Judge expected to return verdict for ‘breeding manager’ Edward Swindells in animal welfare trial for Brant Broughton-based puppy business Little Rascals
The verdict is expected to be given tomorrow (June 20) for a man accused causing unnecessary suffering to dogs at breeding business.
Edward Swindells, 50, of The Clays, Brant Broughton, faces multiple counts of causing unnecessary suffering to dogs and breaching their duty to ensure their welfare — through failing to provide veterinary attention, emotional and behavioural needs, and adequate housing for the dogs.
It relates to Little Rascals, also known as Puppies at Home, at The Dairies farm, Brant Broughton, where the RSPCA and Lincolnshire Police executed a warrant in November 2018 following intelligence — 37 videos and 111 images — supplied in July that year.
As part of the operation, 95 of 374 dogs on the site were seized as they were found to be suffering, with others in need of less urgent veterinary care.
Today (June 19) the court heard the final prosecution evidence, and no defence evidence has been called by Mr Swindells, who is unrepresented and has not been in attendance at court since Monday (June 16) when he requested an adjournment due to his legal team stepping down due to ‘professional embarrassment’.
His trial had already been adjourned from earlier in the month when his co-defendants pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to meet the animals’ physical and emotional needs.
These were Amy Allen, 41, of Jericho Road, Balderton; Bridgett Dickens, 61, of The Clays, Brant Broughton; Peter Dickens, 65, of Yeadley, Ashbourne; and Edward Swindells, 48, of The Clays, Brant Broughton.
Mr Swindells then further failed to appear on Tuesday (June 17) due to a 'self-reported' hospital visit, and a subsequent doctor’s note supplied on Wednesday (June 18) morning was deemed not to meet the requirements of the court to prove his unfitness to stand trial and it was agreed to continue with the case.
Mr Swindells was offered adjustments such as appearing via video link, being allowed to remain seated, and taking more frequent breaks during evidence.
The court has already heard from RSPCA Inspectors, a police officer, an animal behaviourist, and vets, who described numerous dogs having conditions including dental disease, infections, ear mites, and displaying ‘concerning’ behaviour — including OCD-like compulsions.
The final witness was vet Dr Taylor, who highlighted details of records kept at the kennels — with inconsistencies in dates, and signatures on document suggesting a single person had carried out nearly 1,890 essential kennel tasks every day, for 28 days straight.
He questioned the credibility of these, suggesting it was a 'bit of a red flag', and also noted an apparent decease in medical records and vet visits to the site.
In the previous day's evidence, he'd also suggested the 30-minute daily exercise said to be given to each dog at the site seemed impossible.
The court also heard, and saw documentation, that Mr Swindells was listed as 'breeding manager' for the business on licence applications made in 2018 - which Dr Taylor described as a role in which he would be "in charge of the conditions associated with that process".
Through email correspondence, the court has been notified that Mr Swindells has requested a judicial review, alleging the judge was biased, used hostile language and intimidation, refused to provide reasons for refusal of adjournment, was breaching the Equality Act by not allowing him to park at the court, and that his adjournment requests should not have been refused.
The judge denies the claims, noting in particular that the defendant never asked for the reasons for the refusal, and that the case must be viewed in light of its lengthy troubled history in getting to a successful trial — with this dating back to a first hearing in 2019.