number of circular scars – some of which were still scabbed – on her head, ears, neck and front legs which were thought to have been caused by her fighting over food with Diesel.
Dottie was so thin that a vet was able to place her fingers around her abdomen.
The court was told that a dog of her type should have weighed in the region of 30kg but Dottie was only 23.6kg. Her bones had become prominent and blood tests showed she was also anaemic.
In her evidence, the vet who examined Dottie and gave her a body condition score of just one out of nine, said: “I was able to get my fingers around her abdominal circumference; not something that would be typical in a dog of this size of a healthy weight.
“She was emaciated to the point that it was cachexic, with significant muscle loss which would have left her feeling weak.
“A dog does not become emaciated overnight, it takes several weeks to become this underweight from a previously healthy body condition and during this entire time she would have been suffering as muscle was metabolised for energy.
“It should have been obvious to the owner that this dog was underweight and not gaining weight and veterinary attention was needed to investigate this.”
The court heard how a refeeding programme was introduced once Dottie was at the RSPCA centre, and just eight weeks later she weighed 33kg.
Leigh Irlam, defending Rae, said her client has been “overwhelmed” since proceedings started and was “upset” at the outcome. Further mitigation referred to Rae “struggling to come to terms with another loss in their life.”
Ms Irlam added: “Tobias is young and struggling and needs some assistance from yourself today. They are a young person who has had a lot of turbulence in their life.”
It was heard that Rae, who has no previous convictions, had been through a period of homelessness, but now has a flat and claims benefits.
Magistrates were told Rae was making arrangements for the other dog to be rehomed to her grandfather . The RSPCA will be checking to ensure this has been done, otherwise Rae will be in breach of the disqualification order.
Speaking after the case, inspector Joynes said: “Dottie was without doubt one of the most underweight live dogs I’ve rescued in 14 years as an RSPCA inspector. Her body had begun to shut down, so it took a while for weight to start going back on, which was a worrying time for the staff caring for her.
“She is such a gentle soul and was let down terribly by her owner. She has since gained well over half of her initial body weight and is now doing really well and beginning to enjoy life again.”
Dottie after being nursed back to health
Kay Hawthorn, the manager of the animal centre at Wallasey where Dottie is being cared for, said: “She really struggled when she first came to us and had all but given up.
“We fed her little and often but due to her being so weak and disinterested, it was a real struggle to get things moving again and give her something to live for.
“Her weight increased very slowly at first, but once she got started she became stronger and happier as the days went by.
“Now she is a different dog with a real zest for life and is a firm favourite with all the staff, who she insists stop and fuss over her, no matter how busy they might be!”
Dottie will be available for rehoming in the near future.
Sentencing | 18 week custodial sentence reduced to 12 weeks, suspended for two years; 30 days of rehabilitation activity’ ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £114. Disqualified from owning animals for six years (expires May 2029).
Although Rae was only prosecuted in relation to Dottie, it is believed that she may have owned five dogs and at least two cats, some of whom remain in her possession even after her conviction. A worried neighbour of Rae’s shared this photograph in the comments of our Facebook post, which she said was taken that same day (24 May 2023):
As another user commented, the dog, who is worryingly thin, is either pregnant, has recently given birth or is overbred.
It seems that Rae has been given 28 days by the courts to rehome them. Usually the RSPCA require details of the new owners and a home-check will be carried out.
This is a developing story with local animal lovers monitoring the situation.
CONVICTED (2023) | backyard breeder Kyle Stephen Moore, born c. 2003, of Oldfield Road, Ellesmere Port CH65 8DE – left a French bulldog puppy to starve to death in a filthy flat strewn with rubbish.
Ellesmere Port teenager Kyle Moore let a French bulldog starve to death after ‘forgetting’ to feed her
Eight-month-old French bulldog Coco slowly starved to death over three months after being abandoned by Kyle Moore. The callous teenager had been paid to look after the puppy by his sister, Leanne Griffiths, after she and boyfriend Jon Brookshaw, moved out to set up home elsewhere. . Backyard breeders Griffiths and Brookshaw were also prosecuted in relation to Coco’s death and sentenced in January 2023.
Heartbreaking photos show French bulldog puppy Coco lying dead in a filthy flat after she was starved to death by a family-run group of backyard breeders
Moore watched as she became thinner and thinner while ‘forgetting’ to feed, water and walk her until she eventually died alone and in pain.
