A dog died after being left for days at a time without food or water in a flat covered in faeces, a court heard.
RSPCA officers were made aware of possible animal abuse after finding the body of a bulldog named Coco belonging to Leanne Brookshaw and her husband Jonathan Brookshaw at an empty flat on May 13 last year.
At Liverpool Magistrates Court today, Tuesday, Peter Mitchell, prosecuting, detailed that police attended a flat at Dorset Gardens, Birkenhead, and upon arrival noticed a strong smell and lots of flies. An officer entered, and was aware the property was registered to Leanne Griffiths, 32-year-old Brookshaw’s maiden name, but saw nobody was home.
READ NEXT: Dad called women 'bums' before drunken brawl in pub after wedding
The officer saw the deceased dog on the floor, described as a black and tan bulldog, and noted the flat was a mess. Mr Mitchell said: “He saw the flat was in a total state, with dog faeces on the floor and no sign of any food or water for the dog.”
The officer contacted the RSPCA, and Inspector Anthony Joynes attended the flat. He reported an “overwhelming smell of decomposition, faeces and urine”, and saw the body of the dog.
Faeces and dried diarrhoea were on the floor of the flat, and he saw there was no food and several dry, empty water bowls. When Mr Foynes met the couple, Jonathan Brookshaw, 36, immediately said: “What's going on, how is she, is she dead? I’ll kill him”, referring to his wife's brother Kyle Stephen Moore, of Oldfield Road, Ellesmere Port.
It was confirmed the couple were responsible for the dog, but Leanne Brookshaw said she had been paying Moore to care for it. When questioned, Leanne Brookshaw said: “We’ve been struggling yeah, I was there three or four days ago, she was skinny but she was alive.
“She couldn't come with us because she was s***ing and p***ing everywhere.” Leanne Brookshaw was interviewed, and said she had been given the dog on breeding terms months earlier, but admitted it may have been more than five days since she last checked on the dog.
The newly married coupled moved out of Dorset Gardens to their current property in Bebington Road, Birkenhead, last year, but did not bring the dog as they claimed it would be attacked by their other dog, Molly. Leanne Brookshaw said she had visited Dorset Gardens since moving, and saw water and biscuits but agreed the “place was a s***hole”.
The mum of three said she thought her brother was caring for Coco, but agreed last time she checked on the animal, she was skinnier and had lost weight. She described the animal as having access to water but no food, and acting lethargic and weaker than usual.
She also said the dog did have diarrhoea but she “thought it just needed feeding more”, before admitting the bulldog did eat when fed. Arrangements were made to interview Jonathan Brookshaw at a later date, but as the inspector left, he said: “What am I supposed to do when I’ve got my future wife and her brother telling me its fine.”
“If you weren't here I would have punched his f***ing head in.” On May 17, Jonathan Brookshaw was formally interviewed, and said he visited Dorset Gardens when the body had been found but admitted that was the first time in months he had done so.
He moved out of the property in November 2021, and his wife moved March 2022. The dog had been left at the property for two months. He said his dog Molly was protective and that is why they couldn't bring Coco with them.
Malcolm Gregg, defending, said: “The thought of them being sentenced to imprisonment horrifies them and terrifies them.” “Clearly Coco was taken into their care for breeding.
“Clearly they should have taken proper care of Coco. “All are equally culpable for the distress and suffering to the poor animal.”
Regarding Leanne Brookshaw, Mr Mitchell said: “She is very sorry, she does express deep remorse and she does have empathy for the loss of Coco. She does try her best but has clearly failed immensely in Coco’s welfare.”
He explained she was caring for her ill father at the time, including visiting him in hospital. Similarly, Mr Mitchell said Jonathan Brookshaw was “extremely devastated by the impact of what has happened in this case”, and was “ashamed and embarrassed”.
Jonathan Brookshaw’s dog Molly was found to have a skin condition, but has now been safely rehomed. They were sentenced to 18 weeks imprisonment each, suspended for 12 months. They were ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work each, and rehabilitation activity days.
Both were told to pay £500 in prosecution costs, plus a victim surcharge of £128, and were disqualified from owning an animal for five years.
Moore was charged and pleaded guilty to the same charges, but will not be sentenced until March at Wirral Magistrates Court.
READ NEXT
Get the latest Grand National news straight to your inbox
Baby faced thug and mob of teens shot boy after cornering him in alleyway
'Hero' son dies trying to save dad from e-bike house fire
Coleen Rooney fans taken aback as they spot son's Prime birthday haul
