JODIE WARDIL OF WIRRAL SENTENCED FOR CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

In 2019, Jodie Wardil, born around 1991 and residing on Sherlock Lane in Wallasey, Wirral CH44, was convicted of severe animal neglect. She abandoned her pet dog in an empty property and left a rabbit to die of starvation in her hutch. The case of such appalling neglect was brought to light by vigilant neighbors. Wardil, a single mother of four, pleaded guilty at Wirral magistrates' court to two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and one charge of failing to ensure animal welfare.

Prosecutor Chris Murphy explained that the RSPCA was first contacted after a concerned neighbor reported that a dog had been left alone in a house. The neighbor had been feeding the dog, Buster, a Staffordshire bull terrier, through the letterbox for several days. An inspector from the RSPCA observed that Buster was riddled with fleas and suffering from a painful skin condition, with a severe skin infection visible through the letterbox.

During a subsequent conversation, Wardil agreed to relinquish Buster to the RSPCA. When the inspector returned to pick up the dog, a neighbor informed him that Wardil had dumped a dead rabbit into a wheelie bin. Initially, she claimed that her ex-partner had collected the rabbit, but the inspector later found the emaciated body of the rabbit, Annie, concealed in a black bin bag inside the wheelie bin.

The rabbit's remains revealed she had been left to starve for several weeks, with every bone visible and an untreated eye condition infested with maggots. Wardil admitted that the neglect of both animals was due to her not living at the property and having her mind elsewhere.

The inspection of Buster showed inflamed skin and a severe flea infestation. After treatment, Buster recovered fully and was re-homed. The supervising magistrate, Peter Sanders, stated to Wardil, "Animals rely for their well-being on human beings. The only thing that takes away from a custodial sentence is your mental state."

As a result of her actions, Wardil was disqualified for life from keeping animals. Inspector Anthony Joynes commented, "This was a serious case of prolonged neglect which had devastating effects for poor Annie the rabbit. She was left to starve to death and then callously dumped. Rabbit neglect is heartbreaking because it often goes unnoticed until too late. Thankfully, Buster has recovered and been rehomed. We thank the public for their vigilance."

Wardil was sentenced to an 18-month community order, fined £585, and banned from keeping animals for life, with the right to appeal after five years. This case was reported by Liverpool Echo and Wirral Globe.