DANE CRAWFORD AND SHELBY WALLIS FROM BEAUMONT SENTENCED FOR WILDLIFE AND ANIMAL CRUELTY IN LANCASTER
| Red Rose Database
Beaumont Animal Abuser
Dane Crawford, born circa 1993, and Shelby Wallis, born on October 3, 2000, both residents of 18 Howgill Avenue in Lancaster, have been convicted of serious offences related to illegal ear cropping and wildlife cruelty. The case, which has garnered significant attention, highlights the disturbing extent of animal abuse carried out by the couple in the Lancaster area, including Beaumont.
In a detailed court hearing, Dane Crawford was sentenced to 30 months in prison and received a lifetime ban on keeping animals. The judge described his actions as both criminal and shockingly cruel, emphasizing the substantial suffering inflicted upon the animals involved. Crawford’s offences included neglecting injuries sustained by his pet dogs, as well as causing unnecessary suffering to a fox by setting his dogs upon the wild animal inside a garage. The court heard that Crawford was responsible for the injuries of two lurchers, named Major and Lassie, which had untreated wounds, including a fractured leg and facial injuries that were described as traumatic and unusual by veterinary experts.
Shelby Wallis, on the other hand, was handed a more lenient sentence. She received a three-month prison term, which was suspended for 18 months, along with 200 hours of unpaid community service and a fine of £2,500 towards costs. Additionally, she was disqualified from owning animals for a period of ten years. Wallis’s involvement included the illegal ear cropping of two of their bull breeds, Drey and Shakira, and her claim that the dogs were imported and her ownership of the animals was confirmed during police interviews.
The investigation was initiated after reports surfaced about puppies being subjected to ear cropping procedures. The RSPCA, along with police, executed a warrant at the Lancaster property in February 2022. During the search, several dogs were found, including the two lurchers with untreated injuries and the cropped-eared bull breeds. In total, five dogs were seized and placed into the care of the RSPCA. Further evidence was uncovered from mobile phones recovered during the searches, which contained disturbing images and videos. These included footage of wildlife being attacked by dogs, with some images showing foxes being released into confined spaces and encouraged to attack.
Inspector Will Lamping, who led the investigation, described the evidence as deeply troubling. He stated, “An image was recovered showing Crawford in very distinctive trainers with one of his dogs, holding a dead fox. We could identify him within the video of the fox being attacked because of these trainers.” The investigation also revealed that Crawford had obtained the two lurchers, Major and Lassie, from Appleby about six weeks prior to their rescue. Wallis claimed that the three bull breeds were her own and had been imported into the country.
Veterinary assessments of the dogs confirmed the severity of their injuries. The vet described Major’s facial injuries as “unusual” and “traumatic,” suspecting they had been caused by another animal at least 72 hours before the examination. Lassie’s fractured leg was also described as a “traumatic wound,” with the vet noting that the injury was left untreated for too long, leading to swelling, pain, and potential infection. The couple’s failure to seek timely veterinary care was a significant concern.
Following the court proceedings, Crawford and Wallis voluntarily surrendered the dogs. Major and Lassie were treated and eventually rehomed, while the bull breeds were also signed over to the RSPCA at a later date. The case underscores the ongoing issues of animal cruelty and illegal wildlife persecution in the Lancaster area, including Beaumont.
Inspector Lamping concluded, “This case sends a clear message to those that choose to engage in wildlife persecution and ear cropping that their cruel activities will not be tolerated. It took many hours to analyze the videos and images, but the evidence revealed the serious cruelty inflicted on both wild animals and domestic pets. Both defendants received lengthy bans on keeping animals and prison sentences for their actions, reflecting the severity of their misconduct.”
In a detailed court hearing, Dane Crawford was sentenced to 30 months in prison and received a lifetime ban on keeping animals. The judge described his actions as both criminal and shockingly cruel, emphasizing the substantial suffering inflicted upon the animals involved. Crawford’s offences included neglecting injuries sustained by his pet dogs, as well as causing unnecessary suffering to a fox by setting his dogs upon the wild animal inside a garage. The court heard that Crawford was responsible for the injuries of two lurchers, named Major and Lassie, which had untreated wounds, including a fractured leg and facial injuries that were described as traumatic and unusual by veterinary experts.
Shelby Wallis, on the other hand, was handed a more lenient sentence. She received a three-month prison term, which was suspended for 18 months, along with 200 hours of unpaid community service and a fine of £2,500 towards costs. Additionally, she was disqualified from owning animals for a period of ten years. Wallis’s involvement included the illegal ear cropping of two of their bull breeds, Drey and Shakira, and her claim that the dogs were imported and her ownership of the animals was confirmed during police interviews.
The investigation was initiated after reports surfaced about puppies being subjected to ear cropping procedures. The RSPCA, along with police, executed a warrant at the Lancaster property in February 2022. During the search, several dogs were found, including the two lurchers with untreated injuries and the cropped-eared bull breeds. In total, five dogs were seized and placed into the care of the RSPCA. Further evidence was uncovered from mobile phones recovered during the searches, which contained disturbing images and videos. These included footage of wildlife being attacked by dogs, with some images showing foxes being released into confined spaces and encouraged to attack.
Inspector Will Lamping, who led the investigation, described the evidence as deeply troubling. He stated, “An image was recovered showing Crawford in very distinctive trainers with one of his dogs, holding a dead fox. We could identify him within the video of the fox being attacked because of these trainers.” The investigation also revealed that Crawford had obtained the two lurchers, Major and Lassie, from Appleby about six weeks prior to their rescue. Wallis claimed that the three bull breeds were her own and had been imported into the country.
Veterinary assessments of the dogs confirmed the severity of their injuries. The vet described Major’s facial injuries as “unusual” and “traumatic,” suspecting they had been caused by another animal at least 72 hours before the examination. Lassie’s fractured leg was also described as a “traumatic wound,” with the vet noting that the injury was left untreated for too long, leading to swelling, pain, and potential infection. The couple’s failure to seek timely veterinary care was a significant concern.
Following the court proceedings, Crawford and Wallis voluntarily surrendered the dogs. Major and Lassie were treated and eventually rehomed, while the bull breeds were also signed over to the RSPCA at a later date. The case underscores the ongoing issues of animal cruelty and illegal wildlife persecution in the Lancaster area, including Beaumont.
Inspector Lamping concluded, “This case sends a clear message to those that choose to engage in wildlife persecution and ear cropping that their cruel activities will not be tolerated. It took many hours to analyze the videos and images, but the evidence revealed the serious cruelty inflicted on both wild animals and domestic pets. Both defendants received lengthy bans on keeping animals and prison sentences for their actions, reflecting the severity of their misconduct.”