Her skeletal remains were discovered alongside children’s toys and piles of rubbish by agents acting for the landlords of the flat in Birkenhead, Wirral, following complaints from neighbours about the smell.
Leanne Griffiths was later traced to her new home.
It emerged that she and Brookshaw had taken on Coco for breeding purposes, but when Griffiths moved out in March 2022 she refused to take the dog to their new home due to the puppy not being toilet trained.
The flat was described as being in a terrible state, with dog faeces on the floor and no sign of any food or water for the dog.
RSPCA prosecutor Peter Mitchell said that police were called to a flat on Dorset Gardens on Old Chester Road in Birkenhead on May 12, 2022, following a request by the landlord Magenta Housing.
‘They were due to carry out an eviction on this premises,’ Mr Mitchell said. ‘There was a strong smell and numerous flies coming from the flat.
‘They entered the property whose registered occupant was Leanne Griffiths, who is the defendant’s sister. There was no person present. However, it was discovered that there was a dog dead in the premises, a black and tan bulldog type dog.
‘The police officer stated that the flat was in a terrible state, with dog faeces on the floor and no sign of any food or water for the dog. The RSPCA was contacted and Inspector Anthony Joynes attended the same day.
‘He was overwhelmed by the smell of decomposition, faeces and urine. He saw the dead dog on the floor.
‘There was faeces over every floor of the flat. There were multiple piles of dried diarrhoea. There were food and water bowls on the kitchen floor, empty and dry.
‘There was no food found on the premises. He did discover post pertaining to Leanne Griffiths and Jonathan Brookshaw, her fiance. He made enquiries and discovered the dog’s name was Coco, originally owned by another person but ownership was transferred to Miss Griffiths.’
When questioned, Griffiths said: ‘We’ve been struggling yeah. I was there three or four days ago, she was skinny but she was alive. She couldn’t come with us because she was shitting and pissing everywhere.’
Griffiths said she had been given the dog on breeding terms months earlier but did not bring Coco to her new home as they claimed the puppy would be attacked by their other dog, Molly.
Dog killers and backyard breeders Jon Brookshaw and Leanne Griffiths from Birkenhead, Wirral, Merseyside. Pic Facebook
She admitted she had visited Dorset Gardens since moving, saw water and biscuits but agreed the ‘place was a shithole’. She said she had last seen the puppy alive about three to four days previously and that she was ‘skinny but alive’.
She added that she thought her brother was caring for Coco.
Moore said he was going about two times per week to feed Coco, believing that his sister was going as well. He admitted he forgot to feed Coco ‘quite often’.
Mr Mitchell added: ‘He accepted that there were days quite often missed when the dog was not seen at all. He recognised that the dog was getting thin and on one occasion was barely alive and needed feeding. He noted that Coco had been losing weight for about three months.’
A vet’s report said Coco, who weighed just 4.6kg, had been suffering from hunger and starvation for a period of several months prior to her death.
‘She will also have experienced periods of time where she had no access to water and will have suffered from dehydration,’ the report said.
‘The environment in which Coco was housed was totally inadequate for her as it was not clean and sanitary, nor did it provide her with a clean, dry, comfortable and safe place to rest.
‘Of more concern than the poor environment is the complete lack of socialisation and companionship provided to Coco who was spending up to a week at a time with no interaction or social activity at all.
‘It is my expert opinion that Coco was caused to suffer from hunger, weakness and lethargy over a prolonged period of time as a result of the intermittent starvation and dehydration that she was enduring from the failure to provide her with an adequate and sufficient diet on a daily basis.’
The court heard that Kyle Moore knew the animal was “barely alive” but believed it was not his responsibility
In mitigation for Moore, who lived with his mother, defence lawyer Laura Flynn said her client was on the autism spectrum, adding: ‘He is really sorry in his way that the dog died but that ability to demonstrate the appropriate remorse and demonstrate an appropriate sadness was completely lost on the probation services. It is not a criticism but it is because they do not know him.
‘Anyone who is a dog lover is going to be offended by these offences, it’s as simple as that. I did not want you to think that this is someone who was completely careless. It is not that. There are fundamental issues here.
‘The fact that his sister has given the dog to someone who cannot organise himself, never mind anything else, was very remiss. Did he think there was something wrong with the dog? Yes.
