JOANNE BROWN FROM STOCKPORT SENTENCED AFTER LEAVING CAT TO SUFFER IN ABANDONED HOUSE

Joanne Brown, a woman residing in Stockport, was brought before the courts on Thursday, December 21, 2017, after a disturbing case of animal neglect came to light. Brown, born on May 8, 1984, and at the time living at Winterburn Green, Offerton Estate, Stockport SK2 5PG, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to her pet cat, Tinkerbell, in an incident that shocked the local community.

According to court records and investigations, Brown had abandoned her cat inside an empty house for a period of five weeks. The property in question was located on Primrose Avenue, in Marple, Stockport. It was a neighbor, along with a family member of Brown, who first raised concerns about the welfare of the feline. Upon inspection, the neighbor found Tinkerbell in a dire state, unresponsive and covered in scabs and sores, clearly suffering from severe neglect.

The RSPCA was immediately contacted and responded swiftly to rescue the critically ill cat. Tinkerbell was transported to the RSPCA’s Greater Manchester Hospital, where veterinary staff worked tirelessly to save her life. The condition of the cat was alarming; she was extremely emaciated, dehydrated, and suffering from anemia. The RSPCA inspector Heather Morris, who led the investigation, described the situation as critical, stating, “Tinkerbell was at death’s door. If she’d been left in that house for another 24 hours, she would have died.”

Inspector Morris further explained that the house was in a deplorable state, covered in feces, with no food available for the animal. It was presumed that Tinkerbell had been scavenging for sustenance within the abandoned property during her five-week ordeal. The rescue was a close call, but after a month of intensive care, the cat gradually showed signs of recovery. She was eventually rehomed and is now in a safe and loving environment.

In court, the judge sentenced Joanne Brown to a 12-month conditional discharge, meaning she would not serve time in prison but would be monitored for a year. Additionally, she was ordered to pay costs of £250 and a victim surcharge of £20. Despite her proven inability to care for animals, Brown was not banned from owning pets, a decision that has raised concerns among animal welfare advocates.

As of 2019, Joanne Brown was reported to have acquired a new kitten, which she was pictured with. However, her continued ownership of animals has sparked criticism, especially considering her past neglect. In 2022, Brown was seen working as a barmaid at a pub in Hazel Grove, far from the scene of her previous animal cruelty case, but her history remains a stark reminder of the importance of animal welfare and responsible pet ownership.