CONVICTED (2012) | Neil Christopher Harper, born 28 April 1967, of Farm End Close, West Bromwich B71 4AB, and now ex-wife Debbie Ann Harper (now Debbie Sheffield), born 27 October 1982, of Marnham Road, West Bromwich B71 4AB – kept “trafficked” puppies in cages without heating or water
The Harpers, who were described as not showing a “trace of humanity”, admitted charges of animal cruelty.
The court was told that dog buyers who went to the couple’s then home in Netherhouse Close, Kingstanding, were “horrified” to see the state of the animals which had been delivered to the address in crates.
Both admitted 14 charges of animal cruelty and one of trading as a pet shop without a licence.
District Judge Sham Quereshi said it was clear from photos that the puppies found at the address were malnourished and kept outside without any heating, food or water.
He said that neither defendant had shown a “trace of humanity” and that puppy trafficking from Southern Ireland appeared to be “quite a big business.”
The judge said the only reason he had not sent Debbie Harper to jail immediately was because she had five young children.
Nick Sutton, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said the charges arose from an extensive investigation into the commercial selling of puppies who were dealt with in a “brutal” way.
He said the dogs, including King Charles Spaniels, boxers and pugs, were delivered to the Harper’s home from various parts of the country and then advertised for sale at between £150 and £700.
A woman who had gone to the address to buy a Boxer for £500 discovered the animal to be extremely emaciated while other visitors saw other dogs in a similar condition.
Mr Sutton said police and RSPCA officers went to Harpers’ home on February 28, 2012, and were shown into the back garden.
There they found puppies being kept in crates in two sheds with no bedding. In one of the sheds the crates were on top of each other where the dogs were huddled together shivering.
Mr Sutton said two of them were very seriously ill and had they not been rescued they would almost certainly have died.
When interviewed Neil Harper said he had been involved in the puppy selling business for about a year and that “quite a few” puppies had died and that the supplier would simply replace them.
He claimed that he and his wife got a cut of £20 to £30 for each puppy sold.
Julian Derry, defending, said the couple were deeply sorry for what they had done and had got themselves in a situation they could not get out of, having received threats of violence from those who supplied the puppies.
Afterwards RSPCA Jayne Bashford said “There are numerous people, who we are already aware of, who are involved in the organised importation and breeding of puppies purely as a financial commodity.
“I think this sentence sends out a very clear message that these actions are completely inhumane and will carry stiff penalties when they are brought to court.”
Sentencing:
Neil Harper – six months in prison.
Debbie Harper – six months’ imprisonment suspended for two years.
Both were banned from keeping any animal for life.
Update
In October 2013 the pair were back before the courts after flouting their lifetime ban.
Officials swooped on the pair’s new home in Marnham Road, West Bromwich, after receiving a tip-off. The couple were found with three dogs and two cats in cages, breaching the ban.
Both pleaded guilty to breaching the banning order on six occasions from February 1 to May 14, 2013.
The court was told that in May 2013, the RSPCA and police carried out a search using a warrant on the couple’s home, finding three dogs and two cats, which were discovered caged.
When they were being interviewed, both Mr and Mrs Harper said they did not believe they were breaching their order. They claimed the animals belonged to Mrs Harper’s father.
Mr Omar Sadique, defending, said the pair had not fully understood the banning order when it was read out in court.
He said the couple had been married for 11 years and said Mrs Harper, who also pleaded guilty to a breach of a suspended sentence, suffered from depression.
Magistrates gave the pair a 16-week prison sentence each, suspended for a year because of the family situation and Mrs Harper’s health.
Mr Harper was also ordered to do 200 hours’ unpaid work. Mrs Harper received a 12-month supervision order which included a spell at an activity centre for vulnerable women. The pair were also each both ordered to pay £200 court costs and £80 victim surcharge.
Licences are in place for a reason.
Making sure the Premises and the Animals are Vetted are clearly up to spec. Failing which, this is the result.
I went to school with that horrible woman. She also said her dad died in a car crash (the same day he picked her up from school, alive and well) and that her mum died from brain cancer (when she was not sick – she did, however, sadly die from actual brain cancer many, many years later).