‘But did he not think it was his place to do something about it. It did not occur to him that it was his responsibility. That does not make him less culpable, it just explains what was going on. It was not his dog and he did not live with it. He did for a short time but not for a long time before it died,’ she said.
After the case RSPCA Inspector Anthony Joynes said: It’s hard to prepare yourself to walk in and deal with an incident where a dog has been starved to death.
‘You know you can’t do anything to help at that stage, and all you can do is remain professional and investigate the case to ensure that the animal’s suffering does not go unanswered.
‘I noted that the dog was wearing a collar with a tag containing the name ‘Coco’ engraved onto one side but it was far too big, providing some indication of how big the dog may have been at some point before losing body condition, as people generally don’t put collars on their dogs that are far too big and can just slip off.’
‘It remains one of the saddest sights I’ve ever seen in 14 years, Coco just lying there dead, emaciated and alone surrounded by children’s toys and bits of rubbish, having been completely let down by the people she relied upon.’
Sentencing | 18 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months; 15 rehabilitation activity days; 50 hours of unpaid work; victim surcharge of £154. Disqualified from owning an animal for the next five years (expires March 2028).
CONVICTED (2023) | backyard breeders Leanne Brookshaw née Griffiths, born c. 1990, and Jonathan Marc Brookshaw, born July 1986, of Bebington Road, Birkenhead, Wirral – left a dog to starve to death in an empty flat.
Bulldog Coco starved to death after her owners, newly married couple Leanne and Jon Brookshaw moved out of their flat in Dorset Gardens, Birkenhead, leaving her behind. A police officer attending the filthy property found the dog’s remains and alerted the RSPCA.
Prosecutor Peter Mitchell told the court: “[the officer] saw the flat was in a total state, with dog faeces on the floor and no sign of any food or water for the dog.”
RSPCA inspector Anthony Joynes visited the scene. He reported an “overwhelming smell of decomposition, faeces and urine”, and saw the body of the black-and-tan dog.
Faeces and dried diarrhoea were on the floor of the flat, and Inspector Joynes saw there was no food and several dry, empty water bowls.
The flat was registered to Leanne Brookshaw in her maiden name of Leanne Griffiths and Inspector Joynes met with her and husband, Jon Brookshaw.
Jon Brookshaw immediately said: “What’s going on, how is she, is she dead? I’ll kill him”, referring to his wife’s brother Kyle Stephen Moore, who was also prosecuted in relation to Coco’s death.
Image posted to Jon Brookshaw’s FB profile in February 2021. The fate of this dog, believed to be named Fifi, is unknown.
It was confirmed the couple were responsible for the dog, but Leanne Brookshaw said she had been paying Moore to care for her.
When questioned, Leanne Brookshaw said: “We’ve been struggling yeah, I was there three or four days ago, she was skinny but she was alive.
“She couldn’t come with us because she was shitting and pissing everywhere.”
During formal interview, the mother-of-three said she had been given the dog on breeding terms months earlier, but admitted it may have been more than five days since she last checked on the dog.
She said she and her husband hadn’t taken Coco with them because she would be attacked by their other dog, Molly.
She said she had visited Dorset Gardens since moving, and saw water and biscuits but agreed the “place was a shithole”.
She agreed last time she checked on the animal, the dog was skinnier and had lost weight. She described the animal as having access to water but no food, and acting lethargic and weaker than usual.
She also said the dog had diarrhoea but she “thought it just needed feeding more”, before admitting the bulldog did eat when fed.
On May 17, 2022, Jon Brookshaw was formally interviewed. and said he visited Dorset Gardens when the body had been found but admitted that was the first time in months he had done so.
He moved out of the property in November 2021, and his wife moved March 2022. The dog had been left at the property for two months. He said his dog Molly was protective and this was the reason they couldn’t bring Coco with them.
Malcolm Gregg, defending, said: “The thought of them being sentenced to imprisonment horrifies them and terrifies them.”
“Clearly Coco was taken into their care for breeding.
“Clearly they should have taken proper care of Coco.
“All are equally culpable for the distress and suffering to the poor animal.”
Regarding Leanne Brookshaw, Mr Mitchell said: “She is very sorry, she does express deep remorse and she does have empathy for the loss of Coco. She does try her best but has clearly failed immensely in Coco’s welfare.”
