Owner banned from keeping animals for ten years after RSPCA prosecution

A MILFORD HAVEN woman has been banned from keeping animals for ten years after failing to seek veterinary treatment for her dog’s facial injury.

Candice Mottram, of Milton Crescent, pleaded guilty to failing to meet the needs of a dog under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and was sentenced at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Jan 15).

The court heard that her black labrador, Andy, was found with a large piece of skin hanging from the left side of his face and a strong smell of infection coming from the wound. The dog was also underweight when he was examined, but has since made a good recovery in RSPCA care.

As well as the disqualification order, Mottram was given an 18-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months. She was also ordered to complete 25 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days and agreed to be fitted with an alcohol monitoring tag for 120 days. She was ordered to pay £400 in costs and a £154 victim surcharge.

The RSPCA became involved after Dyfed-Powys Police contacted the charity on April 5 last year, reporting a dog in distress at the property.

RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Paula Milton attended and found Andy with the facial injury. In a statement to the court, she said: “Andy had a huge flap of skin hanging from the left side of his face. There was a very strong smell of infection and where the skin had come off his mouth was bright red.

“The defendant told me the last time the dog had seen a vet was two weeks previously.”

However, checks later carried out by RSPCA Inspector Keith Hogben with local veterinary records found that Andy had not been seen by a vet since 2021.

A vet who examined Andy described him as being in poor body condition, with ribs and pelvic bone visible, and scored him two/three out of nine on the Body Condition Score scale, where five is considered ideal. The injury was described as extended, with a purulent discharge and foul smell, and was believed to be either an old wound or a burst abscess.

Andy underwent surgery to remove the hanging skin flap and the wound was treated.

In mitigation, the court was told Mottram has severe problems with alcohol abuse and suffers from mental health issues.

The district judge described Mottram’s behaviour as “inexcusable and shocking”.

Following the sentencing, Inspector Hogben said: “It was a shock to see how bad Andy’s facial wound was. We don’t know how the injury was sustained. He may have caught his mouth on some wire and it became very badly infected. But the wound was obvious and the defendant had plenty of time to get the poor dog to a vets.

“Thankfully, Andy’s wound healed up nicely and he has been doing really well in the care of one of our foster carers. We are hoping he will be rehomed as soon as possible as he is a lovely dog.”

Andy spent time at one of the RSPCA’s animal centres before being placed with a foster carer. The charity said he has gained weight, his wound has healed, and he is expected to be ready for rehoming soon.

CPRW, the Welsh Countryside Charity, has welcomed the publication of the Independent Advisory Group’s long-awaited report on the Future Electricity Grid for Wales, which was first promised by the Welsh Government for December 2024.

The charity said the report, led by Professor Hywel Thomas, was “well-balanced” and, at times, “candid”, arguing it moves the debate beyond technical engineering questions to include the social and environmental issues that often drive opposition to new electricity infrastructure.

CPRW said one of the report’s key messages is that future grid investment must be planned strategically and designed “holistically and collaboratively” by all network operators, rather than through piecemeal schemes. The charity noted that such joined-up planning is tied to existing licence conditions, and said regulator Ofgem should consider whether network operators have failed to meet those obligations.

The charity also welcomed the report’s recognition that major infrastructure decisions involve trade-offs between quantifiable factors such as installation and lifetime operating costs and less tangible impacts on landscapes, wildlife and communities.

CPRW said these “softer” impacts can and should be assessed more rigorously, pointing to HM Treasury’s established approaches for valuing non-market impacts where public resources are involved, including methods that can place a financial value on landscape effects.

However, CPRW said the report highlights what it described as a “shocking” lack of transparency in strategic decision-making and insufficient community involvement when options are being developed.

The charity also suggested there may be gaps in the analysis, including whether enough attention has been paid to upgrading existing distribution networks using higher-capacity conductors, the potential use of High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) for long-distance transmission, or making the existing grid more “meshed” to provide greater flexibility.

CPRW said the report’s recommendations may have limited reach for some schemes where responsibility is retained elsewhere — such as certain transmission projects or cross-border distribution — but insisted it still adds weight to the wider debate.

Dr Jonathan F Dean said: “If these recommendations are followed, some of the more contentious projects will need to have a serious rethink, unless they are fudged as some form of strategic investment.”

Headteacher says strengths were recognised and work is underway to address six recommendations

MILFORD HAVEN SCHOOL has been placed in special measures following a recent Estyn inspection, according to a statement issued by headteacher Ms Ceri-Ann Morris.

In a press release shared with parents, Ms Morris said inspectors identified areas for improvement but also recognised “many important strengths” within the school community. She said Estyn acknowledged the school’s caring and inclusive ethos, strong safeguarding culture and positive relationships between staff and pupils.

The headteacher said the inspection praised the school’s House system, pastoral support and enrichment opportunities, as well as a broad and balanced curriculum. The school’s commitment to promoting Welsh language and culture was also highlighted, along with opportunities for pupils to develop leadership skills. Additional Learning Needs provision was described as supportive and inclusive.

The statement also points to positive comments about the school’s pastoral work, including support for young carers and a “rights of the child” approach, as well as targeted help for pupils facing barriers to learning.

Chair of Governors Mrs Sonja Groves said governors were proud to support the school as it works to meet the recommendations, adding that pupils “deserve the very best”.

The school said Estyn made six recommendations. These include strengthening self-evaluation and improvement processes, improving teaching, learning and skills development, raising attendance, making improvements to facilities and ensuring robust financial management. The school said these priorities align closely with its existing School Development Plan and that focused work is already underway.

Ms Morris added that while the school accepts the recommendations and will work constructively with Estyn, the local authority and the School Improvement Service, it was “disappointed” the report does not fully reflect progress made in recent years or the high regard the school believes it has among pupils, parents and the wider community.

A parent meeting has been arranged for Thursday, February 5, from 5.30pm to 6.30pm, where the school said it will explain how it is addressing the recommendations.