A MOTHER and son who ran a rescue centre which “exploited” animals and the public have been jailed. Angela and Robert Russell are now behind bars after being convicted of “prolonged neglect” at Crunchy’s Animal Rescue in Longworth.

Four other members of their family avoided prison and all but one are now disqualified from owning animals for at least 10 years.

All six were found guilty of 16 counts of animal cruelty and welfare offences after inspectors from the RSPCA raided their centre off the A420 in January last year and seized 95 animals, at least 50 of which were suffering from neglect.

District Judge Tim Pattinson yesterday sentenced the “driving force” behind the centre, Angela Russell, to the maximum six-month jail term, branding her “totally unfit to care for animals”.

Along with her 81-year-old father Fred she received a lifetime ban from owning, keeping, transporting or dealing in animals of any kind.

Her son and two daughters, Louise and Kirsty, were given 10-year disqualifications.

District Judge Pattinson said the animals were found living in “a sea of mud and faeces containing shocking and dangerous hazards”.

They included ponies, dogs, rabbits, goats, ducks, chickens, pigs and turkeys, found in areas containing rubbish, bundles of barbed wire, metal frames from burned mattresses and rusting cars.

During a three-week trial at Bicester Magistrates’ Court, Angela Russell claimed the inspectors had caused the dreadful conditions themselves.

But passing sentence at Oxford Magistrates’ Court District Judge Pattinson again branded this a “malicious” deception.

Patrick Duffy, defending Angela Russell, said after starting the centre with good intentions she had suffered from memory problems, which caused it to “degrade”.


In mitigation her three children claimed the centre had been their mother’s “project” and they had played lesser roles.


Speaking outside the court after the sentencing Fred Russell maintained that evidence had been “falsified”, adding that his daughter should not have gone to prison.

District Judge Pattinson said Angela Russell’s niece, 20-year-old Abigail McHugh, was the only defendant to show remorse and he did not ban her from owning animals.

Sandra Luker, 69, from Didcot, trusted Crunchy’s with four golden retrievers, two cats and a rabbit in November 2011 – but only one dog and her cat were ever returned.

She said: “I think Angela should have got a longer sentence, but I’m happy she was banned from owning animals.

“Now she won’t be able to hurt anyone’s else’s pets. I trusted that woman so much and now I can’t believe I believed her lies.

"She should never have animals again.”

RSPCA Inspector Kirsty Withnall, who led the operation, said: “I’m delighted with the outcome. Particularly with Angela and Fred’s lifetime bans.

“I was horrified by what I saw on that weekend and I will remember it for the rest of my life.”

Angela and Robert Russell have both appealed their jail sentences, but District Judge Pattinson denied them bail until it is decided by the crown court.

The Crunchy’s site is owned by Sovereign Housing.

Sovereign spokesman Roy Probert said: “Sovereign has offered Mr Russell a revised tenancy agreement which would significantly reduce the amount of land attached to the house.

“We are awaiting Mr Russell’s response. There are no immediate plans for the land we are proposing to remove from the property; we will look at various options before making a decision.”

JUDGE'S COMMENTS

"THE images, whether the DVD images that we saw at the beginning of the trial, or the still images that show the suffering and appalling conditions endured by the animals, will be remembered by everyone who saw them for a very long time.

"There were horses crippled by overgrown hooves, one trying to eat out of a wheelie bin and a Staffordshire Bull Terrier almost obscured by an enormous mound of faeces.

"There was Mrs Luker’s dog Winston, who was delivered to you in perfect health, but which was almost killed by you as a result of severe neglect.
"If not for this prosecution by the RSPCA these animals would be continuing to suffer and I suspect would die.

"All of you inflicted this suffering in the name of a charity, a rescue centre, a sanctuary. Nothing could have been further from the truth about what was happening at Crunchy’s.

"Therefore you were in a position of superior responsibility.

"You ignored advice and warnings previously given by the RSPCA.

"You received donations from the public, including a vehicle and I heard in evidence about the practice of sales in village halls to go towards this operation. That money in my view did not go towards looking after these animals.

"And there was a commercial element to this operation, because I saw evidence of the sale of bunnies, kittens and puppies.

"In short you exploited the animals and you have exploited the public and all the people who made donations."

THE SENTENCES

  • Angela Russell, 44, of Faringdon Road, Longworth: Given a 26-week prison sentence and a lifetime animal disqualification order.
  • Frederick Russell, 81, of Faringdon Road, Longworth: Given a 26-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and a lifetime animal disqualification order. Told to pay £1,000 costs and an £80 victims’ surcharge.
  • Robert Russell, 25, of Faringdon Road, Longworth: Given an 18-week prison sentence and a 10-year animal disqualification order.
  • Louise Russell, 22, of Faringdon Road, Longworth: Given a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, with a three-month curfew and a 10-year animal disqualification order. Told to pay £1,000 costs and an £80 victims’ surcharge.
  • Kirsty Russell, 21, of Faringdon Road, Longworth: Given a four-month community order with a curfew and a 10-year animal disqualification order. Told to pay £1,000 costs and an £60 victims’ surcharge.
  • Abigail McHugh, 21, of Pendennis Road, Swindon: Given a 12-month community order with 150 hours of unpaid work and told to pay £1,000 costs and an £60 victims’ surcharge.