CONVICTED (2024) | Jack Simon Pullen, born 27 July 2000, of Popert Drive, Worcester WR5 1SY, and Allana Julie Silk, born May 1998, of 3 Field Road, Worcester WR4 9SZ – starved three rabbits to death and left their maggot-infested bodies to rot in their filthy hutches.
Former couple Jack Pullen and Allana Silk admitted admitted causing unnecessary suffering to the rabbits, named Rosie, Ted and Teddy. All three pets were found dead in their hutches by an RSPCA inspector in September 2023.
They had been neglected over a three-week period between August 28, 2023, and September 13, 2023, when their skeletal remains were discovered.
RSPCA prosecutor Sara Pratt read out the harrowing details of the case to the court.
When the RSPCA inspector told Silk that all of the rabbits were dead she “cried out” and claimed they had all been alive that morning. Pullen backed up this account, claiming he had fed them before that day’s school run. This was evidently a false account of what happened.”.
Ted’s body was riddled with maggots while Teddy was found in the sleeping area in which there was a build-up of faeces.
“It was clear the hutches had not been cleaned out for some time,” said Ms Pratt.
A post-mortem was carried out on September 22, 2023. This found that the three rabbits has suffered for more than three weeks prior to their deaths due to lack of suitable diet and veterinary attention.
Rosie was given a body condition sore of just one out of nine. She was described as having ‘little muscle, no fat and with bones prominent’.
Ted was described as being ‘effectively a skeleton with skin remaining on it’.
“Some of the skin of the body had been eaten away by maggots,” said Ms Pratt.
“There was a very high level of suffering prior to death.”
Ted’s body was too decomposed for any post-mortem to take place.
Teddy was given a body condition sore of just two.
Cats and a hamster were also found but no action was taken by the RSPCA in relation to them as they were not in poor condition and they were returned to the family home that evening.
Despite her conviction for animal cruelty, mother-of-two Silk will be allowed to keep the cats and hamster. She is also allowed to keep a dog bought for her daughter AFTER cruelty charges were bought. She and Pullen are banned from acquiring any more animals for the next five years.
The RSPCA applied for £2,978.92 to cover their costs as a charity, including the costs of the prosecution.
Sentencing | 12-month community order. Silk must complete 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days and was also made subject to a mental health requirement. She was fined £120 and ordered to pay costs of £400 and a victim surcharge of £114.
Pullen must complete 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 100 hours of unpaid work.
A further order prohibits them from keeping any animals except the animals now in their care for the next five years (expires June 2029).