Paul Wright, aged 37, of Hawkshead Drive, Little Horton, Bradford, West Yorkshire, has been handed a suspended prison sentence and an indefinite disqualification from keeping animals after his pet spaniel, Biscuit, starved to death in a neglected cellar.
The discovery was made on 26 November at a property situated on Southfield Lane in Little Horton.
Investigators found the emaciated body of the three-year-old spaniel lying underneath a plastic chair in the cellar.
The room was filled with household waste and accumulated rubbish, with animal faeces covering the floor.
There was no access to clean drinking water, food, or suitable bedding.
Physical evidence at the scene revealed pronounced scratch marks scarring the back of the cellar door, documenting the dog’s prolonged attempts to escape the darkness.
Prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, Louise Freeman outlined to Bradford Magistrates’ Court that Biscuit’s severe physical decline would have been clearly apparent to anyone in the property.
The court heard that the animal’s suffering lasted for a minimum of 10 days, with veterinary experts concluding that the neglect likely extended over a significantly longer period.
A subsequent post-mortem and clinical examination revealed that Biscuit weighed just 7kg at the time of her death.
Veterinary evidence confirmed that a healthy adult spaniel of her frame would typically weigh approximately 15kg.
The attending veterinary surgeon assigned Biscuit an exceptionally low body condition score of 0.5 out of 5.
The clinical findings recorded an entire absence of muscle mass, prominent skeletal exposure, and a severe untreated parasitic infection.
During interviews with investigating officers, Wright admitted that Biscuit had not received veterinary care or check-ups “for years” and accepted that he ought to have intervened to seek professional medical assistance.
Appearing unrepresented in the dock at Bradford Magistrates’ Court, Wright declined to make any statement in mitigation when given the opportunity to address the bench.
Wright entered a guilty plea to one count of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
The magistrates sentenced Wright to a six-month custodial term, suspended for an operational period of 12 months.
In addition to the suspended prison sentence, the court ordered Wright to:
- Complete 150 hours of unpaid work within the community
- Undertake six rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR) days
- Pay £400 in prosecution costs alongside a £154 victim surcharge
- Comply with a lifetime disqualification order banning him from owning, keeping, or participating in the keeping of any animals
Under the terms of the disqualification order, Wright is legally barred from applying to the court to have the animal ban removed for a minimum period of 10 years.
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