DAWN, SABRINA, ELISHA AND ELIZABETH MAWSON BANNED FOR LIFE IN BRADFORD FOR ANIMAL NEGLECT

In 2022, Dawn Michelle Mawson, born on 21 May 1973, Sabrina Mawson, born around 1999, who previously resided on Bradford Moor but now lives on Lowfield Road in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, Elisha Mawson, born on 28 October 1997 and now living on Wyliffe Gardens in Shipley, and Elizabeth Mawson, born on 3 November 1995 of 5 Durkheim Court in Bradford BD3 8BP, were all convicted and given lifelong bans from keeping animals after the RSPCA discovered a dead kitten and seven emaciated cats at their previous family home on Fernbank Road, Bradford Moor.

The dead kitten was found with bite marks to its neck and head, and was among seven other cats suffering from severe starvation. A veterinarian who examined the animals noted that it was unusual for cats to attack each other in this manner, suggesting the other cats may have perceived the kitten as a source of food.

RSPCA inspector Kris Walker explained: “All of the cats were frantically looking for food. It was unsettling that as soon as we gave the first cat some food, the others were screaming in hunger, waiting to be fed too. Sadly, they were so hungry that they had begun to pick off the weakest among them.”

Two of the cats, Kit and Bubbles, were found in filthy crates covered in urine, while the remaining five cats roamed freely within the home. All seven animals were severely underweight and malnourished.

Fortunately, all the cats have since recovered well and have been rehomed. The vet added: “Luckily, the other cats were removed from the house in time and have gone on to make full recoveries, but it was unfortunately too late for the kitten. It was obvious all the cats were in a very poor condition, so any reasonable owner should have noticed this and sought veterinary help.”

The defendants were ordered to pay a total of £395 in costs and were handed lifelong bans from keeping animals.