Crime

Suspended sentence for Llandeilo man who neglected five horses and foxhound

Published

1 month ago

May 21, 2024

A WEST WALES man has been handed a suspended sentence after he was found to have neglected five horses and a foxhound.

Gregory Edward Baker, 43, of Rhydcymerau, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, appeared at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court for a two-day trial on Thursday 18 and Friday 19 April, and faced five offences under the Animal Welfare Act.

They were that he caused unnecessary suffering to five equines by failing to adequately investigate or address the causes of their poor or underweight bodily conditions along with skin diseases namely rain scald, mud fever and lice infestation, and also did not meet their needs.

He also caused further unnecessary suffering to one of these equines – a chestnut mare – relating to her lameness of her left foreleg and unnecessary suffering to a foxhound by failing to provide prompt or effective professional veterinary care and attention for his paraphimosis (unretracted penis) with associated ulceration and fracture.

Following a two-day trial Baker was found guilty for all offences and on Thursday 16 May he was sentenced to 20 weeks imprisonment which has been suspended for 24 months.

This included a 20 week sentence for the first offence, 20 weeks for the second offence, 12 weeks for the third offence, eight weeks for the fourth offence and 12 weeks for the fifth offence – which will all run concurrently.

He was also ordered to undertake 150 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months. One of the horses – which had been placed in another person’s care – was also transferred to the care of the RSPCA.

In a witness statement, provided to the court, RSPCA Inspector Neill Manley said he attended the location with RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer (ARO) Rohan Barker on 19 April 2023.

As permission was not granted by the owner to access the land, police were called along with a vet. Inspector Manley and ARO Barker inspected a large number of horses and dogs at the location with serious concern raised for five horses and one foxhound.

Firstly they saw the chestnut mare who was in the top field and was lame on the front leg.

He said she was “in very poor body condition with her ribs, spine and hip bones prominent and her coat covered in mud and patchy in places” which looked like rain scald.

In the lower field which was steeply sloping there was a grey/cream colt with a dark mane and tail and was in “very poor body condition with a muddy and unkempt winter coat”.

He said: “Even through the winter coat you could see her ribs, spine and hip bones protruding. The field was overgrown in patches with bramble and in one bramble patch was the decomposing carcass of a horse.”

Another horse – a grey gelding with a rug on was also “in very poor body condition with its rib hip and spine bones clearly visible”.

Whilst another horse, a grey/palomino yearling colt, was found to be in very poor body condition and a black Shetland pony mare was found to be in very poor body condition.

Inspector Manley said the pony “was quite weak and unsteady on its feet” and when they along with the vet caught her the pony collapsed and needed help to get back on her feet.

At the dog kennels there were a number of female hounds – and advice was given to the owner about one of them who was lame on her front leg to get the dog checked by a vet.

A male hound was found with a prolapsed penis. Inspector Manley said: “He was a white entire male in reasonable body condition, but had what appeared to me to be a prolapsed penis that looked infected and misshapen.”

In a witness statement – provided to the court – by the vet who examined the foxhound, they said that there were two ulcers on the penis and the “smell of the area was of rotting flesh”. Suggested options were partial penile amputation and castrate, urethrostomy or for the dog to be put to sleep. The vet added the owner “elected for the dog to be put to sleep”.

Two of the horses were transferred to a family member but sadly one of these – the chestnut mare who was found to be severely lame – was put to sleep on advice from an independent vet on welfare grounds to prevent further suffering.

In a witness statement – provided to the court – by the vet who examined and monitored the horses they said the mare had a “discharging abscess on her left fore”, she had a body score of two out of five, rain scald and lice and was heavy in foal. Treatment was given but sadly she lost her foal and failed to improve.

The vet added: “I radiographed her left fore food and sadly but unsurprisingly found a sequestrum (infected fragment of bone) and osteomyelitis (bone infection). Enthanasia was recommend on humane grounds as there was a hopeless prognosis of successful treatment.”

The other three horses – who were placed in the care of the RSPCA – were taken to a boarding establishment.

The vet added: “All three ponies had put on a considerable amount of weight in just under a month – this was only attributable to the provision of appropriate nutrition.”

Inspector Manley also issued the owner an improvement notice advising him of the improvements that needed to be made. In mitigation the court heard that there has been no criticism since with any of the animals in his care and a disqualification order was not imposed.

Crime

If you have a drink problem, you need to address it’ blasts judge

Published

7 hours ago

June 20, 2024

Court Reporter

A NORTH Pembrokeshire motorist has been banned from driving for three years after admitting his second drink-driving offence in ten years.

Trystan Davies, 34, was stopped by officers as he drove his Vauxhall Corsa on the A476 at Cardigan on the evening of June 1.

When spoken to by officers, Davies admitted drinking half a bottle of red wine prior to driving. However his breath tests showed he was over twice the prescribed drink-drive limit, with a reading of 76 mcg. The legal limit is 35.

