HORRIFIC ANIMAL CRUELTY BY JANET AND ANTHONY MELLAND IN BUXTON AND FLAGG

Janet Melland, born on February 9, 1947, and her son Anthony Melland, born on December 1, 1970, both residents of Beechcroft Cottage in Flagg near Buxton, faced serious allegations of neglect and cruelty towards their animals. The case, which drew significant attention from local authorities and animal welfare organizations, revealed appalling conditions in which the Mellands kept their horses and dogs.

On February 10, 2016, a joint inspection was carried out by an RSPCA inspector and a veterinarian at the Mellands' property, known as Greatlow Farm, situated on Ashbourne Road in Flagg. The investigators discovered two large shipping containers that served as makeshift enclosures for the animals. Inside one container, they found two Shetland ponies, including a miniature pony named Robin, who was in a severely poor physical state, exhibiting signs of emaciation and nasal discharge. The container was humid, poorly ventilated, and reeked of foul odors, with no clean bedding or dry space for the ponies to rest.

Another container housed mares and a foal, all suffering from overgrown hooves and living amidst a filth-covered environment with feces and inadequate ventilation. The conditions inside these containers were described as dark, damp, and inhumane, with no proper space or clean bedding for the animals to lie down comfortably. The ponies, Robin and Alana, were found in a plastic shipping container that was once part of a van, with Robin in particularly dire condition. The investigators noted that the animals had been confined in these cramped spaces for at least 22 hours each day.

Further inspection of the Mellands' home revealed three dogs—Spot, Mini, and Ruby—living in a filthy, feces-covered area with no access to clean water. The environment was described as extremely unsanitary and neglectful. Heather Morris, an RSPCA inspector involved in the case, stated, “When we visited the farm in February, we found two Shetland ponies, Robin and Alana, being kept in a plastic shipping container which was extremely humid inside and with no fresh air. It was very small, there was no hay, and the water was dirty. Additionally, the floor of the container was absolutely soaking, and Robin was very skinny.”

In addition to the ponies, the investigators found two adult cob horses named Vienna and Kiara, along with a foal called Victor, all confined within a metal shipping container that was equally horrific in condition. The horses' living environment was described as deplorable, with overgrown hooves and no proper care. The Mellands admitted that the animals had been kept in these containers for at least 22 hours daily.

The three dogs—Spot, Mini, and Ruby—were found living in an outhouse covered in feces, with no clean water available. The conditions of their confinement were deemed absolutely appalling by the inspectors. The entire environment was humid, foul-smelling, and clearly neglectful, with the animals deprived of basic necessities and proper care.

Following the investigation, some of the animals received rehoming assistance. Allana was successfully rehomed through the World Horse Welfare scheme, while Victor, Vienna, and Kiara remained under the charity’s care for rehabilitation. Robin, unfortunately, had to be euthanized after a few weeks at Penny Farm because he did not respond to treatment for dental issues and a sinus infection. The three dogs—Spot, Mini, and Ruby—were rehomed by the RSPCA.

In terms of legal consequences, Anthony Melland received a six-week prison sentence, which was suspended for 12 months, along with 150 hours of unpaid work and a fine of £400. Janet Melland was given a 16-week curfew and also ordered to pay £400 in costs. Both individuals were permanently banned from keeping horses.

It is noteworthy that Anthony Melland’s troubling history extends beyond animal cruelty. In September 2021, he was identified by a paedophile hunting group for the third time for online sexual grooming of a child. When the group confronted him at his farm with evidence, they caught him in his van engaging in masturbation while chatting with a child online. The group reported that Melland had discussed bestiality with their decoy and even mentioned involving a child in such depraved activities. They described Melland as “a very dangerous man” and warned parents to be vigilant about their children’s online devices, specifically mentioning the name ‘Smith Mark’.

Additionally, in February 2019, the same group, Predator Exposure, visited Melland’s farm and found several dogs living in conditions that appeared equally squalid. Although they reported the matter to the RSPCA, it remains unclear whether Melland faced further prosecution for animal cruelty related to that incident.