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Boxley man found with dogs and birds at home near Maidstone despite life ban from RSPCA

19:31, 22 November 2024

A Kent man who was banned for life from owning animals was found with 11 lurcher dogs and 15 quail at his property.

Langley Beck was prosecuted ago by the RSPCA after the animal charity visited his home on December 9, 2022, and found injured animals, despite him being disqualified from owning any just nine months earlier.

Langley Beck was found guilty of breaching a lifelong ban on owning animals. Picture: RSPCA
Langley Beck was found guilty of breaching a lifelong ban on owning animals. Picture: RSPCA

They visited alongside Kent Police and found two of the dogs had suffered injuries and quail living on the sprawling site despite a previous disqualification order imposed on him in February 2022.

A lurcher was also found when they called in on him a second time on August 15, 2023.

Beck was convicted and sentenced at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court to a 12-month community order, which requires the completion of 150 hours of unpaid work.

The 61-year-old was also told to pay a victim surcharge of £114 and a £500 contribution to court costs while he remains banned from owning animals for life.

RSPCA inspector Clive Hopwood investigated after the charity was informed that Beck still had dogs despite the previous ban.

‘All the dogs were extremely nervous and unsocialised...’

He was joined by rural crime police officers, two of which were bitten by the dogs as they arrested the defendant.

The inspector added: “All the dogs were extremely nervous and unsocialised, and at least two of them had minor leg wounds consistent with fighting within their group.

“A vet accompanied us onto the site, which is extremely large and overgrown with a number of derelict cars on it.”

The vet sedated the canines before being transported to private boarding accommodation approved by the RSPCA.

Beck pleaded not guilty because he said the disqualification order was being appealed.

Two of the 11 lurcher dogs found at Langley Beck's property in Boxley had sustained injuries. Picture: RSPCA
Two of the 11 lurcher dogs found at Langley Beck's property in Boxley had sustained injuries. Picture: RSPCA

He also claimed in court the RSPCA “left dogs behind” after their first visit and did not take the quail, adding that the dogs were “well looked after”.

The district judge said that although his animals were “not in a particularly poor condition” he had committed a serious breach of a disqualification order.

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