AN animal sanctuary employer who kept animals in stunning conditions has actually been imprisoned..
Graham Stephens, the owner of signed up charity Little Meadow Animal Rescue, has actually strolled complimentary from court as he released an immediate appeal versus his prison sentence..
As formerly reported owls, pets, bunnies and donkeys were amongst the animals kept in confined conditions and not offered appropriate drinking water at the Tenbury Wells sanctuary..
After the horrendous conditions emerged Stephens, of Broad Street, Bromyard, was jailed and charged, the RSPCA introducing a prosecution versus him..
At Worcester Magistrates Court on November 18 Stephens confessed 6 charges of triggering unneeded suffering to a safeguarded animal and 2 charges of stopping working the responsibility of an individual accountable for an animal to make sure well-being when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on Friday, (November 18)..
The court heard that unneeded suffering was triggered to 4 grey donkeys, an alpaca, a Chinese Crested dog, 2 bunnies, a guinea pig, a grey squirrel and 4 tawny owls at the Stoke Bliss-based sanctuary in between January 17 and March 17 this year.
The mistreatment to the animals consisted of stopping working to supply oral treatment, stopping working to attend to heavy lice invasion, stopping working to supply treatment for bacterial infection, stopping working to supply veterinary treatment for the eye condition and oral illness and failure to supply drinking water..
The animals were kept in unclean, faeces-covered cages with animals kept close to predators when they must have been kept apart.
Prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, Lynda Myer stated cautions had actually been provided to Stephens in 2020 about the mistreatment of pets however less than 2 years later on there had actually been “numerous problems” from the general public to the authorities about conditions at the sanctuary.
Authorities, accompanied by the RSCPA, acted upon a warrant and checked out the sanctuary, causing the 62-year-old’s arrest.
” The conditions were terrible,” the district attorney stated..
” There were indications substantial tension was triggered to the animals residing in a little location.
” He was turned over with cash from the general public to care for these animals.”.
Stephens went back to the court for sentencing on Friday, December 9..
Magistrates imprisoned him for 8 months as they discovered the offenses so severe “since of the damage to animals and the variety of animals included”.
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Stephens was likewise prohibited from owning, keeping or transferring animals in any method, for life. He was informed the earliest he might appeal that restriction is 2023.
At the end of the hearing Stephens released an immediate attract his prison sentence.
He was launched on conditional bail, amongst the conditions being he lives and sleeps at his house address. A date for his appeal is yet to be set..
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