Horrific images released by the RSPCA have revealed the conditions a man left his helpless dogs in for weeks.
Paul Wynne, 42, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court earlier this week after he pleaded guilty to three charges regarding the treatment of animals in his care. Merseyside Police originally attended an address on Rockford Avenue, Kirkby, due to concerns for Wynne.
Neighbours had complained about a bad smell of decay coming from the flat and "maggots coming through the ceiling of the flat below". But this was nothing to the horrors inside the flat, where officers found the skeletal remains of three dogs in an advanced state of decomposition.
READ MORE: Man changed door locks to stop partner discovering horrors inside flat
The court heard a black lurcher called Blue was found in a crate in the middle of the living room. Upon further inspection it was revealed there was also a second dog, also identified as a lurcher type and called George, in the cage. Prosecutor Peter Mitchell, representing the RSPCA, said the dogs were lying on filthy bedding and the floor was caked in white and black faeces.
There were no food or water bowls and the room was covered in a large amount of flies and other insects. Inspector Louise Showering, of the RSPCA, noted the kitchen door was open and a dead puppy, a saluki cross type dog named Polly, was on the floor surrounded by a pool of dried blood. There were also four ferrets in two hutches found in the back of the garden.
The flat was registered in the name of Wynne's partner Laura Martin. However she had moved out of the flat to look after her sick mum Marie - and while she was gone Wynne changed the locks to stop her discovering the horrors within. After being interviewed by the police Wynne said he left the animals because he "couldn't cope with what happened".
The court heard only one of the dogs could have a post-mortem due to the severe emaciation. The lurcher Blue should have weighed between 27-32kg but only weighed 12kg. He added dog claw nails and hair were found in its stomach and small intestine suggesting the desperate animal had resorted to cannibalising the other dog, George.
Chelsey Kearns, defending Wynne, said her client had long suffered from depression which he had managed successfully until this incident. She added the suffering of the animals "came from neglect instead of sadism".
Ms Kearns also detailed how Wynne was the "sole carer" for both his partner and her mum - and both women would suffer immeasurably if he was jailed. You can read the full ECHO report from the court here.
Now the ECHO can reveal pictures from inside Wynne's flat. The pictures show the filthy flat caked in faeces and blood where the desperate animals took their final breaths. Some of the images were so graphic the ECHO chose not to show them.
Wynne pleaded guilty last month at Liverpool Magistrates' Court to three offences under the Animal Welfare Act: one of causing unnecessary suffering to Blue; one of failing to ensure the needs of Blue, George and Polly were met; and one of failing to ensure the needs of the four ferrets. District Judge Paul Healey ruled the case too serious to be dealt with in the lower court due to the "totality of offending".
Recorder Michael Blakey noted the animals had "suffered considerably" and had "extremely painful" deaths. Noting the fact Wynne is the sole carer for two members of his family, Recorder Blakey told him: "I hope the care you express to your family isn't the same as the poor animals."
However the judge told Wynne, who appeared in court supported by his dad, he had "weighty caring responsibilities" and had realistic prospects of rehabilitation outside of prison. Recorder Blakey sentenced Wynne to 30 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months. He also issued 20 rehabilitation days, 30 hours of unpaid work and disqualified Wynne from owning any animal for 10 years.
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