Northampton woman who 'committed inappropriate act' on bulldog puppy and kept him in 'filthy' flat banned from keeping dogs

Hannah Wilks, of Crowthorp Road, was sentenced at Wellingborough Magistrates’ Court on January 27, after pleading guilty to failing to meet the needs of the dog by providing a suitable living environment and appropriate care and supervision, the RSPCA has said.

The RSPCA said it investigated the conditions the canine called Tyson was being kept in at Wilks’ “filthy and litter-strewn” flat, as well as a video which appeared to show the defendant committing an “inappropriate act” on the dog.

Inspectors said 22-year-old Wilks initially received warnings about improving the conditions the young dog was living in after inspectors found the puppy was being confined to a small crate and had been also left alone overnight.

On May 22 last year RSPCA inspector Rebecca Harlock found Tyson, who was 14 weeks old at the time, in a three foot by two foot cage in a bedroom at the flat during a visit with a police officer and a housing officer.

The inspector said in a statement presented to the court that the flat smelt of urine and faeces and there was no bedding inside Tyson’s filthy cage.

Ms Harlock said: “The cage was dirty with faeces and the puppy pads were soaked through. Tyson had dirty legs where he had been sitting down in his own mess within the crate. I let the dog out and he was desperate for water.”

RSPCA inspector Susan Haywood told the defendant she had to provide a larger crate for Tyson when she visited on May 29 when the flat had been partially tidied up.

The RSPCA added that when Ms Horlock attended again on June 4 last year, she asked the defendant about a video which had been sent to the charity, which appeared to show Wilks committing an “inappropriate act” on the dog.

“She denied the allegation until I informed her I had seen the video. She then said she was being harassed and bullied by several people who told her to do it and held a knife to her throat,” said the inspector in a statement. “I asked her if she was doing these things to the dog when she was on her own with it and she said she wasn’t.”

Tyson was seized two days later, as the warnings had been disregarded. The flat was still dirty with faeces in the bedroom and there was rubbish and hazards on the floor, according to the RSPCA, who also said a vet, who examined Tyson and studied the video footage, concluded the dog had not had his needs met.

Speaking after the sentencing, Ms Haywood said: “We visited Wilks’ flat on a number of occasions to offer advice and help to improve the conditions this poor dog was living in. The defendant refused to take heed and it was clear Tyson was not being cared for properly or treated with respect and dignity.”

Tyson was signed over into the care of the RSPCA and will be rehomed by the charity.

Wilks was sentenced to a 10-year disqualification from keeping animals, fined £120 and ordered to pay costs of £350 and victim surcharge of £48.