He explained she was caring for her ill father at the time, including visiting him in hospital.
Similarly, Mr Mitchell said Jon Brookshaw was “extremely devastated by the impact of what has happened in this case”, and was “ashamed and embarrassed”.
Jon Brookshaw’s dog Molly was found to have a skin condition, but has now been safely rehomed.
Sentencing | 18 weeks; imprisonment each, suspended for 12 months; 100 hours of unpaid work each; rehabilitation activity requirement; a total of £628 in costs and surcharge. A FIVE-year ban on owning an animal (expires January 2028).
Kyle Stephen Moore of Oldfield Road, Ellesmere Port, was charged and pleaded guilty to the same charges. Details of his sentencing here.
CONVICTED (2022) | Lee Cavanagh, born c. 2001, of Rankin Street, Poulton, Wallasey CH44 5TG – locked his “cowering” partner in a room and beat her as she tried to protect her dog from his vicious attacks.
Cavanagh flew into a rage after his girlfriend went out with her friends on Boxing Day 2021, and took it out on her by subjecting her and her pug to an assault in her own home.
After his attack on the woman he spent months threatening her, ordering her to retract statements she had made about him to the police and telling her “the beatings I’ve given you in the past are nothing compared to what you are going to get today”.
Joshua Sanderson-Kirk, prosecuting, said Cavanagh’s ex had been in a relationship with him for around three years and said he was frequently abusive towards her
She went out with her friends to celebrate Boxing Day and had been unable to contact him after her phone ran out of battery.
Cavanagh knew where she was and followed her out, forcing her to come home to her flat. When they got back she realised he had smashed numerous pieces of furniture and he then began attacking her, eventually locking her and her small pug into a room with him and assaulting her for two hours.
Mr Sanderson-Kirk said the woman lay terrified in the room as she tried to stop Cavanagh from hurting the dog, which he kicked on numerous occasions.
He said: “She describes cowering on the floor while trying to protect her dog, which had already been kicked by the defendant.”
Mr Sanderson-Kirk said the woman later told police she even considered jumping out the window but decided not to because she wanted to keep her dog safe. Eventually, Cavanagh let her out into the hallway and she was able to make a run for it when he received a phone call.
The court heard she had to carry her dog for half an hour while walking barefoot and bleeding from her face in order to get to her mum’s house. She was then taken to hospital for treatment.
She didn’t immediately make a complaint to police after Cavanagh apologised to her. However, she ended the relationship shortly afterwards and he then began harassing her. She did then tell the police about Cavanagh’s attack on her, as well as other occasions when he had been abusive.
After hearing of the accusations against him, Cavanagh began to bombard the woman with messages telling her to retract her complaints. On one occasion, he followed her to a park and threatened her as she walked her dog, on another he sent her a message over Facebook telling her he was going to beat her up again.
That message, read out in court, said: “Beatings I’ve given you in the past are nothing compared to what you are going to get today, I’m going to jail anyway.”
Cavanagh was later arrested and pleaded guilty to a range of offences, including assault, harassment, criminal damage and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
He appeared for sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court on those charges, as well as for a separate assault on a teenager in Seacombe.
Adam Antoszkiw, defending, said Cavanagh had a “very difficult childhood” and, after being remanded in custody, was now trying to turn his life around so he didn’t offend again.
Sentencing | jailed for a total of 28 months. A restraining order prevents him from contacting his ex girlfriend for ten years.
CONVICTED (2022) | Arron Croston, born 8 February 1991, and June Pickup, born November 1991, from Birkenhead – left their elderly dog in extreme pain.
June Pickup and Arron Croston pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a dog Croston claimed to “love like a daughter”.
Vets decided to put down Arron Croston’s Neapolitan Mastiff, Shy, after she was taken to a surgery unable to stand on her own and in severe pain.
Staff there were so appalled by the condition of the dog, brought in by Croston’s girlfriend June Pickup on July 9 , 2021, that they called the RSPCA.
An autopsy later found 13-year-old Shy had a number of untreated conditions, including advanced cancer and deep pressure sores from being left on a hard surface for lengthy periods. One of her ears was infected and riddled with maggots.
Vets at the University of Liverpool said that she was likely suffering for weeks and that anyone would have been able to tell she needed medical help – yet she received it too late.
