BERNADETTE NUNNEY AND JOHN WILCOCK: HORRIFIC PUPPY FARMING SCANDAL IN TYERSAL, BRADFORD

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Tyersal, Bradford, authorities uncovered a severe animal cruelty operation run by Bernadette Nunney and John Wilcock at Tyersal Hall Farm. The investigation revealed that the farm was a hub of neglect and exploitation, where dogs were kept in deplorable conditions, malnourished, and suffering in silence.

When RSPCA officers, accompanied by police, arrived at the farm, they were met with a heartbreaking scene. Among the most distressing sights was a wheelbarrow filled with the lifeless bodies of several collie puppies. As the officers documented the scene for evidence, they discovered a small black and white female puppy buried beneath her dead littermates. Despite efforts to save her, she was rushed to veterinary care but tragically succumbed to her injuries. Post-mortem examinations later confirmed that she and her siblings had died from parvovirus, a deadly disease often linked to poor living conditions and inadequate veterinary care.

Footage taken during the raid showed the puppy taking her final breaths in the wheelbarrow, a haunting image that underscored the severity of the neglect. The farm operators, Bernadette Nunney and John Wilcock, faced multiple charges, including causing unnecessary suffering to seven puppies, along with additional allegations involving ten dogs in total. They were also accused of failing to meet the basic needs of 30 dogs kept on the premises.

The farm, known as Tyersal House Farm, was featured in a UNILAD documentary highlighting the widespread issue of puppy farming across the UK. The investigation also led to the dropping of charges against a third individual, Julie Nunney, who resided at the farm, due to insufficient evidence.

Emma Ellis, an RSPCA inspector who led the investigation, described the scene as unforgettable. She stated, “What I saw that day will stay with me forever. The sight of the live puppy buried within the pile of dead puppies was heartbreaking. There was nothing we could do to save her. The way those puppies were left to die highlights how these people simply see them as commodities which I find totally unacceptable.”

Further inspection revealed that dozens of dogs, including breeds such as collies, spaniels, bichon frises, Labradors, beagles, Chihuahuas, and terrier crosses, were kept in squalid conditions within stables and kennel blocks. Many of these animals were found without food, water, or bedding, living amidst their own filth. A total of 43 dogs were seized by police and taken into the care of the RSPCA.

Ian Briggs, the chief inspector of the RSPCA’s special operations unit, commented on the broader issue, saying, “There is a growing demand for certain breeds of dogs—such as Chihuahuas, spaniels, and bichon frises—and legitimate breeders cannot meet this demand. Unregulated puppy breeders and dealers are filling this gap by producing dogs on a commercial scale, prioritizing profit over the health, welfare, and happiness of the animals.”

The case was brought to court following a detailed investigation by the RSPCA and a sting operation conducted by BBC’s Watchdog. During this undercover operation, journalists purchased a dog from the Bradford farm, which was subsequently rehomed with animal behaviourist Carrie Evans. She described the dog, Gizmo, as being in a dire state: “He was exceptionally frightened and very poorly. He was grossly underweight, had worms, an intestinal infection, and infected ears. Due to bad breeding, Gizmo has horrendous deformities in his legs and feet, and his feet can sometimes rotate backwards. He also has an undershot jaw.”

Wilcock and Bernadette Nunney were ultimately exposed as puppy farmers by the BBC Watchdog team. Inspector Briggs emphasized the typical conditions found at such farms, stating, “When our investigations lead us to places like this, we often find dogs living in squalid, sub-standard conditions. Unsuspecting members of the public often spend hundreds of pounds on puppies that may develop behavioral issues or health problems due to poor breeding, lack of socialization, and no veterinary care. In some tragic cases, their beloved pets die just days after being brought home.”

In sentencing, both Nunney and Wilcock received 20-week prison sentences, suspended for 18 months. They were also banned from keeping dogs for life. Bernadette Nunney was given a 12-week curfew, ordered to complete a 15-day rehabilitation program, and pay £500 in costs. John Wilcock was mandated to perform 200 hours of unpaid work, attend a 20-day rehabilitation activity, and pay £100 in costs.

As of September 2021, Bernadette Nunney, now calling herself Bernadette Pearson, resides on Wood Lane, Bradford BD2 1JX. Meanwhile, John Wilcock continues to live at Tyersal House Farm, alongside Julie Nunney, whose charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence. The case has brought renewed attention to the dark world of puppy farming in the UK, highlighting the need for stricter regulation and enforcement to prevent such cruelty from recurring.