PENSIONER TO APPEAL FOLLOWING RSPCA PROSECUTION
A pensioner has been banned from keeping animals for life.Sylvia Bailey, 67, , Stevenage, was found guilty at the town magistrates' court today of eight offences of failing to meet the welfare needs of 22 cats under the Animal Welfare Act.
Immediately after the case her defence counsel Sean Smith QC said an appeal would be lodged against both the ban and the confiscation order.
The prosecution was brought by the RSPCA after inspector Melanie Fisher visited Bailey's home with a vet,
"Bailey denied she had mistreated the cats, saying: "I have never failed my cats."All of my savings have gone on these cats."Bailey was ordered to pay £500 towards the total costs for the case of over £54,000.The remainder will come from public funds.
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Yes, this is quite wrong and horrific that taxpayers have to underwrite this bill.
The full costs should have been awarded against the defendant.
(mind you, having said that, the legal costs are a joke and it is about time we reined in these profiteer pimps who exploit other people misfortunes to grow fat on the public purse - the legal costs are far too high).
It is unfortunate that the RSPCA seems to be the only organisation in the UK that is effectively promoting the 2006 AWA. It should be local authorities behind these prosecutions, not a charity, but as usual, local authorities avoid their obligations, prefering to spend taxpayers money on trivialities, twinning ceremonies and personal expenses.
Someone has to protect animals from human abuse and exploitation - so long taken for granted as a right of mankind.
It seems that it falls to the RSPCA to do so.
More shame on society than on the charity.
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