Man Sentenced After Dogs Found In ‘Shocking’ Condition In Van

A man has been given a suspended jail sentence after 18 dogs were found in an emaciated condition in the back of van near Tilton on the Hill.

Sean Palmer has also been banned from keeping dogs for seven years after pleading guilty to animal welfare offences at Leicester Crown Court.

Officers from Leicestershire’s Rural Policing Team discovered the bulldog-type dogs in cages during a routine stop of the vehicle on the A47 in February last year.

The dogs & puppies when they were discovered

The dogs including eight puppies were found to be dehydrated and underweight, while some had untreated wounds and illnesses and three were found wearing shock collars.

All were taken for veterinary treatment, but some were so poorly they had to be put to sleep.

Sgt Rob Cross was one of the officers who found the dogs and told HFM it was a ‘harrowing’ scene:

The dogs & puppies when they were discovered

Palmer, of Langtoft Road in Hamilton, Leicester pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to animals after being prosecuted by the RSPCA.

The 36-year-old also admitted to owning dogs in breach of a three year disqualification order on keeping dogs made in February 2022.

Palmer was sentenced to a 15-month custodial sentence suspended for two years, banned from keeping dogs for seven years and ordered to carry out 25 rehabilitation action days and 100 hours unpaid work.

RSPCA Inspector Richard Durrant said: “The conditions inside the van were shocking – to have such a large number in such cramped conditions.

“A vet deemed many of the dogs including the pups were suffering.

“We are so very grateful to the Leicestershire and Rutland Rural Policing Team for all their support in what was a very upsetting case. “

The dogs and puppies which survived have since made full recoveries and have been rehomed.

In mitigation the court heard Palmer was dealing with personal issues over a period of time and that his personal life was chaotic at the time and he was sleeping in the van where the dogs were kept.

One of the puppies discovered