Peter Mitchell, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said Shy’s conditions were severe, chronic and painful in the weeks leading up to her death.
Mr Mitchell said Croston, her registered owner, had not been living with the dog in the run-up to her death, with Croston having left the home he shared with Pickup following an affair.
He said the couple told interviewers they had not been able to get to the vets and had not realised the severity of her condition.
Carl Nadim, defending Pickup, said she had been struggling financially to provide for her four children in the run-up to Shy’s death and at one point her family faced homelessness.
He said that when Croston had left the home she had taken on responsibility for the dog even though she was not able to give Shy the care she needed.
Mr Nadim said: “He left the dog with Miss Pickup and she assumed ownership of it.
“Financially, she was under pressure. Financially, she was struggling. “There was no support from Mr Croston.
“Everything just got on top of Miss Pickup.”
Shy was abandoned by Croston when she needed him most.
Mr Mitchell said Pickup had been caring for the dog at the time but that Croston remained the registered owner.
He added that Croston had apologised for his role in interviews but maintained he had visited the dog regularly.
Mr Mitchell said: “He said he had not been cruel to the dog and that the dog was like his daughter.”
He continued: “In an interview, Croston said ‘I shouldn’t have left Shy in the position she was in. I love Shy and I am sorry.’
However, the judge in Croston’s case blasted him for not taking responsibility for a dog who it was his duty to care for.
Judge Brian Cummings, QC, said: “It is an unattractive feature of the case that it is plain from what you said to the probation officer that you diminish your responsibility.
“It does not matter that she was staying with your partner at the time. She was your dog and she was your responsibility.”
Sentencing: 12 weeks in jail, suspended for 18 months. 10-year ban on owning animals which can be appealed, in Croston’s case, after five years.
#MostEvil | Jason Vernon Campbell, born 5 August 1988, of 24 Castle Mount, The Mount, Heswall, Wirral CH60 4RA – bought small animals from a pet shop to torture and kill.
On March 16, 2021, Campbell confessed to having urges to harm people and animals and had recently acted upon them by torturing and killing two hamsters and a guinea pig. He confessed the crimes to a mental health worker, prompting an RSPCA investigation.
Officers interviewed the owner of Pets Paradise on Seaview Road in Wallasey, who confirmed a man had bought two hamsters and one disabled guinea pig, who did not have the use of her rear legs, over a five-week period.
In an interview Campbell said he had been in pain due to a prolapsed disc in his spine which had caused him to suffer depression and anxiety.
On the first occasion Campbell, using a fake name, bought a hamster and while in his car tortured the animal, dismembering her.
Two weeks later Campbell went back and bought another hamster and began flicking her before breaking her neck.
After another two weeks he went back to the pet shop and bought a guinea pig at a reduced rate because she was disabled as her rear legs weren’t working.
The court heard he broke all of the animal’s legs, her ribs and then her neck.
Campbell admitted three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal on December 25, 2020 and on January 16 and January 27, 2021.
Sentencing: jailed for eight weeks and banned from keeping animals for 10 years.
CONVICTED (2021) | backyard breeder James Jason Haydon, born 6 November 1998, previously of Mount Park, Higher Bebington, Wirral and now Island Road, Reading RG2 0RP – sold sick puppies on Facebook and kept dogs in a cupboard under the stairs.
James Joseph Haydon, who now lives in Reading in Berkshire, kept 11 dogs and puppies, some of which were living in crates filled with faeces and urine.
Haydon pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act.
The case against Haydon’s partner Kirsty Jayne Burke, who appeared in court alongside him, appears to have been discontinued.
RSPCA officers were called to an address in Higher Bebington in December 2019 and January 2020 after concerns were raised by members of the public about skinny dogs. Officers were concerned about their weight and the conditions they were living in so left an improvement notice.
The court heard how inspector Naomi Norris was called to a local kennels a few weeks later to see a dog called Freyer who had been handed over by Haydon.
Six dogs were kept in two pens in the garden, where they were “walking in faeces”.
Naomi said: “She was very thin and had saggy teets that still contained milk. It appeared as though she’d recently had puppies and I was concerned for their welfare. “I returned to the house two days later to follow up on the improvement notice. Haydon shouted out of a window, became aggressive and refused us access to the dogs.”
