A man left his pet dogs to starve to death in a flat resulting in one of the desperate animals cannibalising another.
Paul Wynne, 41, appeared at Liverpool Magistrates' Court this afternoon, Wednesday, May 31 after he pleaded guilty to charges regarding the treatment of animals in his care. The court heard how two Merseyside Police officers, named as Lomax and Cohen, attended an address on Rockford Avenue, Kirkby, on October 29 last year after concerns had been raised about occupant Wynne.
Neighbours had complained about a bad smell of decay coming from the flat and "maggots coming through the ceiling of the flat below". After officers gained entry they found no sign of human life, but upon examination of the property found the skeletal remains of three dogs in an advanced state of decomposition.
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Peter Mitchell, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, told the court the property was registered in the name of Laura Martin - the partner of Wynne. An RSPCA inspector attended the address along with Merseyside Police on November 1 and regained entry with the permission of Ms Martin.
The court heard how a black male lurcher type dog called Blue was found in a crate in the middle of the living room. Upon further examination it became clear to the RSPCA that there was a second dog, also identified as a lurcher type and called George, in the cage. Mr Mitchell said the living room was "filthy" due to white and black faeces covering the floor.
The inspector noted there was no food or water bowls in the room for the animals, while copious amounts of flies and other insects covered the room. The kitchen door was open and a dead puppy, a saluki cross type dog named Polly, was on the floor surrounded by dried blood. Four dead ferrets were also found in a hutch.
The court heard how Ms Martin, described as vulnerable with severe health difficulties, had moved out the flat and was tending to her sick mum. Wynne was the sole occupier of the flat during the time of the neglect, listed between August 1 and October 30 in the court charge sheet.
Ms Martin told inspectors she tried to return to the flat on October 6, but Wynne had changed the locks. The first she knew about what had happened inside the flat was when she was contacted to allow the RSPCA to gain entry.
Between November 2022 and February this year Wynne was repeatedly contacted to liaise with inspectors. However Wynne refused to take calls and cancelled scheduled appointments.
He eventually attended Kirkby police station on February 7 where he denied starving the animals and claimed he had previously fed them well. He also said the ferrets weren't his but he had been looking after them for a friend. He added he left the animals because he "couldn't handle what happened".
Mr Martin said only one of the dogs could have a post-mortem due to the severe emaciation. The lurcher should have weighed around 30kg but only weighed 12kg. Disturbingly he said nails and dog hair were found in its stomach and intestine suggesting the desperate animal had resorted to cannibalising the other dog in the cage.
Chelsey Kearns, defending, briefly told the court how her client had issued a guilty plea and had a limited history of criminality. Wynne had appeared before the courts once in 2006 for an unrelated crime. Ms Kearns added she felt this could be a case dealt with in the lower courts.
However District Judge Paul Healey ruled it too serious to be dealt with today and told Wynne it would be dealt with in crown court. The judge noted the "totality of offending" - that the offences were in regard to a number of different animals over a prolonged period of time. Mr Martin noted inspectors couldn't be sure of the length of time the animals had been left due to the dog cannibalising another.
District Judge Healey said Wynne had pleaded guilty to the offences and would be given full credit when it came to crown court. He sent the case to Liverpool Crown Court where it will be heard on June 28.
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