A BRIDGERULE man has been found guilty of animal welfare offences after an investigation led to a prosecution.

Ross Skilton was found guilty of offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and was sentenced at Barnstaple Magistrates' Court on May 1. The court imposed a 10‑year disqualification from keeping any animal, ordered £400 towards costs, and issued a 12‑month Community Order requiring 120 hours of unpaid work and 12 Mental Health Treatment Requirement (MHTR) sessions.

In addition, due to Skilton failing to surrender to the court, a further 12‑month Community Order was imposed, including additional unpaid work and MHTR sessions.

Torridge District Council initially received a complaint from a member of the public who had purchased a Jack Russell cross English Springer Spaniel puppy from an unlicensed breeder.

The buyer raised concerns about the puppy's health, reporting that it was underweight, infested with fleas and worms. They also expressed serious concerns about the conditions at the property and suggested that Bengal cats may also have been bred and sold.

Due to the severity of the concerns raised, Torridge District Council executed a search warrant at the property in January 2025. The visit was carried out as a coordinated multi‑agency operation involving a veterinary professional, RSPCA officers, police officers, and officers from the Council's Neighbourhood and Licensing teams.

During the visit, officers were confronted with extremely poor living conditions. The property was heavily contaminated with animal waste, including diarrhoea on furniture, urine throughout the rooms and stairways, and cat faeces measuring several centimetres deep in one room.

Several animals were found to be living in distressing circumstances. Two young dogs were discovered shut inside a kitchen with no access to drinking water and were visibly desperate for hydration. Seven Bengal cats of various ages were discovered at the address. One Bengal kitten was assessed by a veterinary surgeon and diagnosed with gastrointestinal disease, which would have caused pain and suffering for at least two weeks. A further two dogs were found living in a shed in the garden.

While there was insufficient evidence for Torridge District Council to pursue a prosecution for unlicensed breeding or selling of animals as pets, the attending vet and RSPCA officers determined that the appalling conditions highlighted clear breaches of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. All animals were therefore removed from the property by the RSPCA and taken to suitable accommodation where they could receive veterinary treatment and ongoing care.

All of the animals made significant recoveries and were ultimately rehomed.

Councillor Philip Hackett, lead member for public health and community safety said: "This was a deeply concerning case, with animals found living in appalling conditions and suffering as a result. It highlights the vital importance of effective multi‑agency working in protecting animal welfare and ensuring that such cases are thoroughly investigated.

“I would like to thank Torridge District Council officers and all the agencies involved, particularly the RSPCA, for their professionalism, commitment and persistence in supporting the rescue and recovery of the animals and in leading this successful prosecution."