On February 5, 2020, Naomi and her colleagues joined police as they executed a warrant at the address. Naomi said: “In a cupboard under the stairs in the hall we found four six-week-old puppies. “I could see their ribs and spine and the vet said they needed to come out as soon as possible.
“They were on a cold floor with no bedding, no light and no ventilation.
“There was a large fawn-coloured dog in a small cage in the lounge. He had no bedding, food or water and the cage was far too small for him.
One dog was found in a crate so small he was unable to turn around in it.
“Outside, there were six large dogs in two runs in the garden. They all looked thin and the runs were thick with faeces.
“As the dogs were moving around the faeces was splashing up into the air. There were upturned buckets but no water available to them.
“These dogs appeared to have deteriorated since the last time I had seen them through the gate on January 3 and I was immediately concerned about them.
“While we were outside I heard a male voice shouting aggressively at something inside. I went into the kitchen but the police were in control, as far as I could see.
Many of the dogs appeared to be dehydrated and two were considered seriously underweight.
“An officer said Haydon had shouted at the dog in the cage in the lounge, Aries, and the dog had cowered in response and defecated. At that point I looked through the serving hatch and noticed a hammer hanging next to the cage.”
Some of the dogs had cropped ears and docked tails and another, Storm, had a swollen untreated wound to his led and was found wearing a shock collar, which was removed by officers. Eleven dogs and puppies – all cane corso types – were seized by police and taken into RSPCA care.
The adult dogs – Aries, Winter, Brille, Artemis (female), Diosa, Storm and Akhira (or Hera) – were all taken into the charity’s rescue centres.
The puppies Deloris, Ginny, Hermione and Luna – named after Harry Potter characters having been found in a cupboard under the stairs – were all rehomed by one of the charity’s branches. Haydon said Storm and Artemis belonged to two other individuals, one of whom confirmed that he’d been looking after his dog while his child was in hospital.
The dogs were signed over for rehoming but, sadly, Artemis was put to sleep on medical grounds due to serious health problems. Storm and Hera were rehomed together where they’re getting on really well with their new family.
Aries (now renamed Acer), Brille (now called Lola), Diosa (now called Callie) and Winter (now Roxy) also all found loving new homes.
The dogs, who all have new names, spent a year in the charity’s care before being signed over for rehoming. Callie and Lola were more nervous and wary of people, possibly as a result of their cropped ears and docked tails, and Acer and Roxy were more confident.
Haydon was also sentenced for three offences relating to a Cane Corso puppy, called Max, who was sold to a member of the public in September 2020 and was so poorly he had to be put to sleep.
The court heard how Andrew and Samantha Hood saw two Cane Corso puppies, Max and another dog named Storm, advertised on Facebook and paid £1,800 for both.
Haydon and a woman drove to the North East to take the puppies to the new owners and when they met he provided some registration documents.
Mr Mitchell said they noticed Storm had a mark on her head and some fur had fallen out, and Haydon claimed she had been bitten and had an abscess, handing them coconut oil to treat it.
He said the puppies were put in a crate and immediately suffered diarrhoea and Max appeared “in pain”.
They took him to a vet who discovered the puppy weighed just 1.9 kilograms when he should have weighed between eight and nine, and had “severely reduced muscle mass”.
Max also had multiple sores on his left ear and infected cuts and all four of paws had infections, which a vet said was as a result of “poor living conditions”.
Mr Mitchell said: “[The vet] felt the only available option was to euthanise that particular puppy.”
Sarah Griffin, defending, said Haydon “did the best he could” and had moved to a larger home “at great expense to himself” in efforts to care for the dogs.
She said he had “overcommitted himself financially” and as a result compromised the health of the dogs.
Ms Griffin said Haydon was £25,000 in debt and a “significant portion” was from trying to improve living conditions for the animals and added they weren’t “totally neglected” as he attempted to look after them.
She said after he pleaded guilty to the offences he signed the animals over to a charity.
Ms Griffin said Haydon has made “positive changes” and is “doing well” with the requirements of a current suspended sentence, which he received for the cultivation of cannabis.
She said he had an “incredibly difficult background”, had made an attempt on his life and has been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome.
The court heard he has casual employment as a mechanic and lives with his partner, who is pregnant.
Sentencing: 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months; 30 days of rehabilitation activity and thinking skills; £250 in costs. Disqualified from keeping all animals for five years (expires August 2026).
