MARTIN CLOWES AND GAVIN CROMWELL FROM MARGAM FACE COURT OVER HORRIFIC CAT HOARDING AND FIRE TRAGEDY
| Red Rose Database
Margam Animal Abuser
Martin Clowes, born on April 3, 1968, and Gavin James Cromwell, born on June 15, 1981, both residents of Tynycellar, Water Street, Margam, Port Talbot SA13 2PD, found themselves at the center of a disturbing case involving severe animal neglect and a tragic fire that claimed the lives of multiple cats. The pair, known for operating an animal rescue facility called Jemima’s Place, were convicted in 2024 after a series of investigations revealed the appalling conditions in which they kept approximately 24 cats.
Clowes and Cromwell were formally banned from keeping any animals following the incident, which was precipitated by a fire at their property on Pyle Road, Margam. Firefighters responding to the blaze contacted the RSPCA, leading to a detailed inspection of the premises. RSPCA animal rescue officer (ARO) Paula Milton arrived at the scene and was informed by a fire officer that two cats had been found alive inside the house. A neighbor also confirmed that the property was operated as a rescue called Jemima’s Place, which initially opened in Bridgend before relocating to Margam.
During the investigation, the bodies of 11 cats were recovered from the property, which was in a deplorable state, filled with bags of rubbish and covered in excrement. Ms. Milton described the interior as overwhelmingly foul, with the smell of urine and faeces overpowering the scent of smoke. Upon entering the house in March 2023, she observed the living room cluttered with numerous black rubbish bags filled with soiled cat litter, piled approximately three feet high. The floor was covered in faeces, and some deceased cats were found lying on the ground.
She further reported that a room adjacent to the living area contained even more rubbish bags, stacked about six feet high, also filled with soiled litter. The staircase leading upstairs was coated in cat faeces, and at the top, two dead cats were discovered in the hallway. The hall itself was strewn with rubbish and faeces, with more black bags filled with soiled litter. The bathroom was equally grim, with the floor completely covered in faeces and three live cats found inside. The cats—Cheeko, a black seven-year-old; Ady, a white and black seven-year-old; and Lewis, a four-year-old tabby and white—were rescued and taken into the care of the RSPCA.
Additionally, two other cats had been taken to a veterinary clinic in Bridgend by someone on the morning of the fire. Clowes agreed to sign over ownership of these cats to the RSPCA as well. Ms. Milton returned to the house to search for more animals and found further piles of rubbish, including a two-foot-high stack of bags in the upstairs hall leading to the bedrooms. The main bedroom, where the fire had started, was filled with more rubbish bags containing soiled litter, some stacked about two feet high.
In total, the RSPCA recovered 11 deceased cats from the property. Ms. Milton stated that Clowes did not reside permanently at the house but visited three to four times daily to feed the cats. The following day, RSPCA deputy chief inspector (DCI) Gemma Cooper met Clowes, who showed her four additional cats that had survived the fire. These cats, along with the two previously taken to Bridgend, were transferred to the RSPCA Merthyr Tydfil Veterinary Clinic for care.
In her official statement to the court, DCI Cooper described the environment in which the 24 cats had been kept as “not safe, clean, or hygienic.” She highlighted the presence of an electric heater left on inside the unoccupied house, posing an obvious hazard. The cats were not provided with litter trays, leading them to toilet indiscriminately on the floors, which lacked any substrate for covering waste. The property offered no mental or physical stimulation, and the cramped two-bedroom cottage did not allow the cats sufficient space to retreat or have their own area.
It was also revealed that in 2021, another animal charity, which has since ceased operations, removed around 30 cats in poor health from Jemima’s Place after Clowes and Cromwell admitted they could not cope with the animals. The 13 cats involved in this case were subsequently signed over to the RSPCA and have been successfully rehomed. The court acknowledged that both men had initially intended to care for the animals but had lost control, expressing remorse and regret for their actions.
As part of their sentencing, Clowes and Cromwell received a 12-week custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months. They were also ordered to pay costs of £300 each and a victim surcharge of £54. Furthermore, they are banned from keeping any animals for a period of 10 years, with the ban set to expire in January 2034.
Clowes and Cromwell were formally banned from keeping any animals following the incident, which was precipitated by a fire at their property on Pyle Road, Margam. Firefighters responding to the blaze contacted the RSPCA, leading to a detailed inspection of the premises. RSPCA animal rescue officer (ARO) Paula Milton arrived at the scene and was informed by a fire officer that two cats had been found alive inside the house. A neighbor also confirmed that the property was operated as a rescue called Jemima’s Place, which initially opened in Bridgend before relocating to Margam.
During the investigation, the bodies of 11 cats were recovered from the property, which was in a deplorable state, filled with bags of rubbish and covered in excrement. Ms. Milton described the interior as overwhelmingly foul, with the smell of urine and faeces overpowering the scent of smoke. Upon entering the house in March 2023, she observed the living room cluttered with numerous black rubbish bags filled with soiled cat litter, piled approximately three feet high. The floor was covered in faeces, and some deceased cats were found lying on the ground.
She further reported that a room adjacent to the living area contained even more rubbish bags, stacked about six feet high, also filled with soiled litter. The staircase leading upstairs was coated in cat faeces, and at the top, two dead cats were discovered in the hallway. The hall itself was strewn with rubbish and faeces, with more black bags filled with soiled litter. The bathroom was equally grim, with the floor completely covered in faeces and three live cats found inside. The cats—Cheeko, a black seven-year-old; Ady, a white and black seven-year-old; and Lewis, a four-year-old tabby and white—were rescued and taken into the care of the RSPCA.
Additionally, two other cats had been taken to a veterinary clinic in Bridgend by someone on the morning of the fire. Clowes agreed to sign over ownership of these cats to the RSPCA as well. Ms. Milton returned to the house to search for more animals and found further piles of rubbish, including a two-foot-high stack of bags in the upstairs hall leading to the bedrooms. The main bedroom, where the fire had started, was filled with more rubbish bags containing soiled litter, some stacked about two feet high.
In total, the RSPCA recovered 11 deceased cats from the property. Ms. Milton stated that Clowes did not reside permanently at the house but visited three to four times daily to feed the cats. The following day, RSPCA deputy chief inspector (DCI) Gemma Cooper met Clowes, who showed her four additional cats that had survived the fire. These cats, along with the two previously taken to Bridgend, were transferred to the RSPCA Merthyr Tydfil Veterinary Clinic for care.
In her official statement to the court, DCI Cooper described the environment in which the 24 cats had been kept as “not safe, clean, or hygienic.” She highlighted the presence of an electric heater left on inside the unoccupied house, posing an obvious hazard. The cats were not provided with litter trays, leading them to toilet indiscriminately on the floors, which lacked any substrate for covering waste. The property offered no mental or physical stimulation, and the cramped two-bedroom cottage did not allow the cats sufficient space to retreat or have their own area.
It was also revealed that in 2021, another animal charity, which has since ceased operations, removed around 30 cats in poor health from Jemima’s Place after Clowes and Cromwell admitted they could not cope with the animals. The 13 cats involved in this case were subsequently signed over to the RSPCA and have been successfully rehomed. The court acknowledged that both men had initially intended to care for the animals but had lost control, expressing remorse and regret for their actions.
As part of their sentencing, Clowes and Cromwell received a 12-week custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months. They were also ordered to pay costs of £300 each and a victim surcharge of £54. Furthermore, they are banned from keeping any animals for a period of 10 years, with the ban set to expire in January 2034.