HARVEY JACKSON CONVICTED IN ROCHESTER FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY CASE

Harvey Jackson, born around 2002 and residing on High Street, Wouldham, Rochester ME1, was convicted in 2025 of cruelty toward an animal. The case involved the disturbing condition of Caesar, a six-year-old American bulldog, who was found severely neglected in Jackson’s family home in Wouldham near Rochester in May 2024.

Police officers arrived at the property and discovered Caesar in an appalling state. Footage captured by PC Lee Collins showed the emaciated and dehydrated dog lying on a mattress in a nearly empty room filled with his own waste. The dog did not initially react when the door was opened but eventually managed to stand and quickly drank from a bowl presented to him. The scene was grim, with blood smeared on the wall behind Caesar and a pile of faeces and urine close by.

Caesar's condition was so poor that he had to be euthanised after suffering seizures. Jackson’s mother, Tanya Alabaf, was also prosecuted separately for her part in Caesar’s suffering. The court heard that Jackson, unemployed at the time, had left the dog under his mother’s care after being sent to jail for conspiracy to steal. However, upon his release, Jackson failed to seek veterinary treatment for Caesar’s obvious health issues and demonstrated what the court described as a “deliberate disregard” for the dog’s welfare.

In January 2025, Alabaf received a community sentence and a lifetime ban from owning animals. Prosecutor James Harrison commented on the case: “There was a substantial level of pain suffered, indicated by the poor state the animal was in when the officer arrived.”

Jackson told police that Caesar had been involved in a fight but claimed he was unable to take him to a vet. The dog was taken to Bearsted Veterinary Surgery for assessment, where veterinarians described him as being severely emaciated, dehydrated, and suffering from a severe skin infection, including ulcerations and open wounds, as well as hair loss (alopecia).

Mr. Harrison explained, “That was a consequence of the inadequate care he had received in the preceding three months, reflective of the time Mr. Jackson had been out of custody.” He also clarified that Caesar’s death was due to a previously undiagnosed condition unrelated to the dog’s neglect. Although Jackson claimed Caesar had been in a fight, there was no evidence to suggest he was used as a fighting dog.

Ownership records showed that while Caesar belonged to Jackson, his mother registered as the owner because Jackson was a minor when they acquired the dog. Defense lawyer Joe Hingston highlighted that Jackson, who had only been out of prison for eight weeks, was living in “chaotic circumstances” when police arrived.

Recorder Christine Wilson sentenced Jackson to a two-year community order, emphasizing that Jackson’s neglect stemmed from failure rather than cruelty. She stated, “You had been released from prison and, as you said to the probation officer, you were trying to get your life together. You also believed your mother would be caring for Caesar more than she did. Caesar was severely dehydrated and you can see from the video how emaciated he was.”

The judge acknowledged that the decision to euthanise Caesar was not directly linked to Jackson’s actions, noting that Jackson showed empathy and remorse. The court also imposed 180 hours of unpaid work, 25 days of rehabilitation activities, a financial contribution of £240 to prosecution costs (at £20 per month), and a lifetime ban on owning animals, which Jackson can appeal after five years.