Graham Stephens, proprietor of Little Meadow Animal Rescue
Surprising photos have laid naked the squalid situations at a charity rescue centre the place some animals had been pressured to reside in faeces-covered cages with little meals and water – as its proprietor is convicted for a string of cruelty fees.
Graham Stephens, 62, admitted failing to look after owls, canine, rabbits, donkeys and an alpaca which had been stored in cramped and filthy environments.
A court docket heard RSPCA inspectors raided the Little Meadow Animal Rescue Centre, a registered charity in Tenbury Wells, Worcs., in January when the appalling situations had been found.
Images taken present the property’s wood flooring nearly fully lined in droppings with animals stored in small metallic cages – whereas Stephens accepted public donations.
Animals together with an alpaca, a squirrel and 4 tawny owls, had been dwelling in faeces-covered cages and with little meals or water.
A number of filthy canine beds can be seen packed into a grimy nook together with quite a few empty meals and water bowls within the photographs.
Situations the animals had been stored in at Little Meadow Animal Rescue in Tenbury Wells, Worcs.
Stephens, 62, admitted failing to look after owls, canine, rabbits, donkeys and an alpaca which had been stored in cramped and filthy environments
One cage, marked ‘Pen 2’, had two rabbits stuffed inside it in an area appropriate for hamsters whereas a matted owl was rescued from a tiny budgie cage.
Stephens had accepted funding from the general public to take care of the animals however was arrested.
RSPCA officers additionally discovered lots of the animals had been struggling with unhealthy enamel, had lice and had been riddled with infections.
Stephens, who had run the charity for 12 years, beforehand admitted six fees of inflicting pointless struggling to a protected animal at Worcester Magistrates’ Courtroom.
He additionally pleaded responsible to 2 fees of failing the responsibility of an individual liable for an animal to make sure welfare.
Animals together with an alpaca, a squirrel and 4 tawny owls, had been dwelling in faeces-covered cages and with little meals or water
An animal sanctuary boss was sentenced to jail for maintaining animals in horrendous situations
A cage marked Pen 2 had two rabbits stuffed inside it in an area appropriate for hamsters
Stephens was sentenced to jail for eight months on December 9 and banned from maintaining animals for all times
Stephens had accepted funding from the general public to take care of the animals however was arrested and charged
Surprising situations the animals had been stored in on the rescue centre which was raided
Prosecutor Lynda Myer stated the RSPCA acted following ‘a number of complaints’ from members of the general public they usually discovered the animals in ‘appalling’ situations
Stephens was sentenced to jail for eight months on the similar court docket on December 9 and banned from maintaining animals for all times.
Prosecutor Lynda Myer stated the RSPCA acted following ‘a number of complaints’ from members of the general public they usually discovered the animals in ‘appalling’ situations.
She stated: ‘The situations had been appalling.
‘There have been indicators important stress was triggered to the animals dwelling in a small space.
‘He was entrusted with cash from the general public to take care of these animals.’
Sarah Brady, defending, stated Stephens, of Bromyard, Herefordshire, had been affected by melancholy and stress whereas attempting to run the charity.
She added: ‘He has run the charity for 12 years. In 2021 he ought to have sought assist.
‘He did not due to what was occurring in his private life. He regrets that now.’
On the finish of the listening to Stephens launched an prompt attraction to his jail sentence and walked free from court docket.
He was launched on conditional bail and a date for his attraction is but to be set.
