Man is charged with cruelty in connection with dog breeding
AN Ashbourne man is among five people accused of causing suffering to more than 80 dogs at a breeding business in Lincolnshire.
Peter William Dickens, 63, now of Sunnyside Farm in Yeaveley, is among the defendants who have still not faced trial two years on from the case first reaching court.
The charges have been brought after an investigation into a dog breeding business near Sleaford and relate to a period in 2018 at The Dairies, The Clays, in Brant Broughton.
They have been brought forward by the RSPCA, and the case was first dealt with by Lincoln Magistrates’ Court in September 2019.
A case management hearing was held at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, September 1. The court heard that the number of witnesses and the amount of documentary evidence had caused delays.
Prosecuting, Hazel Stevens said: “We are still in the same situation because this has been an extremely paperwork-heavy case, so we still have not yet agreed a trial date.”
The case was adjourned for another case management hearing on October 21, and it is hoped that a four-week trial can take place next spring.
Dickens, whose former address was The Clays in Brant Broughton, is accused of causing unnecessary suffering to six dogs by failing to provide veterinary attention in respect of inflammatory conditions affecting the eyes of the dogs and knowing that failing to act on that would have an effect on the dogs between November 6 and 13 2018.
He has also been accused of failing to get veterinary care for 11 dogs with inflammatory ear conditions that are said to have affected the ears of the dogs during the same time period, failing to provide veterinary attention in respect of inflammatory conditions affecting the skins of six dogs and another charge for five dogs with dental disease.
Another charge is that on November 13, 2018, he caused unnecessary suffering to 84 dogs by failing to address their emotional and behavioural needs.
He also faces four charges of failing in his duty of responsibility for an animal to ensure their welfare on November 13, 2018, at the same address. In one charge, this relates to the welfare of 30 dogs in which it is alleged the animals were housed on wood shavings, causing a variety of adverse physical effects on the animals.
In another, he is accused of failing to ensure four dogs allegedly under her responsibility had access to a suitable diet.
Another charge relates to three dogs in which he is accused of failing to investigate and address their thin bodily conditions, which allegedly meant he failed to protect them from pain, suffering, injury or disease.
It is also alleged that he failed to provide veterinary care for a variety of physical medical conditions for 52 dogs which meant he failed to protect them from pain, suffering, injury or disease.
Amy Allen, 38, of Jericho Road, Balderton; Bridgett Donna Dickens, 58, of The Dairies, The Clays, Brant Broughton; Edward Robert Swindells, 46, of Arch Cottage, The Dairies, The Clays in Brant Broughton and June Marie Swindells, 79, of the Clays, Brant Broughton also face nine charges.