This week Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson informed district judge Mark Layton sitting at Haverfordwest magistrates court that Davies, of Parceithin, Blaenffos, was convicted of a previous drink-driving offence in 2019.

After Davies pleaded guilty to the charge of drink-driving his solicitor, Michael Kelleher, claimed the reading was high as his client had been on a drinking spree the night prior to the offence,

However District Judge Mark Layton questioned whether the alcohol would have remained in his system for this length of time.

“The fact that you’ve done it before makes this offence more serious,” commented Judge Layton when passing sentence.

“You should understand that when you drive after consuming alcohol, you don’t just risk your own life but the lives of everyone else. If you have a drink problem, you need to address it.”

Davies was disqualified from driving for three years. He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.

Crime

Call for boost to policing as over 9,231 car thefts go unsolved across Wales

Published

18 hours ago

June 20, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A STAGGERING 9,231 car thefts have gone unsolved in England and Wales since the last election, new Liberal Democrat analysis of Home Office statistics has uncovered.

The figures reveal that 65% of motor vehicle theft cases recorded between 2020 and 2023 were closed without a suspect even being identified. Meanwhile, just 7% of cases during this period resulted in a suspect being charged or summoned.

The number of unsolved car thefts has soared during this period, with a 29% rise from 2,100 in 2020 to 2,713 last year.

The Liberal Democrats are calling for Police and Crime Commissioners to be abolished and the savings invested into frontline policing instead – a move that could generate around £170 million over the course of the next Parliament.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds stated that more money needs to be directed away from bureaucratic roles and into allowing the police to investigate and solve crime.

South Wales Police recorded the worst outcomes in Wales, with a staggering 7,905 car thefts going unsolved in that time period – accounting for 71% of all cases.

Commenting, Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS said: “We are seeing a car theft epidemic after years of Conservative chaos and failing Home Secretaries who have decimated frontline policing.

“People want to know that if their car is stolen, the police will catch the culprit. But instead, the Conservatives have totally failed to get a grip on crime and let criminals get away with it.

“The Welsh Liberal Democrats would abolish Police and Crime Commissioners and invest the savings in frontline policing instead, giving officers the resources they need to bring criminals to justice.”

Crime

Carmarthenshire leads in seizures of dangerous and illegal vapes

Published

20 hours ago

June 20, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A RECENT study by Vape Superstore has revealed alarming figures about the prevalence of illegal vape products across the UK, with Carmarthenshire emerging as a significant hotspot for illicit cigarette seizures. The investigation, leveraging Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, ranked UK councils by the volume of illegal vapes and cigarettes seized, shedding light on the widespread issue of non-compliant vape products infiltrating the market.

Carmarthenshire County Council stands out as the authority with the highest number of illegal cigarette packets seized, totalling 160,000. This is a stark reminder of the county’s ongoing battle against the distribution of non-compliant tobacco products. While Carmarthenshire did not top the list for illegal vapes, with 7,500 units seized, its role in tackling illegal cigarettes remains critical.

Illegal vapes pose significant health risks, often containing nicotine levels that do not match the labelling and potentially harmful chemicals like lead, nickel, and chromium. The Vape Superstore survey of 1,381 disposable vape users highlighted a concerning gap in consumer knowledge:

50.3% of users were unfamiliar with the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) regulations.
83% were unaware of the health risks associated with illicit vapes.
36.4% believed black-market vapes offered better value for money.
34.1% did not recognise the difference between illicit and regulated devices.

These statistics underscore the need for increased public awareness and stricter enforcement of vaping regulations.

The future of vaping regulation

With the upcoming ban on disposable vapes in 2025, the market for illegal vapes is likely to expand. This necessitates proactive measures from councils and regulatory bodies to prevent a surge in black-market activities. The Vape Superstore’s study calls for heightened awareness and vigilance among consumers to ensure they purchase only compliant and safe vape products.

Ensuring compliance

To avoid the risks associated with illegal vapes, consumers are advised to:

Verify the authenticity of vape products.
Purchase from well-known brands.
Be sceptical of unusually low prices.
Request proof of TPD compliance from retailers.
Stay updated with the latest regulations and safety guidelines.

David Phillips from Vape Superstore emphasised the importance of informed purchasing decisions, stating, “With raised awareness about the dangers of these products, we believe that consumers will be able to make better-informed purchasing decisions in the future.”

The findings from Vape Superstore’s investigation highlight the urgent need for robust regulatory enforcement and consumer education to combat the illegal vape market. Carmarthenshire’s efforts in seizing a substantial number of illegal cigarettes demonstrate the critical role local authorities play in this ongoing battle. As the UK prepares for stricter vaping regulations, both consumers and retailers must remain vigilant to ensure a safe and compliant market.

For more detailed information on TPD regulations and the dangers of black-market vaping products, visit Vape Superstore’s comprehensive report.