SHREWSBURY CRUELTY CASE: BEN AND ALEXANDRA EVANS LEAVE INJURED LURCHER IN CAR BOOT

Ben and Alexandra Evans, residents of the Pigeon Door travellers site in Condover near Shrewsbury, became the focus of a serious animal cruelty investigation after they were found to have left a severely injured lurcher named Chico confined in the boot of a car. The incident, which took place in the vicinity of Shrewsbury, drew significant attention from local authorities and animal welfare organizations.

On November 26, 2016, an RSPCA inspector responded to multiple calls from concerned members of the public who suspected that an injured dog was being kept at the Evans’ residence. Upon arriving at the property, the inspector discovered Chico in the trunk of a vehicle parked on the premises. The dog was visibly trembling, appeared to be in considerable pain, and exhibited wounds on his leg. The inspector also noted the presence of feces and urine in the boot, along with some dog food and a washing-up bowl filled with water, indicating neglect and poor living conditions.

Alexandra Evans claimed that the dog belonged to her and her husband, asserting that they had only acquired Chico the day before the inspection. However, the RSPCA’s investigation revealed a different story. Alexandra had previously reported the dog missing on November 12, 2016, and authorities believed that Chico was the same animal. Following her report, numerous calls had been received from members of the public who had seen the dog and noted its thin appearance and limping gait, raising further suspicions about its welfare.

Despite initial resistance, Alexandra Evans eventually permitted the inspector to take Chico to a veterinarian for examination. She signed over ownership of the dog to the RSPCA on November 30, 2016, after initially refusing to do so. The veterinarian’s assessment confirmed that Chico was in poor physical condition, with X-rays revealing a broken elbow that required surgical intervention with a tension pin. The dog also had a deep laceration on his leg, indicating significant injury and suffering.

During the veterinary examination, Chico yelped, cried, and moved away, clearly in distress. The vet’s report emphasized that the injuries and wounds indicated a failure to seek necessary veterinary care, which constituted unnecessary suffering. The case was further supported by the fact that the couple had been contacted by an RSPCA inspector in December 2016, requesting their attendance for an interview, which they refused.

Although Ben and Alexandra Evans did not appear in court, magistrates found sufficient evidence to convict them of causing unnecessary suffering to Chico by neglecting his injuries and failing to provide appropriate veterinary treatment. The court issued a warrant for their arrest, and they are scheduled to appear at Telford Magistrates Court at a future date for sentencing. The case drew considerable media attention, highlighting issues of animal cruelty and neglect in the Shrewsbury area.

In subsequent developments, the Shropshire Star reported in June 2017 that the Evans’ convictions had been quashed. They were scheduled for a retrial in November 2017, but no further details were publicly disclosed. More recently, in February 2023, Ben Evans was fined after being caught hare-coursing with accomplices Michael Toogood from Market Drayton and Joseph Smith from Stourport, indicating ongoing legal issues involving the same individual in the Shrewsbury region.